The Greater Maple Valley Area Council serves as an all-volunteer, locally elected advisory body to the King County Council. It represents all unincorporated area residents living in the Tahoma School District. On Monday, August 7, the Area Council’s regular monthly meeting was devoted to a Public Hearing on and a discussion of King County’s Proposed Rural Economic Strategies. 

UPDATE: 276^th Ave SE Culvert Replacement

At the July Area Council meeting plans were presented by DOT for a temporary closure of 276^th Ave SE (Issaquah-Hobart Rd) south of the SR-18 near SE 197^th St to replace a large culvert. At our August meeting the Area Council received an update from King County Road Services Frank Overton (Project Engineer). Mr. Overton stated that the project has been suspended to a later date due to several factors including timing and the ongoing concrete workers strike. Consequently, a temporary fix will be implemented whereby a 2-ft-diameter pipe will be inserted into the existing “squashed” 3-ft-diameter pipe necessitating a one-lane closure for ~1 week. Plans are to start work in September.

King County Proposed Rural Economic Strategies

Julia Larson, from the King County Office of Business and Economic Development, and Paul Reitenbach, King County Policy Planner from the Department of Development & Environmental Services (DDES), detailed proposed changes to King County Code related to Rural Areas--Rural Economic Strategies. The intent of these proposed changes are to expand economic opportunities for rural residents and promote rural economic vitality. Ms. Larson asked attendees in developing their comments to consider if the proposed changes are appropriate for the Rural Area and if they are compatible with rural character.

Mr. Reitenbach reviewed each proposed change for home-based businesses and in general, touched upon proposed changes for agriculture and forestry codes. There were many questions, comments, and concerns expressed by both the citizens in attendance and Area Council members. In general, it was felt that many of the proposed changes are useful, but that in some cases the proposal appears to be a blunt instrument eliminating some reasonable restrictions and protections. The Area Council addressed this view by offering several compromises shown in [ ] below.

√  Remove any landscaping requirement for outdoor storage facilities [Require 10-ft wide Type II landscaping unless suitable natural landscaping already exists or structural screening is existing or erected].

√  Increase from 1 to 3 the number of non-resident full-time employees allowed on site [Agreed as is, with clarification requested on number of part-time workers].

√  Allow no limitations on nuisance (electronic) activities [Eliminate this change].

√  Increase number and size of vehicles allowed onsite (depending on lot size) [Agreed as is, but base on equivalent licensed Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)].

The only proposed agricultural code change discussed was:

Allow unlimited area for retail (agricultural product sales) and manufacturing (food and kindred products and wineries and breweries) if sales and processing, respectively, are located in a structure at least 5 years old [Eliminate this change].

The Area Council will forward its formal comments to the King County Office of Business and Economic Development by the Thursday, August 10 deadline. That Office will evaluate public comments, assemble a revised proposed package, and forward its recommendations to the King County Council’s Growth Management & Natural Resources Committee by Thursday, August 31. That committee will hold a final Public Hearing on the proposed changes on Monday, September 18. The public can review a Summary Report and complete text of the proposed code changes at the KC Business and Economic Development website: http://www.metrokc.gov/exec/bred/business/Projects/Rural.htm. Citizens may continue to comment on this package of proposed changes by sending comments to the Greater Maple Valley Area Council, P.O. Box 101, Maple Valley, WA  98038 by September 8, 2006 (These comments will be separately provided to the King County Council). Citizens may also comment directly to the King County Council Growth Management & Natural Resources Committee (Attention: Dow Constantine and Reagan Dunn), 1200 King County Courthouse, 516 3^rd Ave, Seattle, WA  98104-3272 before September 18, 2006.

Next Meeting

The Area Council meets on the first Monday of each month (except on legal holidays) in the conference room of Sheriff’s Precinct # 3 Headquarters (at 231^st St & SR-169 across from Fire Station). The public is invited to attend. Each meeting begins with an Open Comment period to allow the public to voice issues of concern. Our next regular monthly meeting will be held on Monday, September 11, 2006, at 7:00 PM (one week later than normal due to the Labor Day holiday). Mr. Paul Reitenbach, Policy Planner for King County will be the principal speaker. His presentation will cover thirty-plus years of history of land-use zoning changes within the greater Maple Valley area and land-use planning within King County. These presentations are designed to answer land-use policy questions for citizens within the greater Maple Valley area. Comments on Area Council business may be submitted to GMVAC, P.O. Box 101, Maple Valley, WA  98038, or to Dick Bonewits, Chair, at gmvac_chair@hotmail.com