December 2007 Meeting Highlights

by Peter Rimbos, Corresponding Secretary

The Greater Maple Valley Area Council held its regular monthly meeting on Monday, December 3, with 13 members present, two absent, and one position open. The following items were addressed:

1) On-site Sewage Systems;

2) Area Council Election Results; and

3) King County Comprehensive Plan Update for 2008.

The Area Council serves as an all-volunteer, locally elected advisory body to the King County Council and represents all rural unincorporated area residents living in the Tahoma School District.

On-site Sewage Systems

Larry Fay, Director of the King County Environmental Health, and Greg Bishop, Health & Environmental Investigator for Seattle-King County Health, provided an update on proposed changes in policies and regulations for residential on-site sewage systems.

They detailed a recently completed multiyear effort conducted by a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) to make major policy recommendations for the Title 13, Wastewater Program. The TAC included representatives from the Unincorporated Area Councils (including our Area Council’s Chair, Dick Bonewits), Board of Realtors, and Master Builders. Their recommendations will be presented to the King County Board of Health next month with revisions to be adopted by the end of the first quarter of next year.

The State Board of Health sets minimum standards to which the counties align their standards while including special local needs. The last Title 13 update was in 1999 to meet the 1995 state regulations, so the current update described by Mr. Fay and Mr. Bishop is long overdue.

Some of the key changes recommended by the TAC are in the areas of: accessory dwelling units on a private well, system evaluations when a property is sold, minimum septic tank sizes, minimum setbacks between septic and storm water infiltration systems, and CAO assessment prior to on-site systems approval (King County cities will be doing the same thing).

Citizens can review the Title 13, Wastewater Program, code, along with proposed revisions at: http://www.metrokc.gov/HEALTH/boh/code/.

Area Council Election Results

Every two years 8 (2 in each of our 4 Community Areas) of 16 positions on the Area Council are up for election by rural area residents in the Tahoma Scholl District. Last month rural area residents cast their votes. Election results are as follows for each Community Area: Hobart: Warren Iverson and Peter Rimbos; Ravensdale: Gordon Moorman and a write-in vote to be determined; River Heights: Susan Dawson and a write-in vote to be determined; and Francis: Steve Hiester and Beverly Tonda.

Newly elected and re-elected members will take their positions at our January 7, 2008 meeting. We wish to thank all candidates who participated and congratulate those elected by the public to serve our community.

King County Comprehensive Plan Update for 2008

The King County Comprehensive Plan is the guiding policy document for all land-use and development in unincorporated King County. It is updated each year. Every fourth year major revisions are proposed for adoption (last done in 2004). The King County Department of Development Environmental Services (DDES) has prepared a Public Review Draft (the Draft) for the 2008 major update.

Over the last two months the Area Council’s Land-Use and Transportation Committees conducted a detailed review of the Draft. Those Committees provided comments and recommendations for full Area Council discussion and approval. Committee Subteams reviewed all 11 chapters and 3 appendices of the Draft. Major focus was on Chapters 3--Rural Area and Natural Resource Lands, 4--Environment, 7--Transportation, and 9--Economic Development.

The Committees presented Chapter Evaluation Matrices (general comments) and Detailed Comments Forms (specific comments and recommendations) on Residential Clustering, Public Transportation, Transportation Concurrency, and Industrial Clustering.

Discussion of key aspects of the Committees’ detailed review comments and recommendations was initiated and will continue at a Special Meeting of the Area Council on Monday, December 10. Subsequently, Area Council comments and recommendations on the Draft will be formally submitted to DDES with copies to the King County Executive and the King County Council. By the end of the year Area Council Public Comment will be posted on this website. The Area Council will continue to review progress on the King County Comprehensive Plan Update for 2008 as it proceeds to final approval late next year.

Please note that citizens also can provide their comments on the Draft up until December 28. Comments then will be compiled by DDES. King County Executive Sims will submit the recommended 2008 King County Comprehensive Plan update to the King County Council on March 1, 2008, for review with final approval by the King County Council late next year. Citizens can review information on the Comprehensive Plan, the update process, and the Draft itself at: http://www.metrokc.gov/ddes/compplan/. Public comments can be sent via e-mail or by regular mail to: Dept. of Development & Environmental Services; ATTN: Paul Reitenbach; 900 Oakesdale Ave. SW; Renton, WA  98057-5212.

Next Meeting

The Area Council meets on the first Monday of each month (except on legal holidays) at the Sheriff’s Precinct # 3 Headquarters located at 231^st St & SR-169 (across from Fire Station). The public is invited to attend. Each meeting begins with an Open Comment period allowing citizens to voice issues of concern. Our next regular monthly meeting will be held on Monday, January 7, 2008, at 6:30 PM (an earlier than usual starting time to accommodate discussion by Rock Creek Sports).