By Peter Rimbos, GMVUAC Corresponding Secretary
The Area Council held its regular monthly meeting on Monday, September 14. Topics discussed were: Issues submitted to King County, Proposed Asphalt Facility, and Upcoming Major Tasks.
Tahoma School District (TSD)
TSD Board member, Val Paganelli, provided an update. There were no TSD Board meetings held since the recent remote start of school.
Issues submitted to King County
On September 9, at the request of the King County (KC) Department of Local Services (DLS), the Area Council submitted a set of key issues that it believes require either action or further information. The topic areas were broad:
1. Cedar Hills Landfill Site Plans.
2. Queen City Farms Site Plans.
3. Erickson Trenchfilling in Ravensdale.
4. Materials Processing Facilities Code Changes.
5. Neighborhood Business Zoning Changes.
6. Ravensdale Parcel Up-zone Precedent.
7. Large Truck Haul-Route Agreements.
For the letter, please see the Area Council website’s Correspondence/Letters page under the 2020 block: http://gmvuac.org/letters/.
Preposed Asphalt Facility
On August 24 Lakeside Industries submitted to the KC DLS-Permitting (DLS-P) its responses Comments provided in the summer/fall of 2019 by both KC DLS-P and members of the public (including multiple sets of Area Council detailed comments) regarding its proposed relocation of its Asphalt Facility currently located in the City of Covington to the old Sunset Materials/KC Shops site along SR-169 and the Cedar River.
Area Council committees are reviewing all the posted documents (https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/local-services/permits/public-notices/special-interest-projects/lakeside-industries-asphalt-COMM18-0014.aspx) and will draft a set of detailed comments for full Area Council review to be submitted in mid-October to KC DLS-P. Please see the Area Council website’s Current Issues box on the our Home page: www.gmvuac.org.
Upcoming Major Tasks
The Area Council discussed several large tasks in the coming months. These include:
1. Cedar Hills Landfill Site Development Plan Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)—late September release.
2. Countywide Planning Policies (CPPs) Update—Fall 2020/Winter 2021.
3. Lakeside Industries Proposed Asphalt Facility—Fall 2020.
4. King County Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP) Draft—Fall 2020/Winter 2021.
Leadership for each task was assigned to one of the Area Council’s three major subject-matter committee: Environment, Growth Management, or Transportation. However, the expertise of all three committees will be utilized in all the major tasks.
Upcoming Area Council Meetings
The next Area Council regular monthly meeting will be held on Monday, October 5, which will be another “virtual” meeting.
All regular monthly meetings are held on the first Monday of the month, from 7 – 9:30 PM. When State restrictions are lifted, the Area Council will again meet face-to-face with members of the Public invited to attend and continue to invite Guest Speakers on topics of key local and regional interest. Meetings will be held at the Maple Valley Fire Station (SE corner of SE 231st St & SR-169 intersection directly across from the Police Precinct). All are welcome with each meeting beginning with an open Public Comment period.
Area Council Membership
Your Area Council serves as an all-volunteer, locally recognized advisory body to King County on behalf of all rural unincorporated area residents living in the Tahoma School District. The Area Council’s Vision Statement is:
“Our community’s Rural Character will be supported by facilitating strong local ties and communication between the public, organizations, and government; promoting locally owned businesses and supporting quality education; protecting the environment, and maintaining landowners’ rights and responsibilities; promoting controlled and well-planned growth with appropriate infrastructure; ensuring proper representation for rural interests and needs; and supporting the health and safety and the privacy of our vibrant community.”
The twelve-seat Area Council currently has open seats. If you have an interest in joining please send an e-mail to: info@gmvuac.org or attend a monthly meeting and express your interest.
Citizens who are not members of the Area Council or do not live within the Tahoma School District still are eligible to join and serve on any of the Area Council’s three major subject-matter Committees: Environment, Growth Management, or Transportation, as well as the Ad Hoc Economic Committee. The Area Council welcomes your participation. For information on each of these committees please see the Area Council’s web site: www.gmvuac.org and use the drop-down menu under Committees.
