The Area Council held its regular monthly meeting—in-person for the first time since February 2020—at the Hobart Church on Monday, May 2. This was the Area Council’s second hybrid meeting providing the opportunity for members of the Public to attend either in-person or virtually via Zoom.
Major topics discussed were: Asphalt Facility; Proposed Adult Beverage Ordinance; King County Countywide Planning Policies; King County Comprehensive Plan; and Tri-City Meeting.
Tahoma School District (TSD) Update
Area Council School Focal, Warren Iverson, attended the most recent semi-monthly TSD Meeting and provided a brief summary. TSD is discussing its internal district boundaries. During this process Warren asked that the Rural Area continue to be fully represented. Currently within the five TSD Board Districts, #3, #4, and #5 cover the Rural Area. TSD also held a Work Study to discuss equity and equality.
Asphalt Facility
On April 14 the King County (KC) Department of Local Services–Permitting Division (DLS-P) approved Lakeside Industry’s development and shoreline permits for its move and construction of its Asphalt facility formerly located in the City of Covington: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/local-services/permits/public-notices.aspx.
Please see: http://gmvuac.org/asphalt-facility for all Area Council research and detailed Comments that were submitted to KC DLS-P throughout the process starting in 2017.
Proposed Adult Beverage Ordinance (ABO)
The January 3 State Growth Management Hearing Board (GMHB) unanimous reaffirmation of its invalidation of the KC Adult Beverage Ordinance (ABO), in which it concluded that the it failed to comply with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and the State Growth Management Act (GMA), gave KC until July 1 to rewrite the ABO legislation. The KC Council began that process by assigning that task to its Local Services and Land-Use (LS&L-U) Committee. The Committee has developed draft legislation which still presents several GMA compliance issues.
The LS&L-U Committee originally scheduled a Public Hearing on its draft legislation for its April 26 meeting, but it was indefinitely postponed when KC submitted a motion to the Court of Appeals for a Stay on the GMHB’s decision. A ruling of KC’s motion for a Stay could be made by the end of the month.
For history and further details, please see the Area Council’s ABO webpage: http://gmvuac.org/adult-beverage-ordinance/.
Countywide Planning Policies (CPP) Update
On April 6 the 2021 KC Countywide Planning Policies (CPPs) were ratified by the cities and towns in KC following the KC Council’s approval in December 2021.
The CPPs (https://kingcounty.gov/~/media/depts/executive/performance-strategy-budget/regional-planning/CPPs/2021-CPPs-Adopted-and-Ratified.ashx?la=en) provide a countywide vision and serve as the guiding principles and policies for all Comprehensive Planning in King County (County, City, and Special-Purpose District), as well as County and City Zoning Codes. Since mid 2020 the Area Council led a Joint Team of Rural Area UACs and UAAs (Unincorporated Area Associations) in a complete review of multiple drafts and preparation of detailed written comments.
Please see: http://gmvuac.org/cpp-update/ for all Joint Team Comments that were submitted throughout the process.
2024 King County Comprehensive Plan (KCCP) Major Update
In January King County (KC) kicked off its “Major 8-Year KCCP Update (Update).” The Area Council, again, is coordinating a Joint Team consisting of nine KC Rural Area Unincorporated Area Councils (UACs) / Unincorporated Area Associations (UAAs) / Organizations (EPCA, FCUAC, FofSV, GRC, GV/LHA, HHA, SCAR, UBCUAC) to interact with KC by meeting with key focal points, reviewing materials, and preparing/submitting sets of Comments.
On March 31 the KC Executive transmitted his recommended Scope to the King County Council, which will decide on the final Scope to be used for the Update by June 15. On April 22 the Joint Team, after careful review and approval of each organization, submitted detailed Comments (http://gmvuac.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/COMMENTS-Execs-Recomd-Scope.pdf) to the King County Council’s Local Services and Land-Use (LS&L-U) Committee on the recommended Scope. The Joint Team also provided Oral Public Comment on the recommended Scope to the LS&L-U Committee at its April 26 meeting.
Comments were offered on the following recommended Scoping items: 4:1 Program Review; Transfer of Development Rights; Transportation; Agricultural Production Districts; and Mineral and Materials Processing. In addition, the Comments suggested severalnew Scoping items be included: Urban-Serving Facilities; Property-Specific Development Standards; Demonstration Projects; Rural Neighborhood Centers; and Home Occupation & Industry Zoning.
Throughout the rest of the Update process, which goes through 2024, the Joint Team will continue to discuss with both KC Executive’s Office Staff and the KC Council those items that are important for Rural Area residents. For more information on the schedule and the process, please see: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/executive/performance-strategy-budget/regional-planning/king-county-comprehensive-plan.aspx.
Tri-City Meeting
On May 4, at 6:30 PM, the cities of Black Diamond, Covington, and Maple Valley will hold its 14th Annual Tri-City Meeting at the Covington City Council Chambers located at 16720 SE 271st St in Covington.
Councilman Reagan Dunn will provide a KC Council update. Each city will provide a local update. An update on the Southeast Area Legislative Coalition Transportation Coalition (SEAL-TC) also will be given.
The meeting is offered as a hybrid meeting whereby people can attend via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85487246034?pwd=VmRqMGZ0cnBBN2ZJWmFzbHRwWmkxUT09.
Next Area Council Meeting
The next Area Council monthly meeting will be held Monday, June 6 at the Hobart Church. As a hybrid meeting, people will be able to attend either in-person or virtually via Zoom. Our special guests will be District 5 State Representatives Bill Ramos and Lisa Callan. They will discuss the recently completed State Legislative Session, as well as take general questions.
All regular monthly meetings are held on the first Monday of the month (except for Holidays, when they are held on the second Monday), from 7 – 9:30 PM. Meeting announcements are published in the Voice of the Valley, the Area Council’s website (www.gmvuac.org) and local NextDoor platforms. You can also find us on our Facebook page. Each meeting begins with an open Public Comment period where anyone can voice concerns, comments, etc.
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 starting next month will have four open seats. If you have an interest in joining, please send an e-mail to: info@gmvuac.orgor attend (either in-person or virtually) a monthly meeting and express your interest. To be eligible to join the Area Council as a member you need to live within the Tahoma School District.
Anyone—even those who do not live within the Tahoma School District—are eligible to serve on any Area Council committee: Environment, Growth Management, Transportation, Ad Hoc Economic, Public Relations, or Train Show.
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. Again, if you have an interest in joining any Area Council committees, please send an e-mail to: info@gmvuac.org. Thank you.
