On Monday, July 6, the Area Council held its Regular Monthly Meeting at the Maple Valley Fire Station at 22225 SE 231st St and via Zoom. Major topics discussed were: (1) KCCP Mid-Point Update; (2) GMV/CR Subarea Plan; (3) Docket Requests; and (4) Proposed Segale Mine.
Public Comment
Robin Buxton from the Remington Home Owners’ Association (HOA) and Preserve Druids Glen Committee discussed preserving the Druids Glen Golf Course and preventing it from being redeveloped into a gated community of 75+ elite houses. Druids Glen has many ecosystem benefits it provides to the region and a major housing development will impact or destroy much of it if approved by King County. The HOA and Committee have been reaching out to King County throughout the year and demanding strict zoning and environmental compliance as it review the Land Development Permit Application submitted by Parks Legacy, current owner based in Arizona. The Committee can be contacted at: [email protected].
KCCP Mid-Point Update
Erin Auzins, Regional Planning Lead in the King County (KC) Executive’s Office, discussed the 2029 King County Comprehensive Plan (KCCP) 5-year Midpoint Update (2029 Midpoint Update)—an opportunity to make substantive policy changes that address long-term needs and advance the County’s policy goals. A Scope of Work is being developed that will guide the development of the 2029 Midpoint Update, inform the environmental review and public participation plans, and be the basis for an equity-impact analysis of the proposed update, see: 2029 KCCP 5 Yr Mid-Point Update Scope of Work presentation.
The proposed Scope of Work to be released on July 13, for Public Comment, is organized according to three Focus Areas: Climate Change and Resiliency; Shorelines; and Housing—as well as other general changes. Within each there are possible topics that might be included in the 2029 Midpoint Update, pending additional analysis. Unlike the KCCP 10-year Major Updates, additional topics and/or issues not included in the Scope of Work may not be considered as part of the 2029 Midpoint Update, unless they are allowed during a KCCP Annual Update.
The Public can submit Comments on the proposed Scope of Work by August 2 by email to [email protected]. Opportunities for providing comments, as well as other information about the Comprehensive Plan, can be found at www.kingcounty.gov/CompPlan. Public input will be used to help refine and finalize the KC Executive’s Scope of Work, which is anticipated to be submitted to the KC Council in November 2026 and adopted by the Council, after its review and amendment, in February 2027. Each of these events afford additional opportunities to submit Public Comment.
The Area Council’s four major subject-matter committees will conduct reviews of the Scope of Work and prepare detailed comments to be submitted by the above deadline.
GMV/CR Subarea Plan
Susan McLain, KC Subarea Planning Manager, discussed the status of The Greater Maple Valley/Cedar River (GMV/CR) Community Service Area (CSA) Subarea Plan—a long-range community vision over the next 20 years. On May 18 the Area Council submitted its details Comments on the Preliminary Plan. Ms. McLain stated those comments were extremely helpful as they continue their review.
At tonight’s meeting Ms. McLain discussed a handful of draft land-use and zoning map amendments within the Subarea:
- Split-zone or split-land use: Properties with more than one zone classification or land use designation
- Update P-Suffix conditions and overlays when: (10 Countywide code supersedes or does a better job (repeal); (2) The condition has been met (repeal); or Update for current terms’
- Evaluate “potential” zoning
- Inconsistent zone classifications and land use
- Evaluate Rural Neighborhood Commercial Center-designated properties where zoning and land use are inconsistent
Ms. McLain agreed to continue conversations with the Area Council, as its Preliminary Plan Comments are reviewed. The Area council also has provided Ms. McLain with a list of key subject-matter experts who would like to speak with her Interdepartmental Team regarding the Area Council’s detailed Comments in those areas.
Docket Requests
The Joint Team of four Urban and ten Rural Unincorporated Area organizations, coordinated by the Area Council, submitted four Docket Request to KC by the end of 2025:
1. Amend Rural Neighborhood Commercial Center (RNCC) policy / code to allow only businesses (the express purpose of RNCCs) and prohibit housing, which would displace businesses (see: RNCCs).
2. Amend Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) code to adequately address environmental, health, and safety (see: BESS). Due to a tight deadline at the end of the year, this was prepared and submitted by individuals who represented a subset of Joint Team members.
3. Amend, in the Rural Area, Agriculture and Forestry Product Processing policy / code to require materials be grown in KC (see: Local Agricultural and Forest Product Processing).
4. Amend Mineral Operations 5-yr Periodic Review policy / code to include the Mining Reclamation (see: Mining Operations Periodic Reviews).
On April 30 KC published its (2026 Docket Report), which detailed its decisions on each Docket Request received in 2025 from the Public. Each of the above-listed Docket Requests were rejected for a variety of reasons.
Several Joint Team members met with Erin Auzins earlier in the day to discuss each request and KC’s assessment of same. The Joint Team has asked to speak with members of KC’s Interdepartmental Team. Erin stated she would followup on that.
Proposed Segale Mine
The Segale Development Corporation proposes a mine and an asphalt plant on ~1,000 ac in a low area across the Green River from Kanasket-Palmer State Park (K-PSP)at the top of the Green River Gorge (near to Cumberland). The Park anchors the top of the Gorge, similar to how Flaming Geyser State Park anchors the downstream end of the Gorge.
There has been a back-and-forth between Segale and King County on several issues: (1) A proposed swap of WA-Department of Natural Resources (DNR) land to move the mine (note there is one mine with five different pits planned); (2) What would be included in Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); (3) Outright purchase of the Segale property; and (4) Other matters.
On Wednesday, July 8, the King County Department of Local Services—Permitting Division (DLS/P) will issue a Determination of Significance (DS), which will trigger the need for an EIS to be prepared. There will be a 30-day Public Comment period through Friday, August 7.
The project, as proposed, would have major impacts on K-PSP, including the only public campground along the entire Green-Duwamish River, as well as impacts to water quality, fish and terrestrial species, human health, and traffic throughout SE King County.
The Area Council voted to work with and support other SE King County organizations to prepare a set of Public Comments on the DS.
Next Area Council Meeting
The next Area Council monthly meeting will be held Monday, August 3, 2026, from 7 – 9:30 PM at the Maple Valley Fire Station at 22225 SE 231st St (across from the KC Sheriff’s Precinct).
Meetings are held on the first Monday of the month (except for Holidays, when they are held on the second Monday). All meeting announcements, agendas, and Zoom information are posted on the Area Council’s Website 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, founded in 1978, is one of the longest continuously active local councils in King County. It 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 (TSD). The Area Council, in “working to keep the Rural Area rural,” collaborates regionally with other King County Rural Area organizations through both the Joint Rural Team and its Joint Transportation Initiative.
The twelve-seat Area Council has four open seats. If you wish to join, please send an e-mail to: [email protected] or attend (either in-person or virtually) a monthly meeting and express your interest. To be eligible to join as a Member you need to live within the TSD.
Residents, even those not living within the TSD, are eligible to become Associate Members who can serve on any Area Council Committee: Economic, Environment, Growth Management, Transportation, Public Relations, or Train Show—please see the Area Council’s Website and use the drop-down menu under Committees.
On our Home page recent Monthly Meeting Summary Articles can be in the 2026/2025 GMVUAC Monthly Meeting Articles box (or by using the drop-down menu under Correspondence).
