On Monday, June 5, the Area Council held its monthly meeting at the Maple Valley Fire Station at 22225 SE 231st St and online via Zoom. The ongoing 2024 King County Comprehensive Plan (KCCP) Major (10-yr) Update was a major topic of discussion.
Ravensdale Corner Upzone
In 2020 an Applicant sought a Permit to upzone a 21-ac parcel on the NE corner of the intersection of Landsburg Road SE and SE Kent-Kangley Road. It is zoned RA-10 (i.e., 1 unit per 10 ac) and can be subdivided into two ~10-ac, single-family residence lots. The Applicant) sought to reclassify the Property to RA-5, meaning it could be subdivided into four single-family lots.
The Area Council vigorously opposed such an upzone and provided the King County (KC) Department of Local Services-Permitting Division (DLS-P) with extensive Comments detailing numerous conflicts with multiple KCCP policies and key parts of the KC Code.
Fortunately, DLS-P agreed with the Area Council’s analyses and through its own analyses recommended against a rezone. The issue then went before the KC Hearing Examiner. After a Hearing on April 24, the Hearing Examiner recommended denial of the Permit Application. It now goes before the KC Council for a final decision.
Reserve Silica Status
The Area Council along with local citizens Michael and Donna Brathovde have maintained a dialogue for many months with KC DLS-P on concerns with potentially illegal and unpermitted activities at the Reserve Silica site south of Ravensdale.
At the meeting Michael Brathovde provided detail on recent activities on a 40-ac portion of the site accompanied by photographs, which show what appears to be preparation for some kind of construction. Mr. Brathovde described major concerns regarding this activity. This particular 40-ac was in mature timber prior to the recent clearcut (the timber rights were owned by Weyerhaeuser and sold to Reserve Silica in August 2021), and has never had any surface mining, and no underground mining for at least the past 75 years. Past DLA-P documents indicate this timber would remain in-place while the majority of the remaining reclaimed mining lands would be returned to forest cover – its pre-mining condition – and the site returned to its former Forest zoning.
DLS-P agreed to review all documents relating to a past grading permit, GRDE15-0011, as well as predecessor permits. It plans to produce a list of permit conditions. DLS-P also plans a site visit this month to determine ongoing compliance with permit conditions. Its continuing review of records will be able to address whether any activity is subject to SEPA requirements.
KCCP Major Update (Update)
The Area Council continues to coordinate a Joint Team of ten KC Rural Area Unincorporated Area Councils, Associations, and Organizations regarding the ongoing Update.
Recent activities have centered on work of the KC Growth Management Planning Council (GMPC) concerning its “Four-One Program Review” and “Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) Expansion Policies” as part of the Update. Prior to the GMPC’s May 17 meeting, the Joint Team submitted extensive Comments related to specifics of the 4:1 Program, what UGB to use, the character of uses within 4:1 parcels, etc. The Joint Team also provided Oral Testimonies articulating these points at the May 17 Meeting. Following extensive discussion and voting on proposed Amendments, the GMPC developed a set of recommendations that will inform the Update. Fortunately, those recommendation were in agreement with all the Joint Team’s positions.
The Update started in January 2022 and on June 1, following ~18 months of Scoping and Concept Proposals—all of which included Joint Team participation in reviews, comments, proposals—a major milestone was reached with KC’s release of the Public Review Draft (PRD). The PRD is a fully marked-up KCCP with multiple Chapters and Appendices: https://publicinput.com/y8200. On the RH-side of that webpage there are links to all 12 Chapters and 36 Appendices / Maps / Code Amendments. The Joint Team has started its extensive review. Public comments are due on July 15.
For further information please see: https://kingcounty.gov/sites/depts/executive/performance-strategy-budget/regional-planning/king-county-comprehensive-plan/KingCountyComprehensivePlan.aspx.
Next Area Council Meeting
The next Area Council monthly meeting will be held Monday, July 10 (due to the observance of the July 4 Holiday on July 5), from 7 – 9:30 p.m. at the Maple Valley Fire Station at 22225 SE 231st St (across from the KC Sheriff’s Precinct). As a hybrid meeting, members of the public will be able to attend either in-person or virtually via Zoom.
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, Agendas, and Zoom information 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: https://www.facebook.com/GMVUAC/. Each meeting begins with an open Public Comment period where anyone can voice concerns, comments, etc. to the Area Council.
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 works to keep the Rural Area rural. The Area Council also works regionally with other King County Rural Area organizations through both Joint Planning and its Joint Transportation Initiative.
The twelve-seat Area Council has four open seats. If you have an interest in joining, please send an e-mail to: info@gmvuac.org or 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. Residents, even those who do not live within the Tahoma School District, are eligible to become Associate Members who can serve on any Area Council Committee: Environment, Growth Management, Transportation, Public Relations, or Train Show. Each committee votes for its own Chair and Vice-Chairs and Associate Members are eligible for those positions. 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.
