On Monday, September 9 (one week later then the normal “first Monday of the month” due to the Labor Day Holiday), the Area Council held its regular monthly meeting at the Maple Valley Fire Station and via Zoom. Major topics discussed were:(1) Local Community Plan Open House; (2) 2024 King County Comprehensive Plan Update; and (3) Annual Operating Model Train Show.
Local Community Plan Open House
King County Subarea Planners Kaitlin Harris, Kaelyn Nobis, and Katherine Shaffer continued discussions of the upcoming Greater Maple Valley/Cedar River (GMV/CR) Community Service Area (CSA). The plan will shape the future of our local area, covering much of the territory within the Area Council’s jurisdiction. This is the first subarea plan for the region since the 1991 Tahoma-Raven Heights Community Plan.
King County will hold an Open House on the GMV/CR CSA Subarea Plan on Thursday, September 26, from 5:30 – 8:00 PM at the Hobart Community Church, at 27524 SE 200th St—please see: Public Input (https://publicinput.com/GreaterMapleValley). The Open House will officially kick off the the subarea planning process, featuring displays of subarea maps, community demographic data, and other resources. King County staff will be available to answer any questions.
People who cannot attend the Open House still have an opportunity to participate and share their thoughts by taking the GMV/CR Subarea Plan Vision and Scoping Survey here: Survey (https://publicinput.com/GreaterMapleValleySurvey1). Public input is vital in shaping this long-term plan.
The two-year planning process will culminate in mid-2026, when the King County Executive will transmit the recommended subarea plan to the King County Council for review. The final plan is expected to be adopted by mid-2027. For more information and updates, please visit the Area Council’s dedicated webpage at: GMV/CR Subarea Plan (http://gmvuac.org/gmvcr-csa-subarea-plan/).
2024 King County Comprehensive Plan Update (Update)
The Area Council continues to coordinate a Joint Team of nine Unincorporated Rural Area Councils in participating in the Update—a 3-yr effort. The Joint Team has offered multiple amendments to the Update. The Joint Team has conducted several one-on-one meetings with the offices of each of the nine King County Councilmembers to discuss and request sponsorship its proposed Amendments for the Update. Meetings so far have been held with the offices of Councilwoman Mosqueda on 7/24/24; Councilman Zahilay on 8/8/24; Councilman Upthegrove on 8/19/24; and Councilman Dembowski on 8/21/24.
Final approval by the full Council will take place some time this December. More information can be found at: Update (https://kingcounty.gov/so-so/dept/council/governance-leadership/county-council/useful-links/comprehensive-plan/2024).
Annual Operating Model Train Show
The Area Council’s 2024 Annual Operating Model Train Show will be held on October 19-20 at the Gracie Hansen Community Center at 27132 SE Ravensdale Way in Ravensdale. from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday and 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday.
There will be operating model train layouts in many popular gauges. There will be an exhibit from the Black Diamond Museum depicting local history, including transportation, timber, and mining.
The show is fun for the entire family. If you have questions about model railroading the exhibitors are happy to try to answer them. There will be plenty of free parking. The suggested donation for the train show is $5 for adults and $2 for children ages 3-11.
Please visit the Area Council’s table. We have monthly Council meetings that are open to the public. The dates are listed on our Website (www.gmvuac.org). The Area Council is a Washington non-profit corporation and is not any type of 501c charitable organization under the IRS code. Note that the Gracie Hansen Community Center is made available courtesy of Rock Creek Sports.
Next Area Council Meeting
The next Area Council monthly meeting will be held Monday, October 7 from 7 – 9:30 PM at the Maple Valley Fire Station at 22225 SE 231st St (across from the KC Sheriff’s Precinct). Our special Guest Speaker will be Leon Richardson, new Director of the King County Department of Local Services (DLS). As one of our main local government providers, DLS is comprised of two Divisions—Permitting and Road Services. We will be discussing issues and potential solutions related to each division.
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 (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.
Area Council Membership
Your Area Council, founded in 1978, is one of the longest continuously active local councils. 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 Team 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: GMVUAC (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 TSD.
Residents, even those not living within the TSD, are eligible to become Associate Members who can serve (including as Chair or Vice-Chair) on any Area Council Committee: Environment, Growth Management, Transportation, Public Relations, or Train Show. For information on each of these committees please see the Area Council’s Website (www.gmvuac.org) and use the drop-down menu under Committees.
All Monthly Meeting Summary Articles can be found on our Home page in the 2024/2023 GMVUAC Monthly Meeting Articles box or by using the drop-down menu under Correspondence.
