On Monday, November 6, the Area Council held its regular monthly meeting. Special Guest Speaker was King County Senior Deputy Executive Fred Jarrett, who discussed an initiative to explore new and better ways to serve the people of the unincorporated area. Other major topics discussed were: Reserve Silica Rezone Request and Proposed Asphalt Facility.
Public Comment
Due to interest in recent land-use proposals submitted to King County there were close to 100 concerned citizens in attendance, with many who provided Public Comments. These dealt with the proposed Asphalt Facility along SR-169 between Maple Valley and Renton; On-Site Septic Systems; and proposed Recycling Facility along SR-169 north of Enumclaw. There was good discussion between the speakers; the Area Council members; and King County Senior Deputy Executive, Fred Jarrett, as well as representatives from the King County Department of Permitting and Environmental Review (DPER).
King County Senior Deputy Executive Fred Jarrett
Mr. Jarrett discussed the “Local Services Initiative” to explore new and better ways to serve the people of unincorporated King County. With nearly 250,000 people (half urban, half rural) living in unincorporated King County (similar to the Cities of Bellevue and Kent combined) the initiative will study ways to improve how direct and contracted services (e.g., roads, public safety, and clean water) are delivered as the County’s General Fund revenues fall behind population growth and inflation due to revenue limitations imposed by the state.
Mr. Jarrett stated customer service measured in terms of efficiency of services delivered in the unincorporated area has to be improved. One step will be to inventory the services delivered, not just the spending to provide same.
One possible solution is to have a single manager (akin to a “city” manager) for the unincorporated area within the Executive branch who can work with the Legislative branch (i.e., King County Council). In this way there would be a regional advocate for the unincorporated area.
Mr. Jarrett described the many impediments we face. King County has a very fragmented system with many elected officials and many governments. Consequently, citizens’ choices are limited. Most of our sales taxes go to cities where we shop, not King County, and thus, do not support the services we need and use. We are limited in that we cannot put a levy lid lift to provide, say, increased police protection. So, we have to improve those services with the money we have today.
The new Initiative will provide recommendations to King County Executive Dow Constantine by the end of the year. Implementation could be in the next Biennium budget cycle.
Reserve Silica Rezone Request
The Area Council discussed and voted on a set of detailed Comments to submit to the King County Executive regarding Reserve Silica’s request for a rezone of 122 ac currently zoned Mineral to Residential (RA-10) as part of the annual amendments to the King County Comprehensive Plan.
The Area Council recommended the Executive deny the request and that, upon State Department of Ecology approval of the successful completion of any mine reclamation plans and upon approval of the successful completion of any Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Studies, the subject lands revert back to their original land use of forestry and underlying zoning of Forestry. Further, the Area Council recommended the subject lands then be re-incorporated into the Forest Production District.
To view the Area Council’s Comments to King County please visit: www.gmvuac.org and look under the “Correspondence” tab.
Proposed Asphalt Facility
The Area Council discussed and voted on an initial set of detailed comments regarding Lakeside Industries’ proposed move of its Urban Area Asphalt Facility in the City of Covington to the Rural Area at 18825 SE Renton-Maple Valley Highway (old location of Sunset Materials and King County Shops).
The Area Council continues to conduct extensive research on this proposal, but has just started its review of three key documents submitted by the Applicant recently posted on the King County Department of Permitting & Environmental Review (DPER) web page (http://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/permitting-environmental-review/info/SpecialInterest.aspx).
One overarching impediment to the proposed facility is that in order to comply with its own Comprehensive Plan’s mandatory requirements, King County cannot proceed to approve a new industrial use on this site in lieu of immediately rezoning the property to Rural Residential.
The Area Council will submit a set of Comments to DPER prior to the November 24 deadline.
Upcoming Events
GMVUAC Biennial Citizens’ Survey-November 20 thru December 15, the Area Council will be conducting its Biennial Rural Area Citizens’ Survey online at www.gmvuac.org)(just click the Survey button). It addresses issues that affect you, your family, and your neighborhood, including planning, zoning, development, traffic, economics, water, and sewage. As part of the survey, you may also express your interest in becoming either a member of the GMVUAC or a non-member participant on any of its various Committees. Your input is needed and valuable and, as always, will be kept confidential. Soon you will receive a postcard announcing the Survey.
All-Rural Area UAC Meeting with the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC)—Tuesday, November 28, from 6:30 – 8:30 PM, at the KCLS Service Center, 960 Newport Way, Issaquah. PSRC Executive Director, Josh Brown, will discuss the newly approved four-County Regional Economic Strategies. Discussion will focus on Rural Area economic opportunities. All four Rural Area UACs will participate: GMVUAC, Four Creeks UAC (FCUAC), Upper Bear Creek UAC (UBCUAC), and Green Valley/Lake Homs Association (GV/LHA).
GMVUAC Monthly Meeting—Monday, December 4, from 7 – 9 PM, at the Fire Station located at the SE corner of SE 231st St & SR-169 intersection across from the Police Precinct. All members of the Public are welcome to attend. Each meeting begins with an open Public Comment period. Lakeside Industries, which has proposed constructing an Asphalt Facility along SR-169 at the Sunset Materials site between Maple Valley and Renton, will present details of its proposal.
Your Area Council serves as an all-volunteer, locally elected advisory body to King County on behalf of all rural unincorporated area residents living in the Tahoma School District. For more information, please visit: www.gmvuac.org.
*** NOTE: Five positions are open on your 16-member Area Council. If you live in the Tahoma School District outside the City of Maple Valley (see Service Area Map on our web site), you are invited to apply to become a member. Please send a letter of interest to GMVUAC, P. O. Box 111, Maple Valley, WA 98038 or attend our next monthly meeting. ***
