Vision Statement:

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.

Puget Sound Regional Council VISION 2050 (p.40):

“Rural Areas are expected to retain important cultural, economic, and rural lifestyle opportunities in the region over the long term. They are not intended to be served with urban services or accommodate a significant amount of residential or employment growth. VISION 2050 calls for reduced rural population growth rates in all counties. Counties are encouraged to plan for even lower growth—where possible—than contained in the Regional Growth Strategy.”

NOTE: Links to external websites do not constitute an endorsement by the GMVUAC.

Vision Statement:

Puget Sound Regional Council VISION 2050 (p.40):

NOTE: Links to external websites do not constitute an endorsement by the GMVUAC.

GMVUAC Monthly Meetings

Mondays

Mar 3, 2025-Agenda; Zoom
Apr 7, 2025

7:00 – 9:30; Fire Station 81 Meeting Room, 22225 SE 231^st St, Maple Valley; Also virtually via Zoom.

Major Issues

Planning

GMV/CR CSA Subarea Plan
KCCP 2024 Major Update *
PSRC Regional Transportation Plan *
PSRC VISION 2050 *
CPP 2021 Update *
KCCP 2020 Mid-Point Update *

Regional

Adult Beverage Ordinance
Emergent Traffic Corridors
Hirst and Legislative Fix
Onsite Sewage Systems
Utility Franchise Compensation

Local

Asphalt Facility
Cedar Hills Regional Landfill
Glamping & RV Park Permit Application
Landsburg Mine Site Cleanup
John Henry Coal Mine #1
Maple Valley Market Conversion
Queen City Farms
Reserve Silica

* : Joint effort with other King County Rural Organizations (see “Joint Rural Team” box below)

Joint Rural Team

Multiple rural organizations collaborate to provide residents a voice with their “local” government, King County.

Currently, the GMVUAC’s Regional Coordinator serves the Joint Rural Team’s Coordinator.

For more information see: Joint Rural Team

Drop us a line

Ask a question or express your interest:

GMVUAC
PO Box 111
Maple Valley WA 98038

Contact

King County Volunteer Program

Volunteer Opportunities

Including Parks, Trails, Cleanups

Announcements

Monthly Meetings

On Monday, April 7, 2025, the Area Council will hold its regular monthly meeting from 7 – 9:30 PM at the Maple Valley Fire Station at 22225 SE 231st St. Guest Speakers: TBD. All monthly meetings are hybrid—in-person and on Zoom. As the meeting date approaches, please see “GMVUAC Monthly Meetings” box for Agenda and Zoom information.

On Monday, March 3, 2025, the Area Council held its regular monthly meeting from 7 – 9:30 PM at the Maple Valley Fire Station at 22225 SE 231st St. Our Guest Speakers were: (1) Reserve Silica company officials who discussed ongoing operations and answered questions and (2) King County Subarea Planners who discussed the ongoing Greater Maple Valley/Cedar River (GMV/CR) Community Service Area (CSA) Subarea Plan. For an article summarizing the meeting please click on: “* 3/3 — CAO Update” in the 2025/2024 GMVUAC Monthly Meeting Articles box or go to the “Correspondence” drop-down menu and click on “Monthly Articles” and select “2025.”

GMV/CR CSA Subarea Plan

The Greater Maple Valley/Cedar River (GMV/CR) Community Service Area (CSA) Subarea Plan is now being developed. The Area Council territory makes up most of the GMV/CR CSA, so this will be the Subarea Plan for our local area. The Subarea Plan focusses on locally specific policies that address long-range community vision over the next 20 years. A King County Subarea Planning team has been working with the Area Council for many months and ensuring the Subarea Plan is centered on community engagement. Also, for the King County GMV/CR CSA Subarea Plan website, please see: GMV/CR CSA Subarea Plan (https://publicinput.com/greatermaplevalley).

Area Council Committee (Environment, Growth Management, and Transportation) meetings were held on January 22, 2025, to discuss Objectives, Issues, and Policies for the Subarea Plan. Members of the King County Subarea team attended each meeting providing a wealth of maps, data, and expertise.

2024 KCCP Major Update

On March 17, 2025, the Joint Rural Team (nine Rural Area Unincorporated Area Councils / Unincorporated Area Associations / Organizations, coordinated by the Area Council) submitted Comments on the King County Executive’s 2024 Proposed Update to the King County Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) and Best Available Science (BAS), October 2024, to the King County Council’s Local Services & Land-Use Committee. This is the final piece of the 2024 KCCP Major Ten-Year Update (it is being administratively handled by the King County Council an an annual update for 2025).

Reserve Silica

On March 17, 2025, the GMVUAC submitted a Comments Letter and a Table to the King County Department of Local Services–Permitting Division (DLS-P) regarding Reserve Silica’s reclamation and filling activities at its old mining operation in Ravensdale. This was a followup to October 2024 a meeting/correspondence (see below). On October 7, 2024, the Area Council hosted the King County DLS Director and DLS-P personnel. Area Council members presented slides detailing specific concerns related to permitting and reclamation activities at the Reserve Silica site SE of Ravensdale. On October 18, 2024, as a followup to that meeting a Table of Discussion Items, Area Council Comments and Requests were submitted to KC DLS-P.

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News

Proposed Glamping and RV Park

On October 24, 2023, the CDUP23-0002 Permit Application to site a Glamping / Recreational Vehicle (RV) Park in Ravensdale was withdrawn by the applicant. On August 6, 2023, the Area Council submitted comprehensive Comments on CDUP23-0002. The proposal is for construction, in three phases, of a recreational campsite in Ravensdale in the Rural Area consisting of 49 units (25 RV, 12 cabin, 8 tent, 3 tipi, 1 camp host cabin), together with all the supporting facilities, such as parking, toilet/shower, kitchen, office/host and an onsite store for campers. To view the Comments, click on the "Glamping" item in the "Major Issues" box under "Local."

Asphalt Facility

On April 14, 2022, the King County Department of Local Services--Permitting Division approved Lakeside Industry's development and shoreline permits (see: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/local-services/permits/public-notices.aspx). Members of the Public have submitted a Land-Use Petition to Superior Court arguing against this decision calling for either preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement or additional mitigation to address the environmental impacts.

2021 CPP Update

On April 6, 2022, the 2021 Countywide Planning Policies (CPPs) were ratified by the cities and towns in King County following the King County 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 team of Rural Area UACs and UAAs (Unincorporated Area Associations) in a complete review of multiple drafts and preparation of detailed written comments.

Cedar Hills Regional Landfill

On March 22, 2022, the King County Dept. of Natural Resources--Solid Waste Division issued a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on its Cedar Hills Regional Landfill 2020 Site Development Plan and Facilities Relocation. The FEIS includes changes to the September 2020 Draft EIS (DEIS) based on new information learned, and comments received, as well as responses to comments submitted on the draft EIS. As part of State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requirements, the Final EIS contains a Responsiveness Summary (Appendix M), which provides the public with responses from the Solid Waste Division to all the questions and comments that were received during the public comment period for the Draft EIS. Please visit the project website to review the FEIS documents.