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

Aug 3, 2026-Agenda; Zoom
Sep 14, 2026

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

Major Issues

Planning

KCCP 2029 Mid-Point Update *
GMV/CR CSA Subarea Plan
KCCP 2024 Major Update *
PSRC Regional Transp Plan *
PSRC VISION 2050 *
CPP 2021 Update *
KCCP 2020 Mid-Point Update *

Regional

Adult Beverage Ordinance *
Cedar Hills Regional Landfill
Emergent Traffic Corridors
Hirst and Legislative Fix
Onsite Sewage Systems
Util Franchise Compensation

Local

Prop’d Cumberland Mine *
Lakeside Asphalt Facility
Glamp’g & RV Pk Permit Applic
Landsburg Mine Site Cleanup
John Henry Coal Mine #1
MV Market Conversion
Queen City Farms
Reserve Silica

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

Joint Team

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

In April 2025 the Joint Rural team (JRT) expanded into the Joint Team (JT) by adding three Urban Unincorporated Area organizations: Fairwood, Skyway, and West Hill.

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

For more information see:

Joint 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, September 14, 2026, (one week later than the normal “first Monday of the month” due to the Labor Day holiday) from 7 - 9:30 PM at the Maple Valley Fire Station at 22225 SE 231st St (across from the KC Sheriff’s Precinct) the Area Council will meet. 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, August 3, 2026, met and major topics discussed were: (1) Druid’s Glen; (2) KCCP Mid-Point Update; and (3) Proposed Segale Mine. For an article summarizing the meeting please click on: “* 8/3— “Proposed Segale Mine” in the 2026/2025 GMVUAC Monthly Meeting Articles box or go to the “Correspondence” drop-down menu and click on “Monthly Articles” and select “2026.”

2029 KCCP 5-Yr Mid-Point Update

The 2029 King County Comprehensive Plan (KCCP) 5-year Midpoint Update (2029 Midpoint Update) is an opportunity to make substantive policy changes that address long-term needs and advance the County’s policy goals. The Scope of Work was released for Public Comment on July 13, 2026. It will be used to 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. The Joint Team submitted comments on the Scope of Work on August 3, 2026.

GMV/CR CSA Subarea Plan

Work is ongoing on the Greater Maple Valley/Cedar River (GMV/CR) Community Service Area (CSA) Subarea Plan. As the Area Council territory makes up most of the GMV/CR CSA, this is 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. For more information please see the King County GMV/CR CSA Subarea Plan website: GMV/CR CSA Subarea Plan (https://publicinput.com/greatermaplevalley).

A draft of the Preliminary Plan was released for Public review and comment on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. King County hosted a Public Virtual Meeting from on Thursday, April 23, from 6 to 7 PM to discuss the plan and the planning process Register. The Public Comment period closed on Monday, May 18, 2026.

Area Council Committees (Economic, Environment, Growth Management, and Transportation) conducted thorough reviews and prepared detailed comments on their respective portions of the Preliminary Plan. The Area Council submitted those Comments to King County on May 18, 2026. These Comments cover the Executive Summary, all 11 Chapters, and Appendix A—Maps.

King County Community Needs List Survey

King County Local Services is asking people who live in unincorporated areas (areas that lie outside city limits) what would make their communities better places to live.

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News

Proposed Mine Near Cumberland

On August 7, 2026, a south King County (KC) sub-team of the Joint Team submitted detailed comments to KC on its Determination of Significance & EIS Scoping for permit application GRDE23-0083 to site a 990-ac mine and asphalt facility above the Green River and near Kanaskat State Park. To view the Comments, click on the "Proposed Mine Near Cumberland" item in the "Major Issues" box under "Local."

KC DLS — JRT+ Forum

On May 1, 2025, at the Issaquah Highlands Fire Station #73 the King County (KC) Department of Local Services (DLS) and Joint Rural Team plus Urban Unincorporated Organizations (JRT+) held a Forum to discuss: Permitting Division Budget Priorities & Tradeoffs.
The purpose was: “To discuss the DLS Permitting Division’s funding Allocations, Priorities, Trade-offs in a budget-constrained environment.”
A set of Meeting Minutes provides a list of all attendees (21) and the Question-and-Answer (10) discussion.

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).

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.