Metropolitan King County Council 516 Third Ave., Rm. 1200 Seattle, WA 98104 Phone: 206-296-1000 Toll Free: 800-325-6165 TTY/TDD: 206-296-1024 Fax: 206-296-0198 council@kingcounty.gov
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June 26, 2007 Dunn Amendment Reaches Consensus on “Doughnut Hole”An amendment by Metropolitan King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn brought together the four groups involved in the discussion of the sale of the “Summit Pit” or “Doughnut Hole” site in Maple Valley. The adoption of the amendment lead to the Council’s unanimous adoption at their June 25 meeting of an ordinance granting the King County Executive permission to enter into exclusive negotiations on the sale of the site with the YarrowBay Group.
The amendment proposed by Dunn brought consensus within the Council the King County Executive, YarrowBay Group and the city of Maple Valley
“I was very pleased that I could bring everyone together to find a foothold of common ground,” said Dunn. “This will be a long process for deciding what might become of the ‘Doughnut Hole’ property. There is no way we can get there unless everyone is working together collaboratively.”
Councilmember Dunn asked for a recess at the Council’s Growth Management and Natural Resources Committee meeting June 19 for the purpose of bringing representatives from Maple Valley and the YarrowBay Group together to discuss their concerns. Out of that meeting another meeting was scheduled Monday where agreement was reached on an amendment that all sides could support.
Brian Ross, YarrowBay Group’s managing partner, commended Councilmember Dunn for bringing all the concerned parties to the table. “We’re pleased that the Council agrees this potential transaction presents a unique opportunity. “We support Councilmember Dunn’s amendment and look forward to working with King County and the city of Maple Valley toward a plan that promises a win-win outcome for everyone involved.”
The amendment stated that the city of Maple Valley has a role in the 2008 King County Comprehensive Plan process, which will decide any land use changes made to the site. It also affirmed King County’s intent to see the “Doughnut Hole” annexed into the city of Maple Valley in the future.
Maple Valley’s representatives – Mayor Laure Iddings and City Manager Anthony Hemstad were guardedly optimistic. “This is a good first step, but it is a long journey to making this a workable situation for the people of Maple Valley,” said Iddings. “Councilmember Dunn did an excellent job of bringing together the very different interests of the City, the KC Executive and the developer (YarrowBay).”
“The City will continue working with all parties concerned to make sure that annexation occurs at the earliest possible time and that any development is properly mitigated,” added Hemstad. “It is encouraging that the Dunn amendment did commit all parties to work together and foresees the Doughnut Hole being a part of the City in the future.”
“We’ve been talking to stakeholders and looking at options for the Summit Pit site for nearly two years,” said County Executive Ron Sims. “It’s exciting that we can now start negotiating to find consensus on an end use that will bring benefits to everyone involved.”
The “Doughnut Hole” site is 156 acres completely surrounded by the City of Maple Valley, which currently houses a King County Department of Transportation maintenance facility, a gravel pit and nine-holes of the Elk Run Golf Course. It is zoned rural RA-5, or one house per five acres. The rural zoning on the property would have to change in the 2008 King County Comprehensive Plan update in order to fully develop the site and any agreement on purchase of the property will have to address the loss of the maintenance facility by King County.
The ordinance passed by the Council also indicated that an agreement will involve the transfer of 276 acres of privately held land along the Green River to King County. The property, known as Icy Creek, has long been sought for public ownership by The Middle Green River Coalition, a local environmental group, Washington State, and King County. The ordinance passed by Council is the first step in bringing this important conservation and recreation land into public ownership.
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