King County considering changes to Comprehensive Plan

The King County Comprehensive Plan guides growth and development in the unincorporated areas of King County and sets county policy on major issues such as annexations, transportation, and the environment. The King County Comprehensive Plan was adopted under the State Growth Management Act in 1994. Technical changes to this plan can be made once a year. Substantive changes can be made every four years, during a major plan update. In 2008, King County will be conducting its third major update of the King County Comprehensive Plan since the State Growth Management Act was approved.

King County Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES) Director Stephanie Warden said, "Our department is looking forward to getting quality citizen input at the five public meetings scheduled for October." Warden also stated, "The draft update has some new and innovative land use policies that will make King County a national leader in two areas. We want to start integrating public health more extensively with land use decisions and begin evaluating climate change impacts during environmental review of larger development projects. The draft also updates and integrates our 30 year-old Shoreline Master Program into the Comprehensive Plan."

King County's Web site has a wealth of information to help citizens navigate the public review process:

• Detailed information about the King County Comprehensive Plan and the 2008 update is available at your.kingcounty.gov/permits/codes/CompPlan/2008.
• Information about the King County Shoreline Master Program update can be found at your.kingcounty.gov/shorelines.
• See the 2008 Comp Plan Update public meetings flyer at your.kingcounty.gov/permits/codes/CompPlan/2008CompPlanUpdatePublicMeetingsFlyer.pdf (PDF, 395KB) for a quick summary.
• Go to your.kingcounty.gov/permits/codes/PublicMeetings.aspx for addresses and directions to the public meetings.

Public meetings will be held on the following dates.

Saturday, Oct. 6
1 to 3 p.m.
Lake Washington School District Admin. Bldg. Board Room
16250 NE 74th Street, Redmond

Thursday, Oct. 11
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Cascade View Elementary School
34816 SE Ridge Street, Snoqualmie

Monday, Oct. 15
7:30 to 9 p.m.
Vashon-Maury Island UAC Meeting
Courthouse Square
19021 Vashon Highway SW, Vashon

Tuesday, Oct. 16
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Kentridge High School, Room A-20
12430 SE 208th Street, Kent

Thursday, Oct. 18
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
White Center Heights Elementary
10015 Sixth Avenue SW, Seattle

For more information on the King County Comprehensive Plan update, contact Paul Reitenbach at 206-296-6705.