Summary

Committee to review properties for inclusion on list for potential submission to voters

Story

The Metropolitan King County Council’s Committee of the Whole will continue its series of hearings on a proposed amendment to the King County Charter, which would establish a higher level of protection for nearly 150,000 acres of rural land:

Wednesday, May 13
9:30 a.m.
Council chambers
10th floor, King County Courthouse
Third and James Streets

If the Council places the “Open Space Amendment” on the ballot, voters would be asked whether to protect properties deemed to have a “high conservation value” against sale, transfer, or change of use, with some limited exceptions, and whether to add an appendix to the charter that contains a list of those properties. The properties under consideration are located throughout unincorporated rural King County and are already set aside for conservation. The County either owns the properties outright or holds development rights in them. As currently proposed, subsequent additions or deletions from the original list of protected properties would require another charter amendment and vote of the people.

The Committee is being briefed on each of the 94 individual properties that have been proposed for enhanced protection in alphabetical order, and it will decide by July whether to put the Open Space Amendment on the ballot. This Wednesday, the Committee will be briefed on:

• Marjorie R. Stanley Natural Area (District 8)
• Maury Island Marine Park (District 8)
• May Valley 164th Natural Area (District 9)
• Middle Bear Creek Natural Area (District 3)
• Middle Evans Creek Natural Area (District 3)
• Middle Fork Snoqualmie Natural Area (District 3)
• Middle Issaquah Creek Natural Area (District 9)
• Mitchell Hill Connector Forest (District 3)
• Moss Lake Natural Area (District 3)
• Mouth of Taylor Reach Natural Area (District 9)
• Neely Bridge Natural Area (District 7)
• Neill Point Natural Area (District 8)
• Nowak Natural Area (Districts 3 & 9)
• Paradise Lake Natural Area (District 3)
• Paradise Valley Natural Area (District 8)
• Patterson Creek Natural Area (District 3)
• Peterson Lake Natural Area (District 9)
• Piner Point Natural Area (District 8)
• Pinnacle Peak Park (District 9)
• Point Heyer Natural Area (District 8)
• Porter Levee Natural Area (District 7)
• Raab's Lagoon Natural Area (District 8)
• Raging River Natural Area (District 3)
• Ravenhill Open Space (District 3)
• Ravensdale Retreat Natural Area (District 9)
• Ricardi Reach Natural Area (District 9)
• Ring Hill Forest (District 3)
• Rock Creek Natural Area (District 9)
• Shadow Lake Natural Area (District 9)
• Shinglemill Creek Natural Area (District 8)


Councilmember Bob Ferguson, chair of the Committee of the Whole, has said that in the interest of a methodical and transparent process, the specific properties being heard will be listed on the committee’s agenda in advance. Agendas are available online.

More information on the proposed Open Space Amendment and the specific properties being considered for protection is also available online.