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King County Rural Economic Strategies
The focus this summer of the Rural Economic Strategies has been on getting the Rural Services Web site online and rural resident input on the proposed code changes. Significant outreach and public participation will reshape the proposed rural code changes to better align with rural character while allowing flexibility within the agriculture, forestry, and home-based business arenas. The revised rural code changes will be submitted by Executive Sims to the King County Council August 31. We will post the revised rural code change package on this site once it is submitted to the Council. Additional information on the proposed rural code changes is included below.
Get involved
Several on-going projects will receive additional attention this fall, if you are interested in participating in any of these, please contact the Rural Economic Strategies Coordinator, Julia Larson.
Agricultural Kitchens – the county is working with numerous individuals and organizations to determine the locations and needs of agricultural kitchens to serve the residents of the rural area.
Barn Again – the county is working with the Landmarks Commission, individuals, and organizations on the Barn Again Initiative. This fall we will be exploring options for adaptive reuse of barns and proposing revisions to county codes as needed to allow compatible options.
Rural issues and potential code revision – while a package of proposed changes is being submitted to the County Council at the end of August, other issues and changes may be needed, such as for adaptive reuse of historic barns. If you have any ideas or suggestions please let us know.
Farmer Chef Networking Conference – will be held in February of 2007 to bring farmers and chefs together so chefs can find the farmer(s) that grows or produces the products they need.
Purpose of the proposed rural code changes
The purpose of this effort is to implement several strategies within the Rural Economic Strategies Report. These strategies relate to enhancing and/or promoting agriculture, forestry, and home-based businesses throughout the rural area of King County.
- RES-A3 Enhance the Agricultural Market and Economic Base
- RES-F1 Promote and Enhance Forestry
- RES-H1 Promote and Encourage Compatible Home-Based Businesses
Public review documents
The first document, the Summary Report, includes an introduction, public review and input process, and a summary of the suggested code changes. The three following documents contain the actual code change text based for each of the rural economic clusters: forestry, agriculture, and home-based business.
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Forestry code changes text – Public review draft (pdf)
Text of suggested forestry code changes, as proposed by Rural Forest Commission
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Agriculture code changes text – Public review draft (pdf)
Text of suggested agriculture and animal care code changes, as proposed by rural residents, business owners, and the Agriculture Commission
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Home-Based business code changes text – Public review draft (pdf)
Text of suggested home-based business changes as approved by the King County Council’s Growth Management and Natural Resources Committee
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Implementation of the strategies
If you are interested in being involved in implementation of the proposed Strategies and Action Items or wish to propose new strategies or action items, please contact Julia Larson, Coordinator for the Rural Economic Strategies, at the following:
Julia Larson, Coordinator
Rural Economic Strategies
Office of Business Relations and Economic Development
BOA-EX-2000
701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2000
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: 206-296-1062
Fax: 206-205-0719 FAX
E-mail: julia.larson@metrokc.gov
The Rural Economic Strategies Report
The Rural Economic Strategies Report has been developed to help shape an economically viable future for rural King County while working with the distinct rural communities in the county to maintain their unique characteristics.
This year we plan to continue the ongoing dialog with rural stakeholders to implement the strategies and action items in the Report and to continue to identify unmet rural needs, explore opportunities, and build relationships for implementation of the Rural Economic Strategies.
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In November 2004, the King County Council adopted Policy R-107 as part of the Comprehensive Plan Update. This Policy states that:
- King County shall develop and implement rural economic strategies, which shall be consistent with the character and service levels of the Rural Area.
- The strategies were developed in coordination with the Rural Forest Commission, the Agricultural Commission, interested rural citizens, and other stakeholders.
- The strategies were transmitted to the King County Council on December 30, 2005.
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The Rural Economic Strategies will focus both regionally and around specific economic clusters. These clusters will include:
- Agriculture
- Forestry
- Home-based businesses
- Tourism and recreation
- Rural Towns and Commercial Neighborhood Centers
- Rural cities
The strategies will focus compatible retail, commercial, or potential industrial businesses into the existing rural communities, as identified in the Comprehensive Plan and listed below:
Rural cities: Black Diamond, Enumclaw, Duvall, Carnation, Snoqualmie, North Bend, and Skykomish.
Rural towns: Fall City, Snoqualmie Pass (Alpental), and Town of Vashon.
Rural neighborhoods:
- Bear Creek : Cottage Lake and Redmond-Fall City Road/236th NE.
- East King County : Greenwater, Baring, and Timberlane Village.
- Enumclaw: Cumberland , Krain's Corner, and Newaukum.
- Newcastle : Coalfield and East Renton Plateau.
- Snoqualmie: Preston and Stillwater.
- Tahoma/Raven Heights: Maple Valley , Hobart , Ravensdale, and North Cedar Grove Road.
- Vashon: Burton , Dockton, Heights Dock, Jack's Corner, Maury Island Service Center, Portage , Tahlequah, Vashon Heights, and Vashon Service Center.
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Continuing the dialogue with rural stakeholders is a key component to the implementation and effectiveness of the Rural Economic Strategies. Meetings with several stakeholder groups have already been scheduled and others will follow during the year.
If you wish to schedule a meeting to talk about the Rural Economic Strategies or to recommend a new strategy or action item, please contact the Coordinator, Julia Larson.
| Stakeholder groups consulted |
King County Agriculture Commission
King County Rural Forest Commission
King County Unincorporated Area Councils
- Four Creeks Area Community Council
- Greater Maple Valley Area Council
- Upper Bear Creek Community Council
- Vashon-Maury Island Community Council
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King County Rural Cites
- Black Diamond, meeting with the Mayor
- Carnation, Presentation to City Council and meetings with staff
- Duvall, Presentation to the City Council and meetings with staff and attended the Economic Development Open House
- Enumclaw, meetings with the Mayor and Staff
- North Bend, Presentation to City Council and meetings with staff
- Skykomish, Presentation to City Council & attended Vision 2010 public meetings
- Snoqualmie, meetings with the City Council, Community Relations Committee
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| Other related organizations and stakeholders |
4Culture
American Farmland Trust
Cascade Harvest Coalition
Conservancy, Presentation of "The Cascade Agenda, 100 Years Forward
Food Innovation Center of Oregon State Univ
Green River Community College
Maple Valley- Black Diamond Chamber of Commerce
Puget Sound Fresh |
Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theater
Snoqualmie Valley Governments Association
Suburban Cities Association, meetings with the Small Cities Caucus group
Vashon Chamber of Commerce
Vashon Forest Stewards
Washington State Department of Agriculture, Small Farms Program
Washington State University Extension
WSU Small Business Development Center |
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Several strategies and action items are currently being implmeneted, others strategies will be initiated throughout the year. We will update this page once schedules are created.
For more information, please contact:
Julia Larson, Coordinator
Rural Economic Strategies
Office of Business Relations and Economic Development
BOA-EX-2000
701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2000
Seattle, WA 98104
206-296-1062
206-205-0719 FAX
email: julia.larson@metrokc.gov
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