County panel suggests easing rural zoning laws

Proposed changes to rural zoning laws would make it easier for King County farmers to house workers and for people to operate home-based businesses.

County officials will hold a public meeting next week and have scheduled several other meetings with community groups to get feedback on the proposals.

King County Executive Ron Sims' Office of Business Relations and Economic Development suggested loosening some development restrictions, and the County Council's Growth Management and Natural Resources Committee amended the proposal to give property owners more flexibility.

For years some rural landowners have been asking for less restrictive rules on home businesses. Relations between Sims and the property owners have been strained since the council enacted tough development rules under a new critical-areas ordinance two years ago.

Sims' economic-development office has recommended allowing one dwelling unit for temporary or permanent farmworkers on 20 acres, two units for up to 50 acres, three units for up to 100 acres, and one unit for each additional 100 acres. Each housing unit could be no larger than 1,000 square feet.

Now zoning allows only one dwelling unit in addition to the farmer's home. Julia Larson, coordinator of Sims' Rural Economic Strategy, said the need for more farmworker housing was raised "at every single meeting" held with rural community groups since December.

Sims also would increase from 2,000 square feet to 3,500 square feet the area on which property owners could sell farm products or process food without a conditional-use permit. Restrictions on the size of wineries and breweries also would be relaxed.

Public meetings

King County land-use and economic-development officials will hold a public meeting next Tuesday on proposed zoning changes intended to ease restrictions on rural businesses. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. at the Preston Community Center, 8615 310th Ave. S.E.

The proposals also will be discussed at the following meetings:

7 tonight: at Four Creeks Unincorporated Area Council, May Valley Alliance Church, 16431 S.E. Renton-Issaquah Road.

Noon Aug. 3: Duvall Chamber of Commerce, Duvall Fire Station meeting room, 15600 First Ave. N.E.

7 p.m. Aug. 7: Greater Maple Valley Area Council, King County Police Precinct 3, 22300 S.E. 231st St.

Public comment on the proposals will be accepted until Aug. 10. More information can be found at www.metrokc.gov/exec/news/2006/0718rural.aspx

Landowners would be allowed to thin forests in critical areas and buffers without losing the right to develop the property in the following six years, as is currently the case. Rules would be eased only for thinning undertaken for the purpose of enhancing forest health or preventing fires.

The council's growth-management committee this month approved amendments that would allow customers to visit home-based services, such as hairstyling or medical treatment, without appointments. Entrepreneurs also could sell products from their homes, rather than having to sell by mail order or from stores at remote sites.

Home businesses, which now can hire only one outside employee, would be allowed to hire three under the growth committee's amendments.

The committee also would allow more pickups or other vehicles to be parked outside home businesses, would eliminate the requirement for landscaping around storage areas and would boost the amount of space that could be used for business purposes both indoors and outdoors.

Sims is scheduled to report to the County Council on public comment received and on his final recommendations by Aug. 31.

Keith Ervin: 206-464-2105 or kervin@seattletimes.com