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A MOTION requesting the executive to solicit approval from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office to increase the overall acreage in the Deed of Right from three hundred thirty acres to five hundred forty-eight acres of the county's interest in Section 36, with future passive development being limited to light impact recreation activities such as pedestrian, equestrian, or biking trails, interpretive signage, picnic areas, and park access road and parking so as not to impair the habitat conservation qualities of the site.
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WHEREAS, in 1993, the county acquired approximately six hundred twenty eight acres of in 1993 known as Section 36 or Soaring Eagle Park; and
WHEREAS, the county purchased Section 36 with funds from the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (now known as the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office or RCO), Real Estate Excise Tax and Conservation Futures Tax; and
WHEREAS, the RCO funds for the purchase of Section 36 included a Project Agreement for a conservation easement deed of right on 330 acres of the County's interest in Section 36; and
WHEREAS, the county engaged in a master planning process and held thirteen public hearings to determine the best use of Section 36; and
WHEREAS, the master planning process involved input from local residents, hikers, cyclists, equestrians, sports clubs, environmental advocates and government officials from the executive and legislative branches; and
WHEREAS, on April 20, 1998, the council approved Motion 10446, the Section 36 master plan which provided for the development of 80 acres for active recreation; and
WHEREAS, due to fiscal constraints around the turn of the century, the county did not develop the 80 acres for active recreation in accordance with the master plan: and
WHEREAS, on March 10, 2008, the council approved Ordinance 16032 allowing for the transfer of approximately thirty acres of Section 36 to the city of Sammamish for the purpose of developing active recreation, and
WHEREAS, the transfer of a thirty acre portion of Section 36 to the city of Sammamish was intended to fulfill, in part, the original intent to develop a limited amount of active recreation at Section 36; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 16032 stated that the council may, at a future date, consider legislation to solicit approval from the RCO to increase the overall acreage in the Project Agreement encumbered by the deed of right from 330 acres to 548 acres of the county's interest in Section 36, with future passive development being limited to light impact recreation activities such as pedestrian, equestrian, biking trails, interpretive signage, picnic areas, and park access road and parking so as not to impair the habitat conservation qualities of the site; and
WHEREAS, the county remains committed to preserving fifty acres of its remaining five hundred ninety-eight acres at Section 36, for the potential development of active recreation, in accordance with the original intent of Motion 10446, the master plan providing for the development of a total of eighty acres of active recreation at Section 36; and
WHEREAS, the county is committed to preserving open space for passive outdoor recreation, conservation of natural areas and environmental features, wildlife habitat, preservation of cultural or scenic value, visual enjoyment and the maintenance of physical and visual buffers between land uses, and the viability of working farms and forests;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
A. The executive shall solicit approval from the RCO to increase the overall acreage in the deed of right from three hundred thirty acres to five hundred forty-eight acres of the county's interest in Section 36, with future passive development being limited to light impact recreation activities such as pedestrian/equestrian/biking trails, interpretive signage, picnic areas, and park access road and parking so as not to impair the habitat conservation qualities of the site.
B. The expansion of the RCO deed of right on the county's interest in five hundred forty-eight acres of Section 36 shall be subject to council approval.