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Commission approves reappointment, zoning and grant packages; buys land to restore Churchwells access
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Summary
King County commissioners voted March 24 to reappoint a member to the Council on Aging, approve multiple land‑use ordinances and a zoning change in Alpine Meadows, fund farmers‑market and downtown façade grants, authorize purchase of SITLA land to restore property access in Churchwells, and approve a fence agreement near Alton.
The King County Commission on March 24 approved a slate of routine and substantive items, including a reappointment to the Council on Aging, a zoning change in Alpine Meadows, amendments to the county land‑use code, new small‑business grants, and a purchase of state trust land to restore property access in Churchwells.
At the start of the regular session the board voted to adopt Resolution R2026‑9 to reappoint Beverly Densmore to the King County Council on Aging through 2029 after staff said Loretta Ozog could not continue. "She currently serves as the secretary, keeps all the minutes and keeps everything straight," Patty Cabello said in support of the reappointment.
On land use, commissioners approved Ordinance 2026‑07 to rezone Lot 194‑24 in the Alpine Meadows subdivision from Commercial 1 to Commercial 2. "It's already commercial so I don't see a big jump," a commissioner said during debate; staff and the Planning & Zoning recommendation were cited as supporting the change.
The board also passed Ordinance O2026‑08, an update to Title 9, Chapter 27 of the county Land Use Ordinance to recognize county Class B and D roads as allowable historic livestock/migration trails and to align chapter language with state resource‑management planning, a change presented by planning staff Taylor.
On economic development, the commission approved recommendations from the King County Economic Opportunity Board. Kelly Stoll, chair of that board, described two requests: $10,000 to support farmers markets across the county (estimated to benefit roughly 80 small vendors) and a downtown façade/tenant‑improvement, sign, and beautification grant program that will use a 50/50 match model (façade grants up to $7,500 per application; sign grants up to $2,500; beautification grants up to $1,000). The board added a permitting requirement so funds are disbursed only after proof of required municipal permits.
The commission voted to approve a county purchase of State School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) Certificate of Sale No. 27339 to resolve access issues in the Churchwells area. Staff said the county will resurvey the parcel and then convey individual parcels back to property owners; county attorney Jeff Scott was directed to negotiate removal of any restrictive contract terms (for example mineral rights clauses) that would prevent the intended transfers.
The board also approved an agreement allowing the Alton High Fence Committee to place and maintain fencing just inside the county right‑of‑way to reduce wildlife collisions and safeguard property. Taylor said the committee would be fully responsible for construction and maintenance costs.
Each of these items passed on voice votes. The meeting then adjourned into the Board of Equalization session to consider exempt‑property applications.
What happens next: staff will prepare ordinance language and return proposed zoning/land‑use edits to Planning & Zoning for formal review where required; counsel will negotiate contract terms for the SITLA purchase before final signing.