It seems Jay Leno finds Maple Valley’s Donut Hole Controversy pretty funny as it recently received airtime on The Tonight Show. I have to admit, if you’re on the outside looking in, it does seem pretty odd and even funny. …That a City is holding meetings about their Donut Hole issue. But for those of us who live in Maple Valley and are sick and tired of Ron Sims and the King County Council’s questionable political maneuvers (the suspiciously fast passing of the ridiculously strict Critical Areas Ordinance is one example which comes to mind) it’s really not so funny. As a quick recap, the Donut Hole is an area of property (apx 160 acres) currently owned by the County but entirely surrounded by the City. The County is in negotiations to make a trade with a large developer ; the donut hole for a larger piece of rural property. Because the County owns the Donut Hole property, it would control the density and development restrictions, while retaining all of the development fees. In the meantime, the City, which may see it’s population increase by as much as 30% if developed as outlined will have no control over density or building type, but will have the
