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Pflug takes a new role in state government
Collective gardens ban still up in the air
BY TJ MARTINELL BY TJ MARTINELL
tmartinell@maplevalleyreporter.com
State Sen. Cheryl Pflug, a Republican from Maple Valley, had just two hours to decide if she wanted to accept an appointment to the Washington Growth Management Board. “I really I had zero time to think about it,” she said. “I did apply for the position along with a lot of other people a few months ago, but I hadn’t really expected I would really get the opportunity.” Pflug accepted the position and resigned her elected role representing the 5th District, which includes Maple Valley, with the Washington state Senate. The Growth Management Board was enacted in 1990 and rules on disputes that arise from county and city growth-planning policies in the state. The board has representation from three unique geographical and regional areas in the state, including the Eastern region for counties and cities east of the Cascade Mountains, the Central Puget Sound region and the Western region for counties and cities west of the Cascade Mountains. Pflug’s position is a six-year term. Having recently completed her law degree at Seattle University, Pflug stated in a telephone interview that her newly acquired education as well as her home near the urban growth boundary, will help her in making decisions on the board. “It’s a good opportunity to learn a really specialized area of law and so that’s something I like to do,” she said. “Most of the people on the hearing board are lawyers. A couple of people
tmartinell@maplevalleyreporter.com
Kentlake’s Laura Rayfeild is excited to turn her tassel, Left, Kentwood’s Inspirational Pomp and Top, Speaker Sammi Brooks, Bottom Left, Kaylynn Lawrence and Mitch Hoffman tease each other to Kentwood’s graduation, Bottom Right, Tahoma’s Julianne Reilly and Connor Durkin wait Circumstance prior to give speeches. To view slide shows log on to covingtonreporter.com. KRIS HILL, The Reporter
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INDOOR AND OUTDOOR GARDENS
The Maple Valley Planning Commission voted to not recommend the proposed ordinance to ban collective gardens at its June 6 meeting. The commission voted 4-3 after a vote to support recommending the ordinance failed, according to planning commission member Ryan Ryals. Brennan Taylor, the vice chairman for the Planning Commission, stated in a telephone interview this vote merely means that the commission is against the proposed ban. “The Planning Commission’s choices were to approve that draft recommendation or not approve,” he said. “And so that’s the option to not approve that doesn’t necessarily mean allow it, because to allow it has implications that go beyond what the focus of the meeting was.” The vote, he said, does not imply that the commission is recommending an approval for collective garden zoning. “If you’re going to allow collective gardens you’re going to have to zone for those facilities and currently in city code it’s not there,” Taylor said. The Maple Valley City Council voted at its May 16 meeting to allow city staff to write a proposal for the ordinance. Numerous city officials have stated the need for a ban due to conflict between state and federal law. Taylor said it’s the same reason he voted to approve recommending the ordinance, even though he believes medical marijuana should be reclassified to a Schedule II drug.
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