By Kevin Hanson, The Courier-Herald

King County last week released the second draft of its proposed Critical Areas Ordinance, a piece of legislation that has drawn concern from rural residents of the Plateau.

While the county claims the ordinance is designed to protect critical natural resources, land owners see it as a further step toward dictating how individuals can use their land.

A series of public meetings - none on the Plateau - have been schedule to allow for comment on the Critical Areas Ordinance. Those meetings are scheduled for:

€ Tuesday at Issaquah High School

€ Oct. 16 at Tolt Middle School in Carnation

€ Oct. 30 at Tahoma High School in Covington

These sessions will consist of an "information fair" from 5 to 7:30 p.m., followed by a public hearing.

In addition, a meeting has been set specifically to discuss issues pertaining to agriculture. That session will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Oct. 23, at the Covington Library.

Copies of the Critical Areas Ordinance are available at the Enumclaw Public Library, plus all branches of the King County system; on the Internet at www.metrokc.gov/ddes; and at a variety of county offices (Water and Land Division office in Seattle, Department of Development and Environmental services in Renton, and community service centers in Cottage Lake, Fall City, Northshore, Black River, Sammamish and Vashon).

The county will take public comment on the Critical Areas Ordinance until Nov. 14. Comments can be made at any of the public hearings, by e-mailing CAO-StormwaterUpdate-@metrokc.gov, at the Web site www.metrokc.gov/ddes/cao, or by mailing to CAO comments, 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 600, Seattle 98104.

It's expected County Executive Ron Sims will forward a final draft of the ordinance to the Metropolitan King County Council early next year.

Kevin Hanson can be reached at khanson@courierherald.com