The Maple Valley City Council passed a resolution Monday bringing the Summit Place property, better known as the donut hole, a step closer to annexation by the city.

The council passed the measure with one dissenting vote from Councilman Dave Pilgrim.

The resolution is an interlocal agreement between the city and King County concerning the joint plan for Summit Place.

YarrowBay is in the process of purchasing the 156-acre property from King County.

Ty Peterson, community planning director, and City Attorney Christy Todd, presented a brief history of the situation recapping the negotiations that moved the city from the outside looking in, to a having a seat at the table.

Paul Reitenbach, project manger for the county, said eight months ago the city and county were not in a happy place, but through negotiations conducted by the staff over the ensuing months the city is on the edge of annexing the development.

Annexation means the city will receive the impact fees and the development will be constructed using city standards.

The tricky piece to the annexation puzzle is it must be competed by the end of the year according to city staff.

Todd told the council if annexation “does not happen timely” King County will become “governing authority” for the development.

After a public hearing, the council debated the issue.

Councilman David Pilgrim said, “I was not supportive of the level of densities. It has been gnawing at me.”

Pilgrim stated because of the densities he would not support the measure.

Deputy Mayor Glenn Smith said of Pilgrim’s position, “I appreciate that comment and I agree.”

Councilman Noel Gerken said, “I think we have a decent agreement and I think we need to move forward. If we don’t, we risk it reverting back to the county.”

Councilman Layne Barnes said, “I’m not happy with the densities and with the commercial. Part of me would love to vote with councilman Pilgrim and Smith…. Regardless of what we do this development will go forward.”

Mayor Laure Iddings noted “it’s not perfect and the densities are an issue, but what we’ve ended up with is significantly less.”

The city is looking at a development of a maximum of 1,600 homes. Earlier numbers as high as 2,000 were considered, if the county were to oversee development, according to city officials.

In the end, Smith decided to vote to approve the ILA stating he has “fought for this joint agreement.”

The next step is for the Interim King County Executive, Kurt Triplett, to present the measure to the King County Council.

County Councilman Reagan Dunn said the “legislation is in the executive’s office. I look forward to sponsoring it and moving it through the process.”

Dunn said Tuesday the executive needed to present the measure to the county council by Thursday for it to be considered before the August break.

“There is a tight frame,” Dunn said. “It needs to be sponsored and put in the system by Thursday or we lose two weeks.”

Dunn said he expected the legislation to pass the council.

“The developer has to have a potential for profit,” Dunn said. “If it has been negotiated in good faith I think it will go through. I certainly support the city’s position, but I haven’t seen the legislation yet.”

Iddings said during a phone interview Tuesday she is “cautiously optimistic” the city can complete the annexation of the area by the end of the year.