It’s official: Maple Ridge and Maple Woods are now part of the city of Maple Valley.

Ty Peterson, director of community development for the city, said the annexation of the neighborhoods into Maple Valley will be effective July 26.

“The annexation has been planned by the city and King County since incorporation of the city,” Peterson said. “For years an agreement between the city and the developer prevented the city from annexation unless the developer agreed. That agreement was vacated in late 2007.”

Peterson said last summer a petition was presented and authorized by the Maple Valley City Council for circulation in the two neighborhoods.

“In the fall of 2008 the county officially recognized the area as being a Maple Valley Potential Annexation Area (PAA),” Peterson said. “The petition was certified as sufficient in April presented and accepted by the council after a public hearing in May then approved by the King County Boundary Review Board in July.”

The City Council unanimously approved an ordinance annexing the development, which covers 150 acres and has about 575 households, into Maple Valley at its July 13 meeting.

“Next, the city has hired a consulting firm, Calm River, to conduct the required census of the area that will begin immediately through August,” Peterson said. “The city and county are working toward an interlocal agreement that deals with vested permitting, development financial guarantees, and transfer of county owned facilities such as drainage ponds.”