Kent City Council appoints two to Land Use and Planning Board

Sally McDonough and Michael Purewall were appointed to the Kent Land Use and Planning Board by the City Council.

McDonough and Purewall will fill vacancies on the seven-member board after their appointment July 6 by the council. They will start immediately and their terms expire Dec. 31, 2024. Gwen Allen-Carston and Paul Hintz previously held the positions.

McDonough is a long-time Kent resident with a rich background in education and community service, according to city staff. Formerly a member of the Kent Parks Foundation, she has also held various positions at Mom’s Day Out, the Eastside Romance Writers of America, the Lake Meridian Community Association, the Seattle Art Museum Volunteer Association and the CO2 Foundation Board.

Having raised her family in Kent, she said she is excited to continue giving back to the community in her new role on the board.

Purewall is a contractor who has worked on projects in Kent including the Sound Transit Link light rail extension and brings a wealth of knowledge related to development, land use, regulations and the environment, according to city staff.

He said he is looking forward to being a liaison between his community and the city, to help educate his network on long-term plans for Kent while representing community interests and values through his role on the board. Purewall brings a younger generation’s perspective to the board, and will make a great addition with his experience and enthusiasm, according to city staff.

The other members of the board include Ali Shasti, Shane Amodei, Dione Dittmar, Katherine Jones and Joseph O’Toole.

The board makes recommendations to the City Council via workshops and public hearings on City Code updates, development regulations, comprehensive plan updates and other long-term land use planning topics.