Community Development Projects

Every year the City accepts proposals for potential amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and Unified Land Development Code through a process called the Annual Docket. Members of the public, City boards and commissions, and City staff can propose amendments though the Annual docket. Applications are accepted September 1 through October 1 each year. After the application period, city staff prepares a recommendation for which Annual Docket proposals should be added to the Community Planning and Development (CPD) work plan. Next, the Planning Commission reviews the proposals and makes a recommendation to the City Council. Finally, the City Council considers the staff and Planning Commission recommendations and decides which Annual Docket proposals are added to the Final Docket. Items added to the Final Docket will be placed on the CPD work plan work plan for legislative review.

The WA State Growth Management Act (GMA) requires the City of Mercer to periodically review and update its comprehensive plan. The Comprehensive Plan is the City's statement of vision, goals, and policies for managing growth in a twenty-year timeframe. The primary focus of this periodic review is to update the Comprehensive Plan for the period of 2024-2044.

2750 77th Ave SE & 2885 78th Ave SE

An application is under review by the City for a new mixed-use building. The proposed building will be 4 stories above grade with 164 apartments and 10,742 square feet of ground level retail space. The proposal also includes two levels of below-grade parking, landscaped public plazas, a 20-foot wide public through-block pedestrian connection along the north side of the property and a private courtyard for tenants.

2825 West Mercer Way

A proposal has been submitted to subdivide this property into 14 residential lots (SUB19-002). Demolition of the East Seattle School building has been completed. The subdivision proposal is currently under review by the City.

As wireless technology continues to advance, carriers continue to roll out new and replacement cellular antennas on Mercer Island. Federal regulation of these facilities also continues to evolve. Since 2016, the city has seen two major deployments of small wireless facilities. In addition, the city adopted interim regulations related to "small cell" facilities and is in the process of adopting a permanent update to wireless regulations.

In early 2020, a development company purchased the former Farmers Insurance property near Mercerdale Park, with plans to renovate the structure, built in 1982. The existing 146,000-square-foot office building is receiving significant modernization of interior spaces and minor upgrades to outdoor facades and the plaza areas.

As a large commercial project, the development was required to apply for formal Design Review with the City, which triggered a public hearing on December 9, 2020.

The Design Commission approved the following exterior modifications:

1. Repainting the existing building and screen wall
2. Removing the berm and adding landscaping and seating areas along the 77^th Avenue SE façade.
3. Adding a glass atrium to the front entry
4. Adding a roof deck and access to the roof

A building permit for the proposed changes to the exterior, as well as an interior remodel, was later approved and construction was completed in mid-2021. In late 2021, the property was sold to Riot Games.