Comprehensive Plan GMA Compliance

In 2024, the City of Mercer Island adopted a Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update, which was appealed to the Growth Management Hearings Board in 2025. The appeal resulted in a Final Decision and Order, which requires the City to update the Comprehensive Plan to comply with four requirements by July 31, 2026.

Have a question? Ask it here!

Share Does the Station Area proposed Station Area Subarea plan include any part of Luther Burbank park? on Facebook Share Does the Station Area proposed Station Area Subarea plan include any part of Luther Burbank park? on Twitter Share Does the Station Area proposed Station Area Subarea plan include any part of Luther Burbank park? on Linkedin Email Does the Station Area proposed Station Area Subarea plan include any part of Luther Burbank park? link

Does the Station Area proposed Station Area Subarea plan include any part of Luther Burbank park?

Rosemary M asked 22 days ago

No, the Modified Station Area Boundary approved by the City Council does not include any part of Luther Burbank Park.
The Growth Management Act (GMA) defines the station planning area as the lots that are partially or fully located within a half-mile walking distance from light rail station entrances (RCW 36.70A.030(36)). A Modified Station Subarea Boundary may be adopted, subject to Department of Commerce approval. On January 16, 2026, the City Council approved the four guidelines for developing the Modified Station Subarea Boundary:
Guideline 1: Exclude City parks, open space, and the Interstate 90 corridor from the half-mile walking distance area. The areas excluded by Guideline 1 are shown in green on figures 1 and 2. The area excluded by Guideline 1 includes all of Luther Burbank Park and Upper Luther Burbank Park.
Guideline 2: Exclude additional areas that would be non-contiguous after removing city parks, open space, and the I-90 corridor.
Guideline 3: Align the remaining walking distance area with City streets.
Guideline 4: Follow existing zoning boundaries if City streets do not make a logical boundary.
Per Guideline 1 above, all City parks and open space are excluded from the Modified Station Area Boundary. City Council approved the Modified Station Subarea Boundary for the purposes of GMA Compliance on March 17, 2026.
Figure 1: Station Area Boundary Analysis (below) summarizes the step-by-step application of the guidelines as described above.
Figure 2: Guideline 1 excludes City parks, open space, and the Interstate 90 corridor from the proposed station area.
Share Will there be a MFTE Map similar to what the City of Seattle uses to Highlight properties with MFTE units? on Facebook Share Will there be a MFTE Map similar to what the City of Seattle uses to Highlight properties with MFTE units? on Twitter Share Will there be a MFTE Map similar to what the City of Seattle uses to Highlight properties with MFTE units? on Linkedin Email Will there be a MFTE Map similar to what the City of Seattle uses to Highlight properties with MFTE units? link

Will there be a MFTE Map similar to what the City of Seattle uses to Highlight properties with MFTE units?

asked 29 days ago

Thank you for the suggestion. The City of Mercer Island does not currently have regulations establishing a Multi-Family Tax Exemption (MFTE) program, nor any properties benefiting from MFTE. The implementation of MFTE will be explored in Phase 2 of the Station Area Subarea Plan as part of the City's compliance with House Bill (HB) 1491. It is possible that an MFTE map may be assembled following HB 1491 compliance.

-Madelyn Nelson, Assistant Planner
Share I would like to watch the recording of the Growth Management Information Session, but when I click on the link provided in the recent email from the city my browser refuses to access the site due to security issues. I tried two different browsers and neither would allow me to proceed. Please advise. Thanks on Facebook Share I would like to watch the recording of the Growth Management Information Session, but when I click on the link provided in the recent email from the city my browser refuses to access the site due to security issues. I tried two different browsers and neither would allow me to proceed. Please advise. Thanks on Twitter Share I would like to watch the recording of the Growth Management Information Session, but when I click on the link provided in the recent email from the city my browser refuses to access the site due to security issues. I tried two different browsers and neither would allow me to proceed. Please advise. Thanks on Linkedin Email I would like to watch the recording of the Growth Management Information Session, but when I click on the link provided in the recent email from the city my browser refuses to access the site due to security issues. I tried two different browsers and neither would allow me to proceed. Please advise. Thanks link

I would like to watch the recording of the Growth Management Information Session, but when I click on the link provided in the recent email from the city my browser refuses to access the site due to security issues. I tried two different browsers and neither would allow me to proceed. Please advise. Thanks

SteveSchack asked 23 days ago

The video can be accessed via the recent Let's Talk post Community Information Session - Recording and Slides or through the City Council Community Information Session on GMHB Order webpage.

If the links continue to be blocked by the internet browser’s security system, the recording can be navigated to through the City Council webpage or can be accessed on YouTube by searching “3/10/2026 - Mercer Island - Community Information Session” posted by the Mercer Island Council account.

-Madelyn Nelson, Assistant Planner
Share How common is it for cities' comprehensive plans to be ruled "not in compliance?" How many other cities were also asked to revise their plans? on Facebook Share How common is it for cities' comprehensive plans to be ruled "not in compliance?" How many other cities were also asked to revise their plans? on Twitter Share How common is it for cities' comprehensive plans to be ruled "not in compliance?" How many other cities were also asked to revise their plans? on Linkedin Email How common is it for cities' comprehensive plans to be ruled "not in compliance?" How many other cities were also asked to revise their plans? link

How common is it for cities' comprehensive plans to be ruled "not in compliance?" How many other cities were also asked to revise their plans?

elsa.bzj asked 2 months ago

The Growth Management Hearings Board (GMHB) rules on a multitude of cases related to implementation of the Growth Management Act (GMA)--such as development, zoning, and critical area ordinances. Local jurisdictions are required to conduct a major review and update of their comprehensive plans every 10 years, this is known as the “periodic update.” Deadlines for periodic updates are staggered (see map below), and 2024 was the deadline for the first round of comprehensive plan updates in this decade. During the 2024 comprehensive plan periodic update, cities and counties in King County, Pierce County, Snohomish County, and Kitsap County were required to review and update their comprehensive plans. Of these municipalities, there were appeals submitted to the GMHB for Clyde Hill, Kitsap County, Duvall, and Mercer Island. Mercer Island's appeal concluded first with the Final Decisions and Order issued on August 1, 2025. The other cases are still being ruled on as of January 27th, 2026. Each of the appeals during the 2024 periodic update were related, at least in part, to updates made to the GMA in 2021 via House Bill (HB) 1220 which requires cities to provide adequate provisions of housing across affordability levels.
Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update Map
Recently, Washington State Legislature enacted Senate Bill (SB) 5148, known as the Housing Accountability Act, allowing the Department of Commerce to select up to 10 cities or counties a year for a targeted review for compliance with the GMA. Currently, eight cities have been selected for review. If the state deems a jurisdiction to be out of compliance, it will be ordered to amend its comprehensive plan to achieve compliance within 120 days.
The updated GMA requirements from HB 1220 and the increased regulatory power from SB 5148 indicate that comprehensive plans are likely to be held to a higher level of scrutiny going forward.

-Madelyn Nelson, Assistant Planner