Planning Commission Public Hearing Scheduled for September 24

Omnibus Legislation to Address Housing Production and Permit Streamlining – Public Hearing September 24 and October 8, 2025

Notice is hereby given that the Mercer Island Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at its Hybrid Meeting on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at approximately 6pm, at the Mercer Island Community and Events Center. This public hearing will be continued to October 8, 2025, at approximately 6pm, at the Mercer Island Community and Events Center. The Planning Commission will receive comments on proposed amendments to Mercer Island City Code (MICC) to establish permanent regulations for housing production and permit streamlining.

The proposed amendments would replace interim regulations previously adopted by the City Council with permanent regulations. The proposed amendments would establish permanent regulations to comply with the following recent housing and permit process related statewide legislation: House Bill 1220; Senate Bill 6015; House Bill 1293; Senate Bill 5290; and House Bill 1998. In addition to compliance with recently amended state law, the proposed amendments would adopt permanent regulations to maintain consistency with the Comprehensive Plan periodic review completed in 2024 and the assignment of design review authority to the Hearing Examiner.

The omnibus legislation would amend the following sections of the MICC: 19.01.050 – Nonconforming structures, sites, lots, and uses; 19.02.010 – Single-family; 19.02.020 – Development standards; 19.03.010 – Multiple-family; 19.03.020 – Parking requirements; 19.04.010 – Planned Business Zone – PBZ; 19.04.020 – Commercial Offices; 19.04.040 – Parking Requirements; 19.05.010 – Public Institution – PI; 19.06.030 – Antennas; 19.06.050 – Commerce on Public Property; 19.06.080 – Siting of Group Housing; 19.06.120 – Criteria for Approval – Design Review; 19.10.060 – Tree Removal – Associated With a Development Proposal; 19.11.010 – General; 19.11.015 – Town Center Subareas; 19.11.020 – Land Uses; 19.11.030 – Bulk Regulations; 19.11.040 – Affordable Housing; 19.11.060 – Site Design; 19.11.070 – Greenery and Outdoor Spaces; 19.11.080 – Screening; 19.11.090 – Lighting; 19.11.100 – Building Design; 19.11.110 – Materials and Color; 19.11.120 – Street Standards; 19.11.130 – Parking, Vehicular, and Pedestrian Circulation; 19.11.140 – Signs; 19.11.150 – Administration; 19.12.010 – General; 19.12.020 – Site features and context; 19.12.030 – Building design and visual interest; 19.12.040 – Landscape design and outdoor spaces; 19.12.050 – Vehicular and pedestrian circulation; 19.12.060 – Screening of service and mechanical areas; 19.12.070 – Lighting; 19.12.080 – Signs; 19.15.010 – Purpose, intent and roles; 19.15.030 – Land use review types; 19.15.040 – Review procedures;

19.15.060 – Application; 19.15.070 – Determination of completeness; 19.15.220 – Design review and the Design Commission; 19.16.010 – Definitions; Title 19 MICC Appendix A – Parking Lot Dimensions; and Title 19 MICC Appendix C – Design guidelines of the Mercer Island Design Commission.

The draft of code amendments and more information are available on the project website at: https://letstalk.mercergov.org/29657/widgets/102832/documents/71353

The Planning Commission public hearing is accessible in person and using Zoom. The public will have the opportunity to comment during the public hearing by either attending in person, calling in, or logging onto the meeting via Zoom. Written comments may be submitted to the City of Mercer Island by e-mail to cityclerk@mercerisland.gov until such time that the public hearing is adjourned.

Detailed instructions on how to comment live during the public hearing will be available online on or before September 19, 2025, at: https://www.mercerisland.gov/bc-pc