Parks and Open Space Zoning Project

The Chair and Vice Chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) attended the April 23 Planning Commission (PC) meeting to present the PRC's Parks Zone recommendation to the PC. The PRC Chair and Vice Chair participated in Q&A and discussion with the PC and staff.

The PC is scheduled to hold two public hearings for the Parks Zone code amendment and comprehensive plan amendment during the May 28 PC meeting.

Agenda packet materials for the April 23 PC meeting can be found here.

The Chair and Vice Chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) attended the April 15 City Council meeting to brief the City Council on the PRC's Parks Zone recommendation. The City Council passed a motion directing the Planning Commission to complete legislative review of the Parks Zone by June 2025. The Planning Commission is scheduled to begin their review of the Parks Zone during the April 23 Planning Commission meeting.

Agenda packet materials for the April 15 City Council meeting can be found here.

The Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) completed their work on the Parks Zone at the April 9 special meeting. The PRC recommendation includes proposed drafts of the Parks Zone development regulations, Zoning Map, and Land Use Map. The PRC's recommendations are summarized in a hand-off memo to the City Council and Planning Commission.

The City Council will receive a briefing of the PRC recommendation at the April 15 City Council meeting. The Planning Commission is scheduled to begin legislative review of the Parks Zone at their April 23 meeting.

Agenda packet materials for the April 9 PRC special meeting can be found here.

The Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) continued their work on the Parks Zone at the March 6 meeting. The PRC reviewed and provided input on updated drafts of the Parks Zone development regulations, Zoning Map, and hand-off memo to the Planning Commission and the City Council. It is anticipated that the PRC will finalize their Parks Zone recommendation at the April 9 special meeting.

Agenda packet materials for the March 6 meeting can be found here.

The Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) continued discussion on the Parks Zone at their February 6, 2025 meeting. The PRC provided input to staff on the draft Parks Zone development regulations and discussed wireless communications facilities, Aubrey Davis Park and Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) right-of-way, and the Mercer Island Community and Event Center (MICEC).

Agenda packet materials can be found here.

The Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) continued discussion on the Parks Zone at their January 9, 2025 meeting. The PRC provided input to staff on the draft Parks Zone development regulations and discussed public art, Aubrey Davis Park and Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) right-of-way, critical areas, landings and street ends, and wireless communications facilities.

Agenda packet materials can be found here.

Meeting minutes can be found here.

The Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) continued discussions on the Parks Zone at their November 7, 2024 meeting. The PRC provided input to staff on the Parks Zone development standards and reviewed a draft of the purpose statement, designation requirements, uses permitted, and definitions. The PRC will review a full draft of the Parks Zone development regulations at the January 9, 2025 special meeting.

Meeting materials can be found here.

During the November 4, 2024 City Council meeting, the City Council conducted the second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 24C-15 with an effective date of December 31, 2024. This ordinance will establish the Open Space Zone in Title 19 of the Mercer Island City Code (MICC) on the same effective date as the Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update.

Ordinance No. 24C-15 will establish new sections of City Code (MICC 19.05.030 Open Space – OS and MICC 19.05.040 Open Space Development Standards), amend MICC 19.16.010 Definitions and MICC 19.01.040 Zone Establishment, and repeal and replace MICC Chapter 19 Appendix D – Zoning Map. These code amendments align with the amendments to the Land Use Map included as part of the Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update.

The Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) began discussions on the Parks Zone development process at their October 8, 2024 meeting. The PRC provided input to staff and shared ideas related to the Parks Zone purpose statement, designation requirements, and uses permitted. The PRC will review drafts of these sections of code and begin discussion on the Parks Zone development standards at their November meeting.

Meeting materials can be found here.

During the October 15, 2024 City Council meeting, the City Council will conduct the first reading of Ordinance No. 24C-15. If approved, this ordinance will establish a new Open Space Zone in Title 19 of the Mercer Island City Code (MICC). The Open Space Zone is one of the implementing code amendments that must be adopted concurrently with the Comprehensive Plan periodic review to ensure the code remains consistent with the Comprehensive Plan without any gaps in timing.

Ordinance No. 24C-15 will implement the Open Space Zone by creating new sections of City Code (MICC 19.05.030 Open Space – OS and MICC 19.05.040 Open Space Development Standards), amending MICC 19.16.010 Definitions and MICC 19.01.040 Zone Establishment, and repealing and replacing MICC Chapter 19 Appendix D – Zoning Map. These code amendments align with amendments to the Land Use Map currently under consideration by the City Council as a part of the Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update.