Planning Commission Special Hybrid Meeting

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Mercer Island Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at its regular meeting on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at approximately 6:00PM at the Mercer Island Community and Events Center:

File No(s).: CPA26-001; ZTR26-001

Permit Type: Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Zoning Text Revision

Description of Amendment(s): In February 2025, the recently adopted City of Mercer Island Comprehensive Plan was appealed to the Growth Management Hearings Board (GMHB) on the grounds that the Comprehensive Plan did not adequately plan for and accommodate future affordable housing needs. On August 1, 2025, the GMHB issued a Final Decision and Order (GMHB Order) requiring the City to address the following four issues: 1) analyze residential land capacity at each housing affordability level and close any identified gaps; 2) adopt incentives, mandatory provisions, and planned actions that will increase the supply of affordable housing; 3) adopt a subarea plan for the area around the transit station; and 4) adopt anti-displacement measures to address the potential displacements that can occur with changes in zoning. To comply with the four issues of the GMHB Order, the City must make changes to its Comprehensive Plan and Development Code in Title 19, Mercer Island City Code (MICC). This public hearing is for the proposed amendments to the following Comprehensive Plan Elements and MICC Title 19 chapters, and the adoption of the Station Subarea Plan required to comply with the GMHB Order.

2024-2044 Comprehensive Plan Elements: Land Use, Housing, Transportation, Utilities, Capital Facilities, and Economic Development.

MICC Title 19 Chapters: 19.01 – General Provisions, 19.02 – Residential, 19.03 – Multiple-Family, 19.04 – Commercial, 19.06 – General Regulations, 19.11 – Town Center Development and Design Standards, 19.15 – Administrative, 19.16 – Definitions, and Appendix D – Zoning Map.

Applicant/Owner: City of Mercer Island Community Planning and Development Department / City of Mercer Island

Location: Proposed Station Subarea, Mercer Island WA 98040

A vicinity map is available at https://mieplan.mercergov.org/public/CPA26-001 ZTR26-001  

Project Documents: https://permitbulletin.mercerisland.gov/public/CPA26-001 ZTR26-001  

Written Comments: This may be the only opportunity to comment on this proposal. Written comments on this proposal may be submitted to the City of Mercer Island either by email, in person, or by mail to the City of Mercer Island, 9611 SE 36th Street, Mercer Island, WA 98040-3732. Anyone may comment on the application, receive notice, and request a copy of the decision once made. Only those persons who submit written comments or participate at the public hearing (if a hearing is required) will be parties of record; and only parties of record will have the right to appeal.

Public Hearing: A public hearing for CPA26-001 and ZTR26-001 is scheduled before the Planning Commission on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at approximately 6:00PM at the Mercer Island Community and Events Center (8263 SE 24th St, Mercer Island, WA 98040).

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 May 29, 2026, at https://www.mercerisland.gov/bc-pc

Americans with disabilities accommodations are available by calling (206) 275-7791.