The committee on Sept. 8 voted 4to forward proposed ordinance 2025-0268 with a due-pass recommendation. The item amends county zoning rules to permit doctors offices and outpatient clinics in limited circumstances in certain residential zones outside the urban area.

Council Central staff Erin Ozens explained the proposed ordinance adds an allowance in the countyzoning code to permit doctors offices and outpatient clinics in the R-24 and R-48 zones as a reuse of surplus nonresidential facilities, provided the property is served by public sewer. The allowance would be exempt from other location, use and parking limitations that normally apply to these uses outside the urban area.

Sponsor Councilmember Mosqueda said the change is narrow in scope, likely affecting a single site in rural unincorporated King County, and would support access to outpatient services including dental and podiatry care. Councilmember Quinn added that organizational planning for the site in question involves the Seattle Indian Health Board, which he said would bring capacity to provide culturally competent care to Native communities.

The committee advanced the ordinance with a due-pass recommendation; a public hearing is scheduled at full council on Oct. 7. Committee members said the amendment is intended to be narrowly tailored and to complement existing allowances for hospital uses in those zones.