The Mercer Island Parks and Recreation Commission on April 9 voted to approve draft park-zone development regulations, a draft zoning map and a draft land-use map and to submit those materials to the City Council and the Planning Commission for legislative review.

The commission’s recommendation, presented by city management analyst Carson Hornsby, seeks to codify a new “park zone” and to reconcile the city’s zoning map with the comprehensive plan land-use map adopted last year. "By the end of the meeting, we're hoping to have a final recommendation approved by the PRC to pass along to the city council and planning commission," Hornsby said.

Why it matters: The package would set specific limits and definitions for park properties across the island, including what uses are permitted, building-size and height caps for park structures, rules about impervious surfaces, and targeted edits to the land-use map for several small parcels. The recommendations now move into the council and planning commission legislative-review process, which will determine whether the changes become city policy.

Key changes and discussion
- Uses permitted: The draft adds a new definition for “city government services” specific to services provided by or on behalf of the City of Mercer Island. Staff said the definition is intended to allow the current uses of three Luther Burbank buildings to continue after the park zone is adopted while also enabling a future city planning goal to relocate non‑park functions. Commissioners requested clarification that routine parks administration would still be considered a parks and recreation purpose.

- Signs and state law: Staff recommended removing a reference to “natural colors” from the sign standards in response to House Bill 1293, a state law that limits local code language that relies on subjective terms. Commissioners agreed to delete the ambiguous phrase unless a precise color palette is supplied.

- Building-size and height limits: Staff proposed a 20-foot height limit for park-zone buildings to accommodate existing tallest structures. The Mercerdale bathroom/recycling center was cited as about 19.5 feet tall and Homestead Park restroom about 18 feet; the 20-foot cap provides design flexibility for existing buildings. The Luther Burbank pergola (a covered walkway near the administrative building) is unique in the park system; staff proposed a 2,000-square-foot gross‑floor‑area limit and a 16‑foot height limit for that structure type. The draft retains an exemption from height limits for flagpoles, antennas, chimneys and other rooftop appurtenances.

- Impervious-surface and accessibility edits: The ordinance text was revised to clarify exemptions that permit net-new impervious surface where required for accessibility. The language was changed to reference “ADA parking and accessibility improvements,” and a separate edit clarifies that required surfaces for playground equipment (for example fall-zone surfacing) are exempt.

- Land-use map adjustments: Staff identified and proposed corrections to harmonize the land-use map with the zoning map adopted during last year’s open‑space work. Two specific parcel edits were noted: one small mini park listed as single‑family residential was proposed to change to park, and Rotary Park (previously changed to open space in error) was proposed to be reverted to park. Staff also proposed minor formatting edits to the map legend and to remove textual labels from the map itself.

- Additional recommendations in the handoff memo: The draft handoff memo includes two notable policy suggestions for the City Council to consider: (1) subdividing Island Crest Park to create a separately designated open-space parcel for the forested area that resembles open space more than developed parkland; and (2) adding a long‑term facilities plan goal to relocate non‑park city government services out of the three Luther Burbank buildings so that park-zone facilities are dedicated to parks and recreation purposes. Commissioners debated the precise wording for the Island Crest Park recommendation — including whether to describe the open-space area as “adjacent to the park boundary,” “separate from the developed part of the park,” or the “developed zone” of the park — and clarified that the area’s position on the park edge makes subdivision feasible where it would not be for more interwoven open-space areas.

Votes at a glance
- Motion 1: "Approve the draft park zone development regulations, draft zoning map, and draft land use map in substantially the form provided to submit to the Planning Commission and City Council for consideration during the legislative review process." Mover: Commissioner Westberg; Second: Commissioner McCarthy. Vote: McCarthy — Aye; Westberg — Aye; Markson — Aye; Vice Chair Burstein — Aye; Chair (recorded as) Strzok — Aye. Outcome: Approved.

- Motion 2: "Approve the handoff memo and authorize the chair and vice chair of the PRC to present the recommendation to both the City Council and the Planning Commission." Mover: Commissioner Markson; Second: Commissioner McCarthy. Vote: Westberg — Aye; Vice Chair Burstein — Aye; McCarthy — Aye; (recorded as) Chair Strzok/Bearstruck — Aye; Markson — Aye. Outcome: Approved.

- Motion 3: Excuse absences for Commissioner Hay and Commissioner Cohen. Mover: (unspecified); Second: Commissioner McCarthy. Vote: Unanimous. Outcome: Approved.

Next steps and context
Staff noted a City Council study session on April 15 to brief council members on the PRC recommendation and a Planning Commission handoff meeting scheduled for April 23, when the Planning Commission will begin legislative review. The PRC flagged several drafting clarifications for the handoff memo (including adding the building-size table into the memo for clarity) before transmission. The PRC also reminded commissioners that the PRC’s next regular meeting is scheduled for May 1, 2025, at 5 p.m.

What was not decided: The PRC did not adopt any final code amendments as city law; it approved forwarding the draft materials for legislative review. No specific relocation plan, funding source, or timetable for moving city government services out of Luther Burbank buildings was adopted; the memo recommends that the City Council include a goal in long‑term facilities planning.

Reported speakers relevant to this agenda item included Carson Hornsby, management analyst, and the commission chair and commissioners who participated in the vote and discussion.