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White Center residents urge King County to oppose rezoning that would allow outdoor performance centers
Summary
Multiple residents from White Center told the King County Council that rezoning to permit outdoor music venues would harm neighborhood livability. Speakers cited a recent case at Tim's Tavern and urged Councilmember Mosqueda to meet with neighbors.
White Center residents told the Metropolitan King County Council on March 25 that changing zoning to allow outdoor performance centers would reduce residents' ability to live peacefully near busy business districts.
Barbara Dobkin, a 20-year White Center resident and board member of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, told the council that outdoor performance centers are not currently allowed in the White Center Business District but that Tim's Tavern opened an outdoor performance center in March 2023 and hosted loud live bands five to six nights a week, sometimes until midnight. Dobkin said the county took 22 months before the business moved its stage indoors following a regulatory review committee hearing. "We all want to see a healthy vibrant robust business district filled with music and art but it should be not at our expense and impact our quality of life," she said.
Rebecca Wells, a White Center homeowner since 1996, said the upgraded sound system at Tim's Tavern made noise audible inside homes even with windows closed and that neighbors filed hundreds of noise complaints. "To be perfectly clear, we are not opposed to economic development, gentrification, or indoor music venues. The only issue here is the disturbance from operating outdoor music," Wells said. She asked Councilmember Mosqueda to represent residents' concerns and oppose changes that would allow outdoor music venues across unincorporated King County.
Another resident identified only as Leo said the county's strengthened noise ordinances from 2015 previously balanced neighborhood livability and business activity, and that Tim's Tavern generated more than 100 early complaints after opening; the complaints stopped after the venue moved music indoors.
Speakers noted that King County Creative Economy Director Kate Becker has publicly mentioned rezoning as a topic worth considering. Neighbors asked Mosqueda to meet with them or attend a North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting to discuss noise controls and zoning before any policy change.
No council action on zoning or an ordinance was recorded during the meeting; the remarks were delivered during the public comment period.
