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Kent staff update council on downtown plan refresh ahead of PSRC recertification
Summary
Economic and Community Development staff outlined progress on a downtown plan update required for Puget Sound Regional Council recertification, described community engagement, boundary decisions and short‑term priorities including pedestrian safety and parking management.
Kristen Hera, a planner in Kent’s Economic and Community Development (ECDC) division, told the Committee of the Whole on April 15 that the city has resumed work on an update to its downtown plan so Kent can be recertified as a regional growth center by the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC).
The update matters because PSRC certification helps the city qualify for grant funding; Hera said the city has averaged about $10 million to $15 million in grant awards every two years when it is competitive as a certified regional center.
Hera described the project history: the downtown plan effort began in December 2023 with contract work led by MIG (the consultant team that prepared the comprehensive plan), paused while staff completed the comp plan, and restarted this spring. City staff removed an older planned‑action ordinance and now rely on a citywide infill exemption tool adopted in the comprehensive plan to avoid conflicting code requirements. The city is keeping the PSRC‑designated “teal” regional growth center boundary rather than expanding it, saying an expansion risked dropping below activity/unit thresholds required for the designation.
Hera summarized engagement to date: four focus groups, a Kent Downtown Partnership (KDP) subcommittee, resident and business focus groups, staff workshops with public works, parks, police and the mayor’s office, and youth outreach at middle schools. Common themes included downtown’s role as a cultural heart, the need for safe, walkable connections (crossing James and Smith streets was repeatedly cited), and addressing both actual safety incidents and public safety perceptions. A consultant parking assessment found overall stall counts adequate for downtown’s size, but cited location and perceptions (walking alone to distant stalls at night) as barriers to use.
Hera said PSRC will begin review this spring and the city aims to adopt the downtown plan in September to meet recertification timelines. She said staff are developing short‑term, high‑action items that build on the successful Meet Me on Meeker events and exploring tools and possible legislative changes to attract redevelopment of vacant and underused sites.
The council discussion that followed included references to other cities with active cores (Issaquah, Burien, Columbia City, Tacoma districts) as case studies and affirmed staff plans to return with further recommendations and timelines.
Hera’s presentation began when the committee introduced the ECDC briefing and concluded after a question period and examples for possible regional comparators.
