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Council adopts updated 2025 zoning map to align with comprehensive plan, including several residential reclassifications
Summary
Newcastle’s City Council adopted an ordinance updating the city’s zoning map to align with the recently adopted comprehensive plan. Changes include reclassifying several residential neighborhoods and designations affecting the Porter Jensen site and city open-space parcels.
The Newcastle City Council voted unanimously on Oct. 7 to adopt Ordinance 2025-673 approving the city’s updated 2025 zoning map to match the March 2025 comprehensive plan.
The ordinance passed 7-0 after staff presented targeted rezones intended to correct split or inconsistent zoning in several recently built or existing neighborhoods and to clarify open-space classifications for city-owned land.
Director Fitzgibbons said the proposed map makes several changes intended to create parity among similar neighborhoods. She described converting some parcels in the Highlands neighborhood from R-1 (very low density) to R-4 to match surrounding lot sizes and allow typical additions such as decks and expansions that were constrained under the R-1 buildable area rules. The Dashwood subdivision, built across two zoning designations, would also be made consistently R-4. Fitzgibbons said the Highlands homeowners association supported that change.
The council also approved a change for 6401 Lake Washington Boulevard (the Porter Jensen Jewelry site) consistent with the comprehensive plan’s Neighborhood Hub designation. Fitzgibbons said the property is an older mixed-use building with deferred maintenance; she said the owner supported the zoning change that would allow continued mixed-use options and align the site with the plan. Planning staff and the Planning Commission recommended the proposal.
Another set of changes separated the golf-course property’s commercial and limited-open-space uses from the city’s open-space parcels that include May Creek Park and Lake Boren Park. The ordinance narrows destination-resort and hotel-type commercial allowances on city-owned open space while retaining historic public uses such as libraries or museums for city open-space parcels.
Councilmember Sherlock commended the Planning Commission and staff for the work; no councilmembers voted against the ordinance.
What’s next: The zoning map is adopted and becomes the zoning baseline for permitting and future code updates. Staff noted a small parcel owned by the City of Bellevue Parks and Recreation that may prompt a future map correction and that downtown design standards review next year could address specific setbacks raised during public comment.
Votes at a glance: Ordinance 2025-673 — approve the 2025 zoning map; mover: not specified in the meeting transcript; second: not specified; vote: 7-0.
Public input: Planning staff said they received three public comments during the Planning Commission review raising questions about reuse of the Porter Jensen site and about some parcels where property owners either opposed or did not respond to proposed rezones. Staff said it would follow up with additional outreach if future amendments are proposed.
