Planning commission studies rezoning of 5.3‑acre split parcel on 188th Ave NE amid job‑vs‑housing debate

Redmond Planning Commission members on Nov. 19 reviewed staff recommendations to change a split land‑use and zoning designation on a single parcel at 6901/6900 188th Avenue NE from business park to citywide mixed use (land use) and corridor mixed use (zone). Senior planner Glenn Coyle told commissioners the parcel is roughly 5.28–5.82 acres, that the map amendment is a comprehensive‑plan (Type 6) action and not tied to a specific development, and that the technical committee found the amendments met Redmond zoning code criteria.

Why it matters: The parcel sits at the intersection of competing city goals — increasing housing supply to meet Redmond 2050 targets and preserving land for research, manufacturing and business park employment. Public comment and commissioners focused on whether rezoning would permanently reduce employment land capacity and how the city would measure fiscal and job impacts before recommending any change.

David Morton, a resident…