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Council adopts ordinance rezoning two city-owned parcels for public institution
Summary
The Mercer Island City Council approved RZN 25-001 and adopted Ordinance No. 25C-29 on first reading to reclassify two city-owned parcels (9601 and 9611 SE 36th St.) from commercial office and single-family residential to public institution after a closed-record review and Planning Commission recommendation.
The Mercer Island City Council voted Tuesday to rezone two city-owned parcels at 9601 and 9611 Southeast 36th Street, adopting Ordinance No. 25C-29 to change their zoning from commercial office and single-family residential to public institution.
City Planning and Development Director Jeff Thomas told the council the matter was a quasi-judicial, closed-record review. He said the application was received in September, that a SEPA determination of non-significance was issued in November, and that the Planning Commission held a public hearing on Nov. 19 and recommended approval after receiving six public comments and reviewing staff materials. "This quasi-judicial action before you this evening is a relatively infrequent action that comes before the council," Thomas said during his presentation.
The council heard the legal criteria for rezones, which staff summarized as consistency with the comprehensive plan and development code, compatibility with surrounding uses, and not adversely affecting public health, safety or welfare. Senior planner Molly Maguire explained the Planning Commission adopted findings consistent with staff recommendations and amended some findings to generalize them for future public facilities rather than tying them to a single specific project.
Deputy Mayor Rosenbaum moved and Councilmember Weicker seconded a motion to adopt the Planning Commission findings and recommendation to approve RZN 25-001; the motion passed on a roll-call vote. The council then suspended the rule requiring a second reading by a supermajority and adopted Ordinance No. 25C-29 on first reading, with the city clerk recording unanimous Aye votes.
The ordinance will reclassify the two identified parcels to a public institution designation. Staff and the Planning Commission materials linked in the council packet explain the findings and identify the record (application materials, the Nov. 19 Planning Commission packet, and the Planning Commission meeting video). The ordinance's effective date was not specified in the council discussion.
