Planning commission recommends Zion Spirit PUD to county commission, contingent on clearing title and ownership

The King County Planning & Zoning Commission on Dec. 10 recommended that the County Commission approve the Zion Spirit planned-unit development and related zone change, contingent on correcting title and ownership information and removing an unapproved bar shown on the site plan.

The commission’s vote followed a detailed staff and legal review that flagged three issues in the developer’s revised title report: (1) a $3,000,000 bank encumbrance affecting property added into the PUD boundary, (2) a deed split that placed land in two parcels that are now titled to separate entities, and (3) the development agreement named an entity that no longer holds fee title. County attorney Jeff told commissioners that an approved plat consistent with the site plan could “cure the quote unquote illegally subdivided lot” and that the development agreement must identify the correct parties who own the land before final action by the County Commission.

Developer Kevin told the commission the ownership changes stemmed from legal advice to separate hotel and residential liabilities; he said the various entities remain under common control and offered to provide documentation. He also said the project had cleared a reuse permit for a proposed wastewater reclamation facility, adding: “we did just get that approved, last week,” and that the construction permit was expected next, which would allow bond closing and construction to proceed.

Staff and the county’s engineers described technical exceptions requested under the PUD, including allowing 20-foot two-way travel lanes and 12-foot one-way spurs instead of the county’s typical 28/14-foot standards. Engineering recommended those narrower sections only when paired with required shoulders and recovery areas to meet wildland-urban-interface (WUI) fire access requirements and AASHTO low-volume-road guidance. As one engineer explained, the narrower travel surface would include shoulders and “a 6 foot recovery area” at constrained locations to preserve safe emergency access.

A motion to recommend approval of ordinance 2025-28 and the draft development agreement to the King County Commission was made and seconded on the condition that the applicant clear up ownership names and remove the bar from the site plan. The chair ruled the motion carried after a voice vote; commissioners discussed whether to require complete paperwork in advance or allow conditional forwarding if all conditions are met before the county commission acts.

Next steps: the commission will forward its recommendation and staff findings to the King County Commission; staff and the applicant said they would provide corrected ownership documentation and update the development agreement before the county-level hearing.