After long debate, commission approves amended RV rules for R‑5 non‑subdivision parcels

The commission devoted the longest discussion of the meeting to proposed changes to recreational‑vehicle rules in residential zones (ordinance 2026‑22). Staff explained the proposal would create a conditional use permit (CUP) pathway allowing more than two RVs on non‑subdivided R‑5 parcels, with options for caps tied to acreage and a 30‑day accumulative limit that prompted the most debate. Planning staff said there are 21,754 parcels in King County and 283 zoned R‑5; staff emphasized only a small fraction would be affected.

After multiple rounds of questions about enforcement, setbacks, registration checks and precedent, the commission first moved to deny the ordinance but then adopted a revised motion to approve ordinance 2026‑22 with specific changes: add the word "residential" to clarify setbacks, remove the 30‑day accumulative provision and instead apply a seasonal‑use definition, and edit the wording in "letter c" to clarify counts per acre (including limiting additional increases to full five‑acre increments). Commissioners split on the policy merits—concerns focused on enforceability and neighbor impacts, supporters emphasized property‑rights and reducing administrative permits—but the revised motion passed on a roll call.