About the Plan

The Vashon-Maury Island (VMI) Community Service Area Plan was the first subarea plan adopted by the County under the new subarea plan process. The plan, led by the Department of Local Services, included collaboration between county staff, nearly 300 Vashon residents, and a 15-person Community Advisory Group made up of Vashon-community members in order to create the guiding principals and vision for the community. The Vashon residents and Community Advisory Group participated in forums, completed surveys, and submitted written comments as part of the engagement process.  The VMI Subarea Plan included several workplan items which reflect issues where additional work was needed to further review certain planning elements and local regulations within the island.  Further information can be found below on these items.

2024 Comprehensive Plan Update

King County is undertaking the 2024 update of its Comprehensive Plan, a key policy document that guides how growth and development in unincorporated King County will occur over the next 20 years. The focus of this update will be on climate, housing, and anti-racist/pro-equity policies. There are two Vashon workplan items currently under review which have been included within the scope of this update. For more information about the Comprehensive Plan and how to get involved, please go to 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update - PublicInput. A Public Review Draft of the Comprehensive Plan Update was released on June 1, 2023 and a comment period is open through July 30, 2023.

2024 Comprehensive Plan Update Public Review Draft Released

On June 1, King County released the Public Review Draft of the 2024 Comprehensive Plan [provide link].  This release includes the two workplan items called for in the 2017 Subarea Plan. The two workplan items review certain zoning conditions on parcels on Vashon-Maury Island:

• Vashon-Maury Island P-Suffix Conditions Report 
• Vashon Rural Town Affordable Housing Special District Overlay Final Evaluation 

Potential changes to zoning conditions on parcels include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Allow more uses on several commercial and industrial-zoned parcels in Vashon Town
• Remove several design requirements for buildings in Vashon Town
• Remove the Vashon Affordable Housing Special District Overlay and apply voluntary inclusionary housing provisions
• Allow more density in Vashon Town when mixed-use development includes affordable housing
• Remove the two-story limit on commercial development in Vashon Town while setting height limits for commercial development, including mixed-use development

In addition to including possible changes to zoning conditions on Vashon-Maury Island, the Public Review Draft also includes proposed policy and land use and zoning map amendments that affect parcels on the island. 

The County is continuing its review of a Groundwater Protection Special District Overlay and any recommendations for amendments will be included in the Executive-Recommended transmittal that is delivered to the King County Council in December 2023. We welcome your input on the Overlay during the June 1 to July 15 comment period.

For all amendments under consideration for the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update, and to learn about ways to provide input during the June 1 to July 15, 2023 comment period on the Public Review Draft, and engagement events go to 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update - PublicInput.

On Monday July 10, 2023, 7:00 to 8:30 PM, the County is hosting a virtual meeting on Zoom that is focused on changes under consideration associated with possible zoning condition changes on parcels on Vashon-Maury Island. Here is how you can join the meeting, and provide input: 

https://kingcounty.zoom.us/j/89405806750 
Meeting ID: 894 0580 6750
Passcode: VASHON (all caps)

Dial by your location
        +1 253 205 0468 US
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

Can't make the meeting?  You can also provide input on the two workplan item reports at the webpages below, or by completing the comment box at the bottom of this page, or by sending comments to CompPlan@kingcounty.gov.  You can also provide input on any part of the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update, including on Vashon-Maury Island-related topics, at this link: 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update - PublicInput.

Current Updates Underway

Action 1: P-suffix Conditions

Directs an interbranch team lead by the Department of Local Services to research the history of all "p-suffix" development conditions on Vashon Island and determine if any updates are required. P-Suffix conditions are site-specific development conditions which effect individual properties or groups of properties. Examples of such conditions include use restrictions, design requirements, and density limitations. 

To learn more about this workplan item, and review and comment on the workplan item report, please visit the Vashon P-Suffix Project Page. 

Action 2: Affordable Housing Incentives

Directs the Department of Local Services to review and assess the efficacy of the affordable housing special district overlay in Vashon Rural Town. The special district overlay was approved in 2017 as a voluntary incentive which developers can apply in order to increase the density of a development if certain conditions are met. Three preliminary reviews of the overlay have been completed with the fourth and final report currently underway. 

To learn more about this workplan item, and review and comment on the workplan item report, please visit the Vashon Affordable Housing Overlay Project Page.