City council adopts agenda bills about GMA compliance

Published 3:00 pm Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Mercer Island City Council unanimously voted to adopt all three agenda bills concerning Growth Management Act (GMA) compliance at its July 21 regular meeting.

Council voted 7-0 on each of the four motions presented within the bills that were situated on the consent and regular business agendas.

Two of the bills included adopting ordinances to amend the 2024 comprehensive plan and establish a station subarea plan and to amend MI city code Title 19 to implement comprehensive plan amendments. Both bills completed the city’s GMA compliance efforts.

The final bill suspended council’s rules of procedure requiring a second reading of the ordinances, and focused on implementing an onsite stormwater detention policy for development within the Town Center and other city areas.

According to the city, council received approximately 75 emails from residents regarding the GMA. In the week leading up to the July 21 council meeting, more than 1,000 Islanders signed a petition titled “Keep Mercer Island Safe – Revise Low-Barrier Housing Rules” on the change.org website.

The petition urges 41st Legislative District lawmakers, in part, “to revise the laws relating to homeless shelters and low-barrier permanent supportive housing (PSH) in residential neighborhoods and places where children gather.”

David Orem, a 29-year Mercer Island resident, was one of the five public speakers who shared their concerns at the July 21 meeting. Orem addressed council with the following message: “I’m here to tell you that your plans for affordable housing, and in particular, potentially placing them near our parks and schools is wrong and misguided. You need to rethink your plans, this may cost money and time and even give you a headache, but you must stand up for what is right, I urge you to vote against (the ordinances).”

A previous Reporter story notes that the petition stems from residents’ concerns with the Growth Management Hearings Board’s (GMHB) order for the city to revise its 2024 comprehensive plan by July 31 and the proposed code changes resulting from HB 2266. The GMA compliance includes the construction of affordable housing along with the city being ordered to amend its land capacity analysis, adequate provisions, Sound Transit light rail station area subarea plan and anti-displacement measures sections.

During the meeting, councilmember Craig Reynolds shared his thoughts about the scenario, noting that, “I’ve often said democracy is not a spectator sport and we lived that today.”

He said it was a challenging night where his vote was contrary to many community members’ comments. “The council, by approving the consent agenda item tonight, approved the actions related to the permanent supportive housing,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds explained how his votes came to be: “First, we have to recognize that in every material way, the code changes that we voted on are required by state law. We thought we complied with the law when we approved the comprehensive plan at the end of 2024, but the Growth Management Hearings Board — in response to the Futurewise suit — disagreed. We don’t really have a choice here — we’re bound to follow the law even if we do not like it.”

On the permanent supportive housing front, city documents state that instead of constructing the required affordable housing, there’s an option to pay a fee in lieu to the city with the fund being used “to finance projects with very low-income dwelling units and permanent supportive housing, which is typically not created through regular market development.”

Island resident Andrew Lane told council that he and many neighbors are deeply concerned about the housing issue.

“I know that your job, your service is not easy. I’m really grateful for it. I know you’ve got to balance, compliance, governance, advocacy and a whole host of other concerns,” Lane also conveyed to council, adding that he hopes the seven members are making their choices with their own personal and strong convictions.

Another Islander, Darren Gold, asked council to utilize its power to postpone “what doesn’t need to be implemented.” He’d like council to allow the community to talk about the issues and discuss what they want along with lobbying state legislators to bring about changes.

In his closing comments at the meeting, Mayor David Rosenbaum said, in part: “We believe the GMHB would find that Mercer Island’s amendments to the comp plan in July 2026 trigger compliance with HB 2266. The package we’ve been working on ensures that we’re complying with the order from the Growth Management Hearings Board based on the bills the legislators supported and were signed into law. We’ve been voicing our perspectives on these issues with our legislators, our local government leaders, state associations, media, etc. for years with mixed results.”

Councilmember Julie Hsieh stressed that the process the city has been involved with is driven by state law. She appreciates the respectful engagement from the many community members who shared their thoughtful concerns and questions.

“These are important issues and I understand that many residents care deeply about preserving what makes Mercer Island a special place to live, while also ensuring we meet our legal obligations, even if sometimes difficult or unpopular,” she said.

To view the July 21 meeting, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzK8iC2w18U