Mercer Island residents speak out regarding SJCC requested rezoning

Published 10:30 am Friday, August 7, 2026

Planning commission recommends approval of amendment; first city council reading is next.

People packed into the Mercer Island Planning Commission meeting to let their voices be heard and shared their thoughts in writing with the city regarding a Stroum Jewish Community Center (SJCC) rezoning request.

In all, 25 citizens discussed either their approval or concerns about the issue at the Aug. 5 meeting within the walls of the Mercer Island Community and Event Center. Additionally, Mercer Island residents and others from off-Island submitted more than 300 comments to the city about the SJCC request over the last two months.

At the meeting, 21 of the speakers were in favor of the requested rezoning and four people were against the action. On the writing front, 224 people favored the rezoning and 91 people submitted concerns as of 3 p.m. on Aug. 5.

The agenda bill on the table was to obtain a planning commission recommendation for the proposed comprehensive plan map amendment to redesignate three SJCC parcels and part of another parcel from single-family residential to commercial office within the land use map of the comp plan, according to city documents.

As the meeting came to a close, the planning commission ultimately recommended approval of the amendment and will now forward it to city council to conduct a first reading of an ordinance to amend the map at its Sept. 1 regular meeting.

According to a previous Reporter story, the SJCC requested zoning change is for stronger alignment with its operations and to provide certainty for their neighbors, the city and the broader SJCC community, said CEO Amy Lavin, a longtime Mercer Island resident.

“Our mission is to amplify profound connection for every generation, but with an aging, non ADA-compliant building with mechanical equipment from 1969, this is challenging,” Lavin said at the meeting.

Mercer Island resident and SJCC attorney Jessica Clawson said the requested rezoning has been an Island-wide topic for more than a decade.

“Without this action, the JCC is stuck in its current location and situation,” she said of the 50-plus-year-old building that covers approximately 92,000 square feet and has a current assessed value of $26 million. “The amendment benefits the community as a whole and will not adversely affect community families or the public health, safety and welfare.”

Clawson added that they’re only planning to build an SJCC on the property, not office buildings or using the land for some other commercial use as some concerned neighbors have written about in their letters to the city. Parking and traffic are other concerns.

The J — as it’s often referred to by Islanders — caters to people ages 3 months old to 95 and offers ancient teachings, Early Childhood School (ECS), aquatics classes, comedy shows and much more.

Public hearing speakers and letter writers on the pro side said the J is critical to the Island and enriches the lives of thousands of people, it should be prepared for the future with the requested rezoning and more.

“Please align the comprehensive plan with the longstanding and future use of this facility and property. I know the SJCC is embarking on a needed upgrade of their facility and the designation as a commercial property will allow them to continue to serve the community for an additional 55 years,” reads one letter.

On the con side at the meeting and in written letters, people said they’re trying to save their neighborhood, are concerned about the size of the facility that rezoning would allow and more.

“Before making a permanent change to the comprehensive plan and zoning map, the city should require a clearer understanding of the future impacts that could result and demonstrate that the proposal is fully consistent with the city’s long-standing commitment to protecting residential neighborhoods,” reads one letter.

Decisions to amend the comprehensive plan will be based on a host of criteria, some of which is: consistency with the Growth Management Act, the countywide planning policies, and the other provisions of the comprehensive plan and city policies; compatibility with the adjacent land use and development pattern and more.

Planning commission vice chair JB Gibson said at the meeting that this has been a tough issue to tackle, adding: “I want to see the JCC be able to build this — it’s the mechanism that’s being put in front of us that makes this really challenging to try to make this work. I do think conditions are something that the city council has the means to do when they consider the rezone. I think that’s something that the JCC should advocate for; I think that’s something that concerned neighbors should advocate for. I think everybody’s trying to get the right thing at the end of the day and there is a mechanism to do that.”