At its Jan. 3 meeting, the Mercer Island City Council took initial steps to address two code changes for housing that have been separated from the Planning Commission’s ongoing review of residential development standards.

The first change eliminates the need for places of worship to apply for a lot coverage variance if they desire to construct a parsonage on their property. The second requires automatic sprinkler system installation in all new construction, including substantial alterations. The council is scheduled to have second readings for the two changes on Jan. 17.

The city’s Planning Commission initially discussed the first amendment on Oct. 19, 2016, unanimously forwarding a recommendation of approval after a public hearing a month later. It proposed an impervious surface exemption for residences for religious leaders located on properties of places of worship, up to 4,999 square feet of impervious surface area, or 20 percent of the lot area, whichever is less.

Senior Planner Nicole Gaudette said that three or four churches in Mercer Island are considering taking advantage of this code change to build a parsonage, rectory or other residence for religious leaders. Affordable housing has become an issue on Mercer Island, with many people in the community — teachers, firefighters and clergymen, for example — unable to live where they work.

The Mercer Island code did have a variance process for religious institutions, but the change removes the increased time, cost and uncertainty associated with the variance procedure, and was approved unanimously by the City Council 6-0. Councilmember Dan Grausz was absent.

Councilmember Wendy Weiker expressed some objections to the fire code change, though it still passed 5-1 on first reading.

Fire Chief Steve Heitman said that he believes the change will improve safety, and he, along with Fire Marshal Herschel Rostov, recommended requiring residential sprinkler systems for all “new” single-family, two-family, and townhouse construction, including “substantial alterations.”

The current ordinance, adopted in 2004, requires automatic fire sprinklers if the building is over 5,000 square feet.

“Sprinkler system installation over the last five years has been required in 85 percent to 92 percent in new single family residences under the current ordinance,” according to the council’s Jan. 3 agenda bill. “The new proposed ordinance will raise this number to 100 percent, and will thus increase safety while streamlining the fire review process.”

Weiker said she was concerned about flooding, push back from regional entities such as the Master Builders Association and added cost to homeowners. Rostov said that the average cost of installation for a sprinkler system is $2-$2.50 per square foot, and that though it does add to the cost of housing, the Master Builders aren’t concerned about it in Mercer Island, where the number of homes with these systems is already so high. He said that the fire department had some meetings with contractors, and that they walked away generally supportive of the change.

Rostov said that many homes have sprinklers because of the unique topography of the Island, which presents difficulties for firefighters, such as long, winding and narrow driveways. As for flooding concerns, Rostov said the sprinklers are no more susceptible than any other plumbing system in a home.

For more, see www.mercergov.org/CouncilMeetings.