Kent Comprehensive Plan 2044: Building Our Future Together

How to Access the Draft Plan: You can view the draft plan by clicking here.

How to Provide Feedback: Please submit all feedback by November 12, 2024 so we can incorporate your input into the final version.

• Online: Review the plan online and submit comments in the document(External link).
  
• Written: Send your comments to futurekent@kentwa.gov(External link) or send a letter to Kristen Holdsworth, ECD Long Range Planning Manager, 220 Fourth Avenue South, Kent, WA 98032.
• Public Hearings: The City will host two public hearings on the Comprehensive Plan. Meetings will be at the City Hall Council Chambers at 220 Fourth Avenue South, Kent and virtually via Zoom. You may present testimony during the hearings in person or virtually via Zoom. The meeting agendas will be posted the Friday before the meetings and will include information for virtual attendance via Zoom. This website provides links to the agenda materials.
  
  • Tuesday, November 12 at 6 PM: Land Use and Planning Board Special Meeting(External link)
  • Tuesday, November 19 at 7 PM: City Council Meeting(External link)

Any person requiring a disability accommodation should contact the City Clerk’s Office in advance at 253-856-5725. For TTY/TDD service call the Washington Telecommunications Relay Service at 7-1-1.

Thank you for your continued support and participation!

The City has been working with the community over the past two years to envision how we can build our future together. On August 20, 2024, after extensive community engagement and studies, the City Council selected a preferred growth alternative which will guide community development for decades to come, including important topics such as land use, housing, economic development, parks, transportation, services, and a variety of other topics. As part of the Comprehensive Plan update, the City will be updating the Future Land Use (FLU) Map and the Zoning Map to reflect the community's vision and preferred growth alternative for the next 20 years.

Frequently Asked Questions/Additional Information

1. Why is the city updating the Future Land Use Map and Zoning Map Designations?

The updates are part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan periodic update, which is required by state law. They are designed to ensure that the City’s land use policies reflect current community needs and state growth management requirements.

2. What is a Future Land Use Map (FLU)?

A Future Land Use map designation is a planning tool used to guide future growth and land use decisions over the next 20 years. It indicates how different areas within the city are intended to be developed or preserved over time, reflecting the community’s long-term vision.

3. What is a Zoning District?

A Zoning District is associated with Kent City Code and identifies allowed uses and development regulations, consistent with Kent City Code Title 15.

4. How does this impact me?

The updates to the Future Land Use Map and zoning may result in changes to what types of development or land uses are allowed on your property in the future. This could affect things like:

• Permitted uses of your property;
• Building heights, setbacks, and density limits; and
• Property taxes- changes in property value due to the new zoning or land use could influence assessments over time.

Legally existing uses may continue and permit applications submitted prior to January 1, 2025 are vested to current development regulations.

5. Who should I contact if I have more questions?

Email FutureKent@KentWA.gov.

What is changing?

This document includes maps that show the proposed land use map changes. Zoning changes corresponding with land use changes are listed below.

Below is a list of parcel numbers (and site address, if available) of proposed changes to the Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map and Zoning Map.

On August 20, 2024, City Council confirmed the preferred growth alternative for the Comprehensive Plan. The preferred growth alternative was selected after reviewing various potential growth alternatives from the Draft EIS and Round 2 of Community Engagement.

The preferred growth alternative will shape how Kent grows, develops, and evolves over the next 20 years. It determines the direction of community development for decades to come, impacting daily decisions people make, such as where they live, how they commute, the schools their children attend, and the amenities they have access to. It shapes the long-term sustainability, livability, and inclusiveness of a community, directly influencing the quality of life for all residents.

To learn more about the preferred growth alternative, you can watch the full Council Workshop here.

Features of the Preferred Alternative

• Support for the continued growth of East Hill's existing activity centers and the creation of new locally-serving commercial areas in appropriate locations.
• Support for the infill and redevelopment of the Kent-Canyon Ridge Candidate Countywide Growth Center.
• Assumed continued development and redevelopment in Kent's downtown area and along Meeker.
• Continued implementation of the Rally the Valley plan for Kent's industrial area.
• Allowances for middle housing development and redevelopment throughout the City's neighborhoods, as required by State law.
• Continued development of the Midway area, supported by regional high capacity transit investments.

Future Land Use Map Changes

Modest changes to the City's Future Land Use Map (FLU) are needed to implement the Preferred Alternative. These changes will in turn be implemented by updates to the City of Kent Zoning Map and Kent City Code development standards, which will occur subsequent to adoption of the Comprehensive Plan.

Below is a summary of the changes to the Future Land Use map to implement the preferred alternative:

1. East Hill Activity Centers. Most of these areas already have a FLU designation of Commercial (C), Neighborhood Service (NS) or Mixed Use (MU). Some new activity centers are proposed and others are expanded with these changes.
2. Kent-Canyon Ridge Candidate Countywide Growth Center. This land already has a FLU designation of MU. No changes to the FLU map are needed.
3. Downtown. This land has a FLU designation of Downtown Core (DC). No changes to the FLU map are needed.
4. Industrial Area. This land has industrial FLU designations established by the Rally the Valley plan. No changes to the FLU map are needed.
5. Midway. This area has FLU designations consistent with prior planning efforts. One minor change is proposed for consistency with surrounding area.
6. Middle Housing in Residential Areas. This growth is enabled by State law and applies to existing SF-designated land. No changes to the FLU map are needed.
7. Map Cleanup. Cities regularly make updates to the FLU Map to correct errors or account for development that may be inconsistent with mapped designations. Some changes fall into this category.

Additional Background Information

On June 14, 2024, the City published the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), which evaluated three potential growth alternatives. In order to move forward, the Council must select a preferred growth alternative so staff can prepare the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Comprehensive Plan update. The preferred growth alternative can be one of the three alternatives study, or a combination of them.

The project team built off Round 2 Community Engagement findings to inform a proposed preferred alternative for Council confirmation. The team worked internally with City Staff (subject matter experts), the Land Use and Planning Board, and the Community Advisory Group to identify changes to the Future Land Use Map (FLU) to implement the conceptual preferred alternative.

Round 2 Community Engagement Has Ended - Thanks for your Input!

Residents, businesses, and community members shared their priorities, ideas, and concerns to help us build our future together.

Click here to see what we heard to inform the City's preferred growth alternative and policy updates for the next 20 years!

Round 2 outreach is underway! You may have seen links to our survey on Facebook and Instagram, seen us at the international festival, or caught us playing games (Literally!) at Kent Meridian High School! Our summer calendar is full of places you can come and interact with us!

There are MANY ways to provide input. In addition to the online survey, come find us at events in the community! Look out for us at major events and pop-ups around the city including the Juneteenth Event on June 22, 2024, and Kent Cornucopia Days on July 12-14, 2024. We also will be playing “KentQuest” - a boardgame event to discuss our future at the Kent Downtown Library on June 29, or the Airways Brewing Tap Room in the Industrial Area from 4:00 -7:00 PM on July 18! Check the right-hand side of the page for more information as it becomes available.

You can also provide public comment by attending a special workshop at the Land Use and Planning Board meeting on June 24.

The City of Kent is excited to announce the availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Kent 2044 Comprehensive Plan. The DEIS is part of the SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) process, which fosters informed decision making by ensuring that environmental impacts and environmental values are evaluated and given appropriate consideration during the City’s planning efforts.

The DEIS evaluates three alternatives to guide future growth and development in Kent over the next 20 years. At this time the City has been evaluating all three growth alternatives and has not selected a preferred growth alternative.

Draft EIS Alternatives, a full description can be found in the DEIS - HERE

Public Comment Period: We invite you to review the Draft EIS and provide your comments from June 14, 2024, to July 15, 2024, at 5:00 PM PST. Your feedback will inform the final Environmental Impact Statement and decision-making process.

How to Review the Draft EIS:

• The Draft EIS document is available on this website in the documents tab to the right or by clicking here.
• The Draft EIS is also available for review in person at:
  • City of Kent Permit Center: 400 W Gowe Street, Kent, WA 98032
  • City of Kent City Clerk’s Office: 220 Fourth Avenue S, Kent, WA 98032
  • Kent Downtown Library: 212 Second Avenue N, Kent, WA 98032
  • Kent Commons Community Center: 525 Fourth Avenue N, Kent, WA 98030
  • Kent Senior Activity Center: 600 E Smith Street, Kent, WA 98032
  • Copies for purchase may be made available upon request, at the cost of material.

How to Submit Comments:

• Email: Send comments to Kristen Holdsworth, Long-Range Planning Manager and SEPA Official, at KHoldsworth@KentWA.gov.
• Mail: Mail your comments to Kristen Holdsworth, City of Kent Long Range Planning Department, 220 4th Avenue S, Kent, WA 98032.

• Public Meeting: Join us for a Land Use and Planning Board (LUPB) workshop on June 24, 2024, at 6:00 PM PST at City Council Chambers (220 4th Ave S, Kent, WA 98032). Check the events tab on the right-hand side of the page for more information or click here!

Did you know Kent has a podcast? Listen to Kristen Holdsworth, Long Range Planning Manager, discuss the Comprehensive Plan Update!

Listen to the episode here and for future episodes look up KentNow wherever you listen to podcasts!

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS): Shaping Kent's Growth

Planning for Kent's future requires careful consideration of how the city will evolve by 2044. To do this, the City has developed three distinct growth alternatives to study different way the City may grow over the next 20 years. The three growth alternatives were developed based on community input gathered from Summer 2023 through the end of the year.

State law requires the City to study and disclose potential impacts through an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). By doing so, we gain insights into how growth may impact current and prospective community members, ensuring that our decisions align with the city's long-term vision.

These alternatives, outlined in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), offer distinct pathways for accommodating growth while addressing critical needs such as housing, jobs, parks, transportation, and environmental protection. Each alternative is designed to meet or exceed the minimum required growth targets of 10,200 new housing units and 32,000 new jobs by 2044. It’s important to remember that the City has not selected a growth alternative yet. The final growth alternative could be one of these three alternatives, or even a mix-and-match combination of things you like from different alternatives! The final growth alternative will be selected by City Council after we hear your feedback this Spring/Summer on the three options.

For a complete description of the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) environmental review process and the alternatives click here.

Three Growth Alternatives:

1. "No Action" (Alternative 1): Maintains existing regulations and zoning laws, focusing growth within current areas. Targets 10,510 new homes and nearly 31,637 new jobs by 2044. The No Action Alternative would not meet State requirements for middle housing and other requirements enacted as part of recent legislation that City must implement as part of their development code. This is a required alternative under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and serves as a controlled comparison.
   

2. "Nodes and Corridors" (Alternative 2): Alternative 2 assumes continued development intensity in the City’s Regional Growth Centers (Downtown and the Industrial Valley) and in previously planned areas like Midway and along Meeker Street. New activity centers would also be located along the Benson (SR 515) and Kent-Kangley corridors, at key intersections in East Hill, and at Benson Corridor and SE 256^th Street. This alternative would exceed targets and provide 12,752 new homes and 35,037 new jobs by 2044. Alternative 2 assumes our zoning code is updated to comply with HB 1110 for middle housing, but uptake occurs minimally and development still focuses on major transit areas and corridors
   

3. "Core with Transit Links" (Alternative 3): Prioritizes growth in city centers and along major transportation routes, with some expansion into transit-accessible areas. Alternative 3 also includes the development and redevelopment of existing vacant and underdeveloped parcels for middle housing per HB 1110, assuming there is a modest amount of infill development around transit and in single-family neighborhoods. This alternative exceeds targets with 12,443 new homes and 32,047 new jobs by 2044.
   

These alternatives provide a framework for thoughtful growth management, ensuring that Kent continues to thrive as a vibrant and sustainable community. By evaluating their potential impacts comprehensively, we can make informed decisions that benefit all residents now and in the future.

What's next?

Round two engagement is starting soon! Watch out for which events we will be at to interact with us. You can always send us an email at FutureKent@kentwa.gov, using our emails at the bottom right of this page, or using the "Contact us" button above this post!

We want to hear from you about what you think about potential impacts and ways to make them work for all of us!

Kent has released an interactive "storymap" that provides information about the City as it is today! This will help inform the comprehensive plan, as it serves as the baseline conditions report on which all of the new goals and policies are based. The report contains an overview of the City of Kent, maps, and figures about Kent's Zoning, Land Use, People, Parks, Transportation, and the Environment!

Learn more about our City by clicking the image below or visiting: Kent Comprehensive Plan 2044 (arcgis.com)

What have we done so far?

• Interactive Community Engagement: Hosted and joined over 15 interactive events at various locations in multiple languages.
• Engaged with youth and students to understand their aspirations and concerns.
• Conducted a community survey with 448 participants.
• Incorporated community input and existing conditions into three future growth alternatives that will be analyzed in a Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

(From left to right) Engagement Activities in 2023: Teddy Bear Clinic, International Festival, Game of Jobs and Homes, Khalsa Day

What have we learned so far?

Inclusive + Diverse + Dynamic

The various community engagement activities highlighted a future that prioritizes community wellness, a healthy environment, and housing options for all. Participants voiced support for a welcoming, collaborative, and inclusive community where residents are valued and their cultures and varying perspectives continue to be celebrated. The community emphasized the need for diverse and affordable housing options, suggesting measures such as integrating mixed-use developments into the existing neighborhoods, supporting neighborhood scaled commercial to activate places while creating or enhancing a person’s connection to Kent.

Forward Thinking + Sustainable + Connected

Community engagement participants desire more connections to services and places through more east-west public transit options and, overall, safer connections throughout the City. Ultimately, leading to better mobility for all, particularly for folks that need direct access to essential services. Participants also emphasized the desire for an economic landscape that attracts and sustains industries for well-paying jobs. Innovation hubs, job training programs, and increased collaboration with local businesses were specific ideas. While mobility and economic development were important to residents, participants underscored the importance of protecting the green spaces and natural areas that are characteristic of Kent and the need to implement strategies that address environmental justice inequities.