Three Options for Growth - What are they and Why Does it Matter?

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:

"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.
"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
"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!