Mercer Island, Washington — Residents opposing CPA25-002 / RZN25-002

This is where we live.

The City is considering a permanent rezone of the Stroum Jewish Comminity Center (JCC) property from residential to commercial. Once granted, it cannot be undone. Residents have until July 3 to be heard.

Public comment deadline
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July 3, 2026 — Email cityclerk@mercerisland.gov before this date

Why this matters

Three things every Mercer Island resident should know

1

Traffic — and no way to limit it

The JCC sits at Mercer Island's primary I-90 access point. Traffic already backs onto the off-ramps. Commercial zoning removes all regulatory limits on membership, events, and vehicle trips. The city would have no mechanism to require mitigation.

2

Fairness — one set of rules for everyone else

Every other conditional-use permit holder on Mercer Island operates under enforceable conditions. This rezone would create a permanent exemption — no conditions, no compliance review, no accountability. That is not equal treatment under the law.

3

Process — a holiday-week hearing

The Planning Commission hearing is July 8 — four days after America's 250th birthday. Families are away, attention is elsewhere, and the city posts participation instructions on July 3. This is not meaningful public notice for a permanent land-use decision.

Our position

We support the JCC. We oppose this rezone.

We are not opposed to the Stroum Jewish Community Center. We support their presence on Mercer Island and respect the role they play in this community.

What we oppose is the conversion of their property from residential to commercial zoning — a permanent change that benefits one organization while removing protections every other resident and institution is subject to.

A Conditional Use Permit with enforced conditions is the right framework — for the JCC and for every organization on this island. The city should require full CUP compliance before any rezone discussion begins.

We also ask that the Planning Commission postpone the July 8 hearing to a date that allows for meaningful resident participation. Four days after a national holiday is not that date.

The record

A pattern of non-compliance

Before any rezone discussion, the city should address an existing compliance record. These are documented conditions of the current CUP that have not been met.

Membership reporting The CUP requires periodic membership reporting. It has not been complied with. Estimates place current membership at 5,000+ members vs. the approximately 1,000 projected at the time of approval.
Night lighting Lighting exceeds zoning limits. Reduced after complaint, then restored. This is a pattern, not an oversight.
Vegetation barrier A screening barrier was planted as a condition of approval, then trimmed to the point of providing no functional screening for neighboring residents.
8-foot fence An 8-foot fence was erected on an acquired residential parcel. Back-yard code allows 6 feet and front-yard code allows 4 feet. The fence has been out of compliance for over a year.
Acquired residential land The JCC has acquired additional residential parcels and have been observed using them for club purposes by local residents — a direct violation of the existing CUP.
Land use notice sign The zip ties securing the required public notice sign were cut, leaving the sign on the ground out of view to the public. This is the notice informing residents of the rezone request. While we do not know who cut the zip ties, it is very clear it was intentional.

What we are asking for

Two asks, in priority order

1 Postpone the hearing. Schedule the Planning Commission hearing on a date that allows meaningful resident participation — not four days after a major national holiday.
2 Deny the rezone. Require full CUP compliance before any rezone discussion. If the existing conditions cannot be met, a permanent commercial rezone is not the answer.
Planning Commission Hearing — Tuesday, July 8, 2026 — 6:00 PM — Mercer Island Community & Events Center, 8263 SE 24th St (Zoom also available)

All we ask from you

Send a short email to the City Clerk before July 3.
Two sentences is enough.

cityclerk@mercerisland.gov

Comment deadline: July 3, 2026 — Case CPA25-002 / RZN25-002 / SEP25-021