The Issaquah City Council voted Sept. 6, 2016, to enact a six-month moratorium on certain types of development.
In 2012 — to protect Issaquah's existing neighborhoods and natural environment — the City adopted the Central Issaquah Plan (CIP), which guides the long-term evolution of Issaquah’s existing commercial core into an urban center.
Since the plan was adopted, several developments have been built, approved or are currently under review.
During a City Council work session in July 2016, the City assessed whether those projects met the community's vision for the CIP.
Several issues were identified, including:
- Architectural fit with the community
- Urban design elements
- Vertical mixed use
- Affordable housing
- Parking
- Visions for each district
The moratorium enables Issaquah to address these issues before more development proceeds.
The moratorium doesn't, however, mean all development in Issaquah will stop, as projects that are currently under construction — or have already filed complete permit applications — can proceed.
In addition, the moratorium excludes:
- Properties covered by approved development agreements
- Transit-oriented development
- Essential public facilities, such as fire stations and hospitals
- Publicly-funded schools and Village Theater
- Projects involving the sale and development of land currently owned by the City and public capital projects
- Remodels and tenant improvements
- Single-family homes on lots already vested through platting approvals
- Affordable housing (with affordable units representing at least 40 percent of the total units proposed)
- Emergency repairs or construction necessitated by a natural disaster such as fire, flooding, earthquake or other similar cause
Per state law, a public hearing on the moratorium will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 17 in council chambers, 135 E. Sunset Way. Following the hearing, the City Council may take further action.
For more information, view the full ordinance online.