County - King County Planning Policies
The Growth Management Act requires representatives of the county and each of its municipalities to establish Countywide Planning Policies. In King County, these policies were developed by the Growth Management Planning Council (GMPC), which is comprised of elected officials from King County, Seattle and representatives from the Suburban Cities Association. The Suburban Cities Association is an organization comprised of all of the Cities in King County other than Seattle.

The Countywide Planning Policies are intended to (1) provide processes for coordinating planning activities in the region; (2) obtain consistency between state, regional, and local jurisdictions; and (3) provide a policy framework for the development and adoption of coordinated and consistent comprehensive land use plans throughout the county. The Countywide Planning Policies cover the establishment of urban growth areas, the provision of urban services, the siting of essential public facilities, economic development, transportation and affordable housing.

The Countywide planning policies are a framework to guide the development of the comprehensive plans for King County and each city within the county. The Countywide Planning Policies do not dictate the way each jurisdiction will handle its share of growth or which city will choose to have one or more Urban Centers. Rather, the policies set up criteria and allow local decisions.

The Countywide Planning Policies’ Vision

As adopted in 1992, the Countywide Planning policies are a vision statement of how King County should grow over the next 20 years. Amendments to these policies were adopted in 1994. The policies established an urban Growth Area within the western one-third of the county where most future growth and development would occur. These policies serve to reduce urban sprawl, enhance open space, protect rural areas and more efficiently use social services, transportation and utilities.

Urban Centers were designated within existing cities to serve as areas of concentrated employment, housing and a wide variety of land uses. These uses include retail, recreational, cultural and public facilities, parks and open spaces, with direct service by high-capacity transit. Emphasizing growth in the urban centers will contribute to achieving the GMA goal of concentrating infrastructure investments and preventing further urban sprawl. Some urban Centers include the downtowns of Bellevue, Seattle, Renton, Federal Way, SeaTac, Kent and Redmond. Urban Centers were designated within existing cities to serve as areas of concentrated employment, housing and a wide variety of land uses. These uses include retail, recreational, cultural and public facilities, parks and open spaces, with direct service by high-capacity transit. Emphasizing growth in the urban centers will contribute to achieving the GMA goal of concentrating infrastructure investments and preventing further urban sprawl. Some urban Centers include the downtowns of Bellevue, Seattle, Renton, Federal Way, SeaTac, Kent and Redmond. Urban Centers were designated within existing cities to serve as areas of concentrated employment, housing and a wide variety of land uses. These uses include retail, recreational, cultural and public facilities, parks and open spaces, with direct service by high-capacity transit. Emphasizing growth in the urban centers will contribute to achieving the GMA goal of concentrating infrastructure investments and preventing further urban sprawl. Some urban Centers include the downtowns of Bellevue, Seattle, Renton, Federal Way, SeaTac, Kent and Redmond. Urban Centers were designated within existing cities to serve as areas of concentrated employment, housing and a wide variety of land uses. These uses include retail, recreational, cultural and public facilities, parks and open spaces, with direct service by high-capacity transit. Emphasizing growth in the urban centers will contribute to achieving the GMA goal of concentrating infrastructure investments and preventing further urban sprawl. Some urban Centers include the downtowns of Bellevue, Seattle, Renton, Federal Way, SeaTac, Kent and Redmond. Urban Centers were designated within existing cities to serve as areas of concentrated employment, housing and a wide variety of land uses. These uses include retail, recreational, cultural and public facilities, parks and open spaces, with direct service by high-capacity transit. Emphasizing growth in the urban centers will contribute to achieving the GMA goal of concentrating infrastructure investments and preventing further urban sprawl. Some urban Centers include the downtowns of Bellevue, Seattle, Renton, Federal Way, SeaTac, Kent and Redmond. Urban Centers were designated within existing cities to serve as areas of concentrated employment, housing and a wide variety of land uses. These uses include retail, recreational, cultural and public facilities, parks and open spaces, with direct service by high-capacity transit. Emphasizing growth in the urban centers will contribute to achieving the GMA goal of concentrating infrastructure investments and preventing further urban sprawl. Some urban Centers include the downtowns of Bellevue, Seattle, Renton, Federal Way, SeaTac, Kent and Redmond. Urban Centers were designated within existing cities to serve as areas of concentrated employment, housing and a wide variety of land uses. These uses include retail, recreational, cultural and public facilities, parks and open spaces, with direct service by high-capacity transit. Emphasizing growth in the urban centers will contribute to achieving the GMA goal of concentrating infrastructure investments and preventing further urban sprawl. Some urban Centers include the downtowns of Bellevue, Seattle, Renton, Federal Way, SeaTac, Kent and Redmond.

The policies also call for designation of Manufacturing/Industrial Centers, recognizing that these sites are key components of a strong regional economy. These centers would be zoned to preserve and encourage industrial growth. Examples include the Duwamish River industrial area and Kent.

Even with the Urban Centers, it is expected that 60 to 75 percent of the residential growth will occur in other parts of the urban area. Like today, these areas will form the bulk of the Urban Growth Area and will be home to the largest portion of the County’s population. With the initial adoption of the policies in 1992, there was little emphasis placed on these areas which would accommodate such a large portion of the County’s residential growth.

The 1994 amendments placed an increased emphasis on Activity Areas. Activity areas are locations that contain a mix of uses and function as a significant focal point of the local community. These areas will typically have a pedestrian-oriented environment and be served by a high level of peak hour transit service.

The Countywide planning Policies contain growth targets for each jurisdiction. It is important to note that these are not necessarily forecasts, but indicated commitments by jurisdictions to provide sufficient land and infrastructure to accommodate these targets. Kenmore has a residential target range of approximately 1,200 new households. This target must be accommodated within the current city limits.

One of the critical issues facing the region as it grows is the provision of affordable housing. In the Puget Sound region, housing prices have skyrocketed over the past ten years. Policies, which limit the supply of available land, will increase the upward pressure on housing costs. The Countywide Policies recognize housing affordability as a regional issue and seek to encourage that all jurisdictions accept their fair share of affordable housing.

By promoting growth in existing urban areas, it is anticipated that an increasing share of all growth will be in cities. Under the countywide policies, each jurisdiction retains the authority to make decisions regarding its local character and density. However, each jurisdiction is expected to develop its comprehensive plan consistent with the countywide policies so that countywide problems, that transcend jurisdictional boundaries are addressed and solved.