The city of Kent Planning Department will host two informal community meetings and a public hearing in March to get input on land use and properties designated as urban separators, on the city borders with other jurisdictions.
Urban separator is a type of land use designation that’s part of the city’s comprehensive plan and the county’s planning policies. It is meant to preserve open space, connect wildlife corridors and protect sensitive environmental areas while allowing a small amount of housing. A separator typically is a parcel of undeveloped land, sometimes in the form of open space, that separates two or more urban areas under different municipal jurisdictions.
The community’s feedback is important for city planners to help them balance housing needs with the long-term benefits of open space. The city needs to make some tough decisions about how to balance the need for more housing for residents with the long-term benefits of preserving open space. Your ideas will help city staff come up with policy options to recommend to the City Council.
The community meetings will include an open house for participants to view and comment on land use maps, a presentation by city planners and a question-and-answer session.
Community meetings:
• Thursday, March 8, 7 p.m.
Panther Lake Elementary School (10020 SE 216th St.)
• Wednesday, March 14, 7 p.m.
Sunnycrest Elementary School (24629 42nd Ave. S.)
Public hearing:
• Monday, March 26, 7 p.m.
Kent City Council Chambers (220 Fourth Ave. S.)
The Land Use and Planning Board will host a public hearing to provide background on the urban separators project and policy options as well as informational handouts. The public will have an opportunity to offer input on the options and provide formal comments.
Additional information is available online at KentWA.gov/urbanseparator. Residents can also provide input via an online survey, from March 1-31.
Residents also can contact senior long range planner/GIS coordinator Danielle Butsick at dbutsick@KentWA.gov or 253-856-5443.
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