Vashon-Maury Island Action Item 2: Affordable Housing Incentives
Vashon-Maury Island Action Item 2: Affordable Housing Incentives
A workplan item to review and assess the effectiveness of the affordable housing special district overlay in Vashon Rural Town was adopted in 2017, as part of the Vashon-Maury Island Subarea Plan, as a tool to increase the supply of affordable housing on the island.
Vashon-Maury Island Workplan Action Item 2: Affordable Housing Incentives
The community’s desire to increase opportunities for affordable housing development on the island was one of the key themes expressed during outreach and development of the 2017 Vashon-Maury Island Subarea Plan. In response to this, the adopted Subarea Plan included creation of a new Special District Overlay (overlay) to incentivize affordable housing development on 246 parcels within the Rural Town of Vashon. King County Ordinance 18623, established a workplan and timeline to review the effectiveness of the overlay. Annual reports have been completed since 2018 on the overlay and the final review is currently underway as part of the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update.
Opportunities to Participate
Vashon Rural Town Affordable Housing Special District Overlay Final Evaluation Report Released for Comment
On June 1, 2023, King County released the Vashon Rural Town Affordable Housing Special District Overlay Final Evaluation for comment. The comment period is open through July 15, 2023.
The report recommends that the Vashon Rural Town Affordable Housing Overlay be repealed as nearly six years have passed since its adoption and no new affordable housing units have been created. The 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update Public Review Draft includes a proposal to expand recently adopted voluntary inclusionary housing program provisions to a larger area of unincorporated King County. This would include Vashon Town. It’s anticipated that the expanded inclusionary housing program would more effectively support the housing goals of the Vashon-Maury Island Subarea Plan than the Overlay, and that it should replace the Overlay.
Further detail is included in the Vashon Rural Town Affordable Housing Special District Overlay Final Evaluation report that has been released for review and comments.
On July 10, 2023, 7.00 to 8.30 PM, the County is hosting a virtual meeting on Zoom that is focused on zoning condition changes under consideration for Vashon-Maury Island, including the possible repeal of the Vashon Rural Town Affordable Housing Special District Overlay. Here is a link to join the meeting. We'd like to hear your input.
https://kingcounty.zoom.us/j/89405806750
Meeting ID: 894 0580 6750
Passcode: VASHON (all caps)
Dial by your location
+1 253 205 0468 US
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Can't make the meeting? You can also provide input on the Vashon Vashon Rural Town Affordable Housing Special District Overlay Final Evaluation report by completing the comment box at the bottom of this page, or by sending comments to CompPlan@kingcounty.gov.
2024 King County Comprehensive Plan Update – Public Review Draft
The Vashon Rural Town Affordable Housing Special District Overlay Final Evaluation Report is part of the Public Review Draft for the 2024 King County Comprehensive Plan Update. The review period for the Public Review Draft materials is June 1 through July 15, 2023. You can find all proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan, including all amendments that apply to Vashon-Maury Island, at this website 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update - PublicInput. In addition to including possible changes to the Vashon Rural Town Affordable Housing Special District Overlay, the Public Review Draft also includes additional proposed changes to other zoning conditions along with proposed policy amendments and land use and zoning map amendments that affect parcels on the island. The website also provides information about engagement events during the Public Review Draft comment period and how to provide input.
For questions on either the Vashon Rural Town Affordable Housing Special District overlay Final Evaluation Report or the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update, please write to CompPlan@kingcounty.gov.
On July 10, 2023, 7:00 to 8:30 PM, the County is hosting a virtual meeting on Zoom that is focused on zoning condition changes under consideration on Vashon-Maury Island. Here is how you can join the meeting, and provide input:
https://kingcounty.zoom.us/j/89405806750
Meeting ID: 894 0580 6750
Passcode: VASHON (all caps)
Dial by your location
+1 253 205 0468 US
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Frequently Asked Questions
The Vashon Affordable Housing Special District Overlay is an optional incentive which developers can use on elligible properties located within Vashon Town to increase the density of an affordable housing development.
A detailed description of the SDO's provisions can be found on King County's website.
As of 2022, the special district overlay has not created any additional affordable housing units on Vashon Isand.
A review of the Special District Overlay has been completed annually since 2018. A preliminary report was transmitted to Council each year - these reports can be found in the "Documents" section on this page. To prepare the Vashon Rural Town Affordable Housing Special District Overlay Final Evaluation report, King County researched housing options and engaged with the community, including sharing a Vashon Concepts Document in early 2023.
