This is where we live.

"Just over five miles long and two miles wide, Mercer Island is a true island community consisting of high quality residential areas, preserved parks and open space, as well as miles of developed shoreline… Mercer Island has been widely recognized as one of the premier residential communities in the State of Washington." City of Mercer Island  •  mercerisland.gov

That identity is now at risk.

The City is considering a permanent rezone of the Stroum Jewish Community Center (JCC) property from residential to commercial. Once granted, it cannot be undone. Residents have until July 31 to be heard.

Mercer Island Neighbors was formed to protect that identity.

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Public comment deadline
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July 31, 2026: Email cityclerk@mercerisland.gov before this date

Three things every Mercer Island resident should know

1

Traffic: no way to limit it

The JCC sits at Mercer Island's east side I-90 access point. Traffic already backs well off the JCC property during their busy times, sometimes as far as the the I-90 off-ramps, limiting east side residents timely access to and from their homes. 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: every available date lands wrong

The hearing was moved once already, from July to August 5th, still squarely inside summer vacation. The next open date after that is the first week of September, which lands right on back-to-school. There is no date left this summer that doesn't catch residents at the worst possible moment to weigh in on a permanent land-use decision. That is exactly why we are asking for October.

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 (CUP) 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.

This is not the first time this rezone has come before the city. The same comprehensive plan amendment and rezone was brought forward in 2017. In July 2019, the city itself paused that process, citing ongoing concerns raised by the community. Those concerns were never resolved, and there is no reason to think residents feel differently today. That history is itself a reason to pause now and hold this hearing at a time when the community can actually be heard, not during summer vacation and the first weeks of a new school year.

We also ask that the Planning Commission reschedule the hearing to a date no sooner than October, after summer has ended, school is back in session, and most Mercer Island families are home.

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.

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 Reschedule the hearing. Move the Planning Commission hearing to no sooner than October 2026, after summer vacation, after school resumes, and when most Mercer Island families are back home and able to participate.
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  •  August 5, 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 31.
One or two sentences is enough.

cityclerk@mercerisland.gov

Comment deadline: July 31, 2026  •  Case CPA25-002 / RZN25-002 / SEP25-021