Draft Vashon-Maury Island Community Service Area Plan Summary
(October 19, 2016)
Agriculture
Support a local and sustainable food system on Vashon-Maury Island that protects agricultural lands and supports
island farmers and growers.
 Promote environmentally sensitive agricultural and farmland preservation practices.
 Allow the minimum parcel size for agricultural uses to be reduced from 10 acres to 5.
 Allow food processing plants of appropriate size and scale.
 Support development of a Food Hub and expansion of the Farmer’s Market.
 Increase the number of community gardens.
Arts
Art, in all its forms and expressions, plays an influential role in the Vashon-Maury Island community. King County
should proactively support island arts.
 Incorporate local artistic elements into community signage.
 Allow and promote art in public and private spaces.
Historic Preservation
Historic preservation is a vital part of Vashon-Maury Island’s heritage. King County will partner with local
organizations to identify and preserve historic and cultural resources.
 Promote the preservation and reuse of historic sites and buildings.
 Register more historic properties with the King County Landmark program.
 Preserve sites of cultural and ethnic significance.
Housing
Protect neighborhood diversity and increase affordable housing. King County should work with Vashon to increase
affordable (very-low, low and moderate income), healthy housing for all ages.
 Encourage construction of accessory dwelling units under certain minimum standards.
 Preserve diversity of single-family housing in rural areas.
 Disallow properties currently zoned as one home per 10 acres to be subdivided into smaller lots.
 Higher density and multi-family housing should be located in Vashon Town.
 Increase zoning flexibility in Vashon Town to accommodate affordable housing development.
Land Use
Limit growth to retain Vashon’s rural, small town feel, while allowing for a compact, mixed use, walkable and vibrant
town core. All land use policies should protect the island’s sole source aquifer.
 Allow reductions to minimum off-street parking in Vashon Town.
 Preserve small-scale neighborhood commercial centers throughout the island.
 Island development will mainly occur in Vashon Town and any expansion should be to the east and west (and
not to the south).
 The area south of Vashon Town Core and Center should retain its low-density, residential feel.
 Future industrial development should only occur in Vashon Town.
 Promote and preserve the Town Green.
 Consider adopting the sign recommendations from the 2012 VMICC land use committee.
DRAFT VMI COMMUNITY SERVICE AREA PLAN SUMMARY
Page 1



Reduce or eliminate “p-suffix” (property specific development) conditions on selected parcels.
Allow flexible zoning for projects with strong community benefit.
Support agency collaboration and joint use of resources as funding and statutes allow.
Natural Resources
The community and King County should preserve and protect the island’s natural resources, with special attention to
critical areas. Enforcement of environmental regulations should be a priority.
 Acquire important habitats for park and open space use.
 Promote the Public Benefit Rating System (tax reduction tool) and related environmental benefits.
 Develop public education and regulatory tools to improve climate change mitigation and adaptation.
 Conduct actions to protect and restore shorelines and shellfish habitats.
 Continue to promote recycling and waste reduction.
 Promote alternate sources of energy production.
 Encourage builders and developers to use low-impact development practices.
Open Space & Recreation
Open spaces and recreation are important for mental and physical health. King County and island organizations will
protect and expand access to open spaces and recreation, for all people of all abilities.
 Emphasize passive (rather than active) recreation in parks with critical areas or sensitive habitat areas.
 Acquire new shoreline property and increase access to existing shorelines for public use.
 Build new off-street trail systems.
 Improve public boat launches and the Tramp Harbor dock.
 Support a Green Network and other collaborations that share resources for common good.
Transportation
King County will promote a balanced transportation system that supports motorized and non-motorized transportation.
Metro will explore alternative transit services and provide reliable bus service to ferry terminals, large neighborhood
centers, and major activity centers on Vashon.
 Support and maintain multi-use trail systems and park-and-ride lots.
 Implement a Community Van program for pre-scheduled group trips around the island.
 New roads outside of Vashon Town will only be built if other transportation options are not possible.
 Identify sustainable funding for water taxi service to Seattle.
 Improve incentives to promote public transportation, especially to ferries.
 Support the Vashon airfield on Cove Road and ensure minimal environment and community impacts.
 Use traffic calming measures in Vashon Town.
Wastewater
Effective wastewater systems are critical to maintain environmental health. King County will explore alternative onsite
sewage systems for failing septic systems and new development.
 Make adjustments to local service areas boundaries only if sewage service is available.
 Limit sewer service beyond town boundaries.
 Continue to take new actions to prevent wastewater pollution in Quartermaster Harbor.
Water
The island’s sole source aquifer, groundwater, and surface waters should be protected and monitored to ensure that
residents have a clean and sustainable island water resource.
 Local service areas boundaries can only be changed if there is adequate water supply.
 Limit growth and housing density in critical groundwater recharge areas.
 Require water quality monitoring for new low-impact development projects.
 Support harvested rainwater as a supplemental water source.
 Help fund periodic monitoring of water quality and quantity within small water systems.
DRAFT VMI COMMUNITY SERVICE AREA PLAN SUMMARY
Page 2