HomeMy WebLinkAbout718A r ,
CITY Or, KENT, WASIIINGTON
RESOLUTION 10. ZLA
A PBSOLUTION of the City Council of
x the City of Kent, le,ashington, adopting a
"spherc of interest" for the City of I:ent
as recommended by the Kent Planning Com-
mission.
4
t4iiEREAS, tl-:e VPlanning Commission of the City of Kent
has held public hearings to determine the logical "sphere of
interest" of the City of Kent, and
l
WHERI,A�, the purpose of determining sai - ."sphere of
interest" is to allow For the orderly ftitur.'n growth of the City
sof Kent, and
1AT1irRF;AS, it is in the .best: interest of the .citizens
aE the City of Kent that the
": phere of interest~" of the City
of Kent be determined, NOW, TIIrI2UORE,
'x
j
TIT ('111Y COUNCIL OF 'TiM� CITY OV Y.P.NT, WASHINGTON DO
i IIEREBY RMSOLVI.' that thereport of the Planning Com -issian of
the City of Kent prepared and promulgated under the title
"Kent' s Sphere of Interest - Tlc2vi;ed by 1:ent Planning Commission
clarcli 2). , 1972" I)a and hereby in adopted as the official policy
of tho City of Kant, and it iv further
a ,
RISSOLVED that the City ;hall, in the f%iture whenever
practical ,, expand its t.err. i tcr.y an(I provide for municipal ser-
"' vice:; in accordance with said "sphere of int-.ere W' so adopted
F.
MII
PASSED at a regular moeting of the City Council of
the city of, Rent, this 17th day of April, 1972.
ATTEST:
I.MBEL ir1OGAN, MAYOR
rl,kR.TT JENSEN, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FO.W4-
DONALD E. MIRK, Cjty ttorney
I h►�,rehy certify that this is n' t:rue copy of Resolution
passed by the City Council of the City of Kent,
Washington, the �� d,►y of r,nril, 1972.
(SiiAL)
2 i 17\IR1's SEN , Ci y Clerk
a
I J�.
he jity of K'an Comity
jullsen, Cit nl f y iuork in �% or t, t
os King-,
.&j., (j, I-X 14' the, attached is tlMe'
luld corr`-aot
Of e-o of' '-!Tltevez�t,l
Rent '-,rfi
,olle ugdur
Kunbor "(18: oli Ajx: 17, i) 'ooOklot and, the
tin file In 1;w
Ij
PS INIIFN�:.', 11, i, I
of the at�id 0-it'v, July, 1972.
i
1
1
1
' I1
1
1
I
1
1
1
1
A
1
S
Y
MAYOR: ISABEL HOGAN
CITY ADMINISTRATOR: JOSEPH STREET
KENT CITY COUNCIL
Peter Baffaro
Bill Elliott
Charles Martell
Jeanne Masters
Gary Just
t
Robert Kitto
James Jackson
KENT SPHERE OF INTEREST
A POLICY GUIDELINE
ADOPTED BY THE KENT CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO . 718, APRIL 17 , 1972
i
KENT PLANNING DEPARTMENT
JUNE 1972
�.J
J
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No .
INTRODUCTION 1
POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS 3
LAND USE PATTERNS OF KENT 5
MUNICIPAL SERVICES g
TOPOGRAPHY AND DRAINAGE 12
POPULATION PATTERNS 16
CIRCULATION PATTERNS 20
RECOMMENDED POLICIES FOR FUTURE ANNEXATIONS 20
KENT SPHERE OF INTEREST 22
LIST OF MAPS
Page No .
MAP I CITY BOUNDARIES 4
MAP II LAND USE - 1972 7
MAP III KENT SEWER SERVICE 9
MAP IV KENT WATER SERVICE 10
MAP V SCHOOL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES 11
MAP VI TOPOGRAPHY AND DRAINAGE PATTERNS 15
MAP VII 1970 CENSUS TRACTS AND BLOCK GROUPS 19
MAP VIII KENT SPHERE OF INTEREST BOUNDARIES 25
r �
J
.l
�J
J
J
LIST OF TABLES
Page No .
TABLE I KENT ZONING AND LAND USE ANALYSIS 6
TABLE II POPULATION DATA BY CENSUS TRACT - 1970 17
TABLE III POPULATION DATA BY BLOCK GROUPS - 1970 18
TABLE IV RECOMMENDED TIMETABLE FOR ANNEXATIONS 24
Introduction
Annexations in the State of Washington were , until the
formation of Boundary Review Boards in 1967 , piecemeal and
haphazard affairs . Annexations were made without consider-
ing the abilities of cities to provide municipal services ,
regional land use policies , the need to create balanced land
use patterns for the city, and without taking into account
population, drainage , topography or the extent of the city ' s
relationship with adjacent areas .
It is therefore a purpose of this study to investigate
these considerations in order to provide a more factual
basis for the City of Kent to make decisions concerning
future annexations and what might be the ultimate incorpo-
rated boundaries of the City of Kent .
The piecemeal methods of annexations have been paral-
leled by the often haphazard methods of determining the
planning areas of incorporated cities . These have often been
delimited by drawing a circle around the incorporated city
which roughly corresponds to school district and postal
boundaries but which may or may not relate to a policy of
-� future annexations to the city or be physically and socially
oriented to the city . It would seem more logical to relate
the planning area to policies concerning the ultimate bound-
aries of the city . It is to be hoped that land use problems
within areas to be annexed will be resolved by regional
planning agencies and through inter-governmental cooperation
as Washington municipalities do not have extraterritorial
zoning powers . 1 It is recommended that we do not plan beyond
1The Optional Municipal Code does permit Municipal Plan-
ning Commissions to hold a public hearing to consider zoning
for areas that are not annexed to the City , but which might
be in the near future . The Planning Commission can then make
11 recommendations to the City Council concerning the logical
zoning an area designated to be annexed might have .
Y
-1-
I
these ultimate boundaries .
This study will attempt to delimit the future boundaries
of Kent and establish guidelines and a rough timetable for
future annexations . The considerations to be investigated
include : provision of municipal services including where
municipal services are being provided outside of present city
limits , present revenue and expenditures for municipal ser-
vices , levels of services in unincorporated areas , census
tracts , drainage and topographic factors , land use , circula-
tion and population , natural or man made barriers and polit-
ical considerations .
The Kent Sphere of Interest , defined for the purposes
of this report , refers to the geographical area that the City
of Kent should be concerned with in relationship to ultimate
boundary lines , public services , natural phenomena , and land
use . This definition can be compared to the term "sphere of
influence" -which has a very different connotation. The term
"sphere of influence" refers to that area upon which a city
has an economic and social impact . Thus employment patterns
in Seattle greatly influence Kent ' s economic activity while
Kent has little influence on Seattle 's economic activity .
Likewise , Seattle ' s cultural and recreational amenities exert
an influence on Kent . Much of the eastern seaboard of the
United States is within the sphere of influence of the City
of New York, but is not in New York ' s sphere of interest .
The Sphere of Interest Report is essentially an elabora-
tion of the policies of the Kent Comprehensive Plan and is
not an official amendment to the Plan. The Kent Comprehen-
sive Plan , on page 30 , calls for "review of policies on
annexations and utility expansions" . This section asks a
series of questions , many of which are answered in the Kent
Sphere of Interest Report . The Comprehensive Plan is a
document that must be constantly revised. Some revisions are
in the nature of official amendments to the Comprehensive
-2-
Plan, while other revisions are merely expansions of poli-
cies of the Plan not requiring a formal amendment procedure .
The Kent Planning Area which is indicated on the Comprehen-
sive Plan Maps "does indicate the relationship of the City
of Kent to its immediate environs and serves as a means for
coordinating the development and the programs of several
public agencies ; and it provides a perspective for evaluat-
ing and guiding the future development of those areas for
which Kent ' s city officials do have , or may have in the
future , direct responsibility" (page 4 , Kent Comprehensive
Plan) . Thus the Sphere of Interest Report does not contra-
dict the Comprehensive Plan , but enlarges and expands upon
its adopted policies .
Political Considerations
Attempts have been made by the various local govern-
ments in the Green River Valley to define where the ultimate
boundaries of the valley cities will be . Official agreement
was reached by Kent and Auburn , at the City Council level ,
establishing S. 277th Street extended easterly across the
valley floor to 104th Avenue S .E . as the boundary of the two
III cities . East of 104th Avenue S . E . the southern boundary is
still not well defined.
I
Discussions with Renton and Tukwila have not yet re-
sulted in formal agreement as to ultimate boundaries .
The boundaries of Kent on the east and west are less
settled. Areas west of Interstate 5 are physically isolated
from the rest of the City. Interstate 5 definitely forms
a significant barrier. Had this barrier been in existence
at the time the area to the west was under consideration for
annexation , it is quite likely the annexations would not
have taken place . Today the City is in a position to evalu-
ate the desirability of maintaining the area west of I-5 as
a part of Kent . In any event , future annexations and/or
-3-
V,
0
GCF
DO
Lb
0&tv
03
QN
CL
TE
01
"44%
C--
-777-
0
A
ZZ
A
eOP
deannexations west of Interstate 5 should only round out the
present jagged boundries . The major area of concern appears
to be what are the ultimate boundaries of Kent to the east .
The area to the east is apparently the area of future popula-
tion growth , and this area traditionally identifies with Kent .
However , annexations in the residential areas of East Hill
have not kept pace with the City ' s annexation of industrial
and commercial areas . There apparently have been reservations
among the residents of East Hill that annexation would not be
advantageous to them, although they do appear to be oriented
to Kent .
While the major concern appears to be what are the ulti-
mate boundaries and sphere of interest on the east , this
study will also look at all the potential future boundaries
of the City .
Land Use Patterns of Kent
In order for a city to be self-supporting there must be
a balance of land use patterns between residential , commer-
cial and industrial . There is no agreement or formula for
determining a proper balance and distribution of land uses ;
every city is different and land uses vary as to the type of
city . Obviously , a central city , a suburban town , and an
independent outlying town will have a different distribution
of land use activities .
Table 1 on the following page indicates land use patterns
and zoning for the City of Kent in 1967 . These figures serve
to provide an adequate overall picture of land use activities
in Kent as rezones , annexations and new developments have not
significantly altered this pattern to date .
The most striking feature of zoning patterns in Kent is
that over 560 of the land is designated as industrial . While
much of this land is not currently being utilized for
-5-
J
TABLE 1
KENT ZONING $ LAND USE ANALYSIS
(Based on 1967 figures and 14 square miles)
ACTUAL ZONING PER CENT USED
AS % OF TOTAL IN ACCORD
ZONES ACRES ZONED LAND AREA WITH ZONING
INDUSTRIAL (Ml , M2 , MA) 5 ,105 56 . 97 7 . 8%
AGRICULTURE (RA) 492 5 .49 11 .6%
SINGLE FAMILY (SR, Rl) 1 , 523 16 . 99 6 . 3%
MULTI FAMILY (SR, R3 , R41 MHR) 985 10 . 99 0 .6%
COMMERCIAL (Cl , C2 , C3) 752 8 . 39 1 .9%
VACANT LAND 62 . 8%
PUBLIC 2 . 5%
STREETS 6 . 3%
-6-
60 / _J r M N i
ub
X.
tm
/ /.` /y•// r � at env eu _ V � ,
n•::s rq i 1 1
Y ` i I • '�M� k i�. i s .J
N 9
° aNno
s NIS
7
m — 9
1 0
F
industrial purposes , there seems to be little doubt that the
die is cast and that industrial development will continue on
the valley floor unless there is a significant reversal of
City policy .
With over 60% of the land designated as commercial and
industrial , Kent appears to be short of residential popula-
tion within its incorporated limits to support such land use .
With a population of 16 , 805 in 1971 and a total land area of
approximately 16 square miles , Kent ' s residential population
is only 1 ,000 persons per square mile .
These land use figures suggest that Kent has more than
an adequate amount of commercial and industrial zoned land
and should not annex land with the intent of devoting such
additional areas to such uses but should annex primarily
developed residential areas .
Municipal Services
The major public services provided by local governments
to its citizens include : water , sewer , garbage , streets ,
parks , education, planning, health , police , and fire protec-
tion . Maps III and IV indicate areas served by Kent sewers
and water . As indicated, these services are provided beyond
the incorporated boundaries of Kent . This provision of
these basic services extends the sphere of influence of Kent
but perhaps may not encourage annexations . Traditionally the
desire for municipal services has been a strong incentive to
annex. It would appear that providing sewer and water ser-
vices should be coordinated with programs for annexation .
The largest share of local government expenditures has
always been allocated to education. However , the provision
of education is divorced from the city and provided by inde-
pendent school districts . Map V indicates the school dis -
tricts serving the Kent area.
- 8-
1
OTC
j F w
OC
w
CD
N N y
' C
l —MMMMMMMMMMM■■■■ ■■■■ MEMO■ ■MW ■■■■■■■ ■ -■■■
m i I
MEX
� I �
-- 79 W3SOd0
_— r •a„r W A
ED
ca
PP N: v \
CL
Cal
N O
•• � of
N
°s
G
0
V,
0
Lb
0&A,0
L
L.
0
I All
(D
D __ _ �� ,.D�, � �D
fl
CL
........ .....
tr
l.i.,
i", All
U) M
M Z
0 0
ell,
----------
ri I..,
Cl)
T-----------
24
tam) c.4
C)
0 4cN
LL
The two easily identifiable public services provided by
the City of Kent are fire and police protection. These ser-
vices are provided only within the corporate limits of the
City, except for some provisions for mutual aid with nearby _
fire districts . Both of these services are provided on a
higher level within the city than in King County . Fire pro-
tection in the unincorporated areas is generally provided by
volunteer fire departments with correspondingly higher insur-
ance rates for homeowners . King County police protection
covers a large sparsely populated area.
The high percentage of vacant land in the City of Kent
suggests that Kent has annexed vacant land which needs to be
provided with all types of municipal services . This has put
an additional burden on the city budget which tends to negate
the importance of the high assessed valuation of property
within Kent ' s city limits . This burden on the budget indi -
cates that the City should be very hesitant in annexing
vacant parcels of land in the future because of the high
costs involved in servicing these areas .
Topography & Drainage
Kent is characterized by two plateau regions which bor-
der the east and west sides of the central lowland . This
lowland is drained by the meandering Green River and is at
approximately sea level . Where the plateau areas join the
lowland, two elongated hills stand out as significant land-
marks . These are West and East Hill . West Hill ascends
very rapidly with elevations of 300-400 feet in lateral dis -
tances of 1/8 to 1/4 miles . These are slopes of 31% to 46% .
Because of these steep slopes much of West Hill does not
appear geographically oriented to Kent . Some areas of West
Hill are so situated that views of the valley are readily
possible . However, this visual valley orientation disappears
west of Military Road as the topography dips westward from
the high point of 400 feet and is reoriented toward Puget
-12-
Sound. On the other hand , East Hill rises more gradually
than West Hill . It ascends to elevations of approximately
400 feet , as does West Hill , but achieves this height in
more distance - about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile . These are
slopes of 10% to 15% . The area atop East Hill is a gently
rolling plateau. Its general relief does not change signif-
icantly until it approaches the Cascade Mountain Range fif-
teen miles to the east . The topography of the East Hill
provides an additional reason why East Hill is more oriented
to Kent than West Hill .
The plateau on the east varies in elevation , forming
several geographic and drainage areas . The first area of
the plateau levels out between 400 and 500 feet . This area
roughly runs northwest from 132nd Avenue S .E . and S .E . 256th
Street to approximately e ov y P tr isk Road at 108th Avenue S .
E .
(See Topography and Drainage Map) Two distinct drainage
areas are located in this plateau area.
The dominant drainage area is that of the Big Soos
Creek which flows south from Petrovisky Road and 132nd
Avenue S .E . across Highway 18 just east of Lake Meridian and
on to the Green River just east of Highway 18 . The Little
Soos Creek is an adjunct to the Big Soos Creek drainage area ,
flowing south from Lake Youngs into Big Soos Creek between
Highway 18 and S .E . 256th Street .
_1
The second drainage area is west of Big Soos Creek .
Here water flows directly to the Kent lowland via Mill Creek
and Garrison Creek .
Drainage patterns are an Integral part of the ecology
of an area and must be taken into consideration in an urban-
izing area, since urban development should be compatible
with existing drainage patterns . Urban development that is
not planned in conjunction with drainage patterns may result
in conditions in which water run-offs cause high costs to both
-13-
the City and the developer. 2 Drainage areas should , whenever
possible , be maintained as a unit without splitting off spe -
cific areas unless absolutely necessary. This would avoid
some of the problems related to urban development . Map VI —
illustrates the topography and drainage patterns east of Kent .
The area east of Kent that drains into the Kent Valley and
into Big Soos Creek is within the sphere of interest of Kent .
While there are many areas to the east of Big Soos Creek that
eventually drain into it , the size of the drainage area
requires that some delimitation be made . Therefore , the pri -
mary drainage area of Big Soos Creek , as determined by con-
tour lines is just south of Lake Young in a north-south line ,
as another drainage pattern is established by Little Soos
Creek which eventually does drain into Big Soos Creek .
To the south of the present city boundary , in East Hill ,
the topography south of S . 277th Street is such that a sphere
of interest boundary can be established in the vicinity of
S .E . 284th Street .
2These costs are at least three fold : First is the
physical problem caused by ignoring a drainage system . For
instance , if we know an existing drainage system such as Mill
Creek has , over the years , maintained a water flow within
certain definable bounds and that vegetation and soils have
maintained a certain stability in response to this hydrologic
flow , it follows that urban development upstream which does
not take into account this normal flow of water and causes
an undue interference , primarily by moving a more concentrated
flow of water in Mill Creek , is going to upset the balance
of nature in this drainage system .
This leads to the second factor which is financial .
Soil erosion in Mill Creek Canyon , flooding in the valley and
ponding of water upstream all cause a financial burden , both
on citizens at large and on individuals who must take direct
remedial action with a consequent personal capital outlay .
The final factor is the social cost related to the
destruction of Mill Creek Canyon and the consequent loss of
the canyon as a usable park and the inconvenience caused dur-
ing flooding of lower Mill Creek .
-14 -
/ / \ cn
Z
L <
W
o G.
a �c7
1j C✓� cc
� // �/ 1— ?� 5x } o i' 1,�:.^ ib „.r•'C �ram'�'1�. �;,.�� f r �,zF:M:.
Av
rC
1 /
v� � oro I I I � ✓ N
C
1
v 7
r
�-
` `t�F i d� r�rt •c",€ � 1.r, a1
tm
CL
e ro
cn
Al
W O
I � C
N )))00),
1 N��' IM,
4N,7 �,
Q�l 4)0 �f
m 7
0
f
_ d
Population Patterns
The 1970 U. S . Census data provides the most accurate
source of population data . Unfortunately , the census tract - -
boundaries do not coincide with either Kent city limits or
the Kent Planning Area . Map VII indicates the census tracts
in the vicinity of Kent and Table 2 contains 1970 population
data for these census tracts . (The population of the incor-
porated city by the 1970 census count was 16 ,275 . ) These
census tracts include areas that are outside of the Kent
sphere of interest , most specifically areas west of Inter-
state S . The areas to the east of Kent (census tracts 293,
294 , 295 , 317 , 318) contained a population of 34 , 895 . Omit -
ting tract 293 which is somewhat oriented to Renton , the
population was 26 , 472 . Tracts 294 and 295 , the East Hill
areas of Kent contained a population of 10 , 744 . The tracts
east of 132nd Avenue S .E . (tracts 317 and 318) contained a
population of 8 , 407 . These easterly tracts are almost twice
as large in land area as tracts 294 and 295 , indicating that
these areas are somewhat more sparsely developed .
Table 3 shows population distribution by block group .
Looking at the data for areas east of Kent , it is evident
that much of the easterly region will remain sparsely devel -
oped for some time . The population data, broken into block
groups , indicates that there has been substantial leapfrog-
ging of development . This leapfrogging makes it difficult
to provide for contiguous annexations based on population
densities . Population densities provide a practical guide-
line for determining future boundaries as a certain popula-
tion density and land use intensity is needed to support
urban services . While leapfrogging creates some difficul-
ties in applying this guideline it can be somewhat generally
applied . Areas should have a population level which is
capable of supporting urban services prior to annexation .
It should be pointed out that Kent and King County
-16-
TABLE II
POPULATION DATA BY CENSUS TRACT - 1970
Census Total
Tract Population
F
283 3 ,454
290 6 ,642
291 4 ,166
292 6 , 848
293 8 ,423
294 6 , 813
295 3 ,931
296 3 ,284
297 4 , 321
298 8 ,042
-� 317 5 , 829
318 2 ,578
SOURCE : U. S . Bureau of Census and
Puget Sound Governmental Conference
'J
J
_17..
TABLE III
POPULATION DATA BY BLOCK GROUPS
Census Block Census Block
Tract Group Population Tract Group Population
283 9 556 295 1 983
291 1 321 2 821
2 581 9 2 ,123
3 71S 296 1 S87
4 1 , 392 9 2 ,697
9 321 297 1 1 ,572
292 1 2 , 874 2 327
2 1 ,046 3 947
3 402 4 298
4 631 9 1 ,113
5 613 298 1 1 ,672
6 201 2 897
9 1 ,059 3 1 , 818
293 1 1 ,038 4 1 ,06S
2 1 ,690 5 2 ,141
3 1 , 375 9 443
9 2 ,947 317 1 767
294 1 1 ,049 9 1 ,012
2 2 ,611 318 9 4S7
3 1 , 744
9 1 ,409
SOURCE : U. S . Bureau of Census
-18-
cc m
co
�r rn N / Li rn 1
,N� -- I- toCY) 1 Nr
mi
a o.
N -
,a
T co) - I N
i
t0 I ---------
Co
LO
ITT, ,n,,,,
� \' a
M00
i
T
In
cm
r I V'J
o
N
a N n
e
f
I
should do everything possible to discourage leapfrog patterns
of development as such development increases costs of pro-
viding all types of public services .
While it is difficult to indicate a fixed line on a map ,
it appears that annexations should not be considered for
areas east of Lake Meridian prior to 1990 .
Circulation Patterns
North-south traffic patterns generally consist of through
traffic . This network serves the region and generally is not
identified with Kent . The east-west traffic movement is con-
sidered to be internal circulation and feeds into the valley
floor and the downtown Kent area. The major arterials on the
east include Kent Kangley Road , S .E . 256th , S .E . 240th and
Petrovisky Road. The latter serves areas that chiefly are
oriented to Renton. However , this arterial does traverse the
northern industrial areas of Kent . The other three arterials
all feed into downtown Kent . East of 156th Avenue S .E . these
arterial networks are not as strong , thus 156th Avenue S .E .
serves as one criteria for delimiting Kent ' s sphere of inter-
est . 11
i
}
Recommended Policies for Future Annexations
i
It is recognized that Kent ' s sphere of interest goes be -
yond the City 's present boundaries . However, it is not an 1
easy task to determine precisely how far this sphere of inter- }
est extends .
One of the major questions confronting Kent policy makers ,
in relation to the City ' s sphere of interest , is how much of
the area surrounding Kent is it logical and practical for the
City to annex and when should it be annexed. This question
breaks down to these points :
-20 -
1) Can Kent offer and maintain the necessary level of
services such as fire , police , sewer , water and
administrative support for the type of land use that
is now present or may be present in the future?
2) If the City can provide services , how much further
beyond the present City , especially to the east , can
they be provided and in what period of time?
_x 3) Can the City provide the additional cultural and
physical amenities that will be needed by new popu-
lation centers ?
i
4) Will the City place itself in the position of over-
looking needed services for areas presently within
the City or provide a lower level of service within
the present city boundaries by attempting to expand?
If additional areas are to be annexed , guidelines must
be provided for the policy makers . Also , it is necessary for
agreement among other cities that they will respect Kent ' s
sphere of interest concept to insure that policy makers can
adapt to future changes which may greatly affect the sphere
of interest boundaries .
With an area of 16 square miles and a population of
16 ,000 plus , with over 60 per cent of the land in the City
vacant , the City must give careful consideration to future
annexations . Following are recommended policies for future
annexations which if carried out would tend to cause vacant
areas within the City to develop , rather than have the City
annex additional vacant land.
1) Vacant land areas should not be annexed merely
because a land developer cannot do the type of
project he wishes in the county .
-21-
2) Existing population centers such as Park Orchard
should be annexed before consideration is given to
adding vacant land to the City with the intention
of zoning it commercial or industrial or residen-
tial .
3) Residential areas adjacent to the City and being
served by Kent water and/or sewer service should
have a high priority for annexation.
4) Jagged boundaries and gaps should be filled in by
annexations and should have a high priority . This
is especially true where gaps are 50 per cent sur-
rounded by the City .
5) Annexations should not be narrow strips which fol-
low arterials without including larger areas that
are contiguous to the existing Kent city boundary .
6) Individual parcels of land under 5 acres should be
annexed only if they help round out the city bound-
aries but not because of hardship that seemingly
exists .
7) Extension of utility service should be coordinated
with plans for annexation. Some areas in Kent are
still not fully serviced by utilities and other pub-
lic services and should have priority over areas
outside of the city limits .
Kent Sphere of Interest
The various factors that were investigated in this report
provide a general picture of the area that the Kent sphere of
interest should encompass . As the goal of this study is to
delimit future boundaries of the City of Kent and establish
guidelines and a rough timetable for future annexations , this
-22-
general picture must be made more explicit . Map VIII , Kent
Sphere of Interest , does this and illustrates the recommen-
dations of the Planning Department as to the area of the Kent
sphere of interest , with 1990 tentatively established as the
date when these boundaries would be established. This rec-
ommended sphere of interest is based on considerations dis -
cussed in this study. However , subjective interpretations
of these considerations cannot be avoided during the inter-
pretation of data. Table IV contains recommendations as to
areas to be annexed and the priority for annexation of these
areas . These areas are also indicated on the Sphere of
Interest Map .
It is suggested that these guidelines are flexible but
that they should be seriously considered by City policy
makers as well as City staff when making decisions concern-
ing future growth of the City . Such consideration would
help to avoid haphazard and single purpose annexations and
-� development policies .
-23-
TABLE IV
RECOMMENDED TIMETABLE FOR ANNEXATIONS —
Approximate
Date Priority* Area
1972 1 West Hill - area completely surrounded
by Kent
1972 2 East Hill - round out shopping and pro-
fessional office area to S .E . 264th .
This will enable part of the circula-
tion element of the East Hill plan to
be implemented.
1973-74 3 East Hill - area between James Street
and Kent Kangley Road east to 116th
Ave . S .E .
1973- 74 4 "North East Hill" north of James from
present limits on the east to 104th
Ave . S .E . north to S . 222nd St .
1973- 74 5 Northwest corner of Kent
1980 6 North of area #4 to S. 208th Street ,
east to 116th Ave . S .E . and south back
to James Street .
1985 7 Area between James Street and Kent
Kangley Road east from 116th Ave . S .E .
to 132nd Ave . S .E .
1985 8 South of East Hill to S . 277th and
east from the Green River to 116th
Ave . S . E .
1985 9 Valley floor south to S . 277th and
east to the Green River and west to
Interstate S .
1990 10 Rest of areas within sphere of
influence as indicated on Map VIII .
* Areas are indicated on Sphere of Interest Map by priority
number.
24-
/ Cl)
IW—
+
Y o
w
r�r M Occ
LLI
I % i
00
No
cx
;77
\ C
\ ■ z
■ ,.OVA �.�
as ■ '
_.J
,ssM ■ M N
■ �,�� r a, r y C
„ n ■ C
r _ ■ Q 0
L �� 1` A. ■ 1p W C
N \ ■� \ n
a
■
I .`u
r � ~
oL ONE
os
c
dl - •D 1 e y 4
m — 9
n
f
J
KENT PLANNING COMMISSION
James L . Rayfuse , Chairman -
Richard Land , Vice-Chairman
Noel Bicknell
Willis Calhoun
Vera Fredrickson
Lou Koszarek
Terry McKenna
Dennis Neifert
Paul Morford
KENT PLANNING DEPARTMENT STAFF
James P. Harris , Director
*Patricia Levine , Associate Planner
Dwight Hartman , Assistant Planner
Lin Davis , Secretary
Robert Middleton
Mike Smith
Carolyn Longhofer
*Project Planner for the Sphere of Interest Study
- 26 -
t
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i