Mercer Island’s economic development vision has been one of myriad elements under the lens during the city’s comprehensive plan update and was spotlighted at a recent community online workshop.

About 20 Island residents and business owners participated in the June 30 gathering — the first of three events delving into the economic development realm — and weighed in on polls regarding their vision of the sustainable growth of the local economy henceforth. Attendees’ thoughts on the current economy’s strengths and need for improvement were all on the table.

On the business front, attendees listed among their high-priority needs as having local places to shop and find entertainment, business retention and expansion and improving the quality and design of construction. Eighty percent of the participants wish to see new businesses come to town and said that improvements can be made regarding the business permitting and licensing processes.

The Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) requires the city to update its plan on or before June 30, 2024, according to city resolution documents, and the plan will cover the years 2024-2044.

At the workshop, senior city planner Adam Zack noted that the comprehensive plan “is a document that articulates the vision, goals and policies the city has adopted to prepare for the expected changes in the next 20 years.”

Alison Van Gorp, the city’s deputy director for community planning and development, said in a previous Reporter story that the plan is the city’s growth vision and road map for housing and economic development, transportation, utilities, environment, parks and more.

Feedback that attendees provided city staff and members of the BERK Consulting firm at the workshop will be presented to staff and an economic development work group, which will consist of two planning commissioners and three city councilmembers. Zack said they will consider the insight as they draft the economic development element for the comprehensive plan.

An online survey will be available throughout July for the city to gather additional input about the city’s economy, commercial areas and shopping and service needs from community members who live and work on the Island. The survey is available at https://tinyurl.com/4usn5c3b.

Ann Mueller from BERK Consulting noted about the workshop polls and survey: “We need to hear from the public in order to help shape what the economic development element is going to look like and what the vision will be there. It’s a vital and necessary part of this development and of any comp plan update.”

City staff and BERK consultants conducted 21 interviews with business owners, residents and others from March through May and learned that people feel there needs to be a stronger connection between the business community and the community as a whole along with having a wider variety of goods and services available. One major goal that arose from the interviews is that people support the further economic development of the Island, particularly in the Town Center area.

Moving away briefly from the economic development discussion, Zack felt it was necessary to apprise residents of one crucial aspect of the housing element of the comprehensive plan: “It’s important to note that during this plan update, no changes to residential zoning or density are expected.”