Drafter
Clerk 08/25/2011
Title
AN ORDINANCE declaring a one-year moratorium on the issuance of public amusement/entertainment licenses required under K.C.C. 6.08.020 for any new music and dance entertainment venues and precluding the establishment of any such venues within the commercial zoned land of North Highline subject to the economic redevelopment special district overlay authorized by K.C.C. 21A.38.090; directing the executive to review the impacts of establishments that operate under such licenses upon the commercial viability of the commercial zoned land within the economic redevelopment special district overlay; and further directing the executive to submit recommendations to preserve or strengthen the commercial viability of these commercial zoned lands for council review and approval; adding a new section to K.C.C. chapter 21A.06; and declaring an emergency.
Body
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Findings:
A. The White Center business district is located within the North Highline potential annexation area, which is currently being considered for annexation by the city of Burien.
B. King County supports the annexation of North Highline into an adjacent city and is committed to seeking ways to support that effort. The commercial viability of the commercial districts within the North Highline potential annexation area affects the fiscal impacts of any city considering annexation of North Highline.
C. Since 1994, King County has sought to reverse a trend of declining economic vitality in the White Center business district that was due in part to perceptions, real or imagined, of ongoing public safety concerns.
D. In Ordinance 11351 in1994, King County adopted the White Center Community Action Plan to provide incentives for the redevelopment of underutilized commercial properties.
E. Today, the White Center business district is mainly a drive up retail area that includes two ethnic grocery stores, an ethnic butcher a...

Click here for full text