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HomeMy WebLinkAboutC_Howard Comment_240213.pdfFrom: Alex Morganroth Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2024 5:33 PM To: Maggie Howard Subject: RE: Logan 6 development Hi Maggie – Thank you for the comments. Please note that my response is only on behalf of me – you may receive other responses from council and the Mayor. I will add your comments to the public record and will certainly consider your recommendations as I prepare my staff report. If you have any questions or would like to discuss, I’d be happy to meet via Teams, phone call, or in person. Thank you, ALEX MORGANROTH, AICP, Senior Planner City of Renton | CED | Planning Division 1055 S Grady Way | 6th Floor | Renton, WA 98057 Virtual Permit Center | Online Applications and Inspections (425) 430-7219 | amorganroth@rentonwa.gov From: Maggie Howard <maggie.howard38@outlook.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2024 11:07 AM To: Mayor Renton <mayor@rentonwa.gov>; Carmen Rivera <CRivera@rentonwa.gov>; James Alberson Jr. <JAlberson@rentonwa.gov>; Ryan McIrvin <RMcIrvin@Rentonwa.gov>; Valerie O'Halloran <VOHalloran@Rentonwa.gov>; Ruth Pérez <RPerez@Rentonwa.gov>; Ed Prince <EPrince@Rentonwa.gov>; Kim-Khánh Văn <KVan@Rentonwa.gov> Cc: Alex Morganroth <AMorganroth@Rentonwa.gov>; Vdolbee@rentonwa.gov Subject: Logan 6 development February 13, 2024 Dear Mayor Pavone, City Council Members, Alex Morganroth, and Vanessa Dolbee: I am writing to clearly communicate my opposition to the proposed Logan 6 development. I plan on attending and voicing my concerns at an upcoming council meeting and wanted to proactively brief you on the concerns I, and other North Renton neighbors (whom you’ll also be hearing from, along with the North Renton Neighborhood Association), have been voicing since the first public meeting that took place virtually during COVID in Spring of 2022. Our goal and intentions are to preserve the North Renton Neighborhood. We are looking for transparency, open lines of communication, and thoughtful consideration of the neighborhood and its residents. CAUTION: This email originated from outside the City of Renton. Do not click links, reply or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. We are dumbfounded that this development has reached the current stage of consideration. Between the potential of this 100-unit building, plus the negative impact we’ve already seen and experienced regarding Top Golf traffic, another proposed multi-unit building within 250 yards of this proposed development (Airport Way and Logan Ave), in addition to yet another proposed multi-unit project on S Williams Avenue near the Cedar River- the impacts to the adjoining residential neighborhood can not be absorbed by the infrastructure currently in place, without negative impacts to traffic, parking, etc. You will also see mentioned below the impact from the Sartori School, located in the heart of the neighborhood. Concerns & Recommendations: · The negative impact this size of a project will have on traffic and parking in the surrounding areas. Logan 6 is a 100-unit building with 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom units. However, the parking allotted does not account for the number of potential residents/drivers. 100 spaces are inconceivable for this size of complex. The initial guideline for the ratio of parking to units was established when Renton was expecting to have improved transit systems along the Logan Avenue Corridor. Since those transit systems were not realized (Sound Transit, etc), the ratio no longer serves the residents of North Renton and the impact on parking will be adverse. · Traffic (with emphasis on N 3rd St, N 4th St, and Burnett) adversely impacts the North Renton Neighborhood and creates an unnecessary burden for homes on Burnett and other nearby streets (Williams, Wells, etc). The ‘overflow’ of traffic/parking will be especially burdensome for these residents. As currently proposed, residents would access the building on either the South (3rd Street) or North (4th Street) boundaries of the property, with no access via North Logan Avenue. This drives residents into the North Renton Neighborhood, which is not the purpose of intensified zoning along N Logan Avenue. The intensified use is linked to the N Logan corridor, and if the development or the traffic analysis does not provide for access on N Logan Avenue, then perhaps the proposed development is not the right land use for this property. · We are also requesting an increase to 1.75 parking spaces per unit. A one parking space per unit is not adequate for units with more than one bedroom. Moreover, for many units it is certain there will be more than one person, and it is likely most units will have more than one person. This means more than 150 cars, and more likely more than 200 cars, will need parking from the proposed development. As mentioned above, having one parking space per unit does not seem realistic, and this will drive vehicles to park east of the property, in the North Renton Neighborhood, as there is no parking on N Logan, N 3rd Street, or N 4th Street. Also, this is not a “downtown” location, with amenities (stores, restaurants) within walking distance, so potential residents would be using their vehicles to access local services. · We are concerned that while the City, in its City Center Community Plan (2011, updated in 2017), calls for the city to “protect and enhance the neighborhoods in the City Center” and to “enhance measures (such as setbacks, buffers, landscape screening and height restrictions) to protect edges of single-family areas from adjacent development”, no action has been taken. Please note that although there are many multifamily units in the North Renton neighborhood the Logan 6 project is more than 600% larger than the next largest multifamily building. · We are requesting that an updated traffic survey be conducted. This request has been voiced at many meetings. It is our understanding this is occurring, but we request that a revised traffic study/analysis be provided as a precursor to any further continuation of the review process. · We’d like to understand why the City of Renton Resolution 2708, relating to the preservation of the North Renton neighborhood (and Kennydale) as single-family neighborhoods, with the city making protection of these neighborhoods a priority, is not being abided by. · The proposed complex on Logan, with the use of traffic accessing N 3rd and N 4th seems quite counterintuitive to a settlement agreement signed by Larry Warren, attorney, and Earl Clymer, then Renton City Mayor, and agreed upon with legal counsel and representatives from the North Renton neighborhood (including former Councilmember Theresa Clymer and Neighborhood President Marge Richter) at that time. · A full disclosure of information should be shared with the Hearing Examiner, along with any records provided at any hearing on this topic referenced above. · Conduct retrospectives: It was evident at a North Renton Neighborhood Association meeting, that the city did not conduct a retrospective on the impact of Sartori School redevelopment. I believe there are valuable lessons, especially because that development continues to be a point of contention for the neighbors. We’re asking that as new developments are proposed, we look at current state, conduct retrospectives, and that both long- and short- term impacts be considered. · Since the Renton Comprehensive Plan is currently under review, we would like the city to present the detail of this plan to the North Renton Community Association at an upcoming meeting. In closing, I understand that the Logan 6 project is once again on hold, as it was in September 2022 and then again in September 2023 and is currently still on hold. It is possible that the City Planning team put the project on hold after attending our October 2023 North Renton Neighborhood Association meeting. We are hopeful that city staff are listening to concerns expressed by neighbors in the North Renton neighborhood, and we also are hopeful the city council will listen to and hear our concerns about this proposed development, and act on both our behalf and on behalf of the city. Sincerely, Maggie Howard 507 Wells Ave N. Renton WA 98057 Maggie.howard38@outlook.com February 13, 2024 Dear Mayor Pavone, City Council Members, Alex Morganroth, and Vanessa Dolbee: I am writing to clearly communicate my opposition to the proposed Logan 6 development. I plan on attending and voicing my concerns at an upcoming council meeting and wanted to proactively brief you on the concerns I, and other North Renton neighbors (whom you’ll also be hearing from, along with the North Renton Neighborhood Association), have been voicing since the first public meeting that took place virtually during COVID in Spring of 2022. Our goal and intentions are to preserve the North Renton Neighborhood. We are looking for transparency, open lines of communication, and thoughtful consideration of the neighborhood and its residents. We are dumbfounded that this development has reached the current stage of consideration. Between the potential of this 100-unit building, plus the negative impact we’ve already seen and experienced regarding Top Golf traffic, another proposed multi-unit building within 250 yards of this proposed development (Airport Way and Logan Ave), in addition to yet another proposed multi-unit project on S Williams Avenue near the Cedar River- the impacts to the adjoining residential neighborhood can not be absorbed by the infrastructure currently in place, without negative impacts to traffic, parking, etc. You will also see mentioned below the impact from the Sartori School, located in the heart of the neighborhood. Concerns & Recommendations:  The negative impact this size of a project will have on traffic and parking in the surrounding areas. Logan 6 is a 100-unit building with 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom units. However, the parking allotted does not account for the number of potential residents/drivers. 100 spaces are absolutely inconceivable for this size of complex. The initial guideline for the ratio of parking to units was established when Renton was expecting to have improved transit systems along the Logan Avenue Corridor. Since those transit systems were not realized (Sound Transit, etc), the ratio no longer serves the residents of North Renton and the impact on parking will be adverse.  Traffic (with emphasis on N 3rd St, N 4th St, and Burnett) adversely impacts the North Renton Neighborhood and creates an unnecessary burden for homes on Burnett and other nearby streets (Williams, Wells, etc). The ‘overflow’ of traffic/parking will be especially burdensome for these residents. As currently proposed, residents would access the building on either the South (3rd Street) or North (4th Street) boundaries of the property, with no access via North Logan Avenue. This drives residents into the North Renton Neighborhood, which is not the purpose of intensified zoning along N Logan Avenue. The intensified use is linked to the N Logan corridor, and if the development or the traffic analysis does not provide for access on N Logan Avenue, then perhaps the proposed development is not the right land use for this property.  We are also requesting an increase to 1.75 parking spaces per unit. A one parking space per unit is not adequate for units with more than one bedroom. Moreover, for many units it is certain there will be more than one person, and it is likely most units will have more than one person. This means more than 150 cars, and more likely more than 200 cars, will need parking from the proposed development. As mentioned above, having one parking space per unit does not seem realistic, and this will drive vehicles to park east of the property, in the North Renton Neighborhood, as there is no parking on N Logan, N 3rd Street, or N 4th Street. Also, this is not a “downtown” location, with amenities (stores, restaurants) within walking distance, so potential residents would be using their vehicles to access local services.  We are concerned that while the City, in its City Center Community Plan (2011, updated in 2017), calls for the city to “protect and enhance the neighborhoods in the City Center” and to “enhance measures (such as setbacks, buffers, landscape screening and height restrictions) to protect edges of single-family areas from adjacent development”, no action has been taken. Please note that although there are many multifamily units in the North Renton neighborhood the Logan 6 project is more than 600% larger than the next largest multifamily building.  We are requesting that an updated traffic survey be conducted. This request has been voiced at many meetings. It is our understanding this is occurring, but we request that a revised traffic study/analysis be provided as a precursor to any further continuation of the review process.  We’d like to understand why the City of Renton Resolution 2708, relating to the preservation of the North Renton neighborhood (and Kennydale) as single-family neighborhoods, with the city making protection of these neighborhoods a priority, is not being abided by.  The proposed complex on Logan, with the use of traffic accessing N 3rd and N 4th seems quite counterintuitive to a settlement agreement signed by Larry Warren, attorney, and Earl Clymer, then Renton City Mayor, and agreed upon with legal counsel and representatives from the North Renton neighborhood (including former Councilmember Theresa Clymer and Neighborhood President Marge Richter) at that time.  A full disclosure of information should be shared with the Hearing Examiner, along with any records provided at any hearing on this topic referenced above.  Conduct retrospectives: It was evident at a North Renton Neighborhood Association meeting, that the city did not conduct a retrospective on the impact of Sartori School redevelopment. I believe there are valuable lessons, especially because that development continues to be a point of contention for the neighbors. We’re asking that as new developments are proposed, we look at current state, conduct retrospectives, and that both long- and short-term impacts be considered.  Since the Renton Comprehensive Plan is currently under review, we would like the city to present the detail of this plan to the North Renton Community Association at an upcoming meeting. In closing, I understand that the Logan 6 project is once again on hold, as it was in September 2022 and then again in September 2023 and is currently still on hold. It is possible that the City Planning team put the project on hold after attending our October 2023 North Renton Neighborhood Association meeting. We are hopeful that city staff are listening to concerns expressed by neighbors in the North Renton neighborhood, and we also are hopeful the city council will listen to and hear our concerns about this proposed development, and act on both our behalf and on behalf of the city. Sincerely, Maggie Howard 507 Wells Ave N. Renton WA 98057 Maggie.howard38@outlook.com