HomeMy WebLinkAboutExhibit 2-D-237 Conversion to Housing Staff Report 3.13.25D-237: Conversion to Housing March 13, 2025
CITY OF RENTON
Community and Economic Development Department
#D-237: Conversion to Housing (HB 1042)
Staff: Angie Mathias, Long Range Planning Manager
Date: March 13, 2025
STAFF REPORT
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SUMMARY: Last year the State Legislature passed House Bill (HB) 1042 requiring jurisdictions to
allow the conversation of commercial and mixed-use buildings to convert to
residential buildings. The city must adopt the enabling regulations by June 30, 2025.
This docket item is to comply with this requirement.
General Description
Current Renton Municipal Code does not prohibit commercial buildings converting to residential
and the city has had discussions with some property owners considering such conversions.
However, HB 1042 places limitations on what the city can require for such conversions and allows
for greater density than what existing zoning would allow for the building. Below is a bulleted list of
the requirements of the legislation:
• Cities must allow converted buildings to have 50% greater density for residential than the
zone allows.
• New or additional parking to accommodate the residential cannot be required, however the
existing parking can be required to be retained.
• Architectural or design requirements cannot be required, the existing exterior structure can
be utilized as is.
• Life safety standards can be applied, as well as, energy code standards can be required for
the new residential units, but not for portions of the structure that are not modified.
• Existing non-conformities such as setbacks, building coverage, impervious coverage, etc.
cannot be a justification for denial of a building permit.
• Ground floor commercial can be required for buildings on major pedestrian corridors, as
defined by city code.
• Only buildings with Certificates of Occupancy that are at least three years old are eligible.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Code be amended to implement the legislation adopted with HB 1042.
Also, amend code to identify major pedestrian corridors as roadways classified as Principal and
Minor arterials as identified on the city’s mapping system COR Maps.