HomeMy WebLinkAboutD_Jones Short Plat South_Reconsideration_Decision_251203_FINAL
December 4, 2025
Kevin Rech
3412 210th Pl NE
Sammamish, WA 98074
Subject: Reconsideration of Condition of Approval #1
Jones Renton Short Plat – South, LUA25-000111, SHPL-A, MOD
Dear Mr. Rech:
The Planning Division received your timely request for reconsideration with regard to Condition of Approval
#1 for the Jones Renton Short Plat – South preliminary short plat. Condition #1 states “The primary
pedestrian entry of the future dwelling on Lot 1 shall face Park Ave N and the primary pedestrian entry of the
future dwelling on Lot 2 shall face future Road A. The orientation requirement shall be noted on the face of
the final Short Plat.” In your request, you expressed concern with safety of pedestrian egress, consistency
with surrounding development pattern, design standards compliance, and natural grade and right-of-way
(ROW) improvements.
Staff has reviewed the request, and we note that the City’s design standards (RMC 4-2-115) require entries
to take access from and face a street, park, common green, pocket park, pedestrian easement, or open
space; and ground-related units that front two (2) streets shall engage both streets utilizing design features
that wrap the corner of the building, such as a wraparound porch or pergola. These Residential Design and
Open Space Standards implement policies established in the Land Use Element of the Comprehensive Plan
in order to enhance quality of life by encouraging new residential development to produce beautiful
neighborhoods of well-designed homes, and to mitigate adverse impacts of density for the neighborhood
and the surrounding community. Furthermore, lot configuration requirements create variety in the
configuration of lots and enhances the perception of variety of housing stock and helps minimize
perceptions of monotony. Development must create pedestrian-oriented environments and amplify the
mutual relationship between housing units, roads, open space, and pedestrian amenities, while also
protecting the privacy of residents. To ensure appropriate street orientation, staff recommends that the
primary pedestrian entry of the future dwelling on Lot 1 face Park Ave N and the primary pedestrian entry of
the future dwelling on Lot 2 face future Road A (N 31st St) to encourage variety within the development.
Staff recognizes that the Residential Design and Open Space Standards allow flexibility in how individual
homes meet entry orientation, façade articulation, and lot configuration requirements, provided the overall
design still contributes to an attractive, pedestrian-oriented streetscape. There are alternative methods for
Mr. Rech
Page 2 of 2
December 4, 2025
meeting primary entry and lot configuration requirements. Therefore, staff recommends that Condition #1
be amended to allow for other acceptable alternatives for building design and lot configuration to produce
attractive safe neighborhoods, and contribute to the overall image of a diverse housing stock.
Decision: Therefore Condition #1 of the Jones Renton Short Plat – South, LUA25-000111, SHPL-A, MOD is
amended to read as follows: The primary pedestrian entry of the future dwelling on Lot 1 shall face Park Ave
N or future Road A and the primary pedestrian entry of the future dwelling on Lot 2 shall face future Road A.
If the primary pedestrian entry of the Lot 1 unit faces future Road A, the west façade facing Park Ave N shall
incorporate additional architectural features including a minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) glazing on
the secondary front façade, and multiple modulation features that add visual interest such as open porches,
dormers, or a well-defined additional entry.
This decision to amend the original Jones Renton Short Plat – South Decision is subject to a 14-day appeal
period. The above decision will become final if not appealed in writing together with the required fee to:
Hearing Examiner, City of Renton, 1055 South Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057 by 5:00 pm on Wednesday,
December 18, 2025. Appeals must be submitted electronically to the City Clerk at cityclerk@rentonwa.gov
or delivered to City Hall 1st floor Lobby Hub Monday through Friday. The appeal fee, normally due at the time
an appeal is submitted, will be collected at a future date if your appeal is submitted electronically. The
appeal submitted in person may be paid on the first floor in our Finance Department. Appeals to the Hearing
Examiner are governed by RMC 4-8-110 and additional information regarding the appeal process may be
obtained from the City Clerk’s Office, cityclerk@rentonwa.gov.
Sincerely,
Matt Herrera, AICP
Planning Director
cc: Gina Estep, CED Administrator
Clark Close, Current Planning Manager
Alex Morganroth, Principal Planner
Duwamish Tribe / Party of Record