HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Comment_Paul_Dutton_Neighborhood_Retail_Store_20260121CAUTION: This email originated from outside the City of Renton. Do not click links, reply or open
attachments unless you know the content is safe.
From:Paul Dutton
To:Party of Record
Cc:Katie Buchl-Morales; Armondo Pavone
Subject:Neighborhood Scale Retail
Date:Wednesday, January 21, 2026 5:24:25 AM
Dear Planning Commission,
I regret that I am unable to attend today’s meeting in-person to comment on Docket
20 Group A, D-241: Neighborhood Scale Retail. I commend the city staff and officials
for advancing this important topic. I strongly support permitting corner stores citywide,
provided that no parking mandate is imposed, as such requirements undermine the
goal of fostering local gathering spaces and expanding business opportunities.For those unfamiliar with the concept and rationale behind “Neighborhood Scale
Retail,” I recommend reading the following books before making
any final recommendations or policy decisions on this topic:
· Arbitrary Lines: How Zoning Broke the American City and How to Fix It by
M. Nolan Gray
· Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity by
Charles L. Marohn Jr.
· Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design by Charles
Montgomery
· Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community by
Robert D. Putnam
· A Love Letter to Suburbia: How to Restore the American Village by Diane
Alisa
Together, these resources form a compelling case for a paradigm shift in our urban
planning, away from car-centric, exclusionary developments toward human-centered,
inclusive, and financially sustainable ones, such as neighborhood-scale retail.
Paul Dutton
Renton resident