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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2_02 CEDCOUNCIL RETREAT COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Friday, February 20, 2026 PERMIT PROCESS Matt Herrera Permit Process Land Use Permits (State Mandated) 65 days - Tree removal, temporary use permit, lot line adjustment 100 days - Site plan review, short plats, conditional use and shoreline permits 170 days - Hearing examiner site plan review, preliminary plats, Planned Urban Developments Civil Construction Permits 28 days - Initial review, utility infrastructure, roadway improvements 14 days - Subsequent reviews 14 days -Franchise permit review (PSE, Comcast, Lumen etc.) Building Permits 14-21 days – Residential initial review 21-28 days – Commercial initial review 7-14 days – Subsequent reviews Same Day - Most mechanical, electrical, plumbing (over-the-counter) permits Planning Division - Land Use Permits, Environmental Review Development Engineering - Civil Construction Permits, Right of Way Permits, Roadway Determinations Development Services - Building Permits, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Signs Divisions and Response Times Permit Process Email/phone – Chat with experienced help – specialized by permit type Virtual Meetings – Features experts from each division to provide responses In-person – Face-to-face assistance at our service counter (1st floor) Online – Instructions, help sheets and access to our Permitting Portal are available via the city’s website Preapplication meeting – Free 1-hour meeting with staff helps make sure you are ready to apply Getting Started Building permits issued Civil Construction permits issued Electrical permits issued Franchise permits issued Land Use decisions issued Mechanical permits issued Plumbing permits issued Preapplication meetings held99 629 984 708 29 2,455 513 155 2025 Year in Review Permit Process Permit Process Review Times Land Use Permit Review* *Note – Total number fewer than 155 permits issued on previous slide due to permit review consolidation as one project could include multiple permits Average # Days in Review 2024 2025 Commercial New 47 53 Commercial Addition 40 26 Commercial Alteration 17 20 Residential New 30 22 Residential Addition 22 18 Residential Alteration 16 18 Type 1 Type 2 74 permits issued 5 permits over the 65-day timeline 32 permits issued 12 permits over the 100-day timeline Type 3 12 permits issued No permits over the 170-day timeline Building Permit Review Permit Process Education Explore educational opportunities tailored to residents and architectural/engineering professionals Development Professional Roster Examine the viability and effectiveness of creating a Development Professionals Roster for architects and engineers to highlight experience navigating our codes and processes Concurrent reviews Allow applicants that are nearing the end of their land use review to submit civil and building permit applications Maintaining and Building Relationships Continue to foster relationships with Master Builders Association and other stakeholders Moving Forward COMMERCIAL LEASE CONTROL Amanda Free Gina Estep Stated intent to support small businesses City responsibilities Review of program Seattle Commercial Lease Control Review CURRENT STATUS Council Request: On June 10th, 2024, the City Council requested a review and evaluation of Seattle’s Ordinance No. 126982 - Seattle Municipal Code Chapter 6.104 pertaining to Commercial Leases and Rental Agreements between tenants and commercial real estate lessors. Staff Evaluation: Staff presented the summary memo to Planning and Development Committee on April 14th, 2025. The Committee did not request further action. The Seattle program is to be evaluated in 2026. The annual report was unavailable at this time. Commercial Lease Control Memo: Commercial Lease Review City of Renton Analysis of Seattle’s Program Staff’s evaluation of Seattle’s program – Findings A program like Seattle's would require the city to review every new commercial lease prior to the execution with the lessor. A program like Seattle's would require a significant city investment in personnel and funds. The staffing needs would include personnel across multiple departments - CED (Planning, Economic Development, Permit Services, Code Compliance), Legal and Finance. Commercial Lease Control RENTAL PROTECTIONS vs. RENTAL REGISTRATION Charleen Pleasance Rental Protections Rent increase limits – Over 10% Longer notice requirements – 60 to 90 days Limits on fees and deposits – Preventing excess upfront costs Tenant protections and lease termination – Providing more stability for renters Effective May 7th, 2025, Washington House Bill 1217 aims to increase tenant protections throughout Washington State with the following components: Landlord Resource Center - Education Attorney General - Enforcement What is House Bill 1217? City of Renton Landlord Tenant Act Adoption 1-10 The landlord will at all times during the tenancy keep the premises fit for human habitation, and shall in particular: (1) Maintain the premises to substantially comply with any applicable code, statute, ordinance, or regulation governing their maintenance or operation, which the legislative body enacting the applicable code, statute, ordinance or regulation could enforce as to the premises rented if such condition endangers or impairs the health or safety of the tenant; (2) Maintain the structural components including, but not limited to, the roofs, floors, walls, chimneys, fireplaces, foundations, and all other structural components, in reasonably good repair so as to be usable; (3) Keep any shared or common areas reasonably clean, sanitary, and safe from defects increasing the hazards of fire or accident; (4) Provide a reasonable program for the control of infestation by insects, rodents, and other pests at the initiation of the tenancy and, except in the case of a single-family residence, control infestation during tenancy except where such infestation is caused by the tenant; (5) Except where the condition is attributable to wear resulting from ordinary use of the premises, make repairs and arrangements necessary to put and keep the premises in as good condition as it by law or rental agreement should have been, at the commencement of the tenancy; (6) Provide reasonably adequate locks and furnish keys to the tenant; (7) Maintain and safeguard with reasonable care any master key or duplicate keys to the dwelling unit; (8) Maintain all electrical, plumbing, heating, and other facilities and appliances supplied by him or her in reasonably good working order; (9) Maintain the dwelling unit in reasonably weathertight condition; (10) Except in the case of a single-family residence, provide and maintain appropriate receptacles in common areas for the removal of ashes, rubbish, and garbage, incidental to the occupancy and arrange for the reasonable and regular removal of such waste; RCW 59.18.060 // Landlord Duties Rental Registration Rental housing complaint received: Inspection Code Case is opened Violation letter is sent Violation remediation Permits (if applicable) Final inspection Case closed Rental Registration Current Process Reporting options: Phone / message hotline Renton Responds / online Email to Code Compliance Walk-in RCW > Chapter 59.18 Residential Landlord-Tenant Act Rental Protections Rental Registration Focus Moving Forward Exploring new rental software (Tolemi) - The program would assist in finding rentals and advancing our proactive approach as well as assistance with marketing and managing applications Continue to support our Rental Registration Program – Supporting tenants and landlords, enforcing our current code to the best of our abilities Providing education to our landlords and tenants regarding RCW 59.18 – the Landlord Tenant Act through conversation and by sharing accessible resources Educating the public on code violations versus civil concerns – Eviction/money concerns versus violations of Renton Municipal Code AFFORDABLE HOUSING Matt Herrera Affordable Housing Total income-restricted units to date Annual South King Housing and Homeless Partners (SKHHP) housing capital fund SHB 1406 Contribution in 2025 SKHHP annual operation contribution in 2025 Housing Opportunity Fund – Grant to Homestead Community Land trust in 2024 The 2024 Renton Comprehensive Plan provides the following affordable unit capacity: 0-30% AMI - 2,161 units (Permanent Supportive Housing) 0-30% AMI - 4,110 units (Non-Permanent Supportive Housing) 30-50% AMI - 1,624 units 50-80% AMI - 1,019 units By the Numbers 2740 $223,465 $59,466 $100,000 Affordable Housing Grants from the Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP grants) help reduce costs of infrastructure improvements Planning staff submit grant applications on behalf of developers and administer the funding Connecting Housing to Infrastructure $1,768,137 $316,020 $54.5 million in awards for 2026 $1,000,000 $34.3 million available in 2027 2021 Sunset Gardens (Renton Housing Authority) 2021 Watershed Apartments 2026 Willowcrest Phase II 2027 Vision House Phase IV and Steele House Affordable Housing RHA Sunset Gardens (2021) - Renton Housing Authority received $1,500,000 for the Sunset Gardens project to construct 76 units for veterans and those that are homeless Willowcrest Phase II (2025) - Homestead Community Land Trust will receive $900,000 in HB1590 funds to support three of the 19 townhomes set aside for families that are homeless Steele House (2025) - St. Stephen Housing Association will receive $500,000 in HB1590 funds to support six new townhomes for families that are homeless and survivors of domestic violence 2026 Potential Funding - Vision House Phase IV will add 28 units of housing for families that are homeless that will also include wraparound services and childcare - staff anticipates HB1590 funding and CHIP grant support HB 1590 Capital Funding Pool Affordable Housing Funding - HB1590, SB1406, Housing Opportunity Fund Bonus Density – 1 bonus market rate for each affordable unit Waived Fees – Building and civil permits, impact fees, inspections Multi-family Tax Exemption Tools and Incentives Permit Ready Accessory Dwelling Units Cottage Housing Bonus Density – 2.5 times over max 2 Planned Action Areas – Sunset and Rainier/Grady Affordable Housing Sunset Terrace Master Plan (2015-2025) RHA Sunset Gardens (2023) – 76 units Sunset Oaks (2021) – 60 units Sunset Court (2018) – 50 units Kirkland Avenue Townhomes (2017) – 14 units Recent RHA, Habitat for Humanity and other Developments LaFortuna – Habitat for Humanity (2023) 12 sustainably certified, owner-occupied townhome units (35 total) and community playground developed in partnership with City of Renton, Habitat for Humanity, and Homestead Community Land Trust Watershed Apartments (2024) – 145 units Sage Apartments – Bellwether Housing 284 units acquired in 2022 to maintain Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) in the Highlands Community Planning Area GRAFFITI ABATEMENT Gina Estep Jason Churchill Jessie Kotarski Graffiti Abatement A PROACTIVE team approach across all city departments - when graffiti is spotted, all field staff (PD, PW, Parks, CED) know to contact staff lead, Jason Churchill to inform him of the location. First Occurrence: - Contact Property owner and issue a Warning of Violation, allowing 15 days to resolve or remove graffiti. This process allows us to develop a relationship with the property owner. Second Occurrence – Rather than issuing a Warning of Violation immediately, the inspector contacts the property owner offering ways the city can assist/help with the abatement. Prior to 2025 - graffiti abatement was handled in our Police Department by part-time staff (15 hours a week) and volunteers. No Paint with Purpose program existed. Post 2025 -CED took on graffiti abatement and created two abatement programs: 1. Daily city-wide abatement program; and 2. City wide Paint with Purpose program. No additional staff have been provided Additional funding provided = $50K for Paint with Purpose program only Identifying locations Graffiti on private property, accessible from public ROW, or public property Responsible division Code Compliance administers this program and has a dedicated staff lead. History and How it Works Graffiti Abatement When reoccurring graffiti occurs, the property owner is contacted and offered the following: Identify and agree on a paint color. We strive to have the property owners pick between 5 common colors Inspector can use agreed paint color to proactively paint over new graffiti when observed We currently have 3 downtown building owners participating in the program. Resolving Reoccurring Graffiti on Private Property 2026: Expanding the Program CED will propose expanding the program to address large-scale graffiti that will require resources beyond one inspector’s capabilities. CED intends to: Contract with a Graffiti Abatement Specialist for large scale graffiti on public property or accessible from public property (i.e. I-405) Track and log tags and notify contractor of locations Goal: Removal of all large-scale graffiti tags every two weeks Cost: $100,000 annually - $50k for contractor crew and $50k for paint and materials To frontload some of the work in prep for FIFA, the budget adjustment must be approved 1st quarter. Public Reports Staff Reports 0 50 100 150 Reports Received Time Spent in days Reports and Inspector Abatement Time Public Reports Staff Reports On average, each compliant requires approx. 7.5 hours of inspector time. The City received a total of 205 graffiti complaints in 2025. (38.44 weeks a year of 1 FTE) Paint with Purpose The City connects property owners with local artists to create murals on graffiti-impacted sites Murals serve as a proven deterrent while enhancing beautification, cultural expression, and community pride Renton public agencies, businesses, and property owners Public or private properties with existing or high-risk graffiti Collaborative design with artists and city staff Anti-graffiti coatings and agreed maintenance plans •A partnership with business community;achieving long term solutions, placemaking and community uplift. •Reduce graffiti by transforming frequently tagged surfaces into professionally designed murals. •Through partnerships with property owners,local artists, and businesses, the program converts high-risk locations into vibrant spaces that deter repeat vandalism and strengthen neighborhood identity. Graffiti Abatement through Public Art How it Works Eligibility and Sites Design and Delivery Prevention and Maintenance Paint with Purpose Program Outcomes (2025) •3 murals completed •16 artists on the Paint with Purpose roster Funding and Investment •4Culture Grant:3-year award at $44,000 per year •City Graffiti Abatement Funds:$50,000 committed per year (2025/26 Adopted Budget) •CED will be looking for additional funds to grow this program in 2026 Program Snapshot