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AGENDA
Planning & Development Committee Regular Meeting
4:00 PM - Thursday, November 9, 2017
Council Conference Room, 7th Floor, City Hall – 1055 S. Grady Way
1. Landmark Designation Nomination - The Cortona Building
a) AB - 2023 Mayor Law approves the request to proceed with nomination of the Cortona
Building (old Woolworth building) for designation as a Landmark by King County
Landmarks Commission, and appoints Liz Stewart, Renton History Museum Manager, as a
special member from the City of Renton to serve on the King County Landmarks
Commission for a three-year term.
2. Long Range Planning Work Program
3. Illicit Discharge Regulation Code Amendment
a) AB - 2025 Utility Systems Division recommends adopting an ordinance amending RMC 4-
6-030 and 4-6-100 to clarify existing provisions for the prohibition of illicit discharges into
the City's storm system.
4. Supervised Injection Facilities Recommendation
a) Staff Report
AB - 2023
City Council Regular Meeting - 06 Nov 2017
SUBJECT/TITLE: Landmark Designation Nomination - Cortona Building
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Refer to Planning & Development Committee
DEPARTMENT: Executive
STAFF CONTACT: April Alexander, Executive Assistant
EXT.: 6520
FISCAL IMPACT SUMMARY:
None
SUMMARY OF ACTION:
Mayor Law approves the request to proceed with the nomination of the Cortona Building (old Woolworth
building) for designation as a Landmark by King County Landmarks Commission. Also, per Ordinance 5855
(Landmark Preservation Ordinance), Mayor Law appoints Liz Stewart, Renton History Museum Manager, as a
special member from the City of Renton to serve on King County Landmarks Commission for a three-year
term. Ms. Stewart will be a voting member of the Commission on all matters relating to or affecting landmarks
within the city with certain exceptions.
EXHIBITS:
A. Landmark Designation Nomination-Cortona Building Memo
B. Woolworth Landmark Registration Form
C. Woolworth Landmark Photos and Maps
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Confirm Mayor Law's request to proceed with the nomination and confirm Mayor Law's appointment of Ms.
Liz Stewart to King County Landmarks Commission as a special member for a three-year term.
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
DEPARTMENTOFCOMMUNITY&ECONOMICDEVELOPMENTMEM0RANDUMDATE:October20,2017—TO:DenisLaw,Mayor—7FROM:C.E.“Chip”Vincent,CEDAdministratorCSUBJECT:LandmarkDesignationNomination—CortonaBuildingTheCityhasreceivedarequestfromtheownersoftheCortonaBuilding,locatedat724South3rdStreetinDowntownRenton,forapprovaltonominatetheirbuildingfordesignationasaLandmarkbyKingCountyLandmarksCommission(“Commission”).Theowners,DaveandMonicaBrethauer,haveinvestedsignificanttimeandmoneyintherehabilitationofthepropertytorestoreittoabeautifulexampleof1950’sarchitecture.Infact,theBrethauers’$1.1millionprojectreceivedthe2016KingCountyJohnD.SpelimanAwardforHistoricPreservation,andthebuildinghasbeenlistedontheNationalRegisterofHistoricPlaces.ThebuildingisalsolistedontheWashingtonHeritageRegister.TherenovationservesasasignificantcatalystintherevitalizationofDowntownRenton.TheCity’srecentlyadoptedLandmarkPreservationOrdinance(No.5855)(“Ordinance”)requiresthattheCitymustapproveanhistoricresourcefornominationpriortotheresourceproceedingthroughthenominationprocess.ApprovalshallbefromtheMayor,subjecttoconfirmationbytheCityCouncil.StaffrecommendsapprovaloftheBrethauers’requesttoproceedwiththeirnominationoftheCortonaBuildingfordesignationasaLandmarkbytheCommission.OncereviewedbyCountystaff,thenominationwillbesubmittedtotheCommissionforconsideration.ViatheOrdinance,theCommissionservesasthelandmarkscommissionfortheCityinthecaseofnominatedpropertiesthatliewithintheCity’slimits.PertheOrdinance,theMayorwithCouncilconfirmationshallappointaspecialmemberoftheCommission.Theappointmentshallbemadeforathree(3)-yearterm.Thespecialmembershallhaveademonstratedinterestandcompetenceinhistoricpreservation.ThespecialmembershallbeavotingmemberoftheCommissiononallmattersrelatingtooraffectinglandmarkswithintheCity,withcertainexceptions.StaffrecommendsthatLizStewart,RentonHistoryMuseumManager,beappointedasthespecialmemberfromtheCityofRentontoserveontheCommissionfora3-yearterm.AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
LANDMARK REGISTRATION FORM
F. W. Woolworth Co. Store Landmark Registration Form
Page 1 of 17
PART I: PROPERTY INFORMATION
1. Name of Property
historic name: F. W. WOOLWORTH CO. STORE
other names/site number: Cortona Building
2. Location
street address: 724 South 3rd Street
parcel no(s): 723150-2210
legal description(s): Lots 11 & 12, Block 25, Renton Town Plat
3. Classification
Ownership of Property: Category of Property: Name of related multiple property listing:
private building(s) (Enter “N/A” if property is not part of a
public-local district multiple property listing.)
public-State site
public-Federal structure
object
4. Property Owner(s)
name: Cortona LLC
street: 10232 63rd Ave S
city: Seattle state: WA zip: 98178
5. Form Prepared By
name/title: Adapted from a National Register nomination by Caroline T. Swope, M.S.H.P., Ph.D.
organization: Kingstree Studios date: October 10, 2017
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Property Information (continued)
F. W. Woolworth Co. Store Landmark Registration Form
Page 2 of 17
6. Nomination Checklist
Site Map (REQUIRED) Continuation Sheets
Photographs (REQUIRED): please label or
caption photographs and include an index Other (please indicate):
Last Deed of Title: this document can usually be obtained for little or no cost from
a title company
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
F. W. Woolworth Co. Store Landmark Registration Form
Page 3 of 17
PART II: PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
7. Alterations
Check the appropriate box if there have been changes to plan, cladding, windows, interior features or other significant elements. These changes should be described specifically in the narrative section below.
Yes No Plan (i.e. no additions to footprint, relocation of walls, or roof plan) Yes No Interior features (woodwork, finishes, flooring, fixtures)
Yes No Cladding Yes No Other elements
Yes No Windows
Narrative Description Use the space below to describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance, condition, architectural
characteristics, and the above-noted alterations (use continuation sheet if necessary).
Summary Paragraph
Located at 710 - 724 South 3rd Street in Renton, Washington, the Woolworth’s building sits on the
northwest corner at the intersection of South 3rd Street and Williams Avenue South in the downtown
business district. An alley is located to the west of the building. The building faces south and abuts the
sidewalk on the east and south, and the alley on the west. The north elevation has two main portions,
the portion that is associated with the original footprint of the two-story Woolworth’s and the one-
story portion that originally was an adjoining building. The north wall of the two-story building is a
party wall, while the north wall for the one-story building faces a driveway located off the alley.
The building is roughly L-shaped in massing and has a concrete foundation. Walls are a combination of
poured concrete and concrete block. The south façade is primarily glazing, with stacked courses of
Roman brick framing the fenestration divisions. A narrow coping runs along the edge of the flat roof.
Significant features of the International Style building are the unusual second floor window treatment
(raised framed boxes surrounding grouped windows), simple concrete construction, significant glazing
on the main elevation, and the awning.
Exterior
Originally constructed as two buildings (the original two-story Woolworth’s store to the east in 1954
and a one-story commercial building to the west in 1955) the two buildings were later joined in a
remodel. The western part of the south elevation has one story while the eastern half has two stories.
The lower portion of the building is a curtain wall clad with aluminum framed glass fenestration. From
west to east the fenestration reads as: five plate glass windows, small brick pier, three plate glass
window, large brick pier, two plate glass windows, recessed entry (angled plate glass window and a
pair of double doors flanked by plate glass window), small brick pier, five plate glass window and small
brick pier. A large flat awning runs most of the length of the building. It starts about halfway across
the façade of the one story portion and continues to the Williams Avenue elevation, curving at the
corner and wrapping to the other elevation. A large semicircular hole was cut in the awning to
accommodate a streetlight (c. 1972, now missing). The awning edge cants slightly towards the
building’s foundation, giving a streamlined machine aesthetic to the unit. The wall for the upper
portion of the façade is concrete and has been scored in a rectangular grid pattern. The second floor
of the main building has a large ganged bank of casement windows. The windows are unified with a
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Physical Description (continued)
F. W. Woolworth Co. Store Landmark Registration Form
Page 4 of 17
protruding flange that frames all the units. The fenestration pattern is window (a) small concrete panel
(b) window (a) large concrete panel (c) and continues with an “a, b, a, c, a, b, a” pattern. The original
casement style metal windows are all glazed with a textured pebble glass.
The east elevation is entirely two stories. To the far south ¼ of the elevation continues the design
rhythm found on the front of the building, with large glass and aluminum windows on the ground floor
framed by Roman bricks in stack bond pattern, the continuation of the front awning, and the same grid
scored concrete finish on the second floor. The fenestration pattern on the second floor is a, c, a, and
has the same flanged frame around the ganged windows. The rear 3/4 of the elevation is poured
concrete. The textured pattern of the wood boards used for the concrete forms is clearly visible on
this section of the elevation. On the first floor of the elevation there are the visible remnants of three
long horizontal windows, evenly spaced, that have been filled in with concrete block.
The west elevation facing the alley is constructed of concrete block laid in a running bond pattern.
There is no fenestration on this elevation. The wall steps up one row of bricks towards the very north
end of the elevation.
The rear of the building has two elevations: the north elevation and a portion of the west elevation.
The north elevation is constructed of concrete block laid in a common bond. The wall is divided into
three bays, separated by engaged buttresses. The bay farthest to the east does not rise to the same
height as the first two bays. The juncture between the north elevation and the west (back) elevation is
accentuated with a boiler room. This section of the building is constructed from common bond
concrete block and has a small door on the north elevation. The brick boiler chimney runs along the
west elevation of the large two-story building. A contemporary wood fence overlaid with razor wire
prevents access to the top of the boiler room. Only a small portion of the two story building’s west
elevation on the first floor is exposed. A pair of solid metal doors provides access to the back of the
building.
Interior
The main floor of the building has been altered. This level, which includes both the original
Woolworth’s store and the building to the west that was originally used for the Anita store, has a slab
concrete foundation. The wood joist ceiling is held up by steel “I” beams supported by large square
wood posts. Supports along a former party wall with the Anita building are masonry and are covered
in flat plaster. The Anita Shop space ceiling (constructed in 1955) is supported by round metal piers.
A contemporary staircase added to the east wall accesses the second floor. An original staircase is
located on the north/rear wall in a small enclosed room which houses the original conveyor belt
system that transported Woolworth’s merchandise to the second floor. The staircase walls are clad
with sheets of Formica that reach to the dado level. The once covered plaster walls and ceiling are
exposed.
The second floor has a mix of storage and office space. The northern 60% of the space has original
wood floors and has an open floor plan to accommodate a merchandise storage area. Walls are
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Physical Description (continued)
F. W. Woolworth Co. Store Landmark Registration Form
Page 5 of 17
exposed concrete and the steel roof beams are left exposed. The roof decking has been covered with
sheetrock. There are four doors on the southern end of the room. Three access an original interior
hallway and one accesses a large, non-original, conference room.
The hallway connects the large conference room, two offices, two bathrooms and a staff room,
complete with kitchenette and its own small bathroom. The conference room is windowless and
occupies the southwest quadrant of the second floor. It has two doors, one accessing the large
warehouse space and a second accessing the interior hallway. A small bathroom with a single
commode and sink is located along the west wall. The smaller of the two offices is windowless and is
located in the southwest corner. It is abutted by the second office, which runs along the south wall.
This office has a pair of windows on the south wall. Each office has a single entry door, and the
common wall between the two has two fixed interior windows. To the east of the second office is a
small janitor’s closet with a sink boasting original tiles and basin. A communal bathroom with three
commodes and two sinks is located near the center of the south wall and has two windows that
illuminate the interior. Tile flooring, toilet stall dividers and sinks are original. The final room on this
floor is the large staff room which is accessed from a door at the far east end of the hallway. A small
kitchenette, with contemporary cabinetry, is located on the west wall of the room and the southwest
corner provides space for a shower and hot water heater. Two windows are along the south wall, one
in the shower room and one in the main staff room. Two windows are located on the east wall. The
contemporary staircase that provides access to the main floor is located on the north end of the
hallway, along the east wall. Finishes on the upstairs office and employee spaces are original sheetrock
with original wooden doors and window trim, and acoustical tile ceilings.
Building Alterations
While the first floor of the interior of building has been altered, the store retains the characteristics
and qualities of a mid-century Woolworth Store. Showroom and storefront alterations are typical
commercial building transformations, which would have occurred on a continual basis as retail
establishments sought to reinvent themselves with the latest merchandising trends of the day. No
interior images of the store when Woolworth occupied that space have been located to date, but
images from other like Woolworth stores show an open floor plate with flat plaster finishes, simple
lighting, tile floors and little or no ornamentation. Later images of the space, show some features
hidden behind new finishes. Those images also indicate flat plaster finishes. Instead low merchandise
display areas floated freely throughout the space in tight rows allowing employees to see the
showroom floor from the checkout areas near the front of the store. The interior of the Renton store
remains a free-flowing space with flat plaster wrapped columns and smooth concrete floors. On the
exterior, the store retains a high level of integrity. Such design details, both inside and out, convey a
strong sense of a typical department store structure as found in a small downtown core during the
post WWII era.
Photographic records and ghost marks on the floor indicate that the Anita Shop (710 South 3rd Street)
once had a deeply recessed entryway. Historical images show that the Woolworth’s store had two sets
of entry doors on the south elevation. Around 1975, the Woolworth’s space and the one-story Anita
Shop space were unified by the removal of the party wall. At this time the building had been
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Physical Description (continued)
F. W. Woolworth Co. Store Landmark Registration Form
Page 6 of 17
purchased by Renton Western Wear and was used as a clothing store. It was likely that the storefronts
were reconfigured during this time to have one set of doors. The bricks used during the storefront
remodel appear identical from the outside, and the front elevation of the building reads seamlessly as
one unified façade.
The extent of changes in the second floor of the building are unknown - original plans have not been
located. The warehouse section of the floor is clearly intact, but how many offices, if any, were
originally located on that level is a unknown. Some finishes for portions of the office and staff rooms
are contemporary. The bathrooms are a mix of contemporary and vintage materials – vintage sinks,
bathroom stalls, and floor tiles, while toilets are contemporary.
To support the conversion of the interior into a clothing store, storage and dressing rooms were added
to the store’s perimeter on the north, east, and west walls. An additional staircase to the second floor
(east wall) was also added. During this time the office portion of the upstairs was remodeled, since the
majority of the finishes in the office and conference room portions of the second floor date from the
1980s.
During the summer of 2015 all of the late 1970s/early 1980s additions to the main floor (with the
exception of the second staircase) were removed to support rehabilitation.
Other minor alterations were made at unknown dates. The three small horizontal windows along the
first floor of the east elevation were filled in at different times. A photo from 1963 shows the center
window filled in, while the windows on either side are still visible. The date the last two windows were
filled in is unknown. The casement windows on the second floor may have had their glazing replaced.
The current glazing material is a textured glass. However, photos from 1954 show very clearly
individual delineations on interior window blinds. This would have only been possible with clear
window glass.
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
F. W. Woolworth Co. Store Landmark Registration Form
Page 7 of 17
PART III: HISTORICAL / ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
8. Evaluation Criteria
Historical Data (if known)
Date(s) of Construction: 1954, 1955
Other Date(s) of Significance:
Architect:
Builder: Riley Pleas Construction Co. Engineer:
Statement of Significance
Describe in detail the chronological history of the property and how it meets the landmark designation criteria. Please provide a summary in the first paragraph (use continuation sheets if necessary). If using a Multiple
Property Nomination that is already on record, or another historical context narrative, please reference it by name and source.
The F.W. Woolworth Co. Store in Renton, Washington, is historically significant under City of Renton
Landmark Designation Criterion A1 for its direct association with growth and development of
downtown Renton, and for its connection to the national five-and-dime chain store, F.W. Woolworth
Company. The store represents a last gasp effort of Woolworth’s to change the retail face of
downtowns in rural America before the shift occurred to suburban shopping centers. The building is
also significant under Criterion A3 as a representative example of its type and as an example of a small
commercial building designed in the waning years of the International Style. The period of significance
for the building begins in 1954 the date the store opened and ends in 1955, the date of an addition to
the west side of the building.
Criterion A1:
Designation Criteria:
Criteria Considerations:
A1 Property is associated with events that Property is
have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of national, state, or
local history.
a cemetery, birthplace, or grave or property owned by a religious institution/used for
religious purposes
A2 Property is associated with the lives of
persons significant in national, state, or local history.
moved from its original location
A3 Property embodies the distinctive a reconstructed historic building
characteristics of a type, period, style,or method of design or construction or
represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components
lack individual distinction.
a commemorative property
less than 40 years old or achieving significance
within the last 40 years
A4 Property has yielded, or is likely to yield,
information important in prehistory or history.
A5 Property is an outstanding work of a
designer or builder who has made a
substantial contribution to the art.
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Historical/Architectural Significance (continued)
F. W. Woolworth Co. Store Landmark Registration Form
Page 8 of 17
Renton
The city of Renton, located 15 miles southeast of Seattle along the southern shores of Lake
Washington, developed as a major manufacturing and transportation center for the Pacific Northwest
during the early part of the 20th century. It grew around the holdings of Henry Tobin and Dr. R.H.
Bigelow, who had discovered a seam of coal on their adjacent homestead claims in 1853. Bigelow
moved away and Tobin died. His widow, who inherited his land and the coal mine married Erasmus
Smithers. Smithers filed the first plat for the Town of Renton in 1875.
The town was named for Captain William Renton, who had formed the Renton Coal Company a few
years earlier. Captain Renton, a lumberman better known for his successes with the famous Port
Blakely Mill on Puget Sound, had purchased the mine from Smithers and had the financial backing to
expand the business further.
Other coal mines soon dotted the hills and mountains east of Renton, but access to the lake and the
rivers allowed Renton to become the hub of the local coal industry. This beehive of activity created a
need for better transportation routes, and Renton was one of the first outlying communities to be
connected by a road to Seattle. By the end of the 19th century, Renton was also a railway hub. The
productive agricultural land in the river valleys also made Renton a commercial center. Other
industries followed including a brick and tile plant, a cigar factory, a glass-making facility, and several
lumber mills. By 1910, Renton was a booming prosperous town with a population of 2,740.
The town was incorporated on September 3, 1901. Earlier, the town had been known as a rough-and-
tumble community, due to the heavy industry. In 1885 there were nine saloons and no churches.
Incorporation led to a more organized and civilized community, and by 1910 the town had churches,
schools, newspapers, and a bank. A bottle factory, icehouse, and more lumber companies had been
built, leading the Chamber of Commerce to refer to Renton as the “Town of Payrolls.”
By 1915 the coal mining business began to taper off, but Renton’s future was still bright. Not only were
other businesses in town, such as the Pacific Car & Foundry, but the Interurban train also allowed
Renton to become a bedroom community for Seattle workers and their families. Roads were
constantly being improved. And even throughout the Great Depression, Renton still experienced
moderate growth.
However the most significant growth occurred in 1941 when the federal government and Boeing
elected to build a manufacturing plant just to the north of town. The plant was initially developed to
produce the XPB-1 Sea Ranger for the United States Navy, but was quickly re-engineered to produce
the B-29 Superfortress. This was the most technologically advanced airplane of its day and at the
height of production, the Renton plant was building 5 airplanes per day and 160 per month. By the
time production ceased in May 1946, Boeing had built an incredible 1,119 B-29s over a two and a half
year period at the Renton Plant. During the war years, the Pacific Car & Foundry also turned out 1,500
Sherman Tanks.
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Historical/Architectural Significance (continued)
F. W. Woolworth Co. Store Landmark Registration Form
Page 9 of 17
The Federal government provided Renton with millions of dollars toward housing, street repairs, and
infrastructure to accommodate the influx of workers. After the war, the military contracts tapered off
but the slowdown was only temporary. Boeing re-opened the B-29 plant in 1948 to build the C-97
Stratofreighter, which became the basis for the famous Boeing 377 Stratocruiser airliner. Then in May
1954 Boeing rolled out the 367-80 at Renton. This Dash 80 was the prototype for the KC-135
Stratotanker which set the stage for the first commercially successful jet airliner, the legendary Boeing
707. The first production Boeing 707 was rolled out at Renton on October 28, 1957 and the jet age
began. Production continued until 1978 with a total of 1,010 707s built at Renton.
Such development at the Boeing plant resulted in a large population boom. The city grew from 4,488
people in 1940 to 16,039 by 1950. While residential construction took place on the edges of the
community in the ever-expanding suburbs, many services were provided in a re-made and expanded
downtown core. During the early to mid-1950s numerous turn-of the century structures were
demolished in favor of new sleek modern buildings which reflected the aesthetic of the “jet age”.
Nineteen fifty-four was a banner year for construction in the community. A record $2.65 million in
total construction valuation occurred with a variety of new downtown business such as Bartell’s,
Tradewell Market, Wiesfield Jewelers, Western Auto Supply, Block’s Shoe Store and J.C. Penney’s. The
U.S. Department of Commerce business census indicated that retail sales in Renton grew 49.1%
between 1948 and 1954. In 1954 more than $31 million was spent in Renton’s retail stores and
Renton’s total payroll was $60 million dollars annually.
Capitalizing on the retail boom was the F.W. Woolworth Co. who worked with the Priebe family (a
Renton pioneer family) to build a new modern store in the heart of the downtown in 1954. Such
construction in a downtown core was a last gasp for Woolworth’s that had previously changed the face
of many main streets across the United States. However by the mid-1950s the shift to retail shopping
areas on the outskirts of many communities had begun.
Woolworth – Renton Store
Reportedly the Priebe family invested more than $200,000 to build the nominated building which they
leased to the Woolworth Company. Brothers Jack, Oscar, and Lloyd retained ownership of the land.
The site was previously home to the Priebe Building, which originally housed the Hotel Tourist and a
barbershop. Various family members ran the businesses.
Construction of the Renton Woolworth’s started in 1953. While exact construction costs are unknown,
newspaper accounts report numbers ranging from $100,000 to $200,000 for the building. The store
officially opened on March 18, 1954 at 9:30 am. The opening was highly publicized with a full two-
page spread in the local paper. The first 1,000 customers through the store received free 2 ½ inch
potted Philodendron plants and free balloons for the kids. Several advertisements congratulating
Renton for their new retail option were featured including ads from the Pleas Construction Co., All
Electric Service (Seattle), Renton Plumbing & Heating, Gordon Brown Plasterers (Seattle), George
Abraham & Son Cement Contractors (Bellevue, Seattle, and Renton) and the Downs-Ritter law firm
(Seattle).
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Historical/Architectural Significance (continued)
F. W. Woolworth Co. Store Landmark Registration Form
Page 10 of 17
The opening of the Renton store coincided with the F.W. Woolworth Company’s diamond jubilee and
featured a new business model. The store was designed to be 100% self-service and was the first store
in the Northwest to employ this service model. Newspaper coverage noted that the 6,000 square foot
store which had a wide open floor plate, provided a broader assortment of goods than other stores of
the same size due to new display equipment in self-service units designed to make shopping quicker
and easier for the customer. The second floor of the store held an employee lounge and recreation
room, offices and a stockroom as well as restrooms. At the time of the Renton store’s opening there
were 20 other Woolworth stores in Washington State, with an additional 15 in Oregon and 5 in Idaho.
All of these stores, along with those in California and Arizona, were under the jurisdiction of
Woolworth’s San Francisco regional office.
On April 17, 1955, plans were announced to expand the store to the west. The new one-story wing
was leased to Anita’s, a women’s fashion store. Anita’s leased the space until 1970, at which time
Fuson’s Fabric Store took over the space. The expansion also included the addition of a 25-seat
fountain lunch counter within the Woolworth’s store. The first manager of the Renton Woolworth’s
store was D. B. Long. A native of the Winston-Salem/Greensboro, N.C. area, Long had started working
for Woolworth’s during high school. After a brief hiatus to serve in the Pacific during World War II,
Long returned to Woolworth’s, working initially for their Seattle store. He then transferred to Coeur
d’Alene, Idaho, and later worked in the company’s Yakima, Tacoma, and Wenatchee stores. By 1956,
Jerrold G. Bair had become the manager.
F.W. Woolworth Co.
The F.W. Woolworth Company was begun by Frank Winfield Woolworth, who opened his first store in
Utica, New York in 1879. While the store initially failed due to a poor location, a subsequent store
located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania that same year was successful and became the foundation for one
of the largest retail chains in the world. By 1904, there were six chains of affiliated stores operating in
the United States and Canada. Between 1905 and 1908, members of the Woolworth Syndicate
followed Frank's lead to incorporate their businesses. In 1912 the syndicate agreed to a scheme crafted
by Frank Woolworth: to join forces and incorporate as one corporate entity under the name "F. W.
Woolworth Company" in a merger of all 596 stores. The stock flotation raised over $30 million for the
five founders of the merged chains. They all swallowed their pride and accepted Frank's name above
the door, with Frank as President of the new corporation.
The discount chain store became so successful that by 1913 the company built the first modern
skyscraper, the Woolworth’s building, in New York, NY. The company expanded rapidly and stores sold
a variety of high demand items such as inexpensive dishes, silverware, bathroom products,
kitchenware, garden supplies, hardware, home decoration supplies, school supplies, toys, Christmas
decorations, jewelry, beauty items, and sewing supplies. For many years the company did a strictly
"five-and-ten cent" business, but in the spring of 1932 a 20-cent line of merchandise was added. On
November 13, 1935, the company's directors decided to discontinue setting price limits altogether.
Woolworth served as president of the firm until his death in 1919. At the time, the company had
already expanded to every state in the union and Canada (1,081 stores) and had annual sales of $119
million. Woolworth’s was one of the first companies in the United States to have merchandise on
display for the public to handle instead of being located behind the counter.
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Historical/Architectural Significance (continued)
F. W. Woolworth Co. Store Landmark Registration Form
Page 11 of 17
The Woolworth's concept was widely copied, and five-and-ten-cent stores (also known as five-and-
dime stores or dimestores) became a 20th-century fixture in American downtowns. Later they would
serve as anchors for suburban shopping plazas and shopping malls in the late 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.
In the 1960s, the five-and-dime concept evolved into the larger discount department store format. In
fact, in 1962, F.W. Woolworth Co. founded a chain of large, single-floor discount stores called Woolco.
Some of these stores were also branded as Winfields, after the founder's middle name. Nineteen sixty-
two was the same year that Woolworth's competitors opened similar retail chains that sold
merchandise at a discount: the S.S. Kresge Company opened Kmart; Dayton's opened Target; and Sam
Walton opened his first Wal-Mart store. By Woolworth’s 100th anniversary in 1979, it had become the
largest department store chain in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
The post-World War II era was a period of unprecedented growth for many American companies, and
1950 was a record-breaking year for sales within the Woolworth chain, with more than $61 million in
profits earned. However, troubling signs were on the horizon. It was clear that the development of
large shopping centers was causing challenges with the company’s long-standing policy of locating on
main streets. Although the trend to move retail development to shopping malls was fairly new,
Woolworth directors were paying attention. By 1954 the company had started constructing stores in
suburban shopping centers. The company began to move away from its five-and-dime roots and
placed less emphasis on its department store chain as it focused on its specialty stores. These stores
operated under the Woolco banner. In Washington State these included stores at the Villa Plaza
Shopping Center in Lakewood (1957) and Aurora Village in Seattle (1960).
The company was also battling the National Labor Relations Board regarding Woolworth’s treatment of
unionized employees. In an effort to save costs Woolworth’s embraced self-service stores, which
significantly reduced the number of employees needed per retail location. In 1952 the first self-service
store for the chain was opened. All checkouts were located at the front of the store and customers
would bring merchandise there for payment and wrapping. By 1953 the company spent $26 million to
build forty-four new stores, many of which were self-service, including the Renton store. In 1953 the
total number of stores owned by the chain in the United States was close to 2,000.
Although sales hit a record $713,870,367 in 1954, earnings began to decline and by the 1970s the
lagging economy, increasing prices, and increasing employment all took their toll on the iconic
company. The Renton Woolworth’s was one of a number of stores closed by the company between
1973 and 1974 and the building was purchased by another business for use as a discount retail store at
that time.
While it was a success in Canada, the Woolco chain closed in the United States in 1983. On October 15,
1993, Woolworth's embarked on a restructuring plan that included closing half of its 800-plus general
merchandise stores in the United States and converting its Canadian stores to a closeout division
named The Bargain! Shop. Woolco and Woolworth’s survived in Canada until 1994, when the majority
of the Woolco stores there were sold to Wal-Mart. The Woolco stores that were not purchased by Wal-
Mart were either converted to The Bargain! Shop, sold to Zellers or shut down. Approximately 100
Woolworth stores in Canada were rebranded as The Bargain! Shop, and the rest were closed. On July
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Historical/Architectural Significance (continued)
F. W. Woolworth Co. Store Landmark Registration Form
Page 12 of 17
17, 1997, Woolworth's closed its remaining department stores in the U.S. and changed its corporate
name to Venator.
Criteria A3:
Riley Pleas Construction Co.
To construct the store the Priebe Brothers and the F.W. Woolworth Co. hired the Riley Pleas
Construction Co. from Seattle. While a fairly young company at the time, owner Riley Pleas was well
versed in mid-century design and had worked as a draftsman for a prominent Seattle architectural
firm. Born in Covina, California on June 16, 1926 Riley William Pleas and his brother Pat were raised in
Olympia, Washington. After grammar school, both were selected for officer training in the US Navy V-
12 program. Following service in the US Navy, Riley studied architecture at the University of Michigan.
It was there that he met his future wife, nursing student Nancy Seay. Riley and Nancy married on
September 14, 1946, in Ann Arbor. They moved to Seattle in 1947 to raise a family.
After moving to Seattle, Pleas continued his studies at the University of Washington while working for
Strand Construction Company. It is unknown whether he received a formal degree from the University
of Washington. In 1948 he took a job as a draftsman for Mallis & Dehart Architects (1948-1950). With
valuable experience in hand, Pleas opened his own construction firm, Riley Pleas Inc., in Seattle in
1950. Over the course of the next 40 years his company built a variety of notable projects scattered
across Washington, Oregon, Montana, California, and Alaska.
Pleas’ projects range from schools to apartment complexes and large infrastructure works. Known
projects include Pinehurst Elementary School (1958); Montlake Terrace Elementary School (1958);
Lowell School remodel (1959); Pacific Architect & Builder Office (1959); Northgate Clinic of Group
Health (1958); the Villa Capri Apartments (1960); Four Season Apartments (1966) all in Seattle; and the
Wells Dam (1966) in Bridgeport, OR. Over the course of his career he worked with a variety of
architects including Albert O. Bumgardner, Paul H. Kirk and the firms of Dudley & Ekness, and
Cuykendall, Illes & Blean. In the late 1960s, Pleas expanded his business interest to serve as a
developer as well as builder. Under HUD’s Turnkey Program he developed several high rise projects for
the King County and Seattle Housing Authority. These projects include Olive Ridge (1968), Cedarville
House (1970), International Terrace (1971), Cedarville Village (1971) and Southridge House (1970). He
also developed the Mutiny Sands (1960s) area of Whidbey Island. In Renton, in addition to the
nominated building, the Pleas Construction firm also constructed the J. C. Penny Building (1955),
located on the same block as the nominated building and the Renton Village Shopping Center (1963).
After turning over the construction business to his three sons, Pleas acquired the Isaacson Steel Service
Center (1983), which is still owned by members of family today and operates under the name Seaport
Steel. He served on the Board of Seaport and other companies including Lynden Transport. Pleas
passed away on June 15, 2008.
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Historical/Architectural Significance (continued)
F. W. Woolworth Co. Store Landmark Registration Form
Page 13 of 17
International Style
While the architect for the store is unknown, per historic images, the Renton store shares many
similarities of other Woolworth’s stores built across the country during the 1950s. The company had
an in-house architectural department during the 1920s and 30s. While details of the department are
unknown, it is believed that they continued to operate into the 1960s and provided standardized
designs for the company.
The nominated building shares features with other Woolworth’s stores from the same era. Similar
Woolworth stores have been found in Clarksdale, Mississippi (NRHP); Oxnard, California; San Diego,
California; Madison, WI; Lake Charles, Louisiana and Tijuana, Mexico. All six of these buildings are two-
stories and five of them occupy corners. All have storefront glazing almost exclusively on the main
elevation and a horizontal band of windows on the second story. Five of the stores have the same
framed window surrounds which group multiple sashes into one unifying element. The Oxnard store is
most similar to the Renton store in terms of window configuration and spacing.
This design motif is reflective of the International Style, which was popular from the late 1920s through
the early 1960s. The style was born in Western Europe in the 1920s from the precedent breaking work
of noted architects Le Corbusier in France and Walter Gropius and Mies van der Rohe in Germany.
Striving to create a new modern form and functional theory of architecture these architects
abandoned tradition to create a pared down, unornamented style that emphasized geometric shapes,
viewing it as architecture for the modern age. Buildings of the International style were starkly different
than those of previous eras. Features included flat roofs, asymmetry and bands of windows set into a
rectangular form. Many European architects came to the United States in the period preceding World
War II bringing their new ideas about modern design with them. In the 1930s American architects
began experimenting with the International style, building upon early 20th century American
architecture.
The style was named after an exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in 1932 that showcased a variety
of works by European architects such as Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, and Gropius. In the
exhibition, curated by Henry-Russell Hitchcock and Phillip Johnson, International Style buildings are
said to be: 1) rectilinear forms; 2) light, taut plane surfaces that have been completely stripped of
applied ornamentation and decoration; 3) open interior spaces; and 4) a visually weightless quality
engendered by the use of cantilever construction. Pure examples of architect designed International
style buildings are somewhat rare, but many buildings of the era between 1930-1950 show its
influence. While the International style was popular in Europe for residential design in the 1920s and
1930s, it was less commonly used for houses in the United States. Instead the style was utilized on a
variety of educational, industrial and commercial buildings. By creating a new philosophy of
architecture dedicated to the pure functionality of form, the International style had a lasting impact on
modern design and elements of the style continued long beyond its period of popularity.
The Renton Woolworth’s building epitomizes the International Style as it manifested in many small
communities around the country. Its principles and design details include:
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Historical/Architectural Significance (continued)
F. W. Woolworth Co. Store Landmark Registration Form
Page 14 of 17
• a rejection of historical styles as a source of architectural form
• use of material and functional requirements to determine form (form follows function)
• a machine aesthetic
• rejection of ornament
• simplification of form and elimination of unnecessary detail
The Renton store features a poured concrete structure and a simple utilitarian form. Glass is only used
when necessary, primarily to provide large display windows. Fenestration on the second floor is
limited to small windows that provided light for interior office space. The large awning located
primarily on the south elevation was utilitarian and provided shade for pedestrians and protected
display goods from unnecessary fading. The awning also originally provided a platform for advertising
signage with large letters spelling out the store’s name. Another character defining feature is the
emphasis on the building’s horizontal form. The grid pattern scored into the concrete on the second
floor on the south and part of the east elevations are purely decorative. This is articulated through the
significant glazing, the awning, and most significantly with the windows treatment on the second level.
Although the individual window units are vertical, they were banded in groupings framed by raised
concrete flanges that emphasize the length of the bays rather than the height of the individual
windows.
Construction of the Renton Woolworth Store was an indicator “of the soundness of the [Renton] area
as an industrial and retail center.” The building, for many, was proof that Renton had “arrived” as a
modern city after rapid growth during the 1940s. Additionally the store serves as a representative
example of the Woolworth’s chain which is tightly bound into American retail history.
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
F. W. Woolworth Co. Store Landmark Registration Form
Page 15 of 17
PART IV: MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES
9. Previous Documentation
Buerger, David M. “Renton: Where the Water Took Wing.” Springfield, Oregon: Windsor Publications,
Inc., 1989.
“Chain Plans Expansion of Renton Store,” Seattle Times, April 17, 1955, n/p.
“Cost Estimated At Over $100,000 for 2 Story Unit,” Renton Chronicle September 24 1953 p 1.
“D. B. Long, North Carolina Native, Is Manger of F. W. Woolworth Store,” Renton News Record, March
18, 1954 p 2.
“Dr. Jack Priebe Joins Staff at Button Hospital,” Renton Chronicle, February 24, 1955, p 4, sec 2.
“Jack Priebe,” Seattle Times, December 18, 1998, n/p.
Kroll Maps. Kroll’s Map of Renton, Washington, Map. Seattle, Washington: Kroll Maps, 1954. Print.
“Larry Baugh, founder of Baugh Construction, dies of natural causes at 90,” Daily Journal of Commerce
(Oregon), September 18, 2000, n/p.
“Lloyd Priebe, 56, Tahoma Educator, Dies Suddenly,” Renton Chronicle, July 2, 1958, p 5.
Metsker Maps. Metsker’s Map of Renton, Washington, Map [ca 1:70,000]. Tacoma, Washington:
Metsker Maps, 1926. Print.
Use the space below to cite the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing this form (use continuation
sheet if necessary).
Previous documentation on file: Primary location of additional data:
included in King County Historic Resource Inventory #3907 State Historic Preservation Office
previously designated an Renton Landmark Other State agency
previously designated a Community Landmark Federal agency
listed in Washington State Register of Historic Places King County Historic Preservation Program preliminary determination of individual listing Local government
(36 CFR 67) has been requested University
previously listed in the National Register Other (specify repository)
previously determined eligible by the National Register
designated a National Historic Landmark
recorded by Historic American Buildings, Survey #:
recorded by Historic American Engineering, Rec. #:
Bibliography
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Bibliography (continued)
F. W. Woolworth Co. Store Landmark Registration Form
Page 16 of 17
National Register of Historic Places, Woolworth Building, Clarksdale, Coahoma County, Mississippi,
#09000110.
“New Woolworth Store to be Open to Public Today,” Renton News Record, March 18, 1954, p 1.
“Oscar H. Priebe Taken by Death,” Renton Chronicle, July 2 ,1942, p1.
“Priebe Brothers Played Important Role in Bringing Woolworth Firm to Renton,” Renton News Record,
March 18, 1954, Page 2.
“Robert Baugh” Seattle Times, January 18-22 2012 (digital access, April 30, 2015).
Renton Journal, Dec 17, 1909 pg 3.
“Renton Store Leased by Woolworth’s,” Seattle Times, March 21, 1954,
“Renton to Celebrate Its Growth,” Seattle Times, September 21, 1955,
“Robert Baugh,” Seattle Times, January 18-22, 2012, n/p.
“Woolworth Plans Self Service Store Here,” Renton Chronicle, Sept 24, 1953, p 1.
Pitrone, Jean Maddern. F. W. Woolworth and the American Five and Dime. Jefferson, North Carolina:
McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2003.
Plunket-Powell, Karen. Remembering Woolworth’s: A Nostalgic History of the World’s Most Famous
Five-and-Dime. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1999.
Renton Museum Obituary Files for: Oscar H. Priebe and Oscar W. Priebe
Sanborn Maps. Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of Renton, Washington, Map. Chicago, Illinois: Sanborn
Maps, 1952 and 1962, p 7. Print.
Slauson, Morda C. Renton From Coal to Jets. Olympic Reprographics: Kent, Washington, 1976 (2003
Edition).
Stewart, Elizabeth P. “From Horses to Cars,” Renton Historical Society & Museum Quarterly Spring
March 2015 Volume 46, Number 1, p 1, 5-7, and 10.
Stewart, Elizabeth P. “Renton in 1955: A modern City Takes Flight,” Renton Historical Society &
Museum Quarterly Fall September 2015 Volume 46, Number 3
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Bibliography (continued)
F. W. Woolworth Co. Store Landmark Registration Form
Page 17 of 17
Woolworth, Company, F. W. Fifty Years of Woolworth: 1879-1929. New York: F. W. Woolworth
Company, 1929.
Pacific Coast Architecture database (http://pcad.lib.washington.edu ) Baugh Construction and Riley
William Pleas, accessed April 30, 2015.
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
F.W. Woolworth Company Store – Renton Photos and Map
Assessor Map: Tax Parcel # 7231502210
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Google Earth Map
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Renton Woolworth’s c. 1963 (Source: King County Tax Assessor)
Renton Woolworth’s, c. 1957 (Source: Renton Historical Society)
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Other Mid-Century F.W. Woolworth Co. Stores - Nationwide
San Diego, CA – Woolworth Co. Store (built
1949)
Oxnard, CA – Woolworth Co. Store (built
c.1954)
Tijuana, Mexico - Woolworth Co. Store
(c.1957)
Clarksdale, MS – Woolworth Co. Store
(built 1955)
Madison, WI – Woolworth Co. Store (built
1954)
Lake Charles, LA – Woolworth Co. Store
(c.1957)
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Photo #1 of 14
South façade (left) and east elevation (right), camera facing northwest
(August 2016)
Photo #2 of 14
South façade (left) and east elevation (right), camera facing northwest
(August 2016)
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Photo #3 of 14
East elevation detail, camera facing northwest
(August 2016)
Photo #4 of 14
South façade, camera facing northwest
(August 2016)
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Photo #5 of 14
South façade detail I, camera facing northwest
(August 2016)
Photo #6 of 14
South façade detail II, camera facing northwest
(August 2016)
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Photo #7 of 14
South façade detail III, camera facing northwest
(August 2016)
Photo #8 of 14
South façade, camera facing northeast
(August 2016)
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Photo #9 of 14
West elevation, camera facing northeast
(August 2016)
Photo #10 of 14
North elevation, camera facing southeast
Caroline T. Swope (May 2015)
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Photo #11 of 14
Main floor interior I, west (left) and north (right) elevations, camera facing northwest.\
Caroline T. Swope (May 2015)
Photo #12 of 14
Main floor interior II, north (left) and east (right) elevations, camera facing northeast
Caroline T. Swope (May 2015)
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Photo #13 of 14
Main floor interior III, camera facing north
(September 2016)
Photo #14 of 14
Main floor interior IV, conveyor belt, camera facing northeast
Caroline T. Swope (May 2015)
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
AB - 2025
City Council Regular Meeting - 06 Nov 2017
SUBJECT/TITLE: Illicit Discharge Regulation Code Amendment
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Refer to Planning Commission and Planning & Development Committee
DEPARTMENT: Utility Systems Division
STAFF CONTACT: Ron Straka, Surface Water Utility Engineering Manager
EXT.: 7248
FISCAL IMPACT SUMMARY:
N/A
SUMMARY OF ACTION:
The City of Renton holds a Western Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit (Permit) issued by the
Washington State Department of Ecology. The Permit requires that the permittee adopt an ordinance or
regulatory mechanism to effectively prohibit illicit discharges into the City’s storm sewer system. The draft
code amendments clarify existing code provisions for the prohibition of illicit discharge and update definitions
for consistency with the Permit.
In 2009 the City of Renton adopted Ordinance 5478, amending Renton Municipal Code (RMC) Section 4-6-030
in order to meet the requirements of the 2007-2012 Western Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater
Permit. The Permit is reissued every 5 to 6 years by the Washington State Department of Ecology and requires
periodic updates to local stormwater codes. RMC 4-6-030 regulates illicit stormwater discharges to the
municipal separate storm sewer system to prevent contamination of surface water, groundwater and
watercourses. The draft code amendments update the definitions in RMC 4-6-100 and clarify prohibited,
allowable and conditionally allowable discharges in RMC 4-6-030 to be consistent with the current 2013-2018
Permit.
City staff would like to begin working with the Planning Commission to review these potential code revisions.
Following their review, the Planning Commission will make a recommendation to Council for their
consideration.
EXHIBITS:
A. Draft Code Amendments
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Refer to Planning Commission and Planning and Development Committee for review. Following this review
the Planning Commission will present recommendations to City Council.
AGENDA ITEM #3. a)
Draft Code Amendments
4-6-100 DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED IN THIS CHAPTER:
ILLICIT CONNECTION: Any infrastructure unlawful connection to the municipal stormwater sewer system
that is not intended, permitted or used for collecting and conveyings pollution or contaminants or anything
not entirely composed of surface water and stormwater or non-stormwater discharges allowed as
specified in Section 4-6-030 directly into such facilities. Examples include sanitary sewer connections,
floor drains, channels, pipelines, conduits, inlets, or outlets that are connected directly to the MS4. (Ord.
5478, 8-3-2009)
ILLICIT DISCHARGE: An discharge to the MS4unlawful conveyance of pollution or contaminants or
anything that is not entirely composed of surface water and stormwater directly or indirectly into the
municipal stormwater sewer system, whether it be surface water and/or groundwateror of non-stormwater
discharges allowed as specified in Section 4-6-030. (Ord. 5478, 8-3-2009)
MS4: See “Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System.” (Ord. 5478, 8-3-2009)
MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM: A conveyance or system of conveyances (including
roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, manmade channels,
or storm drains):
a. Owned or operated by the City of Renton;
b. Designed or used for collecting or conveying stormwater;
c. Which is not part of a publicly owned treatment works (POTW) as defined at 40 CFR 122.2; and
d. Which is not a combined sewer. (Ord. 5478, 8-3-2009)
e. Which is defined as “large” or “medium” or “small” or otherwise designated by Ecology pursuant to 40
CFR 122.26.
PUBLICLY OWNED TREATMENT WORKS: Any device or system used in treatment of municipal
sewage or industrial wastes of a liquid nature which is publicly owned. (Ord. 5478, 8-3-2009)
STORMWATER: Runoff during and following precipitation and snowmelt events, including surface runoff,
drainage or interflow.
4-6-030 DRAINAGE (SURFACE WATER) STANDARDS:
AGENDA ITEM #3. a)
J. DISCHARGE PROHIBITION:
1. Prohibition of Illicit Discharge: Materials, whether or not solids or liquids, other than surface water
and stormwater shall not be spilled, leaked, emitted, discharged, disposed or allowed to escape into the
storm sewer and/or drain system, surface water, groundwater, or watercourses.
a. Examples of illicit discharge include but are not limited to the following:
i. Trash, debris or garbage;
ii. Construction materials or wastewater;
iii. Petroleum products, including but not limited to oil, gasoline, greases, fuel oil or heating oil;
iv. Antifreeze, brake fluid, windshield cleaner and other automotive products;
v. Metals in either particulate or dissolved form;
vi. Flammable or explosive materials or substances;
vii. Radioactive materials;
viii. Acids or batteries of any kind;
ix. Alkalis or bases;
x. Paints, stains, resins, lacquers, or varnishes;
xi. Degreasers, solvents or chemicals used in laundries or dry cleaners;
xii. Drain cleaners;
xiii. Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers;
xiv. Steam cleaning wastes;
xv. Soaps, detergents, ammonias;
xvi. Swimming pool or spa cleaning wastewater and filter backwash containing water disinfectants
(chlorine, bromine, or other chemicals);
xvii. Heated water;
AGENDA ITEM #3. a)
xviii. Domestic animal waste;
xix. Sewage;
xx. Recreational vehicle wastewater or sewage;
xxi. Animal carcasses;
xxii. Food waste;
xxiii. Bark and other fibrous material;
xxiv. Collected lawn clippings, leaves, branches or other yard waste material;
xxv. Silt, sediment or gravel;
xxvi. Dyes, except as stated in subsection b.xiii of this section;
xxvii. Chemicals not normally found in uncontaminated water;
xxviii. Wastewater or process water (including filtered or purified);
xxix. Any pollution or contaminant as referenced in the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Manual;
and
xxx. Any hazardous material as defined in RMC 4-11-080, or waste not listed above and any
other process-associated discharge except as otherwise allowed in this Section. (Ord. 5828, 12-
12-2016)
b. Allowable discharges. The following types of are examples of allowed discharges shall not be
considered illicit discharges by this Section if the discharges do not contain pollutants and unless the
Administrator evaluates and determines that they are causing an adverse impactthe type of
discharge, whether singly or in combination with others, is causing or is likely to cause significant
pollution of surface water or groundwater:
i. Diverted stream flows;
ii. Spring water;
AGENDA ITEM #3. a)
iii. Rising groundwater;
iv. Uncontaminated groundwater infiltration (as defined in 40 CFR 35.2005(b)(20));
v. Uncontaminated pumped groundwater;
vi. Foundation andor footing drains;
vii. Uncontaminated Wwater from crawl space pumps;
viii. Air conditioning condensation;
ix. Flows from riparian habitats and wetlands;
x. Discharges from emergency fire fighting activities in accordance with the Western Washington
Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit Section S2 Authorized Discharges;
xi. Discharges specified in writing by the authorized enforcement agency as being necessary to
protect public health and safety;
xii. Irrigation water from an agricultural source that is commingled with stormwater runoff;
xiii. Storm system dye testing is allowable, by the City, and any dye testing by others , but
requires verbal notification to the Public Works Department at least one day prior to the date of
the test. The City is exempt from this requirement;
xiv. Nonstormwater discharges authorized by another NPDES or State Waste Discharge Permit.
(Ord. 5828, 12-12-2016)
c. Activities that may result in illicit discharge, unless the application of best management practices
(BMPs) as specified in the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Manual are utilized, include but are not
limited to:Conditionally Allowable Discharges. These discharges are allowed if the stated conditions
are met, unless the Administrator determines that the type of discharge, whether singly or in
combination with others, is causing or is likely to cause significant pollution to surface water or
groundwater:
i. Discharges from potable water sources, including but not limited to water line flushing,
hyperchlorinated water line flushing, fire hydrant system flushing, and pipeline hydrostatic test
water. Planned discharges shall be dechlorinated to a total residual chlorine concentration of 0.1
AGENDA ITEM #3. a)
ppm or less, pH-adjusted, if necessary, and volumetrically and velocity controlled to prevent
resuspension of sediments into the MS4;
ii. Discharges from lawn watering and other irrigation runoff. These discharges shall be minimized
through, at a minimum, public education activities and water conservation efforts;
iii. Dechlorinated swimming pool, spa, and hot tub discharges. The discharges shall be
dechlorinated to a total residual chlorine concentration of 0.1 ppm or less, pH-adjusted and
reoxygenized if necessary, volumetrically and velocity controlled to prevent resuspension of
sediments in the MS4. Discharges shall be thermally controlled to prevent an increase in
temperature of the receiving water. Swimming pool cleaning wastewater and filter backwash shall
not be discharged to the MS4;
iiiiv. Dust control with potable water; Street and sidewalk wash water, water used to control dust,
and routine external building washdown that does not use detergents. The discharges shall be
minimized through, at a minimum, public education activities and/or water conservation efforts.
iv. Automotive, airplane and boat washing;
v. Pavement and building washing;
vi. Dechlorinated swimming pool discharges. The discharges shall be dechlorinated to a
concentration of 0.1 ppm or less, pH-adjusted and reoxygenized if necessary, volumetrically and velocity
controlled to prevent resuspension of sediments in the MS4;
vii. Auto repair and maintenance;
viii. Building repair and maintenance;
ix. Landscape maintenance;
x. Hazardous waste handling;
xi. Solid and food waste handling;
xii. Application of pesticides;
xiiiv. Non-stormwater discharge permitted under another NPDES permit; provided, that the
discharge is in full compliance with all requirements of the permit, waiver, or other applicable
requirements and regulations.
AGENDA ITEM #3. a)
vi. Other non-stormwater discharges. The discharges shall be in compliance with the
requirements of a pollution prevention plan reviewed by the City/Administrator or designee, which
addresses control of such discharges.
d. A person does not violate this subsection J if:
i. That person has properly designed, constructed, implemented and is maintaining BMPs as
required by this Chapter and Section, but contaminants continue to enter surface and stormwater
and underground water;
ii. That person can demonstrate that there are no additional contaminants in discharges from the
site above the background conditions of water entering the site;
iii. The discharge is a result of an emergency response activity or other action that must be
undertaken immediately or within a time too short to allow full compliance with this Chapter or
Section in order to avoid an imminent threat to public health or safety. The Administrator by public
rule may specify actions that qualify for this exemption in City procedures. A person undertaking
emergency response activities shall take steps to assure that the discharges resulting from such
activities are minimized. In addition, this person shall evaluate BMPs to restrict recurrence.
e. Any person who knowingly allows or permits any prohibited discharges, as set forth in this
subsection J or the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Manual, through illicit connections, dumping,
spills, improper maintenance of BMPs or other discharges, that allow contaminants to enter surface
and stormwater or groundwater, shall be in violation of this Section.
2. Prohibition of Illicit Connections: The construction, use, maintenance or continued existence of any
connection identified by the Administrator, that may convey any pollution or contaminants or anything not
composed entirely of surface water and stormwater, directly into the MS4, is prohibited, including without
limitation, existing illicit connections regardless of whether the connection was permissible under law or
practices applicable or prevailing at the time of connection. (Ord. 5676, 12-3-2012)
3. Remedy:
a. The person and/or property owner responsible for an illicit connection and/or illicit discharge shall
initiate and complete all actions necessary to remedy the effects of such connection or discharge at
no cost to the City.
b. If the person responsible for an illicit connection or illicit discharge and/or the owner of the property
on which the illicit connection or illicit discharge has occurred fails to address the illicit connection or
AGENDA ITEM #3. a)
illicit discharge in a timely manner, the Administrator shall have the authority to implement removal or
remedial actions following lawful entry upon the property. Such actions may include, but not be limited
to: installation of monitoring wells; collection and laboratory testing of water, soil, and waste samples;
cleanup and disposal of the illicit discharge, and remediation of soil and/or groundwater. The property
owner and/or other person responsible for the release of an illicit discharge shall be responsible for
any costs incurred by the Public Works Department or its authorized agents in the conduct of such
remedial actions and shall be responsible for City expenses incurred due to the illicit connection or
illicit discharge, including but not limited to removal and/or remedial actions in accordance with RMC
1-3-3.
c. Compliance with this subsection shall be achieved through the implementation and maintenance of
best management practices (BMPs) described in the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Manual. The
Administrator shall initially rely on education and informational assistance to gain compliance with this
subsection, unless the Administrator determines a violation poses a hazard to public health, safety, or
welfare, endangers any property and/or other property owned or maintained by the City, and
therefore should be addressed through immediate penalties. The Administrator may demand
immediate cessation of illicit discharges and assess penalties for violations that are an imminent or
substantial danger to the health or welfare of persons or danger to the environment. (Ord. 5676, 12-3-
2012; Ord. 5749, 1-12-2015)
4. Elimination of Illicit Connection and/or Illicit Discharge:
a. Notice of Violation: Whenever the Administrator finds that a person has violated a prohibition or
failed to meet a requirement of this Section, he or she may order compliance by written notice of
violation to the property owner and/or responsible person, by first class and certified mail with return
receipt requested. Such notice may require without limitation:
i. The performance of monitoring, analyses, and reporting by the violator;
ii. The elimination of illicit connections or discharges;
iii. That violating discharges, practices, or operations shall immediately cease and desist;
iv. The abatement or remediation of stormwater pollution or contamination hazards and the
restoration of any affected property; and
v. The implementation of source control or treatment BMPs. Any person responsible for a
property or premises which is, or may be, the source of an illicit discharge, may be required to
AGENDA ITEM #3. a)
implement, at said person’s expense, additional structural and nonstructural BMPs to prevent the
further discharge of pollutants to the municipal separate storm sewer system and/or waters of the
State. These BMPs shall be part of a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPP) as necessary
for compliance with requirements of the NPDES permit.
b. Requirement to Eliminate Illicit Connection: The Administrator shall send a written notice, sent
by first class and certified mail with return receipt requested, to the property owner and/or the person
responsible for the illicit connection, informing the property owner or person responsible for an illicit
connection to the MS4 that the connection must be terminated by a specified date.
c. Requirement to Eliminate Illicit Discharges: The Administrator shall send a written notice, sent
by first class and certified mail with return receipt requested to the property owner and/or the person
responsible for the illicit discharge, informing the property owner or person responsible for an illicit
discharge to the MS4, whether it be surface water and/or groundwater, that the discharge must be
terminated by a specified date.
d. Sample and Analysis: When the Administrator has reason to believe that an illicit connection is
resulting in an illicit discharge, the Administrator may sample and analyze the discharge and recover
the cost of such sampling and analysis from the property owner or person responsible for such illicit
connection or discharge pursuant to RMC 1-3-3, as now or as hereafter may be amended, and
require the person permitting or maintaining the illicit connection and/or discharge to conduct ongoing
monitoring at that person’s expense.
e. Right of Appeal from Administrative Decision: Any person aggrieved by an administrative
decision of the Administrator may appeal such decision pursuant to RMC 4-8-110.
f. Any illicit connection and/or illicit discharge as set forth in this Section or the Stormwater Pollution
Prevention Manual is hereby declared to be a nuisance pursuant to RMC 1-3-3, and as defined in
RMC 1-3-3B19. (Ord. 5676, 12-3-2012)
5. Reporting Requirements:
a. In the event of an illicit discharge or spill of hazardous material into the stormwater drainage
system or waters of the City, State of Washington or United States, said person with knowledge
thereof shall immediately notify the emergency dispatch services (911).
AGENDA ITEM #3. a)
b. In the event of an illicit discharge of nonhazardous material into the stormwater drainage system or
waters of the City, State of Washington or United States, said person with knowledge thereof shall
immediately notify the Public Works Department by phone at 425-430-7400, or in person.
6. Record Retention Required: All persons subject to the provisions of this Section shall retain and
preserve for no less than five (5) years any records, books, documents, memoranda, reports,
correspondence, and any and all summaries relating to operation, maintenance, monitoring, sampling,
remedial actions and chemical analysis made by or on behalf of a person in connection with any illicit
connection or illicit discharge. All records which pertain to matters which are the subject of administrative
or any other enforcement or litigation activities brought by the City pursuant to this Code shall be retained
and preserved by the person until all enforcement activities have concluded and all periods of limitation
with respect to any and all appeals have expired. (Ord. 5526, 2-1-2010; Ord. 5749, 1-12-2015; Ord. 5828,
12-12-2016)
AGENDA ITEM #3. a)
Page 1 of 2
CITY OF RENTON
Community and Economic Development Department
Supervised Injection Facilities
Staff: Paul Hintz
Date: September 20, 2017
Requestor: City Council
______________________________________________________________________________
General Description: On August 14, 2017, the Renton City Council adopted Resolution 4317,
which expressed their opposition to supervised injection facilities within the City of Renton and
its Potential Annexation Areas. The proposed ordinance to amend Title IV would result in the
prohibition of such facilities through the City’s zoning regulations.
Background: The King County Board of Health voted unanimously in January to endorse the
Heroin and Prescription Opiate Addiction Task Force Final Report and Recommendations calling
on local and state actors to implement the public health policies outlined in the report,
including the establishment of at least two pilot safe injection facilities, for supervised injection
of heroin and other illegal drugs. The King County Board of Health has recommended one of the
supervised injection facilities to be within Seattle and another outside of its boundaries.
Staff Recommendation: Amend code to prohibit supervised injection facilities via Title IV
zoning regulations.
Impact Analysis
Effect on rate of growth, development, and conversion of land as envisioned in the Plan
None
Effect on the City’s capacity to provide adequate public facilities
None
Effect on the rate of population and employment growth
None
Whether Plan objectives are being met as specified or remain valid and desirable
Not applicable
Effect on general land values or housing costs
None
AGENDA ITEM #4. a)
Supervised Injection Facilities Page 2 of 2 September 20, 2017
Whether capital improvements or expenditures are being made or completed as expected
Not applicable
Consistency with GMA and Countywide Planning Policies
Not applicable
Effect on critical areas and natural resource lands
None
AGENDA ITEM #4. a)