HomeMy WebLinkAboutD_Reconsideration Ltr_200728_v1
July 30, 2020
Imad Abu-Alya
Barakah LLC
1616 NE 30th Street
Renton, WA 98056
SUBJECT: Request for Reconsideration – Arco Sign Variance (LUA20-000125, VAR)
Dear Mr. Abu-Alya:
We received your timely request for reconsideration of the Variance decision related to the height of
the proposed Electronic Message Board sign at the Arco fuel station. Your request for reconsideration
asked that we review our decision to partially deny your request to allow for an Electronic Message
Board (LED) sign and 31 foot tall pole sign at 1616 NE 30th St. As a reminder, the LED portion of the
sign variance was approved, and installation of this type of sign would be per mitted as long as the
new sign is compliant with the City’s sign code (RMC 4-4-100).
In the reconsideration you identified that a 31 foot tall pole sign is needed to allow for patrons to see
the price sign due to the presence of the Kennedale Neighborhood Sign located near your property.
The Kennedale Neighborhood Sign is not a City of Renton sign, and could potent ly be re-located to
allow visibility to your price sign. Alternatively, a new location for the price sign could be utilized to
ensure that it is not blocked from view due to the Kennedale Neighborhood Sign. Therefore, staff has
determined that the presence of the Kennedale Neighborhood sign is not a special circumstance
related to the properties size, shape, and topography; therefore the strict application of the Zoning
Code would not deprive the owner of the ability to have a visible price sign. In addition, you state that
a previous permitting mistake that allows for a different gas station to utilize LED signs on a pole sign
(approximately x feet tall) automatically gives you the right to the same type of sign. Although
mistakes such as these are unfortunate, the accidental approval of a sign permit in the past does not
exempt current or future applications from the sign code requirements in effect at the time of review
and as such, was not factored into the variance decision issued for your proposal.
Upon reconsideration and for the reasons noted above, the City affirms the Variance Decision and
Denies the Request for Reconsideration to approve the height variance request.
This decision to reconsider the original Variance Decision is subject to a 14-day appeal period. Due to
Governor Jay Inslee’s Proclamation 20-25 (“Stay Home, Stay Healthy”), the City Clerk’s Office is
Imad Abu-Alya
Page 2 of 2
July 30, 2020
working remotely. For that reason, appeals must be submitted electronically to the City Clerk at
cityclerk@rentonwa.gov. The appeal fee, normally due at the time an appeal is submitted, will be
collected at a future date. 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. If the situation changes such that the City Clerk’s Office is open when you
file your appeal, you have the option of filing the appeal in person.
Sincerely,
Alex Morganroth
Senior Planner
cc: Jennifer Henning, Acting CED Administrator
Vanessa Dolbee, Acting Planning Director