HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanet 12.14.20From: Joshua Janet <joshuamjanet@gmail.com>
To: Council <Council@Rentonwa.gov>
Bcc: eprince@rentonwa.gov
Date: 2020-12-14 15:36
Subject: Vote No on Ordinance 5996
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I am writing you as a resident of Renton and urge you to consider significantly revising or rejecting Ordinance
5996 with regard to the Emergency Ordinance Interim Zoning Controls - Homeless Shelters. There are
legitimate questions about long-term support of the Red Lion as a shelter facility to be discussed, but the city
is focusing on this as a zoning/location issue, which it is not. Further, the emergency ordinance focusing on
placement would make significant harmful, lasting impacts to the zoning of the City of Renton for years to
come.
I am also writing you as a non-profit affordable housing developer. I have firsthand understanding of both the
development process as a whole and the specific development of shelters and permanent supportive housing
facilities. Insurmountable hurdles are unnecessarily being written into the Renton Code, making future
construction of shelters nearly impossible within the City limits. I want to be a proud Renton resident, but the
Ordinance as written further reinforces systemic inequities for those less privileged.
The most desirable locations for shelters are those located near services, including public transportation,
medical, groceries, and support programs. Any public dollars that go to the development of new facilities,
whether they come from the Housing Trust Fund, the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program, or any federal
HUD program, require this. The Red Lion Hotel not only meets these requirements currently, but is set up to
be located across the street from a major transit center within the not-so-distant future. Forcing shelter
services “south of I-405” either puts shelters in residential neighborhoods that will include the most vocal
opponents, or industrial neighborhoods, which not only will provide minimal to no services, but will subject
those members of our community with the greatest needs to potentially the worst environmental conditions.
This Ordinance effectively would
n Prevent non-profits interested in building a shelter in the city of Renton from obtaining public
funding for it;
n Create the most obstacles for shelter residents to access critical services; and
n Potentially expose already vulnerable individuals to harmful chemicals and toxins.
The city is also considering approval for the new construction of 270 multifamily housing units less than a
quarter mile away, at the abandoned Roxy Cinema. This complex would provide 54 affordable housing units.
Why would this density be considered a reasonable use within a commercial zone but a shelter with less
residents would not be? Because the location is not the issue.
The issue can be better articulated as a need for greater support services if the Red Lion Hotel is to continue
operating as a shelter. The Red Lion Hotel is currently being used to house homeless individuals with a wide
variety of needs. Some of these individuals might be better served in a permanent supportive housing facility
with 24-hour case management services. The city has a number of options to consider how to address this:
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n Work with the shelter operator to see if there are units available in other permanent supportive
housing facilities for some of the current residents with the greatest needs.
n Work with public funding sources at the county, state, and federal levels and with the shelter
operator to source additional monies to help staff the Red Lion with additional case management
services in the interim.
n Work with public funding sources at the county, state, and federal levels to cover the additional
expenses incurred by emergency management services responding to Red Lion emergencies in the
interim.
n Establish a neighborhood group willing to meet as an intermediary between the Shelter Operator
and the neighbors at large, similar to the Low Income Housing Institute’s “Community Advisory
Committees” for each of its Tiny House Villages.
n Work with local landowners (including religious institutions), the county, and any state agencies
that own property in Renton to identify a location for a future permanent supportive housing facility that
is not in an industrial zone.
n Work with King County on a temporary or mobile safe injection site to mitigate the disposal of
hazardous waste materials on properties surrounding the Red Lion Hotel.
It is understandable that the city was not prepared for the sudden placement of the shelter at the Red Lion
Hotel. However, the notion that King County and the shelter operator should have coordinated for permitting
with the city of Renton first is unfair. Most planning departments were already beginning to furlough staff when
the pandemic started and expecting planning departments to move quickly on an issue that, for health,
welfare, and safety purposes, required moving quickly to save lives, is unreasonable. There are many ways
that the city can address the circumstances now, but this Ordinance is not the answer.
Please consider less extreme measures that would impact future homeless service providers’ ability to provide
services to those who need it most. The permanent implications of such an over-reaching measure would
make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for future shelters to be developed in the City of Renton.
The proclamation signed earlier this year in October acknowledges the community benefit to affordable
housing – shelters are the first step in such facilities and are a part of the overall support umbrella. To
implement such revisions to the zoning code would counter the intentions set forth by the signed Affordable
Housing proclamation.
Whereas, everyone benefits from affordable housing, including the people who reside in these
properties, their neighbors, businesses, employers, and the community as a whole;
Whereas, the need for affordable homes across King County prior to the COVID-19 pandemic
and the number of people experiencing homelessness had remained at crisis levels; and
Whereas, people, organizations, and communities throughout King County are participating in
local Affordable Housing Week to elevate the critical need to preserve and increase affordable
housing in our communities; and
Whereas, the City of Renton endorses the goals, objectives, and purposes of Affordable
Housing Week, and recommits itself to ensuring that our community recovers equitable from
the crises at hand, and that all people live with dignity in safe, healthy, and affordable homes;
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Please consider voting against the proposed ordinance as-is and re-examine the permanent implications of
such an act.
Best regards,
Joshua Janet, PE
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