HomeMy WebLinkAboutERC_Report_Fall_Grouping_20171009DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT
ERC MEETING DATE: October 9, 2017
Project Name: 2017 Fall Work Program Grouping
Owner: City of Renton
Applicant: City of Renton
Contact: Angie Mathias, Long Range Planning Manager; Paul Hintz, Senior Planner
File Number: LUA 17‐000662, ECF
Project Manager: Angie Mathias, Long Range Planning Manager
Project Summary: The applicant is requesting Environmental (SEPA) Review for new and revised
regulations/standards to authorize final plat authority approval by the
Administrator; clarify regulations and ensure consistency with State law
regarding group homes; clarify regulations regarding nonconforming structures,
uses, and sites; allow non‐substantive text amendments to code to be approved
by the City Attorney with concurrence of the Clerk; Administrative Code
Interpretation (listed below) codification. Also, codification of the Resolution
not allowing Supervised Injection Facilities in the City. These regulations would
be citywide.
Project Location: Citywide
Exist. Bldg. Area SF: N/A Proposed New Bldg. Area (footprint):
Proposed New Bldg. Area (gross):
N/A
N/A
Site Area: N/A Total Building Area GSF: N/A
STAFF
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff Recommends that the Environmental Review Committee issue a
Determination of Non‐Significance (DNS).
PART ONE: PROJECT DESCRIPTION / BACKGROUND
Final Plat Authority. The proposed code amendments, enabled by SB 5674, will allow the
Administrator of the Public Works Department to approve final plats after receiving a
recommendation of approval by staff of the Department of Community and Economic
Development, which will eliminate unnecessary delays for developers and reduce City costs.
Group Homes. Amendments to ensure Code it is clear and consistent with regard to the different
types of group homes, and as to what distinguishes one group home use from another. The
different types of group homes include: Group Home I, Group Home II, Adult Family Homes, and
Congregate Residence. Additionally, amendments to ensure Code is not in conflict with recent
court decisions regarding group homes.
Nonconforming Development Standards. Clarify regulations regarding nonconforming structures
and uses. Establish standards for nonconforming sites.
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Environmental Review Committee Report
2017 FALL WORK PROGRAM GROUPING LUA 17‐000662, ECF
Report of October 9, 2017 Page 2 of 4
ERC Report 17‐000662
Text Amendment Exemptions. Allow an exemption for procedural and administrative code
amendments, from the standard process. The proposed exemption would allow ordinances, limited
to the scope of procedural and administrative amendments, to be advanced for Council approval
after approval of the City Attorney and concurrence of the City Clerk.
Administrative Code Interpretations.
CI‐108 – Lot Types and Measurements: Corrected discrepancies associated with lot type and
the method of measuring their dimensions.
CI‐109 – Assisted Living Footnote Cleanup: Corrected Conditions applied to the Zoning Use
Table, specifically those related to the Assisted Living Facilities and bonus density
provisions.
CI‐110 – RESCINDED
CI‐111 – Residential Front Yard Setback Averaging: Eliminated a provision that allowed a
reduced front yard setback based on the average front yard setback of adjacent properties.
The provision was removed because averaging allowed consideration of nonconforming
front yard setbacks.
CI‐112 – Exemption Valuation for New Construction or Additions: Increases the value of
construction threshold that triggers right of way improvements from $50,000 to $150,000.
The previous amount was adopted in 1995. The value was increased to adjust for inflation
and the increase in construction costs since 1995.
CI‐113 – Extended Approval for Conditional Use Permits: Allows the period of validity for a
CUP to be extended beyond the standard two year time frame. Building permits, licenses or
land use permits required for the fulfillment of a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) must be
applied for within two years of the CUP approval. There are times when it’s practical to
extend this timeframe (e.g., for projects that are anticipated to be constructed in phases).
CI‐114 – RESCINDED
CI‐115 – Vehicle Storage in IM and IH Zones within the Valley: Corrects a Condition to the
Use Table by allowing, through a CUP, vehicle storage in the Medium‐Industrial (IM) and
Heavy‐Industrial (IH) zones within the valley (south of I‐405 and west of SR‐167).
CI‐116 – Definition of a Legal Lot: Clarifies the definition of a “legal lot” and “lot
combination,” and allows lots previously merged by the construction of a dwelling unit over
a common lot line to be segregated if the dwelling is removed, the lots in question were
legally created, and both lots meet the current lot area, lot width, and lot depth of the zone.
CI‐117 – On Hold
CI‐118 – Correcting Condition #29 & References within the Use Table: Corrects the
geographic limits of certain industrial uses by more accurately defining their geographic
bounds rather than using Comprehensive Plan Land Use Designations.
CI‐119 – Automall Uses, Street Frontage Landscaping Applicability, and Design District D
Exceptions: Expands the Automall Overlay to some land in the valley along East Valley Road.
The expansion carries with it the street frontage landscaping requirements and the design
standards of the original Automall Overlay.
CI‐120 – Interior Parking Lot Landscaping Requirements: Corrects the dimensional
requirements for interior parking lot landscape islands by sizing them to be equal to the
dimensions of a parking lot stall.
CI‐121 – Incorrect Code Reference in Lowest Floor Definition: Corrects a reference within
Title IV to another provision of Title IV regarding the definition of “lowest floor.”
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Environmental Review Committee Report
2017 FALL WORK PROGRAM GROUPING LUA 17‐000662, ECF
Report of October 9, 2017 Page 3 of 4
ERC Report 17‐000662
CI‐122 – Critical Areas Variances: Specifies what the special review criteria are for variances
in the critical area regulations for steep slopes and very high landslide hazards.
CI‐123 – Fee In‐Lieu for Replacement Trees: Provides an opportunity to pay a fee in‐lieu of
replanting for existing development when trees are removed without permission. The
option to pay a fee in‐lieu currently exists for new development that removes trees without
permission.
CI‐124 – Exception for Shared Driveways and Eligibility of Joint Use Driveways: Clarifies the
street frontage length required for properties fronting a public street and shared driveway,
increased the allowed length of shared driveways to mirror the roadway limitations for
dead‐end streets with emergency turnarounds, clarified which types of easements are
deducted from density calculations, and allow an alternative lot orientation to better
facilitate infill development within narrow yet deep lots.
CI‐125 – Unit Lot Subdivisions in the CV Zone: Extends the option to create Unit Lot
Subdivisions to the CV zone
CI‐126 – Helipads in the UC Zone: Clarifies the boundaries of the former UC‐N2 (generally
the Boeing Company’s property and Southport), wherein helipads is an allowed use subject
to a Conditional Use Permit.
PART TWO: ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
In compliance with RCW 43.21C.240, the following environmental (SEPA) review addresses only those
project impacts that are not adequately addressed under existing development standards and
environmental regulations.
A. Environmental Threshold Recommendation
Based on analysis of probable impacts from the proposal, staff recommends that the Responsible
Officials:
Issue a DNS with a 14‐day Appeal Period.
B. Mitigation Measures
None.
C. Exhibits
None.
D. Environmental Impacts
There are no environmental impacts that are anticipated to occur in conjunction with the proposal.
E. Comments of Reviewing Departments
The proposal will be circulated to City Department Division Reviewers and appropriate agencies.
All substantive comments will be provided to the Responsible Officials for their consideration and
possible recommendation that the comments be incorporated as “Advisory Notes to Applicant.”
Environmental Determination Appeal Process: Comments and Appeals of the environmental
determination must be filed in writing on or before 5:00 PM on October 27, 2017.
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Environmental Review Committee Report
2017 FALL WORK PROGRAM GROUPING LUA 17‐000662, ECF
Report of October 9, 2017 Page 4 of 4
ERC Report 17‐000662
Renton Municipal Code Section 4‐8‐110.B governs appeals to the Hearing Examiner. Appeals must be filed
in writing at the City Clerk’s office along with the required fee. Additional information regarding the
appeal process may be obtained from the City Clerk’s Office, Renton City Hall ‐ 7th Floor, 1055 S. Grady
Way, Renton WA 98057.