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Home My WebLink AboutCI-139 h:\ced\planning\title iv\docket\administrative policy code interpretation\ci-139\code interpretation.docx Department of Community and Economic Development Planning Division ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY/CODE INTERPRETATION ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY/CODE INTERPRETATION #: CI-139 MUNICIPAL CODE SECTIONS: 4-2-060, Zoning Use Table – Uses Allowed in Zoning Designations; 4-2- 080, Conditions Associated with Zoning Use Tables; 4-4-080, Parking Loading and Driveway Regulations; 4-4-100, Sign Regulations; 4-11-020, Definitions B; 4-11-180, Definitions R; 4-11-230, Definitions W REFERENCE: N/A SUBJECT: Definition of Big-box Retail BACKGROUND: Currently, “big-box retail” is defined as “An indoor retail or wholesale use in a building no less than seventy five thousand (75,000) square feet of gross floor area and typically requires a high parking-to-building area ratio. Big-box retail buildings are typically single-story structures, with a mass that stands more than thirty feet (30') tall. Big-box retail/wholesale sales can include, but are not limited to, membership warehouse clubs that emphasize bulk sales, discount stores, and outlet stores. This definition excludes vehicle sales, outdoor retail sales, and adult retail uses.” Big-box retail was defined in order to distinguish it from “retail sales,” defined, in part, as: “Establishments within a permanent structure engaged in selling goods or merchandise to the general public for personal or household consumption and rendering services incidental to the sale of such goods.” While the definition of retail sales appropriately cites the type of goods sold (“for personal or household consumption”), big-box retail is distinguished by the physical characteristics of the building. DECISION: The definition of “big-box retail” will be renamed to “wholesale retail” and amended to address the type of consumers, the type of products sold, the display and storage of products, and nature of how products are delivered or retrieved from the building. CI-139 Page 2 of 5 JUSTIFICATION: Sale of wholesale or bulk products to contractors or other businesses can occur in buildings of any size and therefore the definition of “big-box retail” should be amended to be distinguished from general retail by factors that better address the nature of the business rather than a size threshold. ADMINISTRATOR APPROVAL: _______________________________________ C. E. “Chip” Vincent EFFECTIVE DATE: August 15, 2018 APPEAL PROCESS: To appeal this determination, a written appeal--accompanied by the required filing fee--must be filed with the City's Hearing Examiner (1055 South Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057, 425-430-6515) no more than 14 days from the date of this decision. Your submittal should explain the basis for the appeal. Section 4-8-110 of the Renton Municipal Code provides further information on the appeal process. DISCLAIMER: Excerpts from the Renton Municipal Code shown below may not contain the most recently codified text. In such instances, code amendments implemented through this Administrative Code Interpretation shall be construed to affect the current code and past/future Administrative Code Interpretations not yet codified in the same manner as shown below. Should any conflicts result the Administrator shall determine the effective code. CODE AMENDMENTS NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT DETERMINATIONS: 4-2-060 Zoning Use Table – Uses Allowed in Zoning Designations: See Attachment “A” 4-2-080 CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH ZONING USE TABLES: A. SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: 79. a. Wholesale retail Big-box uses shall function as an anchor to larger retail developments that are planned as part of an integrated and cohesive center. b. Wholesale retail Big-box use shall be connected to additional structures within a shopping center with supporting retail or service uses structures with common walls, or plazas, or other similar features, excluding pushcarts/kiosks. CI-139 Page 3 of 5 c. Buildings oriented along Park Avenue shall have one or more pedestrian entries on Park Avenue. 4-4-080 PARKING, LOADING AND DRIVEWAY REGULATIONS: F. PARKING LOT DESIGN STANDARDS: 10. Number of Parking Spaces Required. The specified land use shall provide parking spaces as shown in the table in subsection F10d of this Section, except as provided in this section: d. Parking Spaces Required Based on Land Use: Retail sales and wholesale big-box retail sales: A minimum and maximum of 2.5 per 1,000 square feet of net floor area, except wholesale big- box retail sales, which is allowed a maximum of 5.0 per 1,000 square feet of net floor area if shared and/or structured parking is provided. 4-4-100 SIGN REGULATIONS: E. SIZE, NUMBER AND HEIGHT OF PERMANENT SIGNS: 5. Additional Signs Permitted in Commercial and Industrial Zones: Except in the City Center Sign Regulation Area, subsection H of this Section, the following shall apply in all commercial and industrial zones: (Ord. 5578, 11-15-2010) e. Large Retail Uses: Property dedicated primarily to retail sales may install oversized signs as follows in lieu of signage permitted under subsections E5a, Business Signs – General, and E5d, Shopping Centers, of this Section. (Ord. 4577, 1-22-1996) i. Developments Over One Hundred Twenty Five Thousand (125,000) Square Feet: A commercial development with a single building of a minimum of one hundred twenty five thousand (125,000) square feet in floor area dedicated primarily to retail sales, provided all or part of the property is located within one thousand feet (1,000') of the right-of-way of Interstate Highway 405 or Highway 167, may install: CI-139 Page 4 of 5  Freestanding Signs: One freestanding sign per street frontage not to exceed an area greater than one and one-half (1-1/2) square feet for each linear foot of property frontage, up to a maximum of one hundred fifty (150) square feet per sign face and a maximum of three hundred (300) square feet including all sign faces; and  Optional Freestanding Sign: In lieu of one of the freestanding signs permitted above, for a property frontage with a minimum o f two hundred (200) linear feet, one freestanding sign not to exceed two hundred fifty (250) square feet per sign face and a maximum of five hundred (500) square feet including all sign faces, and not to exceed sixty feet (60') in height; and  Directional Sign: An additional directional sign may be permitted to locate within twenty feet (20') of a recorded access easement serving the subject property, provided the sign does not obscure sight distance. This sign shall not exceed thirty two (32) square feet per sign face and a maximum of sixty four (64) square feet including all sign faces. (Ord. 4577, 1-22-1996, Ord. 4649, 1-6-1997) ii. Wholesale Big Box Retail Uses with over Three Hundred Fifty Thousand (350,000) Square Feet of Total Building Area Located in the Employment Area: Wholesale Big box retail uses with over three hundred fifty thousand (350,000) square feet in total building area located in the Employment Area may install: 4-11-020 DEFINITIONS B: BIG-BOX RETAIL: See RETAIL, BIG-BOX. 4-11-180 DEFINITIONS R: RETAIL, WHOLESALE: RETAIL, BIG-BOX: An indoor retail establishment engaged in selling goods or merchandise to the general public as well as to other retailers, contractors, or businesses, and rendering services incidental to the sale of such goods, involving a high volume of sales of products in a warehouse setting, and may or wholesale use in a building no less than seventy five thousand (75,000) square feet of gross floor area and typically requires a high parking-to-building area ratio. Big-box retail buildings are typically single-story structures, with a mass that stands more than thirty feet (30') tall. Big-box retail/wholesale sales can CI-139 Page 5 of 5 include, but are not limited to, membership warehouse clubs that emphasize bulk sales, “big-box retail,” discount stores, and outlet stores. This definition excludes vehicle sales, outdoor retail sales, and adult retail uses. Wholesale retail is differentiated from general retail by any of the following characteristics: (1) Items for sale include large, categorized products, e.g., lumber, appliances, household furnishings, electrical and heating fixtures and supplies, wholesale and retail nursery stock, etc.; and may also include a variety of carry out goods (e.g., groceries, household, and personal care products); (2) A large inventory of goods and merchandise is stored on the subject site in high-ceiling warehouse areas, high-rack displays, and/or outdoor storage areas; and (3) High volume truck traffic, regular pick-up and delivery of large items, and a designated contractor pick-up area. RETAIL SALES: Establishments within a permanent structure engaged in selling goods or merchandise available for immediate purchase and removal from the premises by to the general public for personal or household consumption, and rendering services incidental to the sale of such goods. This definition includes multi-story retail use buildings greater than seventy five thousand (75,000) square feet that have a minimum of two (2) stories dedicated to retail sales. This definition also includes department stores, retail shops, grocery stores and large format retailers developing using a multi-story format. This definition excludes adult retail uses, vehicle sales, one-story big-boxwholesale retail, outdoor retail sales, eating and drinking establishments, and taverns. 4-11-230 DEFINITIONS W: WHOLESALE RETAIL: See “Retail, Wholesale” STAFF CONTACT: Paul Hintz, x7436 Attachment “A” USES: RESIDENTIAL ZONING DESIGNATIONS INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL ZONING DESIGNATIONS RC R-1 R-4 R-6 R-8 RMH R-10 R-14 RMF IL IM IH CN CV CA CD CO COR UC A. AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES Wholesale Big-box retail P P P P29 P79