HomeMy WebLinkAboutC_Harwood Comments and City ResponseFrom: Jill Ding
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2021 8:08 AM
To: Marjorie Harwood; williams@jmmlaw.com; scott@wetlandresources.com;
caitlin.sinkey@gmail.com; e.eisemann@e2landuse.com
Cc: rasdo@live.com; ashado@outlook.com; Doug Harwood
Subject: RE: PR21- 000036 Asdourian House Remodel/ LUA21- 000025, SME, SSDP, V-
A, V-H.
Marjorie,
Thank you for your comments, your comments have been included in the official file for consideration
by the decision maker. You have also been added as a party of record for this project.
Thanks,
Jill Ding
Senior Planner
City of Renton
Community and Economic Development
6th floor
1055 S Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
425-430-6598
jding@rentonwa.gov
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From: Marjorie Harwood <mharwood@rlevansco.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2021 1:39 PM
To: Jill Ding <JDing@Rentonwa.gov>; williams@jmmlaw.com; scott@wetlandresources.com;
caitlin.sinkey@gmail.com; e.eisemann@e2landuse.com
Cc: rasdo@live.com; ashado@outlook.com; Doug Harwood <dough@rlevansco.com>
Subject: PR21- 000036 Asdourian House Remodel/ LUA21- 000025, SME, SSDP, V-A, V-H.
Hello,
I’m writing to show support of the Asdourian remodel project - PR21- 000036 Asdourian House
Remodel/ LUA21- 000025, SME, SSDP, V-A, V-H, the home at the end of our lane.
The Asdourian family moved in a few years ago and have been a fabulous addition to our tight-knit lane
of neighbors. It has been a joy to see their family grow and I completely understand their need to have a
home that will accommodate the kids as well as the new reality of having to work from home.
We have recently (in the past year) gone through some of the same hurdles the Asdourian’s have
endured to add a elevator at the front of our home. We were also required to have both a shoreline
exemption (even though we remained with in our current footprint) and a height variance (even though
we were under our current roof height for the addition). Both were approved.
Our home is likely the tallest home along the lane and well over the current 35’ maximum that is
currently code. We have absolutely no issue with the Asdourian’s home remodel plan and would
encourage you to grant them the 35’ maximum allowed. Space is tight on the lane and especially so for
them with having two sides of their property touching water and increased setbacks as a result. This
doesn’t seem fair.
I’m not aware of anyone along the lane or behind that would be unfairly injured or affected by allowing
the 35’ maximum. Views look straight out towards the water for most on the lane. When walking near
the homes above our lane I have experienced no issues with views of the lake being obscured, except by
trees….even by our high peaked home. Lake Washington, Mercer Island and sunsets are still easily
viewed.
Renton favors single-family residential development along the shoreline and it would appear that the
Asdourian’s remodel plan is consistent with the intent of city policy. It would be unfair of the city to
discriminate or interfere with a property owner’s right if they are within the height restrictions. I do not
feel it is fair to allow one homeowner that consideration and not another indiscriminately. The height
variance does not appear to be a special privilege, but rather consistent to what is allowed in the City of
Renton’s building codes.
Honestly, I’m more concerned, as should those above the lane, with the trees that were planted recently
along the trail. While small now, they appear to be cedar trees that will likely grow far above 35’ in a few
years and are placed to closely together. How was that permitted without discussion? We had small
bushes hacked behind our lane that were not tall nor would they ever become so, but I digress. This
note is about the Asdourian’s remodel, of which we are in favor of and do hope the City does not
discriminate against them regarding the 35’ height variance, which their plans are within, and are willing
to accommodate the setbacks requested due to the unique property that they own.
Kind regards,
Marjorie & Doug Harwood
3713 Lk Wash Blvd N
Renton, WA 98056
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