HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/16/2011 - Minutes
RENTON PLANNING COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes
November 16, 2011 Renton City Hall
6:00 p.m. Council Chambers
Planning Commissioners Present: Michael Chen, Michael Drollinger, Ray Giometti, Michael O’Halloran, Nancy
Osborn, Kevin Poole, Ed Prince, Martin Regge
Planning Commissioners Absent: Gwendolyn High
City Staff Present: Chip Vincent, Planning Director; Jennifer Henning, Current Planning Manager; Vanessa
Dolbee, Senior Planner; Angie Mathias, Senior Planner; Gerald Wasser, Associate Planner; Judith Subia,
Administrative Secretary
1. CALL TO ORDER: Commission Chair Prince called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL: Commission Secretary O’Halloran called roll. Commissioner High was absent and excused.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Minutes of October 19, 2011 and November 2, 2011 were approved as
written.
4. CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED: Letters from Victoria Leo, Susan Edwards, Chris Conkling of Sustainable
Renton, Barbara Mandic, Patti Miele, Andrea Dwyer of Seattle Tilth, Adam Lin, Dorothy Finley and Amanda
Liddle supporting the Staff Recommendation for #D‐68 Food System Sustainability.
5. AUDIENCE COMMENTS: None
6. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS: None
7. DIRECTOR’S REPORT:
On behalf of CED, Chip congratulated Chairman Prince as the newest member of Renton City Council.
He asked the Commission to spread the word about the upcoming vacancy. Applications can be found
on the City’s website. If prospective applicants have questions regarding the role of the Commission,
contact Chip.
Applications are being accepted for the City Center Community Planning Advisory Board. Applications
are also online. Questions regarding the Advisory Board, contact Angie.
The City has received a letter from DOE accepting the SMP. The Shoreline regulations will become
effective on November 24, 2011.
The Commission will hold a special meeting on November 28, 2011 to deliberate and make
recommendations for Docket #7.
The Planning & Development Committee would like to get together with the Commission before the end
of the year. Schedules were discussed and a meeting is tentatively set for November 28 at 5:30 p.m.
Staff will contact Commissioners if it does not work for the Committee.
Planning Commission Minutes
Page 2 of 2
November 16, 2011
8.DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS (TITLE IV) AMENDMENTS DOCKET #7 PUBLIC HEARING:
D‐68: Food System Sustainability
Angie presented this docket item. This item increases the number of opportunities Renton residents have to
obtain fresh food, especially fruits and vegetables. For bees, 3 hives would be allowed on lots at least 7,500
square feet, with conditions. Hives may also be allowed on lots 4,500 square feet with additional conditions.
Three small animals would be allowed on lots at least 4,500 square feet with one additional with 1,000
square feet. Residents can apply for an Additional Animals Permit regardless if minimum lot size is met,
except for extra large lot animals.
The definition of Agriculture would be amended, allowed in RC and R‐1 only, and conditions would be added
for accessory sales associated with agriculture. A new use, home agriculture, would be created. This allows
accessory sales of food grown on site.
The R‐14 and CN retail sales footnote states that it cannot exceed a maximum size, but no size is specified.
This amendment sets the size at 5,000 square feet. This footnote is amended to specify grocery stores.
Audience Comment
Shelby Smith (Renton) shared samples of honey cream and shared her experiences of owning bee hives.
Bees are quiet, fabulous, and well contained. She recommends allowing bees in the City.
Lenny Lee (Renton) concurs with the Staff recommendation. As he mentioned at a previous meeting, he
shared information regarding crop pollination. His apple and cherry trees have been fruitful due to the
pollination from the bees that are on his property. He also discussed colony collapse disorder and the green
movement.
Nicole Freutel (Renton) owns chickens and feels it is important for children to learn where their food comes
from. She encouraged the Commission to support the staff recommendation.
D‐66: R‐4 Setbacks
Jennifer presented this docket item. Staff proposes that an exception be provided for setback requirements
and increases the maximum impervious area to 75% for lots 5,000 square feet or less.
With no new information to present and no public to comment, the Commission decided not review the
presentations for the following docket items: D‐67: Rebuild Approval Permit , D‐69: Auto Repair and Sales,
D‐70: Right of Way Dedication Procedure Streamlining, D‐71: Miscellaneous Residential Standards, D‐73:
Site Plan Review, D‐74: Plat Revisions, D‐75: Shopping Carts, D‐77: Administrative Code Interpretations,
and D‐79: Conditional Use Permit Regulations.
The public record will remain open until 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23, 2011.
9. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS: The next Commission meeting will be on November 28, 2011.
10. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:41 p.m.
Ed Prince, Chair
Michael O’Halloran, Secretary