HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnergize Eastside hearingFrom:Sara A. Leverette
To:Leslie Clark
Cc:Erin L. Anderson; "Luebbe, Lorna"
Subject:Energize Eastside hearing
Date:Monday, December 02, 2019 10:37:37 AM
Leslie,
I hope this email finds you well and that you enjoyed your Thanksgiving weekend.
Jill let the PSE team know that Don Marsh requested both a prehearing conference and to delay the
hearing on PSE's CUP application for the Energize Eastside project (see email chain below). As is
appropriate, the City's current scheduling of the CUP hearing is consistent with a regular application
of the City's code. Although PSE understands that CENSE opposes the Energize Eastside project, this
permit application should be treated like any other CUP application processed in Renton. The City
has undertaken a multi-year, rigorous permit review and is ready to issue a decision. Similarly, PSE
has spent years building a strong permit record and is ready to present our case for CUP approval at
hearing.
CENSE's stated basis for delaying the hearing and for requiring a prehearing conference is refuted by
years of access they have had to the CUP record and asks for a different process than what is laid out
in the City's code, which prejudicially impacts PSE. CENSE and their attorney has had full access to
PSE's Renton CUP application for more than two years and so has had ample time to prepare for a
hearing. There can be no credible claim of surprise. We also understand that CENSE’s attorney is
available on the hearing day.
Moreover, PSE proposes a transmission line upgrade in an existing transmission line corridor. PSE
does not ask for a change in land use and the application of the City's CUP criteria to this project is
relatively straight forward especially when compared to the many additional technical code criteria
found in Bellevue. Bellevue has CUP criteria directed at project need and consideration of
alternative routes and technologies that does not exist in Renton's code and thus there is little basis
to think that the Bellevue hearing will bear any resemblance to a proceeding in Renton. As such,
there is no reason to define a different hearing timeline (in excess of what the City's code provides)
or CUP review process.
Renton has undertaken a rigorous review of PSE's CUP application and PSE has worked diligently
over the last set of years to get to hearing. Our out of state experts have also made travel plans in
reliance on the December 17 dates. We respectfully request that the City maintain the current
hearing schedule.
Erin and I will be reaching out to you today to discuss this issue further.
Kind regards,
Sara Leverette and Erin Anderson
On behalf of PSE