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Denis Law Mayor
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City Clerk-Jason A.Seth,CMC
June 15, 2017
Jamie Schroeder
CPH Consultants
11431 Willows Rd NE, 120
Redmond, WA 98052
Subject: City's Response to Order on Reconsideration
RE: Meadow Vue Preliminary Plat, LUA-17-000106
Dear Mr. Schroeder:
Attached is the City of Renton's Response to Order on Reconsideration.
If you have any further questions, you can email Jason Seth, City Clerk, at (425) 430-
6510 or jseth@rentonwa.gov.
Sincerely,
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Jason A. Seth, CMC
City Clerk
cc: Hearing Examiner
Alex Morganroth,Associate Planner
Jennifer Henning, Planning Director
Vanessa Dolbee, Current Planning Manager
Clark Close,Senior Planner
Brianne Bannwarth, Development Engineering Manager
Craig Burnell, Building Official
Jennifer Cisneros,Secretary, Planning Division
Julia Medzegian,City Council Liaison
Parties of Record(16)
1055 South Grady Way,Renton,WA 98057 • (425)430-6510/Fax (425)430-6516 • rentonwa.gov
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Denis Law Mayor
Community & Economic Development �
C.E. "Chip"Vincent, Administrator
Hearing Examiner
c/o City Clerk Office
1055 S Grady Way, Renton,WA 98057
Renton, WA 98407
Subject: CITY RESPONSE TO ORDER ON RECONSIDERATION
MeadowVue Preliminary Plat, LUA14-000106
Dear Ms. Hearing Examiner,
In response to your Order on Reconsideration transmitted to the City on June 8th, 2017,we request that
the following comments be entered into the record for the MeadowVue Preliminary Plat(LUA17-
000106).
The City of Renton is amenable to the applicant's request for reconsideration of the language in
Condition 4 of the MeadowVue Preliminary Plat decision issued on May 23, 2017. However,the code
section referenced on line 2 of the revised condition is incorrect. Instead of"RMC 4-4-070(6)(c),the
section referenced should be "RMC 4-4-070(H)(6)(c)". In addition, we disagree with the applicant's
interpretation of RMC 4-4-070 and RMC 4-7-080.The applicant included the following statement in their
reconsideration request with regards to the process and decision-making authority for deviations from
code-required landscaping:
"That decision may be made at any time during the subdivision review process, i.e. including during site-
specific engineering. From a practical standpoint,that is logical and reasonable as the site engineering
and construction plan process involves the final and detailed landscaping plans. It maybe that there is
good reason to deviate from the 15 foot presumption upon final engineering".
The language implies that site-specific and detailed engineering occurs as part of the subdivision review
process and therefore allows for possible significant changes to the landscape plans approved as part of
the preliminary plat decision. However,the construction plan review process and related site-specific
engineering is not considered a part of the subdivision process as outlined in RMC 4-7-080"Detailed
Procedures for Subdivisions".Therefore,the applicant's suggestion that changes to the landscape plan
during the construction review process occurs as part of the subdivision review process is not accurate.
We believe this distinction is important to note, as significant changes to the landscaping plan (such as a
buffer reduction or perimeter landscaping reduction)approved as part of the preliminary plat should
not happen outside of the subdivision review process as outlined in RMC 4-7-080. Deviations from the
originally approved landscape plan such as buffer reductions can have a significant impact on neighbors.
Variation from the prescriptive standards should be considered during the public process to allow for
consideration and comment by affected parties. In addition,the proposed striking of the language
"fifteen foot(15')"from the
1055 South Grady Way,Renton,WA 98057•rentonwa.gov
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Denis Law Mayor
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condition does not change the minimum width of the required storm tract landscape buffer, as Section
RMC 4-4-070(H)(6)(c) explicitly requires a fifteen foot(15')wide buffer around storm drainage facilities.
In conclusion,the City does not take issue with the amended condition language (aside from the
incorrect code section reference),as these changes do not change the process in which a buffer
reduction can be approved,they simply reflect the code as it exists today. Please contact me at(425)
430-7219 ifyou have any questions.
Sincerely,
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Alex Morganroth
Associate Planner
cc: Vanessa Dolbee, Current Planning Manager
Cindy Moya, City Clerk Specialist
1055 South GradyWay,Renton,WA 98057•rentonwa.gov