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Residents urge pause on Logan 6 and Renton High expansion permits, cite neighborhood impacts and eminent-domain concerns
Summary
Several Renton residents used public comment to press the council to require project adjustments, ask for clearer definitions and pause permitting for the Logan 6 development and the Renton High School expansion, saying the actions threaten housing, small businesses and neighborhood streets.
Multiple residents told the Renton City Council on March 3 they remain concerned about two local development projects and urged stronger city action, clearer code definitions and a halt to permit approvals until those concerns are addressed.
Matt Hamby and Cheryl Fries asked the council to acknowledge alleged departures from the City Center plan and to clarify ambiguous code language they say allows undesirable outcomes. Hamby asked the council to require Logan Avenue be used for driveway access on the Logan 6 project to avoid pushing traffic through adjacent residential streets and asked the council to revisit parking requirements for projects that propose little or no off-street parking.
"We—re pressing you, we—re asking for things," Matt Hamby said during public comment, adding that he will continue to appear before the council until construction permits are issued. Cheryl Fries said project language is ambiguous and that ambiguity should be resolved in favor of neighborhood protection.
Sarah Becker and Meredith Farmer spoke about the Renton High School expansion and the use of eminent domain to acquire homes and businesses for a proposed ball field and related facilities. Becker said property owners and businesses in a small downtown neighborhood will be displaced, and that the city and school district have not offered sufficient collaboration to preserve housing and nearby businesses.
"We—re losing that beautiful opportunity to have a Chihuly... glass studio right in Renton," Becker said, referencing an arts business she said would be displaced by the project. Meredith Farmer asked the council for regular, consistent updates on the status of the park-and-school property and sought an explanation of why demolition and property acquisitions proceed while housing stock remains scarce.
Speakers asked the council to use existing planning protections to preserve neighborhood edges and to require clearer transition standards where higher-intensity zones meet single-family neighborhoods. They also urged the council to insist on project access and parking designs that minimize cut-through traffic.
Ending: Residents said they would continue to pursue meetings with council members and the mayor and seek clearer local standards before permits proceed; they asked the council to provide a clear timetable for any city action on the projects.
