Property owner asks Tumwater for explanation after business-license denial for Capitol Boulevard tenant

Susie Williams, representing a property owner on Capitol Boulevard, told the Tumwater City Council on Feb. 18 that a prospective tenant was denied an update to a business address and business license even though the property’s zoning allows retail use.

Why it matters: The denial is affecting a locally owned property that the owner said hosts small businesses; the speakers asked the council and city staff for a clear administrative explanation of the licensing process and the basis for the denial.

Susie Williams, who identified herself as the owner of Elevate Pacific Northwest Real Estate Company, said she represents Cindy Martin, who owns the Capitol Boulevard property. “The business that he is looking to do is a retail business and retail is zoned for that area,” Williams said during the public-comment period. Williams added that the tenant was denied when applying to update his business address and license and that she and the owner have been unable to find a clear explanation of the process that led to the denial.

Cindy Martin, the property owner, described earlier tenants at the site — a motorcycle repair shop, a dog groomer and locksmiths — and said she is trying to keep the property in local hands. “Getting a used-car person in there was so intriguing to me because there’s Millennium Auto Detail, which they can network together,” Martin said.

An attorney who identified herself as Ria Bunk told the council she would assist with follow-up on the scheduling process. “If it helps in any way to facilitate any of the process, I’ll follow-up with Susie on the process of getting this scheduled,” Bunk said.

A city staff member on the dais told the speakers they must schedule a meeting to pursue the issue and said, “I have your information. I can get back with you.” The council did not provide a reason for the denial during the public-comment period, and no administrative determination was read into the record.

What the speakers asked for: Williams asked the council for an explanation of why the application was denied and how to schedule the administrative meeting. The city staff response on the record was that staff would follow up and that a separate meeting was needed to discuss the matter; the council did not take action or direct staff to issue a ruling during the meeting.

Next steps: The speakers said they expected to pursue the issue through the scheduling process; a staff member acknowledged receipt of their contact information and said staff would follow up. No timeline was given during the Feb. 18 meeting.