Neighbors oppose Thirtieth Street rezone; owner and staff say reclassification would align land use

Sumner City Council heard more than a dozen residents oppose a proposed rezone of Parcel A on Thirtieth Street Court East during a public hearing on Nov. 3.

Krishanda Walker, associate planner, told the council the applicant seeks to reclassify the roughly 3.3-acre site from low-density residential to light industrial to align zoning with nearby uses and to resolve a map inconsistency. Walker said staff reviewed the request under the mandatory comprehensive-plan amendment criteria, conducted a SEPA review, and that the planning commission recommended denial, citing concerns about neighborhood compatibility and traffic; staff presented three alternatives in its analysis.

Opponents described personal and neighborhood impacts. Chet Bates, whose property borders the site, said the parcel “holds water” and that blackberries hide standing water, and warned that a warehouse “50 feet from my property line” would damage the neighborhood’s character and property values. Linda Ridley said Lot A is bordered largely by residential uses and criticized a civil-engineer letter from the applicant that she described as a threat to route residential access through neighborhood streets if the rezone is denied. Several speakers said existing nearby industrial uses create nighttime generator noise and light.

Josh Kumar, a co-owner of the Thirtieth Street parcel, spoke in favor of the rezone. He said rezoning to light industrial would “align with existing land use while creating local jobs and supporting the city's tax base,” and that because he and his partners also own the adjacent southern parcel they can design shared access onto 30 Second Street to keep truck traffic off 140th Avenue and 20 Ninth Street. Kumar said the council is not voting on a specific development tonight — only on the map change — and that alternatives, including a 64-unit townhome option under state housing code, could generate more daily vehicle trips.

Other residents urged the council to preserve low-density zoning, describing multigenerational ties to the neighborhood and concerns about noise, truck traffic and reduced privacy. Several speakers asked for stronger buffering and different development standards to protect adjacent homes.

The hearing record includes written comments and a staff packet that, Walker said, documents public concerns and staff responses. Mayor Kathy Hayden closed the hearing at 6:47 p.m. Council did not vote on the amendment that night; staff said follow-up questions can be asked at an upcoming study session before final action scheduled for Nov. 24.

What happens next: The council will take up the comprehensive-plan amendment again at a study session and is scheduled to consider action at a Nov. 24 meeting.