Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Residents and a developer press commission on EV-ready multifamily rules and rezoning for school-adjacent site
Summary
During public comment, resident David Morton urged the commission to require EV-capable wiring and retrofits for multifamily housing and right-to-charge policies; Ben Baron, representing Columbia Pacific Advisors, requested a modest exception to allow residential uses in Business Park zones adjacent to Lake Washington School District property.
Two public-comment items at the Oct. 23 meeting focused on EV charging readiness and a rezoning request adjacent to school-owned property.
David Morton, identifying himself as a Redmond resident, urged the commission to ensure new multifamily construction and retrofits are future-ready for electric vehicle charging. "Require that 100% of parking spaces are at least EV capable," Morton said, recommending electrical panels sized for circuits, conduit to each space and performance requirements to allow flexible solutions such as load sharing; he also urged incentive programs for retrofits in existing multifamily buildings and right-to-charge policies to simplify approvals.
Ben Baron, development manager for Columbia Pacific Advisors, spoke about a split-zoned parcel at 6901 88th Avenue NE that abuts a Lake Washington School District-owned property and a planned multifamily development. He asked the commission to consider a modest adjustment to proposed code changes that would otherwise prohibit residential uses in Business Park (BP) zoning, arguing that allowing residential uses on and adjacent to school-district parcels could enable ‘‘complete neighborhoods.’’
What staff said: Commissioners were directed to the public record (a Sept. 24 comment letter referenced by Baron) and staff confirmed public comment was recorded and will be reflected in the issues matrix and upcoming public-hearing materials.
Ending: Neither comment produced an immediate decision; both items were entered into the commission’s matrix of follow-ups and will inform code drafting and TMP or zoning discussions going forward.
