Kenmore planning commission advances neighborhood-retail review after survey finds broad support

Kenmore’s Planning Commission continued its discussion of a proposed neighborhood-retail code on May 5, as staff presented early survey results showing broad resident interest in small-scale retail and commissioners debated where and how to allow such uses in residential areas.

Planner Britney told the commission the city’s April survey has yielded 173 responses so far and that “76% of respondents support living closer to neighborhood retail,” with the top preferred categories being eating and drinking, specialty shops and neighborhood markets. Staff recommended creating a new land-use definition for neighborhood-scale commercial, limiting hours (staff suggested a 6 a.m.–10 p.m. baseline), capping individual businesses at about 2,500 square feet (or 30% of net buildable area) with building clusters up to 3,600 square feet, and prohibiting industrial and drive-through uses.

The presentation and commissioners’ subsequent discussion focused on three location options staff will present to the public at upcoming open houses: allowing a short list of neighborhood-serving uses across all…