The Renton City Council denied a proposed six-month moratorium on all development in response to community concerns on the Logan 6 development.

Thecouncil voted 5 to 1 to deny the moratorium proposed by Councilmember Kim-Khánh Văn at the Feb. 24 meeting.

Several Renton residents spoke at the meeting, continuing to express their disapproval for the Logan 6 development, a mixed-use development with a proposed 97 apartments and 6,200 square feet of retail space on Logan Avenue.

“I want to thank our community for coming to speak. The issue of Logan 6 has been a long process and it shouldn’t have been when our communities have spoken for over a year plus,” Văn said.

Văn first proposed a moratorium on the development on Logan Avenue N. from Cedar River to N. 6th Street until the council gets more information from the developers and the city staff. Mayor Armondo Pavone asked Patrice Kent from the city attorney’s office if the moratorium would be allowed, and she responded it would be considered “spot zoning.” Văn proposed two more moratoriums, which did not receive support from the other council members, before making a motion for a moratorium on developments in Renton for the next six months. Councilmember Carmen Rivera then seconded the motion “for sake of conversation.”

Văn said that since the pandemic, they have not had time as a council to reflect on all of their projects, and they need to take the time to look at the projects and ordinances passed under previous councils to adhere to the promise to the residents for the city to preserve the character of neighborhoods.

“I know we have done this many times where we have done that on other projects and, in general, I think it is important just to reflect as we move forward on new developments in our city,” Văn said.

In order to pass a moratorium, the city has to have it as an ordinance, and it would have public hearing requirements, Kent said.

Rivera said that moratoriums should not be used lightly.

“It can open up a city to a lot of risk and liability. What I will refer is that there have been other cities that have mismanaged this and they are now facing the consequences,” Rivera said. “I do not believe that this would be in the best interest of our city in terms of the liability and your tax dollars, which it would open us up to. We are also supposed to be good stewards of your tax dollars.”

Councilmember Ryan McIrvin said he does not support stopping all development while they are in the middle of a housing crisis.

“Whether or not this particular project is the appropriate place for that is certainly for us to decide, and I understand the intention of trying to help out in this one scenario, but I don’t think it makes sense, practically or pragmatically, to move forward with something that broad,” McIrvin said. “I would much rather discuss, perhaps in executive session with the counsel of our attorney, the legal risks of some of the implications of these before we charge ahead making motions.”

Councilmember Ed Prince said he met with residents on the Logan 6 issue and empathizes with residents’ concerns — and the fact the council has not been able to engage with the public.

“I mean no disrespect when I say this about the motion. This is a gimmick and we can’t operate a city this large, with over 100,000 people, with developments that impact all facets of our communities, on something like this,” Prince said.

Prince said he would vote no because of the impact a moratorium would have on the city.

“People can decide they want to go to other places to do their developments and that has an economic impact on the city,” Prince said.

Văn said she welcomes any amendments or additions if the motion is too broad.

“I think it’s front and center that we have a crisis in terms of our community and the developments that’s happening,” Văn said.

Council President James Alberson Jr. said a moratorium on all development projects in the city is not practical, whether it is for six months or three months.

“That is not something that you’d want to put on those who are waiting and looking for housing and things like that. From the economic standpoint, that approach has been done by cities, and maybe they were smaller than us, but it has bankrupted some cities from the subsequent lawsuits and things such as that,” Alberson said.

Alberson said a project like this normally would not have taken as long as it has taken, but it has taken that long because of trying to work with the North Renton neighborhood to figure out a way to do it.

After further discussion on why the council was unable to address some of the concerns of the residents, the motion for the moratorium was put to a vote. Councilmember Văn voted in favor while the other councilmembers voted opposed.