Residents lawyer up over Renton development

Logan 6 project would consist of retail/commercial space and 97 apartments.

A group of Renton residents have hired a lawyer to appeal the city’s decision on the proposed Logan 6 development.

Renton residents are fed up with the city, the mayor, and the city council and are taking their issues to court, Sheryl Friesz and Matt Hanbey said in their press release.

“We’ve tried to work with the city and our elected officials for more than eighteen months, including our city council members and mayor, but they played ostrich and dug their heads in the sand. So, we’re taking our issues to Superior Court,” Hanbey said.

Friesz and Hanbey said in the press release they raised enough money from Renton residents to retain legal representation in 12 hours. They have hired Bryan Telegin, a lawyer specializing in land use and environmental law, to file the appeal.

The proposed Logan 6 project is planned to span from 3rd Street to 4th Street along Logan Avenue and consist of 6,200 square feet of retail or commercial space on the ground floor as well as 97 apartments above. Renton Hearing Examiner Phil Olbrechts made his decision on the development on Logan Avenue on March 3, and agreed with the city staff’s recommendations that the project is compliant with the city’s development regulations and comprehensive plan if the conditions of approval are met.

At its Feb. 10 meeting, the Renton City Council made an amendment to no longer hear appeals on land use decisions..

“The fact we have to go straight to court is infuriating,” Friesz said. “The council removed itself from their role to hear our appeal and they did it the night before the hearing examiner’s scheduled hearing on this project. They denied us the chance to appeal. Moreover, they haven’t done a single thing to address our concerns. They initially hid behind the appeal process and now they’re hiding behind what we see as incompetence on their part.”

Renton Communications and Engagement Director Laura Pettitt said the city code as it existed did not allow City Council to intervene or change decisions.

“It required Council to affirm the Hearing Examiner’s decision without considering new evidence,” Pettitt said. “That non-substantive affirmation is all that was removed from the process, and it still would have been appealable to Superior Court. The removal of this provision keeps Renton aligned with the standard process other cities throughout Washington follow.”

Local residents have expressed their concerns since fall of 2022 on the size of the development, the lack of allocated parking, and the potential traffic problems from the entry and exit.

“The developer proposes a square peg in a round hole. The site is arguably too narrow. The access points are wrong and will drive traffic into and through our neighborhood. There isn’t enough parking on-site and no on-street parking is available. This proposed 100-unit building will create what is a 100-foot wall along an entire block on the edge of our neighborhood,” Hanbey said. “The development is completely out of character with our neighborhood, and should never have been an allowed use.”

Pettitt said city did receive an appeal of the Hearing Examiner’s decision under the state Land Use Petition Act, which is a state required process designed to provide for expedited review of land use decisions at the Superior Court level. She said while not common, these types of appeals are intended to be processed efficiently without undue costs for the parties involved.