The LUPB (Land Use and Planning Board) will hold a hearing on Monday,  July 26th at 7:00 p.m. in Kent City Council Chambers, 220 4th Avenue South, Kent, WA.   You may submit public comment prior to or at the Hearing.  You will be given opportunity to speak before the Board.

This meeting is in direct response to the height restriction docket submitted by Michael Johnson and other members of our neighborhood requesting that the City of Kent change current building codes to require a height restriction when adjacent to single family residential zones. Currently, there is no height restrictions on the City of Kent codes for the Downtown Commercial Enterprise zoning which is adjacent to our neighborhood and our homes. This means that it is possible for a developer to come in and build a 20+ story building right next to homes adjacent or abutting this DCE zone. This scenario brings up key issues for our neighborhood and its residents:

• view protection,
• restricting or mixing of land uses
• solar access impacts of tall buildings
• and establishing an appropriate scale of development depending on proximity to single family residential neighborhoods.

Please make sure to come to the City of Council meeting to show your support and concern for this important issue that faces our neighborhood. The developers will definitely be there! Make sure your voice is heard and not controlled by developers who aren’t residents of this area who’s main concern is their financial investment! Your home probably one of the biggest financial investments you’ll make – so this neighborhood is your investment too.

The Full Packet will be available for download from the City of Kent’s Website at:
http://kentwa.iqm2.com/citizens/Default.aspx?DepartmentID=1004 .

Packet 1

Packet 2

What do the developers have to say?

A developer who owns some property in the potentially affected area, Daniel Daoura (daniel@daoura.com) wrote a several letters to the Planning Division and complained about retaining the rights of the DCE property owners and the protection of the future financial benefits of their investment. In one letter, he states: “I am only protecting my investments and interest. The single family residence owners have nothing to lose, a building construction adjoining the is inevitable and has been for 20 years!! DCE property owners on the other hand have a lot to loose in monetary and time invested into their investment properties.”

We have nothing to lose? That is a ridiculous and condescending assertion. I am certain that for most people, buying a home is the single largest and most important financial investment of their life. Not only do we invest in our homes but we are investing in the community in which live. Many of our homes are over 100 years old and many of the residents are third and fourth generations of the people who built Kent and invested in Kent when it was not much more than flooded fields. We raise our kids in Kent, send them to Kent Schools, buy and use services and goods sold by local Kent businesses, pay taxes, invest OUR time and money in this neighborhood, this community and this city.

• Without protecting and preserving the integrity of our neighborhood and positive qualities, we are at risk for losing a lot of value from our homes. Who would buy a tiny house facing a giant brick wall?
• Buildings out of proportion to our residential neighborhood will deter future families from investing and buying into our neighborhood and encourage current families to move away.
• Don’t let a developer tell YOU what you have or don’t have to lose!

Edward Kosnoski, a long-time Kent resident (since 1970), business-person and developer, wrote: “I think … creating too many restrictions will hamper grown. Most of the houses in the lower Kent area are very old and limiting heights to preserve some form of view is not very progressive. Bellevue had some residential holdouts living along side 30 story buildings for years. That is their right to live in those areas. Most of the houses in the valley area are not worth much.”

Do you like people telling you that your house isn’t worth much? That our neighborhood doesn’t have value? Not everything new is good and not everything old is without value. Our homes were built by the business owners and town leaders who played important roles in the growth and development of Kent. Our homes represent the rich heritage of an industrious community. Local artists like Danny Pierce and Dan Klennert chose our neighborhood as home. So many of our residents are active members of our community have invested their time, efforts, and money in order to make our community a better place. Don’t let a developer belittle the value of your home and your contributions and determine the fate of your neighborhood and community!

Video of the meeting can be viewed at: http://kentwa.iqm2.com/citizens/Default.aspx?DepartmentID=1004

See below for images for the Johnson Proposal:

Photos by the City of Kent Planning Division – created with Google Sketchup.