4-3-040 AUTOMALL DISTRICT:

A. PURPOSE:

These regulations establish development standards to implement the Renton Automall Improvement Plan by guiding the redevelopment of the Automall District.

(Ord. 5191, 12-12-2005; Ord. 5437, 12-8-2008; Ord. 5759, 6-22-2015)

B. Reserved.

(Ord. 5191, 12-12-2005; Ord. 5355, 2-25-2008; Ord. 5437, 12-8-2008; Ord. 5675, 12-3-2012; Ord. 5759, 6-22-2015)

C. USES PERMITTED IN THE RENTON AUTOMALL DISTRICT:

The following use provisions take precedence over the underlying zoning:

1. USES ALLOWED IN AREA A
Only the following uses are permitted within Automall Area A

2. USES ALLOWED IN AREAS B AND C

Within the CA Zone: Small vehicle sales;

Secondary uses including: Licensing bureaus, car rentals, public parking, and other uses determined by the Administrator to directly support dealerships;

Within the IM Zone: Small vehicle sales, and existing office;

Secondary uses including: Licensing bureaus, car rentals, public parking, off-site parking consistent with RMC 4-4-080E2 and other uses determined by the Administrator to directly support dealerships.

All uses permitted by the underlying zoning

D. DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR USES LOCATED WITHIN THE RENTON AUTOMALL – AREAS A, B AND C:

All permitted uses in Area A and all auto sales and related uses in Areas B and C of the Renton Automall shall comply with the following development standards:

 

ALL USES IN AREA A, DEALERSHIPS AND RELATED USES IN AREAS B AND C

SERVICE AREA ORIENTATION

Service areas shall not face public street frontage.

LANDSCAPING – STREET FRONTAGE LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS

for lots that abut Lind Avenue S.W., S.W. Grady Way, Talbot Road S. (SR-515), East Valley Road, or Rainier Avenue S.

A 15-foot-wide landscape strip along these street frontages. This frontage requirement is in lieu of the frontage requirement listed for the zone in chapter 4-2 RMC.

Unimproved portions of the right-of-way may be used in combination with abutting private property to meet the required 15-foot landscape strip width.

The landscaping shall include a minimum 30-inch-high berm and red maples (Acer rubrum), or other equivalent tree species required or approved by the Administrator on the City’s Approved Tree List per RMC 4-4-070L, planted 25 feet on center.

LANDSCAPING – MINIMUM AMOUNT AND LOCATION

Minimum 2.5% of the gross site area shall be provided as on-site landscaping. Landscaping shall be consolidated and located at site entries, building fronts, or other visually prominent locations as approved through the site plan development review process. Minimum landscaping may be reduced to 2% of the gross site area where bioretention, permeable paving, or other low impact development techniques consistent with the Surface Water Design Manual are integrated.

LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE AND TREE REMOVAL

All landscaping is subject to maintenance pursuant to RMC 4-4-070P.

WHEEL STOPS

If frontage landscaping is relocated, then permanent wheel stops or continuous curbs must be installed a minimum of 2.5 feet from sidewalks to prevent bumper overhang of sidewalks. Where these requirements differ from the requirements of the parking, loading and driveway regulations of chapter 4-4 RMC, these requirements shall govern.

CUSTOMER PARKING

Customer parking shall be designated and striped near entry drives and visible from public streets. Where possible, customer parking shall be combined with abutting dealership customer parking and shared access. Where these requirements differ from the requirements of the parking, loading and driveway regulations of chapter 4-4 RMC, these requirements shall govern.

AUTOMALL RIGHT-OF-WAY IMPROVEMENT PLAN COORDINATION

Development shall be coordinated with the adopted right-of-way improvement plan which addresses gateways, signage, landscaping, and shared access.

AUTOMALL IMPROVEMENT PLAN COMPLIANCE

All development shall coordinate with the Automall Improvement Plan adopted by Resolution No. 3457. The plan addresses potential street vacations, right-of-way improvements, area gateways, signage, landscaping, circulation, and shared access.

(Amd. Ord. 5355, 2-25-2008; Ord. 5676, 12-3-2012; Ord. 5828, 12-12-2016)

E. POTENTIAL WAIVER OF STREET VACATION FEES FOR DEALERSHIPS LOCATED WITHIN THE RENTON AUTOMALL AREA A:

All street vacation fees and compensation for the right-of-way may be waived by the Council for developing properties in Area A, provided:

1. The properties are designated to be vacated on the Automall Improvement Plan Map,

2. The application for street vacation conforms to RMC 9-14-10, Administrative Procedure for Right-of-Way Vacations, and

3. The uses proposed conform to subsection C of this Section. (Amd. Ord. 4749, 10-19-1998)

F. Reserved.

(Amd. Ord. 5331, 12-10-2007; Ord. 5437, 12-8-2008)

G. MAP OF AUTOMALL OVERLAY DISTRICTS:

The Automall Overlay is mapped in select ordinances amending this subsection and also identified in the City of Renton’s COR Maps, the City’s online interactive mapping application available through the City’s website. (Amd. Ord. 5355, 2-25-2008; Ord. 5675, 12-3-2012; Ord. 5759, 6-22-2015; Ord. 5867, 12-11-2017; Ord. 5979, 9-14-2020)