PREP SPORTS | Football, volleyball, soccer, cross-country, tennis and more. [10, 15]
.com
REPORTER Builders oppose city’s interim zoning plans
NEWSLINE: 425.255.3484
FOUNDED 1995
RENTON
Top Chef | Award-winning chef and ‘Iron Chef’ contestant Wayne Johnson is bringing his talents to Renton. [ Page 3]
FRIDAY, SEPT. 26, 2014
Prostitution sting nets four men
BY BRIAN BECKLEY bbeckley@rentonreporter.com
The City Council on Monday passed a series of interim zoning changes that will, at least temporarily, reduce the maximum number of homes per acre from eight to six in many of the city’s residential zones. The interim zoning changes were approved 5-1, with only Greg Taylor opposing the measure (Councilwoman Terri Briere was absent) and go into effect immediately, over the objections of the Master Builders’ Association who said the move will reduce the value of developable land and limit the options of both landowners and developers. Under the interim zoning measures, the city’s R-8 zones, which allow a maximum density of eight homes per acre, have been rezoned a new R-6 zone. In addition, new regulations in South Renton will limit all new construction to 30 feet in height and a 53-acre property near Carr and Talbot Roads pres-
Operation part of city’s ongoing efforts against human trafficking BY DEAN A. RADFORD dradford@rentonreporter.com
A harvest of fall colors There’s a change in the air and in the produce at the Renton Farmers Market, which will open for the last time this season on Tuesday. TRACEY COMPTON, Renton Reporter
[ more ZONING page 8 ]
Four men were arrested Sept. 18 at a Renton hotel for patronizing a prostitute in the Renton Police Department’s ongoing fight against human trafficking in the city. The sting was part of a larger operation in King County. The four arrests were made during a roughly four-hour period. The men were responding to an ad in the personals. Those arrested were an Auburn man, 39, a Kent man, 36, and two Renton men, ages 34 and 46. One of the Renton men brought a bottle of red wine to share with his date; the Auburn man brought marijuana. [ more STING page 9 ]
Kids get to weigh in at third meeting on Sunset Park design BY TRACEY COMPTON tcompton@rentonreporter.com
Your Residential Specialists
206-949-1696 info@MarcieMaxwell.com www.MarcieMaxwell.com
1122403
Highlands residents hear about features of a new neighborhood park that’s being planned there. TRACEY COMPTON, Renton Reporter
For the first time ever, kids weighed-in on what they thought belongs at a new park being planned in the Renton Highlands. “There’s a meeting for a playground and it’s all adults; it’s like how do you know what the kids are gonna want?” said Madeline Bufort, 11. Bufort spoke during Tuesday night’s third and final community meeting on the Sunset Neighborhood Park Master Plan at McKnight Middle School, which also featured great reviews for what the City of Renton, landscape architect HBB and engineer CH2MHILL have come up with so far. Bufort thought the plans for the park are really
cool and she’s excited to see it built. She is hoping that city officials decide to move the turtle statue that currently sits outside the old Highlands Library to the new location once it’s built. The library borders the park on the southeast corner. “I thought the plans were really cool and I couldn’t wait to play,” said her younger sister Sara. “I think Madeline’s ideas are really great and I love the way they decided things and got other ideas from other parks.” Sara’s hoping for a spinning toy at the new park. Overall the feedback from the community members in the room was very positive. This iteration of the master plan features a main access spine through the park along Harrington Avenue, a boulder feature [ more PARK page 11 ]