Redmond Planning Commission Meeting – April 22, 2026

The Redmond Planning Commission met on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in a hybrid format at Redmond City Hall. The meeting included a public hearing on proposed zoning code amendments for temporary non-commercial signs, a briefing on the 2026–27 Comprehensive Plan Annual Docket, and public comments on senior housing preservation and PFAS contamination. Commissioners approved the agenda and the April 8 meeting summary. The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:20 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Agenda: Approved unanimously.
• Approval of Meeting Summary (April 8, 2026): Approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Linda Seltzer (Redmond resident, senior apartment complex on 80th Street): Urged the commission to delete or amend zoning code that incentivizes demolition of existing affordable senior apartments in neighborhood multifamily zones. She cited the trauma of relocation for elderly and disabled tenants and stated that relocation costs are approximately $10,000 per tenant in-state and $20,000 out-of-state. She argued preservation is the cheapest alternative.
• David Morton (Redmond 98053): Raised concerns about PFAS contamination at Redmond’s municipal wells 1 and 2. He submitted six questions regarding source investigation, sentinel well testing after the 2013 All Wood Recycling fire, Evans Creek predisturbance testing, coordination with DTG Recycle, rising PFOS trends, and the timeline for wellhead treatment. He requested formal responses from city staff and public disclosure.
• David Morton (during the sign public hearing): Acknowledged the city’s content-neutral approach as legally sound and supported the no-cost permit. However, he questioned enforcement accountability, indefinite 60-day permit renewals (asking for a content-neutral limit), enforcement of 48-inch pedestrian clearance, and the need for a multilingual outreach campaign before enforcement begins.

Discussion Items

• Temporary Non-Commercial Signs Public Hearing and Study Session: Senior Planner Lauren Alpert and Planning Manager Jeff Churchill presented an issues matrix. Key discussion points included:
  • Enforcement: Staff noted that enforcement procedures are being drafted; signs removed will be held for 30 days. Existing RMC Title One contains monetary penalties for repeat violators.
  • Permit Number Placement: The method (e.g., stickers) remains under consideration and will be in operating procedures, not the code.
  • Medians and Roundabouts: Public works opposes sign placement in medians/roundabouts. Commissioners split: some (e.g., Vice Chair Woodyear) raised concerns about the appearance of favoritism in enforcement; one commissioner (unidentified but likely Commissioner Parna or another) argued medians are often the only viable locations for signs in some neighborhoods and that banning them deprives voters of information. The issue was left open pending city attorney input.
  • Permit Renewal: Commissioners questioned the contradiction of “temporary” signs with indefinite renewal. The city attorney will provide guidance on permissible limits.
  • Periodic Cleanup Schedule: Commissioner Coleman proposed setting four fixed dates per year (e.g., after primary and general elections) for city-wide sign removal, independent of content. Several commissioners supported the idea.
  • Permit as Administrative Barrier: Commissioner Parna and Chair Weston strongly opposed the permit system, calling it an unnecessary burden on free speech and city resources. They advocated focusing on sign size, safety, and accessibility, with periodic cleanup. Other commissioners expressed skepticism about the permit requirement.
  • The commission agreed to await the city attorney’s review and will continue discussion at a future meeting.
• 2026–27 Comprehensive Plan Annual Docket Briefing: Senior Planner Glenn Coil explained the annual docket process and listed city-initiated amendments (SOAM surface water plan, zoning consolidation, neighborhood planning, technical updates). A community member requested an amendment on affordable housing incentives and protection from displacement. Commissioners discussed whether to evaluate the proposal. Staff noted that anti-displacement policies already exist in Redmond 2050 and will be addressed in the upcoming Housing Action Plan. Commissioner Parna advocated revisiting during those plan updates. After a show of hands, the commission voted 4–2 to direct staff to analyze the community member’s proposal (item #1 – policy analysis; excluding item #2 on cost) for potential inclusion on the docket. The analysis will be presented at the May 27 study session.

Key Outcomes

• Sign Regulations: No formal decision. The commission will incorporate city attorney feedback in future deliberations. Verbal public testimony was closed; written comments remain open.
• Annual Docket: By a 4–2 vote, the commission instructed staff to evaluate the community’s proposed affordable housing/displacement amendment for the 2026–27 docket. Staff will bring a docket analysis to the May 27 study session. A public hearing on the final docket is scheduled for June 10, 2026, with a recommendation on June 24.
• Drone Ordinance Update: Staff announced that the city council passed an emergency interim ordinance (April 21) allowing commercial drone ports only in manufacturing park and industry zones, with final regulations to go through planning commission review (including stakeholder engagement, technical committee, public hearing) over the next year.
• Upcoming Annual Workshop: The commission will hold a workshop on April 29, 2026 (not broadcast, but open to the public) covering World Cup preparations, land use permit trends, neighborhood planning and community engagement, and commission norms.