Redmond Planning Commission Meeting and Sign Code Vote – May 14, 2026
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Redmond Planning Commission Meeting – May 14, 2026
The Redmond Planning Commission met on May 14, 2026, holding a study session on temporary non-commercial sign regulations, hearing public comment on water management, and voting on a staff recommendation. The raw transcript and agenda identify the meeting date as May 13, 2026, which conflicts with the official timestamp of May 14, 2026. All commissioners were present except Commissioner Copley (excused). The commission approved the agenda and prior meeting minutes, then voted to direct staff to prepare a revised sign code recommendation.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the meeting agenda unanimously.
- Approved the April 22, 2026 meeting minutes and April 29, 2026 workshop summary unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- David Morton (Redmond 98053) urged the commission to address nine gaps between Redmond's water management programs and the Redmond 2050 vision. He identified five critical gaps: no water reuse or recycled water program; limited graywater reuse policy; no adopted, funded, or publicly released stormwater and surface water systems plan; no formal one-water governance structure; and an outdated 2016 water shortage response plan lacking local triggers. He also cited threats to aquifer recharge areas, a 13-year-old watershed management plan, and the absence of a formal water conservation plan with binding demand reduction targets, expressing strong support for prioritizing integrated one-water governance.
Discussion Items
- Temporary Non-Commercial Sign Study Session: The commission worked through an issues matrix and closed several items, including wind/weather clutter, permit renewals, obscenity versus offensive content, excessive signs, hateful messages, and permitting process questions. Commissioner Gagnier recused herself from further discussion and voting on all sign items, citing professional changes.
- Median and Roundabout Restrictions: Commissioners Van Dyman, Parna, and Coleman voiced concerns about prohibiting signs in medians and roundabouts, calling it over-restrictive, overdesigned, and likely unenforceable. The commission agreed to remove this restriction.
- Permit Requirement: Commissioner Parna proposed striking the permit, fee, duration, and expired-permit sections, describing the process as overhead and a barrier to free speech. Staff explained that permits help identify sign owners, enforce compliance, and return signs. The commission supported removal.
- Removal and Disposal: The commission discussed periodic, pre-published sign sweeps. Staff noted that such sweeps are a work program item, not a land use regulation, and do not belong in the zoning code. The commission agreed to keep existing removal language and add a council recommendation for periodic right-of-way cleanup.
Key Outcomes
- The commission passed a motion (all in favor, one abstention, zero opposed) directing staff to prepare a recommendation for the next meeting that:
- Approves the temporary non-commercial sign code changes.
- Removes the permit requirement and associated fees.
- Removes the prohibition on signs in medians and roundabouts.
- Adds a recommendation to City Council to establish a public works right-of-way maintenance program for pre-published periodic sign removal.
- The commission will review the drafted recommendation at its next meeting.
- Staff announced a joint meeting with City Council on May 26, 2026, to discuss SB 6026 (residential uses in commercial and mixed-use zones) and a June 2, 2026 City Council public hearing on commercial drone ports. Staff also noted ongoing interviews for the youth advisory position.
Meeting Transcript
All right. Welcome to the May 13th, 2026 meeting of the Redmond Planning Commission. Like to call this meeting to order. We'll start with a roll call. Commissioner Parna. Present. Commissioner Coleman. Present. Commissioner Gagnier. Present. Commissioner Van Dyman. Present. Vice Chair Whittier. Present. And I am Chair Weston. Commissioner Copley is excused tonight. I'd like to thank the following staff for being present. Lauren Albert, Jeff Churchill, and Chris Wyatt. Look for a motion to approve the agenda. So moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. Great. And then any corrections to the meeting summary and meeting minutes from last time. All right. In that case, I look for a motion to approve the meeting minutes from April 22nd, 2026. And the workshop summary from April 29th, 2026. So moved. Second. All in favor? All right. Also approved. Yep, we sorted it out. All right. Now it's time for us to hear a public comment and items from the audience. Who do we have tonight? We have David M. Great. And as always, um, keep your comments to three minutes and start with your name and address, please. Good evening, Commissioners. I'm David Morton, Redmond 98053. I want to talk about the gaps between Redmond's current water management programs and the goals and vision of Redmond 2050. Redmond has genuine strengths to build on. Your critical aquifer recharge area protections are among the most rigorous in the state, backed by decades of groundwater monitoring. Will reflect a commitment to healthier streams and lakes for the entire community. But a review of Redmond's plans across five water domains, potable water, wastewater, stormwater, groundwater, and surface water, reveals nine significant gaps that deserve attention. Five of these are critical. First, Redmond has no water reuse or recycled water program, no framework to distribute reclaimed water for non-potable uses like irrigation or industrial cooling. Second, there is a limited graywater reuse policy, limited ways for dense new development in downtown or overlake to reuse sink and shower water on site.
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