OPINION: Third Update, 9/17. During their September 15 meeting, the City Council voted on amendments to an ordinance updating the land use designations for Manufacturing Parks (MP) and Business Parks (BP). Council generally likes to separate residential, business, and manufacturing zones from each other.
A second related ordinance was considered that would allow additional uses to MP for medical diagnostics and short term treatment facilities. Vache' proposed keeping medical diagnostics businesses exclusively in the Bear Creek neighborhood. The Council majority voted with Mr. Vache' (5 -1) since a similar use was already present in the neighborhood and concentrating diagnostics in one MP neighborhood was preferred.
Councilmember David Carson shepherded prior study sessions on MP/BP. At that time three other businesses requested zoning use amendments, as follows: Black Raven Brewery, Pomegranate Bistro and Watson Asphalt It was decided during study sessions that a Public Hearing was necessary.
Restaurants:
During the Hearing, the owner of Black Raven Brewery complained of losing more than 7-10% revenues from the MP requirement for 10pm closing. He asked for an amendment to extend his hours to 11pm. Ms Lisa Dupar, of the Pomegranate Bistro asked for extended hours to 12 Midnight. Ms. Dupar stated that even her neighbors have requested longer hours e.g. fitness, Xerox, Yoga, a digital store, and especially Microsoft employees. Council was tied 3-3 on the vote. The Mayor is not allowed to break the tie for ordinances, Thus, by procedure, the amendment "died and no decision was made.
COMMENT: I believe the Black Raven and Pomegranate should be allowed to extend their hours and stay where they are. Yes, the "City Plan" calls to concentrate restaurants in the Downtown area, to limit competition to the downtown. But, as Margeson stated, these two businesses "are here". I'm also concerned about the scarcity of parking downtown especially,with all the new apartments and Business Park services opening up. The city needs to work through procedural barriers to give these businesses a complete opportunity to be heard.
Recycling:
Watson Asphalt abuts Evans Creek and recycles asphalt. They provide much of the asphalt Redmond Public Works uses to build city roads. A Watson spokesman asked that all recycling uses
in SE Redmond be approved for industrial parks (IP) zoning in the 2484 ordinance. Cole sponsored the amendment. Council passed Watson's request 6-0, to approve the amendment allowing SE Redmond Industries to recycle in their IP neighborhood zone.
COMMENT: All Wood Recycling (AWR) is another recycling business on the banks of Evans Creek of the SE Redmond. Besides wood, AWR recycles concrete and who knows what else. In my hikes and bushwacking into the marshlands and riparian wetlands east of and abutting AWR, I've observed piles of concrete debris (recycled concrete?) pushing into the eastern riparian wetlands and canals. (They call it flood control). The Redmond Department of Natural Resources aparently knows all about the concrete spillage and uncovered asphalt deposits and sees no harm.
(A website for Watson Asphalt, Redmond, WA. could not be found on Internet searches.)
Black Raven Brewery Pomegranate Bistro All Wood Recycling - list of products they recycle
Requests for Comment:
Do you think recycling of concrete and oil-based waste should be permitted adjacent to the banks of salmon-bearing riparian streams and wetlands near underground water supplies? Well, that's the way it's been done for 30 years. Can't change it now. Watson's spokesperson says asphalt is 100% recyclable. However, very large asphalt hill-sized deposits are exposed uncovered for months and probably years. Judy Jewell, a R.I.C.E. member with interest in furthering SE Redmond industrial interests has been writing Council by letter, as is ususal during environmentally sensitive issues.
Black Raven Brewery and Pomegranate Bistro are at least 500 feet away from residential areas. Do think that's far enough away from homes (~ two football fields) to allow extended hours to till 11 or 12 midnight? If so, and because a Decision was not made, do you think the Hearing should be appealed?
Redmond documents used by the C.O.R. during amendment discussions of Ordinance 2483 and 2484
by Bob Yoder
Long time Redmond High School stadium announcer and district technology whiz Sean Valley, and former Western Washington Viking, Shelton High School All-League and King Bowl Championship receiver Scott River will provide play by play and color commentary.
Second update, 9/19: I met Councilmember Hank Margeson at the "Leadership Eastside" breakfast meeting this morning and he was aware of my struggle to understand the Council Committees' purpose of voting. Margeson (left) Chairs the Planning and Public Works Committee. He said he uses the Committee vote mostly to "give direction" to staff. Hank Myers (right) touches on this in the below letter he just emailed. 
