The city of Renton is seeking feedback from the community on how to best introduce small stores into neighborhoods.

Renton Senior Planner Katie Buchl-Morales said the city is in the information gathering phase of creating an ordinance to allow small-scale commercial uses in residential areas where they historically have not been allowed.

“This might look like a coffee shop, or a small restaurant, an eatery/cafe with some limited food options,” Buchl-Morales said. “It could also be a corner store.”

Buchl-Morales said they have seen previously proposed state legislative bills to make cities allow retail in residential areas not be passed, such as HB 2252 and HB 1175. However, she anticipates a bill will pass in the future.

“If we have something in place in advance of that, then we may be

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