HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-14-2014 (2). r
PCDC 7114114 5
N.B. communal ss Campbell
Submitted by: R
Shao Xia Zhu
Gary Kiefer
RECEIVED
12720 SE 318'h Way
Auburn, WA 98092
JUN 10 2014
June 09, 2014
GiTY OF AUBURN
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
Re: Response to public comment letters
Dear Hearing Examiner,
Below is the response to Mr. Russ Campbell, letter dated 6/6/2014.
Yes, we used SFR on the CUP application form, because renting to individuals (unrelated) or a single
family (related) are both recognized under Federal and /or State Statutes. Before ordinance #6477 went
to effect, we were renting to students under the definition of "family", which is a group of eight or
fewer residents who are not related by blood or marriage customarily living together as a single house
unit ... all these definitions you can find from Ordinance #6477, on page 5 — 6, Section 3. Section 4.
Section 5, Section 6. The Amendment to city code, title 18.03.330(Dwelling), 18.04.340(dwelling types
of), 18.04.360(family), yes, some parts are strike through on Ordinance #6477, but we are talking about
before the ordinance went to effect.
We have carefully read each comment letter from our neighbors, and understand their concerns. As a
homeowner living in this same community we have many of the same concerns about student safety,
noise issues, garbage and trash issues. That is the reason we applied for the CUP. and agree with the
City's conditions.
Lastly, we would like to share a comment letter from Robert Kent DeWitt, dated June 17`", 2013.
Sincerely,
Shao Xia Zhu
Gary Kiefer
Attachment B
From:
To:
subject: FW: Follow Up Item From May 21st Community Meeting at Green River Community College
Date: Monday, June 17, 201312:47:32 PM
From: Robert Kent DeWitt [maiito:kent.dewltt@gmall.com]
Sent: Monday, June 17, 2013 11:11 AM
To: Jeff Tate
Subject: Re: Follow Up Item From May 21st Community Meeting at Green River Community College
Good morning Mr. Tate,
Sorry for not get this done earlier.
A little about me first:
1 am Robert Kent DeWitt, retired fire chief and former Asst. State Fire Marshal. I have a
Bachelors degree in Fire Command Administration but, more importantly, I have an AA
degree in Real Estate, which gives me some perspective on the issues related to residential
real estate here in my community.
I have a home in the Rainier Ridge development on Leah Hill. I purchased it about 10 years
ago, close to GRCC so my daughter could attend. I started renting rooms out to other
students while she was here so that she wouldn't be alone if I was off traveling (which I do a
lot of as I am retired).
I have continued to rent rooms to students because I am gone more than I am here and it
keeps the home occupied, which protects my property rather than being vacant and
uninsurable. I have had many international students over the years .... some from Hong Kong,
mainland China, Taiwan, Viet Nam, Indonesia, Korea, California (?), and a few others that I
can't recall at the moment.
My house is a 4 bedroom rambler and I usually rent two rooms but have rented all of them on
occasion, depending on my plans for being here or not. I have also had ongoing maid service
to clean common areas as the students aren't big on cleaning other's messes. My yard is
professionally maintained as well. This protects my investment and keeps the neighbors
happy too.
I am familiar with various codes and have even been responsible for certain programs like
weed abatement requirements for maintenance of residential property. I am also aware of
building codes and requirements for habitable spaces. Both of these areas are generally
already in existing codes enforced by cities.
As a foreign traveler, I have visited over 23 countries around the world, many of them 3rd
world. Many cultures do not share the luxury of having a private bedroom for each person. In
my experience, the norm would be a shared room, sometimes entire families sharing one
sleeping room. I certainly do not advocate that but it is important to note what is relevant to
others.
I recently attended an informational meeting at GRCC where issues of concern to neighbors
were discussed. Some of my neighbors seemed upset and, perhaps a little racist, as to their
concerns about students living in their midst. They talked about cars being parked and about
speeding cars as well. The few times I have seen speeders here, they were not students but
others who live here. I was ahnost hit once when I pulled onto 318th Way from 126th by a
car doing about 40. I made a hand signal for him to slow down and he came racing back to
ask what I was complaining about. I told him the speed limit was 25 and be insisted it was 35
though he was doing about 40+. I digress!
I think that as a responsible homeowner (landlord ?) living here that I have the right to rent
out individual rooms to students. I am filling part of a huge need for housing. The
neighborhood is evolving as it does in every other college neighborhood. There are already
sufficient rules and codes dealing with yard maintenance (nuisance abatement), garages being
converted to living space (building code and fire codes), on street parking, speeding, etc. We
DO NOT need more rules, just enforcement of those already in existence.
The tricky part of the issue is probably in the area of number of occupants to occupy a
bedroom. For the sake of my property, I usually limit one person to each of the regular
bedrooms. However, I have in the past rented a room to a student with a baby, who shared
the same bedroom. I have also rented out the master bedroom to a couple (married but what
difference ?). In this day and age of marriage for same sex couples and for same sex couples
to live together as a couple, how in the world do you expect to regulate that and why would
you want to?
From a truly pragmatic point of view, I think it is the home owner who should decide how
many people he rents his property to, not the government. Government can and should
regulate that the property be maintained in a clean and safe manner. As a homeowner, I know
that the wear and tear on a property is significantly increased when the number of people in
residence increases. But that is my problem, not the city's problem.
So regulate and enforce rules about smoke detectors, emergency lights, yard maintenance,
parking regulations (don't block driveways, etc.). But we do not need government telling us
how many people can be in our homes. Common sense and economic conditions will dictate
this. If my neighbors are truly concerned, then they should realize that their properties' value
is determined by their highest and best use, and that that use is changing. GRCC is growing
as is the entire world. Things have changed in this neighborhood and given the proximity to
GRCC, it is going to become more reliant on the availability as a student housing option.
The campus apartments currently charge about $700 per student to live in a 4 bedroom
apartment. My home is only a couple blocks away and I charge $550. Theoretically I could
bring in $2,200 per month if I didn't maintain space for myself. That leaves a lot of room for
maintenance and management as well as potential profit. There are waiting lists for the
apartments and I have never had problems with renting out rooms, usually renting to kids
who are friends of the ones who are graduating and moving on. Homes such as mine are
necessary for the college to function as an international school.
As an added note, I declare the income I receive by renting out rooms. Someone at the school
once told me that there was an IRS ruling that said I didn't have to claim it as income. That
didn't seem to make sense so I continue to claim on my taxes. If others are not, then perhaps
there is a need to evaluate this "exclusion" as a means of controlling the potential growth of
rentals here in this neighborhood. But if my neighbors think that they can regulate room
rentals out of existence, then they should rethink their goals and realize that the economics of
it will dictate that this is no longer a simple neighborhood that will remain a cluster of
families living in isolation. The best use of the homes in this neighborhood is for auxiliary
student housing and that will be the future. Investors are going to buy our homes, not young
families. The values will be higher as a result and that should bode well for the existing
owners too.
I am sorry that I can not be there on the 18th. I will be visiting friends in Port Angeles and
then spending a few days in Oregon. However, I am willing to attend future meetings to
answer any questions you may have of me (subject to my travels of course) and you may also
feel free to call me at as well on my cell phone: (I would prefer to not publish
my phone number in case my thoughts might provo e o ers to harass me though I would
gladly defend my opinions publicly at any time.
Thank you for the opportunity to be considered on this issue.
Robert Kent DeWitt
On Tue, Jun 4, 2013 at 11:24 AM, Jeff Tate < > wrote:
Mr. Dewitt,
I apologize that the scheduling change creates a conflict. Written comments would be very
helpful. Perhaps we can schedule a phone call as well so that we can go over your comments
in advance of the June 18th meeting? That way, I can do the best job I can to present them to
the Planning Commission. Additionally, this first action is limited to revising the definition
of family so that we don't have a gap in our code that allows up to 8 non - family members to
live together as a single housekeeping unit. Removing this language will help code
enforcement take action on properties that are loaded with renters who have no relation to
each other. I hope that you see this as a good first step for the City to take while we discuss
the next steps /actions.
I would be happy to make myself available for a phone call in the next two weeks, however I
think it would be most productive if you prepared your comments first so that I have a chance
to read them and we can have a little deeper conversation about how to get you plugged in
and to make sure you are able to influence the process.
Jeff Tate
From: Robert Kent DeWitt [mailto: ]
Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2013 8:47 AM
To: Jeff Tate
Subject: Re: Follow Up Item From May 21st Community Meeting at Green River
Community College
Jeff, I am disappointed that the meeting was changed. I had planned to be there tonight but
will be in Port Angeles on the 18th. I will try to put some of my concerns in writing and
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