HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM II-ADRAFT
PLANNING COMMISSION
FEBRURY 2, 1010
MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Judi Roland called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. in the Council Chambers
located on the first floor of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Auburn, WA.
Commission Members present were: Chair Judi Roland, Vice Chair Kevin Chapman,
Bob Baggett, Ron Copple, Peter Di Turi, Michael Hamilton, Joan Mason and Dave
Peace.
Staff present included: Interim Director Kevin Snyder, Environmental Protection Manager
Chris Andersen, Environmental Planner Jennifer Shih, Public Works Director Dennis
Dowdy and Planning Secretary Renee Tobias.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. November 4, 2009
A scrivener error was noted on the number of Commissioners who voted unanimously
on a motion; should read 7-0
Commissioner Peace moved and Commissioner Copple seconded to approve the
minutes from the November 4, 2009 meeting as amended.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 8-0
1,11. PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no public comments.
IV. PLANNING DEPARTMENT REPORT
Interim Director Kevin Snyder reported on recent staff changes and city-wide layoffs.
The Planning and Building Department is now officially referred to Planning &
Development Department. Development Staff from the Public Works Department were
incorporated into the department. The department is moving next week to the One Main
Building to the Customer Service Department and will be joined by Utilities and Public
Works/Engineering. Commission meetings will continue to be held in Council
Chambers.
Interim Director Snyder updated the Commission on significant projects. The One Main
Building and the Medical/Public parking garage have been completed. The City is
currently working with Green River Community College on a significant road
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 2, 1010
improvement, 124th Avenue Project. Staff is doing a development review for North
Creek Corporate Campus located west of West Valley off of 286th. This will be a large
business oriented development. Staff is processing a Conditional Use Permit application
for Puget Sound Energy, upgrading their transmission line on the West Hill substation.
The City will phase the completion of the Community Center over multiple years. If
adequately funded, the first phase would be the gymnasium with construction underway
2011.
V. PUBLIC HEARINGS
There were no items for public hearing.
VI. OTHER BUSINESS
A. Work Session - Amendments to Titles 16,17 and 18 of the Auburn City Code
for Update of Chapter 15.68 (Flood Hazard Areas).
Environmental Protection Manager Chris Andersen, Storm Drainage Engineer Tim
Carlaw and Assistant City Attorney Steve Gross presented an overview and briefly
utilized a PowerPoint presentation of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
requirements for local jurisdiction floodplain regulations. This is a result of the
National Marine Fisheries Service Biological Opinion (Bi-Op). This work session is in
preparation for a public hearing to be held by the Planning Commission on February
23, 2010.
On September 22, 2008, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued a
Biological Opinion (Bi-Op) as part of a court-ordered Endangered Species Act (ESA)
consultation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regarding
the on-going implementation of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The
Bi-Op concluded that the NFIP, as then conducted, jeopardized endangered species
and resulted in the adverse modification of habitat. As a result of the Bi-Op, FEMA
and communities participating in the NFIP are required to implement a series of
actions, including adoption of new or amended regulations to ensure future
compliance with the ESA.
Staff distributed a draft existing FEMA Flood Zone map and reviewed with the
Commission. FEMA is currently finalizing a model floodplain development ordinance
that the agency plans to release for public review and comment within the next two
weeks. Once finalized, the model ordinance will be distributed to local jurisdictions
for use in adopting local jurisdiction floodplain regulations that meet the minimum
requirements of the ESA (Bi-Op).
Key elements of the model ordinance are expected to include:
• tdentification of areas associated with 100-year floodplain to be regulated for
potential impacts to endangered species and critical habitat;
• Requirements for administration of floodplain development permits to ensure
ESA compliance; and
Page 3
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 2, 1010
• Habitat impact assessment and mitigation requirements for development
proposed in the floodplain.
Environmental Protection Manager Chris Andersen presented information regarding
the proposed approach for incorporating the Bi-Op requirements into the City's
floodplain regulations. Amendments to the Auburn City Code to address the new
requirements are anticipated to be in two general areas: 1) amendments to Chapter
15.68 ACC (Flood Hazard Areas) would establish new floodplain development and
permit processing requirements necessary to implement the Bi-Op; and 2)
amendments to Auburn City Code Titles 16 (Environment), 17 (Land Adjustments
and Divisions), and 18 (Zoning) would make supporting changes to sections of City
Code that interface with Chapter 15.68. The primary focus of the Commission in the
development of new City of Auburn floodplain regulations will be the proposed
amendments to Titles 16, 17, and 18.
Assistant City Attorney Steve Gross briefly reviewed the FEMA/NFIP requirements
and proposed sections of Auburn City Code to be amended for implementation of the
Bi-Op requirements. Staff responded to the Commissioners' questions.
The Commission will hold a public hearing on February 23, 2010 to receive
comments on the proposed amendments.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Planning Commission, Chair Roland
adjourned the meeting at 8:52 p.m.
Page 4