HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM III-APLANNING & COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
March 14, 2011
MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Lynn Norman called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. in Annex Conference Room
2 located on the second floor of One Main Building, 1 East Main Street, Auburn, WA.
Committee members present were: Chair Lynn Norman, Vice Chair Nancy Backus and
Member John Partridge.
Staff members present included: Mayor Pete Lewis, Director Kevin Snyder, Planning
Manager Elizabeth Chamberlain, Community Services Manager Michael Hursh, Parks &
Recreation Director Daryl Faber, Water Quality Program Coordinator Chris Thorn, Storm
Drainage Engineer Tim Carlaw, Economic Development Manager Doug Lein and
Planning & Development Secretary Tina Kriss.
Audience members present: Richard Weinman of Weinman Consulting and Robert
Whale of the Auburn Reporter.
II. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND AGENDA MODIFICATIONS
III. CONSENT AGENDA
A. February 28, 2011
Member Backus moved and Member Partridge seconded to approve the Consent
Agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 3-0
IV. ACTION
A. Ordinance No. 6341
Planning Director Snyder presented the staff report; Ordinance No. 6341 would allow
the voluntary deferral of the payment of water, sanitary sewer, and storm drainage
system development charges and fire impact fees, park impact fees, school impact
fees, and transportation impact fees. Please note that an applicant could always
choose to pay these fees at time of building permit issuance. As proposed this
deferral would be applicable to single-family residential development, multi-family
residential development, commercial retail and office development, light and heavy
manufacturing and institutional uses, but would not be applicable to distribution and
warehousing development.
Committee asked several questions for clarification of the ordinance. Staff and
Committee discussed the language of the ordinance. Committee requested staff
make two minor changes to the ordinance language for clarification.
Member Backus moved and Member Partridge seconded to forward Ordinance No.
6341 to full council for review and approval.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 3-0
Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes March 14, 2011
B. Downtown Urban Center Design Standards
Planning Manager Elizabeth Chamber provided the staff report for the Downtown
Urban Center Design Standards. An inquiry into the vacant Key Bank Building, at
Auburn Avenue and 1St Street NE, about establishing medical office at this location
was made. In reviewing the design standards, Auburn Avenue between East Main
Street and 1St Street NE is still designated a Pedestrian I street which does not
permit medical office uses. Based on previous discussions with DRC and PCDC,
Auburn Avenue is not envisioned to be retail/commercial focused corridor and
therefore could be a Pedestrian II street.
The proposed amendment to the Downtown Urban Center Design Standards has
been reviewed by PCDC and DRC. Both Committees expressed support for the
proposed amendment but made it very clear that intersections at Main Street are to
be retail/restaurant/commercial meeting the Pedestrian I Street design standards.
Committee and staff discussed this change and Committee asked staff to make sure
this requirement is noted in the minutes since it was not stated in the agenda bill.
Member Backus moved and Member Partridge seconded to move the Downtown
Urban Center Design Standards as amended.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 3-0
C. 2010 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) prior
to submission of report to HUD
Community Services Manager Michael Hursh provided the 2010 Consolidated
Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) to the Committee. Committee
asked Mr. Hursh details about the report; Committee and staff discussed the details.
Member Backus moved and Member Partridge seconded to forward the 2010
Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) to full City
Council.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 3-0
V. DISCUSSION and INFORMATION
A. Resolution No. 4679
Water Quality program Coordinator Chris Thorn and Storm Drainage Engineer Tim
Carlaw provided background information on Resolution No. 4679; this resolution
approves the updated Stormwater Management Program for implementation in the
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Western Washington Phase II
Municipal Stormwater Permit annual report for 2010 to the Washington State
Department of Ecology.
The City is required to submit an annual report for the National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System Western Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit; the
City is also required to provide a storm water management document. Committee
and staff discussed various activities of the storm department and how well the new
storm regulations work along with the details of the reports.
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes March 14, 2011
B. Potential Location (s) of Off Leash Dog Areas in Auburn Parks
Parks & Recreation Director Daryl Faber provided a map of the potential locations of
off leash dog areas in Auburn Parks. Committee and staff discussed various
locations within the City for potential off leash dog areas.
After reviewing five (5) options Committee recommended looking into the cost of
having three parks for now; Roegner Park, Isaac Evans Park, and Auburndale Park.
Committee also reviewed different fencing options; Committee liked the wood post
with wire mesh but was concerned about children climbing the fence and causing
damage along with safety issues.
Staff will continue working on this effort and research costs into the three locations
selected by the Committee.
C. Cluster Subdivision Regulations in Non-Urban Separator Areas of the City
Director Kevin Snyder brought forward the staff report on Cluster Subdivision
Regulations in Non-Urban Separator Areas of the City. As a general reminder,
cluster subdivision development is a development arrangement in which all buildings
allowable on a site are concentrated on a portion of the site, leaving the remainder of
the site undeveloped. This is a follow up of the discussion held with Committee on
February 28, 2011.
Committee and staff discussed the two goals, protection of environmentally sensitive
areas and the preservation of on-site density opportunities. Chair Norman stated
she feels it is important to protect the environmentally sensitive areas. Mr. Snyder
explained we will always preserve the environmentally sensitive areas at the
minimum standard per code but asked would the Committee like to preserve beyond
the minimum standard and increase density; should the code be rewritten with more
environmentally sensitive areas and less density or more density?
After discussing this with Committee, Mr. Snyder stated the balance could be
objectively tied back to protection activity that is consistent and relevant with what we
are trying to protect in regards to critical areas. On the active recreation space
portion, if we establish a threshold at which active open space would be required
depending on the size of the development.
Committee thought it would be helpful for staff to provide a slideshow showing
various examples of cluster subdivisions.
D. Master Plan Code Amendment
In March 2010, staff presented to the Committee for discussion the concept of a
master plan process within code for larger institutions and commercial developments
to plan out phased redevelopment efforts. The Committee requested staff research
other codes and cities experience with the master plan process, consult with Risk
Management on the risk assessment for this type of land use decision, and provide a
recommendation on the appropriate mechanism for approval. Staff provided this
information to the Committee at the May 24, 2010 meeting.
Ms. Chamberlain introduced Richard Weinman of Weinman Consulting, Green River
Community College's representative for a potential master plan. Committee and staff
reviewed the information previously discussed at meetings on a potential master plan
code concept.
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes March 14, 2011
Ms. Chamberlain reviewed the purpose, applicability, public participation, approval
timeframe/periodic review and review criteria. Ms. Chamberlain provided Committee
with an updated handout of ACC 18.02.130 (Neighborhood Review Meeting) for
additional discussion, Committee provided the following feedback:
1. Committee suggested adding a generic "other' category and feels development
like Robertson property group could benefit with an opportunity like this so
providing the "other"category to capture other potential site development for a
master plan.
2. Committee stated they liked the idea of the application going through the City
Hearing Examiner with an administrative review and year 5.
3. Committee agrees with Public Participation, having a 500 foot radius notification
as early as possible. Ms. Chamberlain stated the public meeting actually takes
place prior to the submittal of the application in order to gather public input very
early in the process and those meeting summary notes are included with the
application submittal.
4. Committee recommended a maximum of 10 years vesting with a periodic review
at 5 years and a potential of extension of 5 years.
5. Committee stated they are concerned about the word "compatibility" under No. 5,
(h). Committee asked staff to use a different word or provide a clearer
explanation of the intent so this is not open to interpretation.
6. Committee would like staff to consider designation by use and size criteria and is
open to further discussion if something needs to be added at a later date rather
than by a zoning designation.
Committee does not want this process to be mandatory. This process should be
voluntary since the City is encouraging the sharing of information and
cooperative relationships which benefits the City in planning around master
development.
Richard Weinman stated on behalf of Green River Community College (GRCC) he
will be following the information on the development and details of this potential
ordinance.
E. Green Zone Summit
Chair Norman stated the Committee is familiar with the environmental park district
and suggested moving forward to answering the questions posed by Director
Snyder.
Committee provided the following feedback to the questions:
1. Committee would like staff to invite and include local green industries, Puget
Sound Energy (PSE), educators, colleges, universities, environmental specialists
businesses and local green zone specialty consultant firms to the Green Summit.
2. Committee asked that a keynote speaker be added that can answer:
• Where is green industry now, where is the City
• What does the future look like
• Whether the City's expectations are realistic
• Whether the City could change their expectations
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes March 14, 2011
• Who can help us get there
• What the cost will be
• Will this project be able to tie into the IdeX project
3. Committee requested providing individuals who can share examples of other
successes in green development.
4. Committee would like to know if there is a possibility to use the proximity of the
environmental park for pilot projects and have educational opportunities on a
larger scale, other than students on field trips.
5. Committee would like a future discussion about the planning of potential public
and private infrastructure within the environmental park since this area is
substandard for development requiring a very large financial investment.
6. Committee would like to discuss if this area should strictly be used for
environmental uses and if there is a change of uses how would this transition
take place and how could the City plan.
Committee would like to discuss how to provide opportunities for feedback from
the community and stakeholders.
8. Committee stated that this could become an annual summit.
F. PCDC Status Matrix
Chair Norman asked that Committee members look over the matrix and if they have
questions check with staff.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Planning and Community
Development Committee, Chair Norman adjourned the meeting at 7:05 p.m.
APPROVED THIS DAY OF
Nancy Backus, Vice-Chair Darcie Hanson, Admin/Business
Services Manager
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