HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-23-1997MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE JUNE 23, 1997
The regular meeting of the Planning and Community Development Committee was held June 23, 1997 in the
Council Work Area. Those members in attendance were as follows:
MEMBERS PRESENT: Trish Borden, Jeanne Barber, and Rich Wagner
STAFF PRESENT:
Paul Krauss, Lynn Rued, Bob Sokol, Betty Sanders, Keith Niven, Dick Deal,
and Patti Zook
ALSO PRESENT:
Mayor Booth
The meeting was called to order by Committee Chair Borden at 7:30 p.m.
PUBLIC HEARING:
Chairman Borden announced that the public hearing would be held in the Council Work Area instead of the Council
Chambers.
1. WSC0017-97 - Family of Grace Lutheran Church
Chairman Borden opened the public hearing.
Senior Planner Sokol presented the staff report. The applicant has requested water and sewer availability
certificates and approval of a development agreement for a 3,300 square foot expansion. The church is
located at 31317 124th Avenue SE. He briefly reviewed the findings of fact.
There was no public testimony; therefore, the public hearing was closed.
Councilmember Wagner made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Barber, to close the public hearing.
Councilmember Wagner made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Barber, to recommend approval.
Chairman Borden concurred.
2. WSC0021-97 - Kathy May and Lynda Ferraro
Chairman Borden opened the public hearing.
Senior Planner Sokol presented the staff report. The applicants have requested water and sewer availability
certificates and approval of a development agreement for a boundary line adjustment. The property is
located on 130th Avenue SE. He briefly reviewed the f'mdings of fact.
There was no public testimony; therefore, the public hearing was closed.
Councilmember Wagner made a motiOn, seconded by Counciimember Barber, to close the public hearing.
Councilmember Wagner made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Barber, to recommend approval.
Chairman Borden concurred.
3. BIA Contract
Associate Planner Sanders presented the staff report. She said this is a contract renewal and pointed out a
change to #6 pertaining to the City's responsibilities and clarification of billings.
Councilmember Wagner said this section should somehow spell out who bears the cost of collection.
Planning Director Krauss explained that this is a very sensitive topic. The ADA/BIA proposed more
explicit language. The City does perform a variety of services for them, and Planning Director Krauss said
he can talk with them about who should bear the cost, but is concerned about where to draw the line.
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MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
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Councilmember Wagner said the contract should be specific that the BIA bears collection costs.
The Mayor is concerned about the agreement being based on the ordinance which instructs the City to take
to court and bear cost. He reminded the Committee that the appeal is still in litigation. The Mayor
suggested changing the word "shall" to "may", so it would read "may be collectible." Chairman Borden
agreed with the suggested word change of"shall" to "may." Chairman Borden said she did not want the
City to pay for collection agency and attorney fees.
Chairman Borden asked if this matter has to be resolved tonight. Associate Planner Sanders said the ADA
Board will need to review this revised portion. They assume that the City will do the collections.
The Mayor wanted to clarify that the collection agencies charge a fee and the ADA expects the City to
make up the difference. Associate Planner Sanders replied yes. The Mayor said that the tax payers should
not be responsible for this fee.
Planning Director Krauss said that he is more comfortable with the word "may" and costs billed back to the
agency. Councilmember Wagner again suggested that wording be changed to "may", and if there are any
out of pocket expenses for the collection agency that these be paid by the BIA.
Planning Director Krauss said that if this is the Committee's recommendation, then the matter could go to
the full Council for action, or back to the PCDC to review further. Chairman Borden said she prefers the
matter to come back to the Committee for review. She stressed that she does not want the City to pay the
collection fees. :
Planning Director Krauss does not see a problem with going to the BIA Board with this matter and present
the Mayor's and Council's position on this. He can tell the Board the City's position and return to the
PCDC with outcome.
Chairman Borden said the BIA contract will be tabled to the July 14, 1997 PCDC meeting.
Associate Planner Sanders said that at the last PCDC meeting, during discussions on the budget, the
Committee wanted information on how much staff time is contributed. Associate Planner Sanders pointed
out a figure of approximately $25,000 worth of staff time for personnel in the Planning, Finance and Legal
Departments.
The Mayor suggested that the issue of non payment should be reported to the appropriate Credit Bureaus.
Cemetery_ Tax Title Property_
Parks & Recreation Director Deal presented the staff report. Staffwas contacted by King County Property
Services regarding four parcels adjacent to Mountain View Cemetery as being available.
Chairman Borden had a question regarding the maintenance of the parcels because of their location on a
cliff and the potential for a slide problem. Parks & Recreation Director Deal said he spoke with City
Attorney Reynolds who is aware of the property, its location, and has indicated that the City should acquire
the property.
Councilmember Wagner agreed that the City should obtain the property.
Councilmember Wagner made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Barber, to recommend approval.
Chairman Borden concurred.
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Conservation Futures Application
Parks & Recreation Director Deal presented information on submitting a joint application. The County is
submitting an application for the Shuler property site. Staff is working to contact agencies to obtain letters
of support for this project. He explained that a match for the grant will be necessary.
Planning Director Krauss wonder if once the property is acquired, and other areas are made available for
wetland banking, or reimbursement by selling rights, would an in-kind match be acceptable. Parks &
Recreation Director Deal indicated that he would need to check with King County staff.
Chairman Borden asked what sources would be able to match the grant. Parks & Recreation Director Deal
said King County staff is checking on financing from various funding sources.
Chairman Borden asked about funds from Federal sources. Senior Planner Sokol said that money for flood
control may be available.
Parks & Recreation Director Deal said the application is due by July 9 and it appears that the County will
have the best opportunity to submit an application.
Wireless Telecommunications Ordinance
Assistant Planning Director Rued reminded the Committee that they previously received the information.
The Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing on this, and he wanted the Committee to have a
second look before this public hearing process.
Councilmember Wagner asked what other City staff are doing about the telecommunications issue.
Assistant Planning Director Rued said that Dick Deal and Dennis Dowdy will need to determine how to
respond as the City's propertY owners when requests come in. These types of requests will not involve the
public hearing process.
Councilmember Wagner asked who has lead on the overall telecommunications overall ordinance.
Assistant Planning Director Rued said that the Planning Department has the lead on this issue.
Associate Planner Niven said that on matters involving the franchise agreements, leases on City owned
property, equipment cabinets in the right-of-way, and antennas on City poles, are issues that involve the
Public Works Department and they should be moving forward on these. The Planning, Finance, Public
Works, and Legal Departments are also reviewing issues.
Councilmember Wagner asked the Mayor who should have the lead. The Mayor replied that the Planing
Department should have the lead on this.
Assistant Planning Director Rued agreed that the Planning Department has taken the lead role and is
working with Legal on certain issues, and Public Works is working on matters related to the equipment.
Mayor said that land uses issues are handled by Planning and the right-of-way issues will be handled by
Public Works.
Councilmember Wagner said he sees this telecommunications issue as a community development issue.
He said that last year he thought the matter should go through the Municipal Services Committee, but now
sees this as a Planning issue.
Associate Planner Niven said questions were raised at the last Committee meeting about camouflaging the
poles and lights on the free standing monopoles. He contacted the Federal Aviation Authority (F.A.A.) to
get their rule of thumb on requirements for lighting, but discovered that every application will be routed to
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all departments and a determination made if lights are needed. He found out that once a certain height is
reached a light is needed, if the tower grows then additional lights may be needed, and if the tower grows
again, then a beacon light may be needed. Between Seattle and Portland, the F.A.A. has reviewed over 800
applications pertaining to poles over the past year.
Chairman Borden expressed concern about intense lighting requirements mandated by the F.A.A. on the
pole and that this lighting can be an intrusion on neighbors. Associate Planner Niven said the City could
require the providers to check with F.A.A. before application submittal to get an idea of what the F.A.A. is
going to require. Lighting on the poles is a sensitive issue.
Chairman Borden asked about placing some condition on the lighting. Associate Planner Niven said the
ordinance has a section on lighting now, and conditions can be added.
Assistant Planning Director Rued explained that all applications for the taller towers go through the
conditional use permit process and lighting conditions can be in the ordinance.
Chairman Borden referred to the large map presented at the last PCDC meeting which depicted the circles
of areas of coverage and said that 750 feet between poles is not a far distance. Associate Planner Niven
said that some jurisdictions have done 3,000 feet or one-half mile between free standing poles. Previously,
these types of poles were only allowed in industrial zones, but now they are permitted in more commercial
districts.
Assistant Planning Director Rued said it is rare to have a direct sight line to a tower because buildings or
trees are between the tower. The maximum height of antennas on top of buildings cannot exceed 25 feet.
In public zones, the City needs to allow the possibility ofmonopoles to be installed.
Chairman Borden said she sees as a worst case scenario tall poles with lights looking into neighborhoods.
Associate Planner Niven said that the poles will get shorter, but there will be more of them. The City needs
to devise an ordinance to allow the poles, but also protects aesthetics.
Chairman Borden said that she would like to spend more time reviewing the map presented at the last
meeting. She also requested a map indicating the topography in relation to these poles. Associate Planner
Niven said he could provide a map with the separation rings on it to the Committee.
Duberry Hill (WSC0011-96 and WSC0012-96)
Senior Planner Sokol provided background information on the development agreement signed with the
developer. The City had recommended some changes to the development based on concerns raised by City
Traffic Engineer pertaining to through streets. He reviewed Map 1 (which was originally presented to the
City prior to the development agreement) and Map 2 (which was a compromise version reached between
Auburn and the developer). He then presented a large map which depicted the plat as approved by the
King County Hearing Examiner and reviewed this.
Planning Director Krauss wanted to inform the Committee about staff's meeting with King County, and did
not want'to misrepresent the issues to the Committee.
The Committee reviewed the Maps and determined that the large map as approved by the King County
Hearing Examiner meets the needs of the residents and that the City should allow the developer to proceed
with the development consistent with the Hearing Examiner's decision.
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8. White River Trail
Parks & Recreation Director Deal introduced Ted Wall, who did design work at Game Farm Park,
Lakeland Park, Roegner Park, Mill Pond Park, and White River Trail. The finished tail will add 1.3 linear
miles to the trail system.
Mr. Wall showed the trail plans to the Committee and indicated where trail goes along the river, on the
dike, the Oravetz Road embankment, trail connections by "R" Street, and under the bridge.
Councilmember Wagner asked if there was discussion about a horse trailer parking area. Mr. Wall said
that Segale did not want the parking area where it was planned, but with the Park for security reasons.
Parks & Recreation Director Deal explained that parking in the park area will be expanded, "R" Street area
is being beautified, landscaping along a portion of Segale property by Segale.
On the plan, Mr. Wall pointed out where the soft surface trail disappears and reappears by the Wilderness
Park.
Councilmember Wagner asked about removing vegetation and improving night visibility along the trail.
Mr. Wall said they will remove dangerous trees such as cottonwoods and keep the evergreens.
Parks & Recreation Director Deal has talked with Dennis Dowdy about street lights along Oravetz Road,
but the road is some distance from the trail in certain spots. Councilmember Wagner suggested that every
reasonable pole be used for lighting. Parks & Recreation Director Deal said he will check about luminaries
off the other poles.
Planning Director Krauss asked about a portion of the trail to Roger Park which has brambles that grow
high and if there is a way to get closer to the river in this area. Parks & Recreation Director Deal said the
trail is on the dike in most places with boulders between the trail and the river.
Councilmember Wagner when the project will be put out for bids. Parks & Recreation Director Deal said
the shorelines application will be heard by the Hearing Examiner on July 9, decision I0 days after that,
finish grade work, then completion in September.
Other Business:
A. Press Conference
Planning Director Krauss informed the Committee about a press conference on Wednesday to be
held at 3rd Street and B Street. King County Council has introduced a motion to expend $5
million to fund construction/engineering for 3rd Street, 180th Street, and 277th Street. The
motion to fund was generated by Vance, McKenna and Nichols, and could be the percursion of
$50 million in funds. The County wants to demonstrate a good faith effort and a challenge to
Ports, railroads, State and Federal agencies regarding funding initiatives. The press conference
comes on the eve of staff's travel to Alameda, California. Mayors Booth, Mayor Rants, and
Mayor White will be at the press conference,
B. Airport
Planning Director Krauss provided information to the Committee about the City's recent title to
22 acres at the Airport which was transferred from Dwight Garrett. Mr. Garrett is now selling the
remainder of the property. The F.A.A. has gotten into the "act" approximately two weeks ago,
and states the obstacle free area (OFA) extends 60 feet in the adjacent property. F.A.A. says the
City has an obligation to get this property and that the City may be ineligible for grant money if it
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does not. Staffmet with the F.A.A. and developers to reach a solution. The F.A.A. is willing to
help and has money available. He presented a map showed the way the development proposal
looks now and where the OFA is located. He presented two proposals for remedying the situation.
Appraisals are being done now on the property. The F.A.A. requires the City enter into an option
to buy before funding. He suggested that the appraisals be done, enter into the option to buy, and
present to City Council. F.A.A. grants are given on a 90/10 basis. If the cost for the land is
$700,000, the City has to come up with $70,000 which is available in the AirPort fund. He
indicated that an interfund loan may be necessary in the short term. He reminded the Committee
that the Airport has funds available, and the ability to raise revenue through an unfilled position,
successful hangar lease, and fuel contract. Planning Director Krauss spoke about the time
constraints.
Councilmember Wagner suggested the Planning Director Krauss talk with Councilmember Poe.
Planning Director Krauss said the F.A.A. approved project year starts July 1. Councilmember
Wagner agreed with the need to expedite the matter.
With no further items to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
PCDCWIIN~6B-97
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