HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-28-2002 MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MAY 28, 2007
The regular meeting of the Planning and Community Development Committee was held May 28, 2002 in
Conference Room 1. Those members in attendance were as follows:
MEMBERS PRESENT: Trish Borden, Sue Singer, and Sfacey Brothers (arrived late)
STAFF PRESENT: Paul Krauss, David Osaki, Aaron Nix, Mitzi McMahon, Daryl Faber, Laura
Philpot, Fred Ostmann and Patti Zook
The meeting was called to order by Committee Chair Borden at 5:00 p.m.
ACTION:
1. Approval of Minutes of May 13, 2002 Meeting
Councilmember Singer pointed out one change on page 5, the words 'transit plaza' should read 'City Hall'
plaza.
2. Resolution No. 3471 - Agreement with Adolfson Associates, Inc.
Community Development Administrator Osaki presented a background. The City received a GMA grant
from the DCTED. The contract is for the purpose of conducting an updated inventory of wetland and
streams and preparing maps. He worked with Adolfson in the past and has good experience with the firm.
Councilmember Singer made a motion to recommend approval of the Resolution and Chairman Borden
concurred.
3. Permission to Award Small Works Project No. C212A - Dykstra Park Footbridge
Parks and Recreation Director Faber distributed a revised agenda bill with the bid result information. The
project was run through the small works roster. Two bids were received with the Iow bid from Rodarte.
The cost is more than was in the preliminary budget estimate. There is substantial rotting of the
footbridge which is an important feature in the Non-Mortorized Plan. A prefabricated bridge would be an
additional $50,000. Repairs to the footbridge will add lO years to shelflife ofthe bridge.
Design Engineer Ostmann said the repairs are a 10 year fix for the bridge. The City will need to give
some thought about what to do about the bridge in the future. Planning Director Krauss believes you
could drop in the new bridge onto the existing footings, it would be under the under current permit.
Committee expressed support for repair of the bridge as it is an important amenity. However, Committee
suggested that stuff look into a new bridge structure.
Councilmember Singer made a motion to recommend approval and Chairman Borden concurred.
4. Permission to Advertise Project No. C208A - White River Trail Lighting
Parks and Recreation Director Faber said the lighting is budgeted and considered as safety lighting. In
response to question from Chairman Borden, he pointed out the location of lighting along the trail.
Councilmember Singer wondered why other trails are not lighted because they also have safety issues. If
those trails were lighted, the trails would invite nighttime use. She wondered how many people use the
White River Trail because the cost seems like a lot of money. Parks and Recreation Director Faber
responded that the trail is Well used and the additional lighting will make the trail even safer. A lot of
younger kids use the trail.
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MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MAY 28,200?
Councilmember Singer made a motion to recommend approval and Chairman Borden concurred.
5. Olson Canyon Farm Grant
Parks and Recreation Director Faber distributed a resolution for apply for a grant and explained what is
covered by the grant.
Councilmember Singer made a motion to recommend approval and Chairman Borden concurred.
DISCUSSION:
1. Access Management Presentation by Laura Philpot, Traffic Operations Engineer
Traffic Engineer Philpot mentioned that traffic engineering division attending an Access Management
seminar and then showed a video from the seminar. Points made in the video include: limiting conflict
points, separating conflict areas, reduce interference with through traffic, provide sufficient spacing at
grade intersection, maintaining progressing speeds along arterials, provide on-site circulation storage.
Examples included a gas station, strip shopping center and mall. Principles of access management
include: maintaining efficient movement of people and goods, reduce the need for new roads, and protect
value of private investments.
Councilmember Singer asked about the access control project on Auburn Way South that is currently
being designed. Traffic Engineer Philpot said that the residential community likes the proposed
improvements to Auburn Way North. Business owners also seem to be in favor. McDonalds advocated
for the changes. Councilmember Singer asked about notices to owners of the buildings as well as to the
business owners. Traffic Engineer Philpot responded that the property owners were notified and notices
were hand delivered to the businesses.
Traffic Engineer Philpot then showed overheads from the seminar depicting ways to incorporate access
management into the transportation plan, how to retrofit roads, benefits of access management. Access
management has been snowed to reduce accidents up to 19%, pedestrian safety with median reduces
accidents to 42 %, and reduces travel time by 42%. Hidden benefits of access management include
improved travel time which is vital to economic stability because travel decisions are made by travel time,
maintaining capacity allows arterial system to funnel customers to the community. The access
management took kit contains medians, turn lanes, driveway design and spacing, service roads, etc.
Planning Director Krauss advised that the Downtown Plan shows landscape medians in Auburn Way by
Main Street to help with pedestrian crossing. He spoke about International Blvd. landscape medians
which look very nice. Traffic Engineer Philpot spoke about road improvements along Kent Kangley Road
in Covington.
Councilmember Singer wondered if these concepts were discussed with business owners along Auburn
Way North. Traffic Engineer Philpot said that medians were discussed. Residents liked the landscape
medians. Staff anticipated that business owners might be angry about restricting access to their
businesses, but the response was very good. Everyone seems to be supportive of the road
improvements.
2. Urban Separator Proposal
Planning Director Krauss wants to respond to King County about this issue before the GMPC meeting in
late summer. King County is pushing the idea of an acre for acre exchange and that idea that makes
more sense. He gave a brief background of the issue. Staff has come up with an alternative idea which
was discussed. Using a map, he pointed out the areas under discussion with King County staff.
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MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MAY 28, 2002
3. King County Parks
Planning Director Krauss advised that King County is disposing of its parks. He showed a map of King
County parks in the Auburn area. Karen Reed was hired as a consultant to manage disposal of King
County parks. The issue has been discussed with Mayor Lewis and the City is willing to take park
properties in Auburn's potential annexation area which includes Auburndale 1 and Lea Hill park, the tree
farm property, and Auburndale 2 located under the power lines. He would like the park land to also
include land along the Green River where the trail is to go, the trestle bridge and a couple other
properties. The pool issue has been kept separate. King County also wants to get rid of the Forward
Thrust pools. King County cannot abandon the pools by law, but it could close the pools. Staff is meeting
with the School District next week about the subject.
Councilmember Singer cautioned that the School District would close the pool because it cannot afford to
maintain it. Parks and Recreation Director Faber said there will be a huge support issue from the
residents of Auburn for the pools. They are trying to come up with a long range regional plan for the
pools.
Planning Director Krauss told Reed about satisfying the community's aquatic needs. He spoke about the
15th Street park and ride lot idea.
4. Light Poles on Private Property
Community Development Administrator Osaki distributed a sheet showing different approaches to this
issue and spoke about Puget Sound Energy's appeal. There is the question of how to write the Zoning
Code that anticipates every situation that might come along. It is appropriate to get policy direction of
Council about what is or is not intended by the Zoning Code. The distributed information shows different
approaches that Council may want to take. He reviewed the different approaches. Attached are excerpts
from Tukwila and SeaTac code.
Chairman Borden asked about glare and wattage and how much the lighting projects into residential uses
or adjacent uses. Community Development Administrator Osaki remarked that overhead lighting is
permittable, glare is regulated. Planning Director Krauss said that some jurisdictions regulate lighting by
requiring a lighting plan showing the type of light fixture, candle wattage, light map, etc.
Councilmember Brothers favored height limitations and setbacks when dealing with residential
encroachment by commercial uses. The luminary map sounds like a good way to structure the
regulations for residential areas.
Planning Director Krauss commented that car dealerships on Auburn Way North like the pole mounted
lights. They want the car lots to glow, security issues also, but the lighting looks bad. The newer
dealerships have more landscaping. There is visual clutter from the signs, light poles, power poles, etc.
Chairman Borden wondered about any complaints about the lighting from the new auto dealership on
Auburn Way North and 17,h Street. She likes the idea of protecting residential neighborhoods from light
spillage. Councilmember Singer likes the idea of light shields.
INFORMATION:
1. Update on Gateways
Planner McMahon mentioned that the City's website has information on the gateways project. The May 7
kick off for the stakeholders meeting went well and was well attended. The consultant did a presentation.
People will get together for a brain storming session. Surveys were done to get peoples' perceptions of
Auburn. The research phase includes open ended interviews with the stakeholders. People are excited
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MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MAY 28, 200?
about providing input. Mayor Lewis is hoping to have service clubs participate in the first gateway project
by havin9 them provide clean up and adopting the gateway.
2. Update on Parking Projects
Planner McMahon spoke about the first technical advisory committee meeting in April which was well
attended by the hospital, ADA, Sound Transit, King County, Metro and City departments. Another
technical advisory committee meeting is scheduled on May 29. They will review consultant data and
should finish work by end of June. It appears they are on schedule.
3. Buildable Lands and Targets
Planning Director Krauss and Community Development Administrator Osaki are working with King County
planners to allocate growth targets. Auburn has sufficient capacity. Jack Locke is putting together two
grant applications that will receive extra points for cities being described as "urban centers". He said that
staffwas bringing forward a Comprehensive Plan amendment to designate a center in Auburn. The
Committee supported the proposal. He explained the population allocation developed by the State. Staff
is working on employment allocations now.
Chairman Borden commented that staff has done a lot of work on this subject and that there is
cooperation among the cities.
With no further items to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 6:40 pm.
Submitted by Patricia Zook, Planning Secretary.
Approved by the Planning and Community Development Committee on June 10, 2002.
PCDC"MIN\05B-2002
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