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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-09-2003MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE JUNE 9, 2003 The regular meeting of the Planning and Community Development Committee was held June 9, 2003 in Conference Room 1. Those members in attendance were as follows: MEMBERS PRESENT: Trish Borden, Sue Singer, and Stacey Brothers STAFF PRESENT: Paul Krauss, Dan Heid, David Osaki, Sean Martin, Brian Petty and Patti Zook ALSO PRESENT: Mayor Lewis The meeting was called to order by Committee Chair Borden at 5:00 p.m. ACTION: 1. Approval of Minutes of May 27, 2003 Meeting Councilmember Singer made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Brothers, to approve the minutes. Chairman Borden concurred. 2. ANX03-0002 - Heer Annexation Planning and Community Development Director Krauss presented the staff report. Mr. Heer has requested the annexation of his three parcels to the City. Councilmember Singer made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Brothers, to approve the minutes. Chairman Borden concurred. 3. Resolution No. 3619 - Annexation/De-annexation of Property Planning and Community Development Director Krauss explained that the Boundary Review Board requires councilmanic action before they can process the request. Councilmember Singer made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Brothers, to approve the minutes. Chairman Borden concurred. 4. Code Amendment for Front Yard Parking Restrictions Chairman Borden questioned how to prevent people from parking on front lawns without causing other problems. Planner Martin referred to previous discussions regarding this matter and pointed out the graphics and code language from the City of SeaTac. Councilmember Singer does not have a problem with the setback and likes most of the SeaTac ordinance language. She hopes that people do not want to pave over more than 50% of the yard. She does not want any parking in setbacks areas and believes the draft changes may make a lot of properties out of conformance. She would like to see more flexibility. Chairman Borden does not want to see RVs parking on property lines. She likes the setback requirements. The SeaTac ordinance says no driveways in the setbacks. Councilmember Singer confirmed that you cannot prevent RVs from parking in driveways. Planner Martin read paragraph 15.15.180 F from the SeaTac ordinance. Councilmember Singer has seen people put gravel in front yard for the area to be used for parking. She sees many problems with this. She wants flexibility to keep cars off the lawn and likes SeaTac's reference to neighbor's green space. She sees parking in the front yard as obnoxious. Planner Martin mentioned that if RV is parked with required screening, Zoning Ordinance says only 6' fence which does not screen an RV. He spoke about the Type I landscaping requirements and mentioned the types of plantings that grow quickly. Discussion occurred related to the height of RV, height of fence, and what type of vegetative screening would conceal an RY. PAGE 1 MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE JUNE 9, 2003 Councilmember Singer inquired about public notice and how to find out if neighbors object. Planning and Community Development Director Krauss said it would be easier to have requirements that must be met and then be in a position to authorize administratively. Councilmember Singer likes the SeaTac ordinance. Allowing 800 square feet might be too generous, but is a good start. She believes the changes will put lots of people out of compliance. 800 square feet or 50% is very generous. She wants only a maximum of two cars to be permitted in front yard. Planning and Community Development Director Krauss believes that the proposed changes are still too liberal. If person parks two cars in front of the garage, this is in addition to a two car garage so now four spaces are allowed. Councilmember Brothers suggested allow parking in driveway or 400' square foot pad if no driveway. Planner Martin confirmed that currently it is a 'free for all' and there is nothing to prevent paving of an entire front yard. Chairman Borden does not want to create a situation where person can park RVs there. Councilmember Singer suggested it may be easier to pass a strict ordinance and if there is a large outcry, revise the ordinance a bit. She is concerned about unintended consequences. She wondered about not allowing parking anywhere except the driveway. Councilmember Brothers wants to solve the problem of people parking on the grass. If they want to park there, then prepare a space and be in conformance. Planning and Community Development Director Krauss spoke of allow property owners time to bring their property into conformance. Planner Martin spoke of the need to define what is a driveway. Discussion occurred about allowing width of garage one car with to be accessed by the same curb cut. Councilmember Singer suggested if have a double garage then one additional space and cannot infringe onside yard setback. Chairman Borden suggested only adding 9' width. Planner Martin confirmed that it is easier to be strict and mandate no parking permitted in side yard. Planning and Community Development Director Krauss spoke about criteria for deciding if there is a hardship. Councilmember Singer suggested driveway plus width of one car, one curb cut, maximum of 50% front yard and variance process by current code. Chairman Borden wondered about paving or adding a pad to setback in the side yard. Discussion occurred regarding whether to allowing parking in a back yard. Parking could be permitted in the back yard if properly screened. Community Development Administrator Osaki mentioned that the revisions would go to Planning Commission for public hearing and back to this Committee. INFORMATION: 1. Comprehensive Plan Map/Zoning Map Consistency Community Development Administrator Osaki showed a map and explained that in the past consistency between the two maps has been an issue. The Comprehensive Plan Map is more conceptual and shows designations in 'bubbles' while the zoning map is parcel specific. This can create room for interpretation occasionally. He then pointed out conflicts between the two maps and gave examples of what types of problems come up occasionally. He reviewed the advantages and disadvantages as stated in his memorandum. Planning and Community Development Director Krauss offered that there has not been one instance during his time in Auburn where the staff interpretation was questioned by either the property owner or neighbor. Councilmember Singer asked about any costs when a conflict is involved and Planning and Community Development Director Krauss said if it is nebulous, City approves without additional cost. PAGE 2 MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE JUNE 9, 2003 Councilmember Singer wondered in cases where property is split in the middle by zoning designations, how is this handled? Planning and Community Development Director Krauss said it is then an interpretation of what the Comprehensive Plan Map intended and used Les Schwab as an example. Staff's ability to interpret avoids needing to 'jump through hoops' of Comprehensive Plan amendments, but can be an unknown element for the property owner. Community Development Administrator Osaki commented that when property owner asks what is long range plan for the property, staff provides an interpretation. Councilmember Singer wondered if this affects redevelopment and Planning and Community Development Director Krauss said this is a common way to portray Comprehensive Plan Maps and issue of rationalize map. The issue of map consistency can be discussed also with the Public Works Committee. Councilmember Singer speculated about the City doing one area each year. Planning and Community Development Director Krauss commented that the whole issue could be a solution in search of a problem. Chairman Borden likes idea of the process being flexible and there are areas of the City in transition. The current process seems to be working. She thinks if the City makes a black/white decision this could bring up other problems. Mayor spoke about the cost and staff energy to change the process. Significant amount of time will be involved if there is a change block by block, area by area. There would also be significant staff time and public meetings and committee meetings involved. Chairman Borden agrees with the Mayor's comments. DISCUSSION 1. Ordinance No. 5765 - Low Income Fee Policy for Parks and Recreation Programs Chairman Borden requested additional information on the changes to ensure that it would not affect the Senior Center. Recreation Manager Petty said the changes apply to the Senior Center. They receive few applications during the year and Cheryl Sallee said there would be little impact. He distributed a graph showing the funding amounts. Chairman Borden does not see any controversy over level, but how can the ordinance be written so that it is clearly understood. She wants to see the guidelines before making a decision. For the Senior Center, is adult limited to one program per year and Recreation Manager Petty replied yes and there is no change there. City Attorney Heid said the language of current ordinance indicates 10% determines funding at different levels and gave examples. He wondered if it would be clearer to use the graph and add to code. Recreation Manager Petty said the graph changes annually. Councilmember Brothers suggested attaching the graph to the ordinance for clarity and refer to a schedule and adopt revisions on regular basis. The City would review the ordinance and new numbers each year. Chairman Borden wants to see the schedule then determine how to write the ordinance because now it is not very clear. She wants the ordinance to be clearly understood. She requested to see the definitions and guidelines referred to by Recreation Manager Petty. Councilmember Singer wondered since they have not scrutinized the numbers previously, would it be a waste of staff time to review each year? Chairman Borden confirmed that this ordinance is tabled to the next Committee meeting in order to With no further items to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m. PCDC\MIN\06A-2003 PAGE 3