HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-12-2004MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE APRIL 12, 2004
The regular meeting of the Planning and Community Development Committee was held April 12, 2004.
The public hearings were held in the Council Chambers and the remainder of the meeting was held in
Conference Room 1. Those members in attendance were as follows:
MEMBERS PRESENT: Sue Singer, Nancy Backus and Lynn Norman
STAFF PRESENT: Paul Krauss, Daryl Faber, David Osaki, Bill Mandeville and Patti Zook
The meeting was called to order by Committee Chair Singer at 5:00 p.m.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. WSC04-0001 - Musa Abed/Idamay Brunet
Chairman Singer opened the public hearing. Community Development Administrator Osaki presented
the staff report and explained the unique circumstances and spoke about driveway access. Staff
recommends approval. The City recommends one access to the road, but is deferring to King County on
this issue for this proposal. Councilmember Backus believes it would be safer to do a loop instead of
customers backing out onto the street.
There was no public testimony. The applicant was present, but did not speak. Councilmember Norman
made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Backus, to recommend approval; Chairman Singer
concurred.
2. WSC04-0002 - Thomas Bastrom
Chairman Singer opened the public hearing. Community Development Administrator Osaki presented
the staff report. Staff recommends approval with three conditions.
Kelly Garvey, 19208 Normandy Park Drive SW, Normandy Park, is the representative for the applicant.
The property was on the market for one year and was hard to sell. There is no proposed use yet, but
there is a possible medical building on the first lot. He spoke about the second parcel and what might be
done with it.
There was no public testimony. Councilmember Backus made a motion, seconded by Councilmember
Norman, to recommend approval; Chairman Singer concurred.
3. WSC04-0004 - JPS Holdings LLC
Chairman Singer opened the public hearing. Community Development Administrator Osaki presented
the staff report and explained the watedsewer certificate process to those in audience. He clarified that
the City is not talking about land use, sensitive areas, or the plat which will be reviewed by King County.
Staff recommends approval of granting water/sewer certificates with seven conditions.
Councilmember Backus referred to impact fees paid and asked why Auburn needs to know the amount
of fees paid to King County. Community Development Administrator Osaki said that Auburn wants to
know the amount of impact fees paid by developments in the potential annexation area in order to
monitor what development is paying in this potential annexation area. Chairman Singer announced
there was $37 million in impact fees paid for development in the Lea Hill area, but that money has not
come back to Lea Hill area.
Rudy Terry, 31011 132® Avenue SE, feels the effects of decreased water pressure during peak times
and wonders if there is sufficient water to allow 55 new homes and what their impact will be on the water
pressure. Chairman Singer said that Public Works staff has reviewed the proposal and stated that
sufficient water is available for this project.
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MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE APRIL 12, 2004
There was discussion between Mr. Terry and a representative of DMP, Inc., about the possibility of Mr.
Terry connecting to the utilities.
Chairman Singer mentioned that the water pressure issue will be referred to Public Works staff who will
report back to PCDC. Councilmember Norman said it is important to reiterate that sometimes the City is
forced to deal with things that the City doesn't have a lot of control over. King County is mandating
growth and the City can't annex this area and Auburn is trying to deal with King County's decisions as
best it can. Growth as allowed by King County is different than Auburn would allow. The City is
obligated to provide services over development Auburn doesn't have control over.
Chairman Singer closed the public hearing. She would like language added to the recommendations that
require King County to again look at the City's standards as we are getting close to annexing the area
and for developments to be built to City standards and that impact fees be spent in the local area not
elsewhere in King County. Councilmember Norman made a motion, seconded by Councilmember
Backus, to recommend approval; Chairman Singer concurred. Mayor Lewis clarified that the letter would
be prepare, but that it would be sent separate from the applicant's water/sewer agreement.
Chairman Singer recessed the meeting at 5:30 pm and reconvened the meeting at 5:40 pm in
Conference Room 1.
ACTION
1. Approval of Minutes of March 22, 2004 Meeting
The minutes were approved.
2. Resolution No. 3706 - Agreement with Berryman & Henigar
Planning and Community Development Director Krauss gave a background on the need for the contract
which is a standard contract with consultants to provide services. The current contract is for less than
$25,000 which is being drawn down now for inspection services. The City will receive reimbursement
from Polygon for the inspection services.
Councilmember Backus expressed concern that this might be a conflict of interest. Planning and
Community Development Director Krauss said that Polygon has an agreement with the City not with
Berryman & Henigar. This inspector will provide back up to the primary in-house inspector and will
provide 24 hour turnaround in inspections.
Councilmember Norman made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Backus, to recommend approval;
Chairman Singer concurred.
ZOA03-0003 - Amendments to Zoning Ordinance Chapter 18.74, Adult Uses & Ordinance No.
5835
DH explained that the City code didn't have regulations for sexually oriented businesses. He spoke
about the moratorium that Council passed. Staff provided a tremendous amount of information to the
Planning Commission which held a public hearing in February. Two enormous binders are available for
the Committee review. The binders are the legislative record for the ordinance. The Planning
Commission considered different options in addition to how to define these types of businesses. He
spoke about the sensitive areas such as schools, parks, churches and includes the SuperMall. He gave
SM credit for developing the mapping and percentages. DH mentioned that the Planning Commission
dealt with deciding grandfathering versus amortization, how to define adult use businesses and Planning
Commission chose to grandfather existing businesses. There are four existing businesses, two of which
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are convenience stores. Council will need to review the legislative record which contains national studies
and case law. The ordinance is very defensible.
SM spoke about the conditional use permit process which is discretionary in nature. DH cautioned that if
the City allows the conditional use permit process, this makes the City vulnerable to attack because it
cannot meet criteria set by the courts.
Councilmember Norman is aware that you can't impose special requirements on these businesses and
must allow them to exist, but can you require special landscaping or special windows? DH said there are
limitations that could be deployed to address some issues, but you can't do this under CUP process.
Planning Commission did talk about the aesthetics of these businesses.
Discussion occurred of what happens if a protected use were to open in the vicinity of an adult use
business. Committee agreed to discuss this topic again at their next meeting.
4. Consultant Agreement No. AG-C-232 - Auburn Way/Main Street Pedestrian Improvements
Project
Community Development Administrator Osaki distributed a proposed budget sheet. He is working with
Public Works staff to proceed with this project. This matter is going to the Public Works Committee
tonight and they will forward to Council for action. Planning and Community Development Director
Krauss wanted PCDC to see the nature and scope of the project. Staff has recommended hiring a firm
that has good street scape/urban design background; doing detailed design for that intersection. There
will be public meetings.
5. Surplus Items
The surplus request was approved.
7.
8.
9.
Resolution No. 3708 - Meals on Wheels Agreement
Resolution No. 3709 - Nutrition Project Agreement
Resolution No. 3710 - Lifetime Fitness Exercise Program Agreement
Resolution No. 3712 - Senior Center Extended Travel
Councilmember Norman made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Backus, to recommend approval;
Chairman Singer concurred.
DISCUSSION
1. YMCA/Community Center
Parks and Recreation Director Faber is putting together the request for quotes for the consultant. They
received the parks master plan survey back and 25% of the respondents spoke about a community
center.
Councilmember Norman mentioned that public comments speak about two different structures - one for
the Y and another need for meeting space and for community space such as a community center. She
spoke about the committee and their meetings during the summer and she suggested that the committee
be brought back because they are interested in follow up and are asking about the status. Parks and
Recreation Director Faber spoke about work on the Les Gove master plan.
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2. 15th Street NW Median Preliminary Designs
Parks and Recreation Director Faber showed design
which does not have any funds budgeted. He spoke
He spoke about installing irrigation for the landscape
about corridor enhancement. The next clean sweep
concepts and distributed paperwork on this project
about different options based on available funding.
because watering by truck is dangerous. He spoke
is June 6 and there are plans to spruce up the area.
There was discussion about gateways and public art and where you could use both on 15th Street NW.
Planning and Community Development Director Krauss spoke about more significant type of landscaping
such as along International Blvd. by SeaTac Airport.
Parks and Recreation Director Faber commented that staff will come back with staff preference and
dollar amount so they can begin a contract and work with Public Works and see what they are willing to
do. Parks Department crews could do the planting.
3. Vacant Houses
Planning and Community Development Director Krauss announced that at the last Council meeting an
ordinance was approved to allow code enforcement to be filed as a misdemeanor and court appearance
before a judge which is a tremendous change for the City. Staff is able to get compliance in 90% of
cases, but a few people don't care and they have nothing to lose. Violators are sent to collections and
now the City Attorney has come up with multiple citations leading to misdemeanor. The ordinance will
deal with most issues of vacant houses because there is evidence of the house being vacant because of
trash piling up and the house becomes an attractive nuisance and this would be dealt with by the new
ordinance.
Planning and Community Development Director Krauss said there are a number of houses that have
people living in them and aren't nuisance code violations that are in bad disrepair. Councilmember
Norman mentioned that in some older neighborhoods residents have lived in houses for 50 years and the
older person can't fix the house or do repairs, and these folks shouldn't be penalized. The ordinance
becomes effective in three days and code enforcement officers can go out the next day and issue
citations.
Chairman Singer mentioned that she and the Mayor looked at Olympic Court apartments which are
looking nice and this is a huge improvement and she hopes that fencing will go up.
4. Downtown Design Requirements
Community Development Administrator Osaki commented that the Downtown Plan has specific design
guidelines by geography and excerpts are in the agenda packet. The C2 zone has specific design
guidelines such as windows on street frontage, building placement, blank walls, screening of mechanical
equip and pedestrian access. Not all the 'urban center' is zoned C2 and the City doesn't have specific
design standards for other zones in the downtown.
Chairman Singer thought the City has guidelines and the Plan said develop requirements. The Sign
Code Committee has said no more pole signs. The Committee said no amortization of pole signs. What
does the PCDC want to do in specific areas of downtown such as on Main Street? Should neon be
prohibited? Downtown Plan talks about prohibiting neon unless for signage.
Councilmember Norman wants to discuss this matter in more depth at the next meeting. There needs to
be more focus and clarity on what the City wants. Chairman Singer also mentioned design review
standards and process versus review in SEPA process,
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5. Outdoor Storage in the M1 zone
Community Development Administrator Osaki spoke with Public Works staff who state that gravel lot is
not equivalent to paved parking, but results in more runoff than natural area and will kick in storm
drainage requirements. M1 zoned properties have screening requirements based on adjacent zoning
designation. He pointed out a new paragraph that gives Planning Director the authority to waive/modify
landscape requirements if the applicant proposes superior design. This flexibility would be applied to the
entire landscape code.
Councilmember Norman likes the idea of options. Discussion occurred regarding the screening
requirements.
INFORMATION
2.
3.
4.
Downtown Plan Implementation Status
Neighborhood Clean Up Campaigns
Potential Grants
Joint Work Session with Human Services Committee
There was no discussion on these items.
ADJOURNMENT:
With no further items to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
PCDC\MIN\04A-2004
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