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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-09-2005 PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MAY 9, 2005 MINUTES I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Lynn Norman called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers located on the first floor of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Auburn, WA. Committee members present were: Member Gene Cerino, Member Sue Singer. Member Nancy Backus was not available. Also present were Planning and Community Development Director Paul Krauss, Public Works Director Dennis Dowdy, Community Development Administrator David Osaki, Environmental Protection Manager Aaron C Nix, Development Services Coordinator Steven Pilcher, Utilities Engineer Duane Huskey, Senior Planner Mitzi McMahan, Planner Bill Mandeville, Transportation Planner Tiffin Goodman, Planning Secretary Carolyn Brown, and Mayor Pete Lewis. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. April 25, 2005 Meeting Stand approved as read. Chair Norman moved to accept the minutes. Member Cerino seconded. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3-0 III. ACTION A. ANX05-0002 Nichols Annexation. The Committee held a brief discussion on the annexation request with discussion about drawings developed by the applicant illustrating a possible future development scenario. Member Singer moved to recommend to City Council approval of ANNX 05-0002. Member Cerino seconded. Page 1 PlanninQ & Community Development Committee Minutes MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3-0 B. ANX05-0003 Christ Church Annexation Discussed the fact that one parcel belongs to the church. Two other parcels attached to the annexation will be developed. Member Singer moved to recommend to City Council approval of ANNX 05-0002, subject to an affirmative statement from the Fire Department that supports the annexation. Member Cerino seconded. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3-0 IV. DISCUSSION A. Ms. McMahan and Mr. Pilcher presented an update on the Downtown Design Standards. Mr. Pilcher presented a working draft of design standards for the Urban Center. The Downtown Plan discusses three distinct areas: Main Street; other commercial and industrial lands; and residential areas. Different standards apply to each of these areas. Basically the concept is to use an overlay zone and not to change the existing zones. The Committee discussed some of the concepts, such as the use of neon, as it is currently addressed in the Downtown Plan. Chair Norman said they want to encourage the use of neon as art and not just as signage. (Mr. Pilcher noted the Downtown Plan discourages its use except in signage). Neon could be used as artistic emphasis to accentuate the elements of the building. The Massey's building was cited as an example. Mr. Pilcher said that a statement could be added to allow the use of neon as ornamentation for period architecture or as a symbol of a business. Mr. Cerino said he would like to keep down the "garishness" often associated with neon. Mr. Pilcher stated staff would like to see language that would allow requests to be processed administratively, and he would like to see the language in the City Code. Ms. McMahan added that neon could be reflective of the business, such as a coffee cup, a diamond, or similar designs that are reflective of the Page 2 Plannin!:l & Community Development Committee Minutes business. The Committee discussed whether or not to have a standard. Member Singer added maybe the process could be through the Planning Commission. The Committee then directed staff come back to a future meeting with more information. The Committee expressed some concern with how the standards would be applied to existing buildings. For example, does the percentage value of construction standard apply to only the building or the building and land together? Staff will make modifications to the existing language to provide clarification. There was a discussion as to how buildings will be massed on a site. Member Singer asked how far east will the guidelines apply. Staff replied all the way to F Street SEINE. There followed a discussion on what would happen if an existing building, that currently has parking in front of the building, is torn down. Under the draft urban center standards, parking in front of buildings would be limited to no more than 64 feet of street frontage. The parking should ideally be located to the rear of the building. The Committee discussed locating parking in the front of a business as opposed to the draft standard of parking in the rear of the business. The Committee then discussed building wall articulation and modulation and draft standards regarding the size of awnings. Mr. Krauss stated that the awning size is dependant on the sidewalk width. Member Singer asked if awning requests would have to go through a special use permit process. Mr. Krauss answered yes, that such awnings require a right-of- way use permit. Mr. Pilcher added that an awning is to provide pedestrians some relief from the elements. There was a discussion on the various materials that could be used, such as glass and metal awnings and Member Singer said she would like to see the code not be so restrictive. Chair Norman said the Committee should decide on something that is a workable plan for staff and potential land owner. The issue of remodeling existing residential homes was discussed. Any new construction would be under the new standards. Chair Singer inquired as what would keep someone from tearing a house down to the foundation and doing a total Page 3 Plannina & Community Development Committee Minutes remodel. Mr. Krauss answered in some areas the only way to build a new house is to use the existing foundation. The Committee discussed reasons for certain siding treatments and Mr. Pilcher added that the use of horizontal siding would keep the flavor of a historical area. The Committee stated it would prefer the residential standards only apply to new construction so as not to discourage the maintenance and improvement of existing homes. Mr. Pilcher stated that staff will come up some alternatives. There was a discussion on the height of buildings along Main Street. Chair Norman would like to see Main Street continue as it is now. Member Singer added that most of the tall buildings are off Main Street. Mr. Krauss stated land values are very high so developers will want to go up. Mr. Cerino added that too many restrictions could eliminate someone from developing unless it is the whole block. Ms. McMahan said the draft standards were written with the intent to maintain the Main Street feeling. The Committee also discussed what is wanted on Main Street and that building color is a big issue. Staff will review how other cities treat the issue of color in design standards. Also, Mr. Krauss stated that ground level windows will help and Ms. McMahan said a brick façade is a good treatment. Mayor Lewis added that whatever faces Main Street should have the appearance of a retail storefront. The draft design standards will be added to the agenda of the May 23 meeting. B. An update on the Auburn Environmental Park (AEP) was presented by Mr. Nix and Ms. McMahan. Mr. Nix stated that Planning, Parks and Public Works are working very hard in pursuing the goals and objectives outlined by the Mayor and Council. Staff is looking at several components and considering the vision for the future of the AEP. Chair Norman asked what is the time line for bringing something forward to the City Council. Mr. Nix stated that the wetland delineation study will be complete at the end of the week as well as detailed survey work. Significant work has already been completed by the utilities in Public Works on Page 4 Plannin!:l & Community Development Committee Minutes ground water and the Mill Creek Floodplain Study. Mr. Nix said that David Evans and Associates is completing the feasibility report and it should be made available very soon. No fatal flaws were identified and the report gives staff something to work from. Ms. McMahan then distributed some additional information to the Committee including background as to the pictures on the marketing poster. She had taken a tour and took pictures of similar sites as the Environmental Park and found that they could provide useful information. The Portland office of David Evans and Associates has done a great job on providing information to the City. Ms. McMahan said a kick-off meeting will be on June 16 at the Truitt Building and she has asked someone from the Audubon Society to speak about special opportunities to help with funding. She and Mr. Nix will be going to the May 18 meeting of the Audubon Society and will speak to them about the Auburn Environmental Park. On a different note, the Audubon Society will be donating plant material for the base of the sign along the Interurban Trail for Clean Sweep. Mr. Nix said she is still working to garner additional support on this effort. There will also be an item on the City web home page, and the Auburn Reporter will run a feature story. Member Singer asked if staff has been working with the Green River College. Mr. Nix answered yes and that there are also other schools that want to come and work with the City on the project. Ms. McMahan stated that it could be a pilot program for environmental studies, specifically Reed Canary Grass elimination. There was additional discussion on funding that still needs to be completed this is discussed the David Evans report. Ms. McMahan has asked a group called Enviro Issues to determine items that need to be funded, such as land acquisitions. Chair Norman stated that one item that appears to be missing is that the funding for the AEP is not coming from the tax base and the public needs to know how the money is being raised. Mr. Nix stated that OPM will playa key role in funding the park (staff and the consultants have a significant list of potential funding resources), but that the Committee needed to keep in Page 5 Plannina & Community Development Committee Minutes mind that seed money for studies was essential to the project's success. Ms. McMahan answered that staff could come up with a way of showing how the Park is being funded. Staff will continue to attend future meetings with updates. C. Mr. Krauss provided information to the Committee regarding commercial uses in Industrial Zones. He stated the area south of the SuperMall is one good example of where liberalizing commercial uses in the Industrial districts would be beneficial. This change would give the property owners additional options for their property. If the Committee is comfortable with moving forward, staff will draft an ordinance and proceed forward with the changes. The Committee concurred with this approach. D. Mr. Osaki provided an update on the Sign Code stating the sign code had been under review by the Planning Commission. Based on information provided to the Planning Commission regarding recent sign related legal decisions, it was decided that the sign code needs to be revisited by the Ad Hoc Sign Code Committee. Staff will bring the new information back to a future PCD meeting. E. Mr. Krauss asked Mr. Osaki to give a brief update on the West Hill Annexation Pilot Program and Joint Development Standards Mr. Osaki stated that originally there were supposed to only be 3 joint meetings but, because of good results and progress, they have now met four times with a fifth meeting scheduled in late May. Staff will be bringing the results back to PCD and the Public Works. Also, although the meetings initially focused on Auburn West Hill PAA along with Federal Way's easterly PAA, the meetings have raised the question of whether to apply joint standards to the Lea Hill area. Tentatively staff will come back to the PCD meeting on May 23 with an additional update. F. Mr. Krauss led a brief discussion regarding the North Lake Tapps Interjurisdictional Plan. He stated that the City was invited to participate in a study with Sumner and Bonney Lake Page 6 Plannina & Community Development Committee Minutes to decide where the potential annexation area and utility service are boundaries should be in north Pierce County area. Bonney lake has no immediate plans for annexation in this area and Sumner's annexation area is already located on top . of the hill. Each city will pay their share to put this study together. It is possible that Auburn could be in a position to annex North Lake Tapps. The City is looking at all levels of service including fire, transportation, and water, as well as how the lake will still be used, for now, as recreation. The study will help to define the level of services needed. Mr. Krauss finished by saying staff will keep working and will keep the Committee appraised of what is happening. Member Singer asked if it is a regional plan. Mr. Huskey said the storm drainage facilities and infrastructure in Pierce County could not be up to City standards. This could be an issue if the City needs to replace such infrastructure. Mr. Krauss finished by saying staff will keep working and will keep the Committee apprised of what is happening. G. Ms. Goodman brought the Committee up-to-date on the Transportation Plan. They discussed and reviewed the applications for the Transportation Plan cover. The final choices will be presented at the City Council meeting of Monday May 16. Ms. Goodman would like to know if staff should just select the winner or if the City Council would like to select Staff could pick the top three. Ms. Goodman will make the entries available in the Council room and include a form to vote. Chair Norman asked if everyone could vote by Friday morning. Ms. Goodman would like to notify the winner so they would attend the Council meeting. On the'Transportation Plan itself, Ms. Goodman will come back to PCD with a draft list of policies. Also, she said she will take the draft to the Planning Commission on June 7. Member Singer asked how the non-motorized plan is being coordinated with the rest of the plan. Ms. Goodman stated she will also bring the non-motorized chapter back to the Committee meeting on June 13. Page 7 Plannin!:l & Community Development Committee Minutes H. This item was added as a modification to the agenda. Mr. Dowdy discussed the development of the Kent watershed area. This item was also on the Public Works meeting agenda earlier in the afternoon. Mr. Dowdy discussed several of the roads that are planned to pass through the development. Mr. Osaki added this project is also called Verdana and the name Kent 160 reflects the acreage in the property. The City of Kent is handling the permitting process now. There are planned to be about 386 houses on 160 acres with fairly substantial wetlands to the south of the main development. The development is coming to the City of Auburn to provide the sewer. The development is not asking the City for water. The City is concerned about pedestrian access to a nearby grade school and at this time the Parks Department is involved in the agreement's review and the Public Works Department has also been involved. Mayor Lewis stated that this item will be on the agenda for the Monday City Council meeting in an effort to address the developer's timing needs. However, if all questions are not answered to the Council's satisfaction it will be pulled from the agenda. Mr. Dowdy added that this is a negotiated agreement and for the Committee to make sure the mitigation measures in section 5 reasonably address concerns. One condition is the pedestrian crossing to the school. The half street improvements will need to be addressed and paragraphs within the agreement are covered. Member Singer asked about a signalized intersection. Mr. Dowdy does not recall discussing that particular item but there would be a pedestrian activated signal at mid-block. Mayor Lewis reiterated that the Committee needs to decide if there is a traffic light at the intersection. Mr. Dowdy is pretty sure that the school was not required by the county to put in a signal. Mr. Dowdy said the City is concerned about traffic congestion and circulation within the plat. They are requiring the developer to put in a 2-lane road. The City will require that the road be built to a Kent collector standard. Page 8 Plannina & Community Development Committee Minutes Chair Norman asked about the fire district. Mr. Huskey answered that it will be under the jurisdiction of the City of Kent Fire Department. Also, there will be no driveways on the street and the access will be through the alley alleys for lots along the arterial (Road A). Another feature will be that the storm pond will be built with amenities. Chair Norman would like more information on location of the parks and about the signal on 1241h. Mr. Dowdy said the City has required Kent to finish the road out to 288th. This way traffic impacts will be distributed throughout the plat. Mr. Osaki stated that staff will high light the map pages to show the parks and make the maps available to the Committee. V. INFORMATION A. Discussed items to be added to the Work Plan. VI. OLD BUSINESS A. None VII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Planning and Community Development Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 7:22 p.m. APPROVED THE ~ ~ DAYOF~fMS-- .(~~/ Carolyn Br n, Secretary Page 9