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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-23-2005 PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE May 23, 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 Nancy Backus. Also present were Planning and Community Development Director Paul Krauss, Community Development Administrator David Osaki, Parks and Recreation Director Daryl Faber, Development Services Coordinator Steve Pilcher, Environmental Protection Manager Aaron Nix, Planner Bill Mandeville, Cultural Arts Manager Lori Patrick, Project Engineer Scott Nutter, Utilities Engineer Duane Huskey, Mayor Pete Lewis and Assistant Planning Secretary Carolyn Brown. Also, in the audience, was Stephanie Knutson. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. May 9, 2005 Meeting The minutes stand approved as read. Member Cerino made the motion to accept the minutes. Member Backus seconded. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3-0 III. ACTION A. RESO NO 3859 - Acceptance of grant funds from King County to improve water quality resulting from car washing activities. Mr. Nix presented a brief background on the King County Splash Grant program. He stated that at the beginning of the year the City applied for a King County splash grant and from that grant money the City was able to purchase three car wash kits. With this money staff will also be able to distribute out-reach materials to schools and other groups. It is a free program and the car wash kit can be checked out and returned. The kits will direct waste water to the sanitary sewer system. Mr. Nix stated there is also a video to view Page 1 PlanninQ & Community Development Committee Minutes and he will be available to provide information and to meet with any groups that request the kit. Chair Norman asked if staff would provide a demonstration to the committee. Councilmember Cerino moved to accept, and Member Backus seconded the motion to approve Resolution Number 3859. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3-0 B. ORD NO 5913 - Off Street Parking Surfacing/Locational Requirements for Single Family and Duplex Residential Dwellings. Mr. Osaki discussed items related to the previous PCD Committee meeting. The four points he covered were: 1. remove the statement that no "vegetation" can grow through the gravel surface and only specify that this performance standard applies to "weeds" 2. revise the proposed code language to require driveways serving non- required off-street parking areas to also meet surfacing requirements; 3. apply the requirements to duplexes in addition to single family dwellings; and 4. there had been discussion about requiring setbacks for vehicles but based on committee direction this is not incorporated into the ordinance. In addition, Mr. Osaki referenced a new comment letter which was received following the latest PCD Committee meeting; noted that an issue had been raised about whether boats of any size should be subject to the proposed ordinance and stated that there as been a comment by an individual stating that the term "gravel" is too broad, so an alternative would be to use the term "compacted rock". Mayor Lewis indicated that the proposed ordinance should also be reviewed by the Public Works Committee. There was a brief discussion on the different types of gravel and how a citizen would know they are using the right type. Mayor Lewis stated as long as the person is putting the gravel on their property and keeping it clean the city won't cite the person. The Committee briefly discussed different scenarios as to driveway access and discussed duplex lots and how they vary in width. Member Backus had questions about the minimum amount of paving (800 square feet) allowed for duplexes. Mr. Osaki will look at some properties for reference and will come back to the committee. Page 2 PlanninQ & Community Development Committee Minutes Chair Norman stated that she would like the Director to have some discretion. Member Backus asked if a small duplex yard such as one that has only SOO square feet of front yard area would be allowed to devote the entire front yard to paved off-street parking and is that what the City wants to see. It was agreed that there should be some provision to ensure that a property owner cannot pave the entire front yard. Also, the issue of boats in the front yard was discussed by the Committee. It was decided if a boat was big enough to be trailered and will remain on a trailer, the boat should be subject to the requirements regardless of size. Smaller boats not on trailers should be stored elsewhere besides the front yard. Stephanie Knutson, in the audience, stated that staff should not worry about the type of gravel, because in her neighborhood and others she is sure that the neighbors will be the "police". Mr. Cerino reiterated that the front yard parking issue has to be in ordinance form and then the code enforcement department will respond. Mr. Osaki stated that the PCD committee need not take action tonight as he will be taking the ordinance to a future Public Works Committee meeting. C. Application for Annexation for the Stipp property located along South 32Sth Street between 56th Avenue South and 5Sth Avenue South. Mr. Mandeville presented a brief background on the annexation request. The site map included with the agenda bill shows parcel boundaries. The Public Works Department is requesting that the annexation include certain road boundaries. When the property develops, the road will need to be brought up to city standards. Mr. Mandeville is requesting that the Committee consider the annexation and, if approved, he will prepare a petition to be sent to the property owner. Chair Norman asked for clarification that the petition is asking that 5Sth Avenue South be annexed. Mr. Mandeville answered yes and Mr. Krauss stated the Boundary Review Board will ask the City to take the right-of-way, too. There was a brief discussion on other annexations in the area and Mr. Mandeville gave a brief description on these other requests. Mr. Page 3 PlanninQ & Community Development Committee Minutes Cerino questioned access for fire and police. Mr. Mandeville said one needs to go outside of the city limits in order to access this property and provided a map to show the exact location of roads. The Public Works Department would like the developer to improve the road to city standards, however the Mayor stated that the City cannot require the developer to upgrade the road as part of the annexation. The Mayor added that the City cannot put conditions on an annexation. Mr. Mandeville added that this development will be a long plat and long plats will come back to the City Council for approval. Mr. Osaki added that the property could, however, always be sold and a new owner could change the plans for the property so the City cannot necessarily rely on a long plat taking place. Mr. Krauss stated he will write into the agenda bill a sense of what the PCD wants to go to the Council. Mr. Mandeville said he will be sure the language is in the agenda bill regarding the road right-of- way. Mrs. Backus stated she would like to see the agenda bill before it is routed to the City Council packet. Councilmember Cerino moved to accept, and Member Backus seconded the motion to approve the Stipp application for annexation. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3-0 D. Final Pay Estimate #5 to Contract 04-06 Mr. Faber said this payment represents work that could not be completed until now with the better weather. The Committee briefly discussed the pay estimate chart. Mr. Faber provided an explanation of certain information in the chart. Mr. Faber said approval of the final pay estimate would be placed on the next City Council consent agenda. Councilmember Cerino moved to accept, and Member Backus seconded the motion to approve Final Pay Estimate #5 to Contract 04-06. Page 4 PlanninQ & Community Development Committee Minutes IV. DISCUSSION A. Update Status of West Main Street Mr. Nutter provided graphics showing a proposed section of West Main Street. The proposal is to remove parking from the north side of West Main Street. The south side will have an 8 foot-wide sidewalk. The City also proposes to switch out the aluminum light poles with concrete standards. With the removal of parking on the north side of the street the City will be able to widen the sidewalk. Mr. Nutter said funds have been moved from the Auburn Way North fund and non- motorized fund and combined to make a larger non- motorized fund. Trees, landscaping, and widening sidewalks are on the agenda. Crossing and safety at the Interurban Trail and the existing crossing by the West Campus High School are concerns. Mayor Lewis was curious to know if all departments are reviewing the proposed street improvement at this time. Mr. Nutter stated he intends to coordinate the proposed street improvement with the Art Commission, Tree Board and Way Finding staff members but was waiting for the design to be more complete before doing so. Mr. Nutter said that also staff is trying to finalize the alignment of the streets in order to decide what to do with the sidewalks as there is no room on the south side for trees. Mr. Krauss asked what is the advantage of having two bike lanes. Mr. Nutter answered that it is the laws of the roadway to have a bike lane going the direction of the traffic. Mr. Krauss commented that the lanes seem extra wide and the Mayor asked if they could be narrowed down. The Committee discussed the idea of a joint trail on the sidewalks and it was stated that most bike riders do not like that idea. Mr. Krauss asked about crossing C Street SW to provide continual bicycle access to the transit center and Mr. Nutter answered that some of the problems have not been worked out. At this point on Main Street bikers will have to get back into traffic at that location. There followed a discussion regarding access to A Street SE. B. Urban Art Ms. Patrick discussed the direction of the Arts Commission with respect to art in the downtownl urban center. There is an opportunity now to reassess where the City wants to be next year. It will be Page 5 PlanninQ & Community Development Committee Minutes possible to integrate art with a public works project, i.e. the Auburn Way South Rail Road overpass. This year they are committed to work with Public Works on the F Street intersection with the Auburn Way South project. Chair Norman mentioned that 10 years ago there was a project started for the railroad bridge. Chair Norman asked Ms. Patrick for an update on what the project would cost to complete. Ms. Patrick had a copy of the art that was going to be put up on the railroad crossing and Mr. Faber said that money would not be spent on design as the art has been drawn. Right now there is a 60-40 split between downtown and community art. Chair Norman would prefer to use sites that are currently available. There is a meeting planned on the West Auburn project and Ms. Patrick stated she will provide more information at that time. Chair Norman asked her to come back to PCD with a firmed-up concept. Mr. Faber said it could be included with the West Main Street enhancement. Mayor Lewis asked that they come back to the Committee with a firm amount. C. Downtown Design Standards - Steve Pilcher/Mitzi McMahan This has been postponed until a future meeting. D. Homeless Encampment - Paul Krauss Mr. Krauss provided background on the Homeless Encampment issue that has developed over the past 16-18 months. The Seattle Housing and Resource Effort (SHARE) and the Women's Housing, Equality and Enhancement League (WHEEL) are groups with a lot of support from King County and the King County executive. Mostly the encampments have been in the eastside cities. King County has put together the task force to study the issue. A number of cities have put an ordinance in place. Chair Norman asked what prevents just anybody from starting an encampment outside the organized group. Mr. Krauss said there is really nothing to prevent this from happening. The other aspect is that the county could allow the camps on county owned lands. Mr. Krauss would the City Attorney attend a future PCD meeting and talk about the Religious Land Use act. Right now the City has a moratorium regarding Homeless Encampments, that was put in place around the beginning of this year. Page 6 PlanninQ & Community Development Committee Minutes The Committee added this topic to its June 13 agenda and staff will invite City Attorney Dan Heid. E. West Hill Annexation Joint Committee Mr. Osaki gave a brief update on the committee noting that the last meeting was cancelled and will be rescheduled. Mr. Krauss reiterated that this is a pilot program to have the county adopt City development standards in order to facilitate future annexations and could work as well on the Lea Hill area. V. INFORMATION A. Work Plan B. Mr. Krauss, Mr. Heid and Mr. Osaki are scheduled to meet with Futurewise before the next (June 13) PCD meeting. C. Chair Norman asked what is happening with the Auburn Way North triangle property. Mr. Krauss said he will check but that to date the land owner has only removed the fuel tanks. D. The Committee would like to invite Mark Hinshaw to speak at a future meeting regarding development and design in the downtown core. VI. OLD BUSINESS A. Mr. Nix held a brief discussion on the farmers market issue. The Federal government may take some of the subsidies offered to large scale farmers and provide funds toward smaller local farmers. VII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Planning and Community Development Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 6:42 p.m. 1PPROVED TH DAY OF ~.V\.L .C;((}-O-~ C4/1~&rh"~ Carolyn Brown, Secretary Page 7