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WASHINGTON
PLANNING & COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
JANUARY 23,2006
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, Mayor Lewis, Planning
Secretary Carolyn Brown,
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. January 9, 2006 Meeting - Mr. Cerino moved to approve
the minutes as read and Ms. Backus seconded the motion.
Motion approved unanimously. 3-0.
III. ACTION
A. Mr. Osaki presented the draft Sign Code ordinance. He stated
that the Planning Commission made it's recommendation at it's
January 4, 2006 meeting. The version provided tonight to the
Planning and Community Development Committee, is the strike-out
and underline version of what staff recommended to the Planning
Commission. It reflects changes recommended by the Planning
Commission and also incorporates comments received from certain
councilmembers to date.
Mr. Osaki stated that there were no additional revisions suggested
by the Public Works Committee earlier in the afternoon.
Councilmember Wagner asked about C-3 zoning, as larger
commercial properties may want to have larger commercial signs.
Mr. Osaki added that the code now gives the Planning Director the
ability to approve larger signs though a master sign plan process if a
coordinated signage scheme is proposed.
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PlanninQ & Community Development Committee Minutes
January 23. 2006
The PCD Committee discussed apartments that are located back
from a main thoroughfare and may need off-premise signs to help
advertise vacancies. Mr. Cerino provided background about a
particular landlord who would like to put the "For Lease" signs on
private property. Chair Norman added this is a valid point, and there
is a concern that other property owners might be faced with a similar
situation. Mr. Osaki added that the existing code doesn't deal that
well with rental property signs or signs that advertise vacancies.
Chair Norman noted that rental properties could always have a sign
up as there may always be vacancies in an apartment complex. As it
is proposed now, the Planning Director will have the opportunity to
grant permits for off premise signs, rather than have them processed
through the Hearing Examiner public hearing process.
The PCD Committee discussed areas such as 8th Street NE, where
there is no room along side the street to place signs.
Mr. Osaki mentioned that the agenda bill notes that staff will add
language to the proposed ordinance clarifying that a right-of-way use
permit may be required for certain community signs. Also, staff will
add language to the proposed sign code specifying that civic event
signs in the right-of-way need to be installed in accordance with the
requirements of the Public Works Department. The PCD Committee
discussed the use of street banners located on Main Street.
Mr. Osaki stated that the proposed code does not explicitly regulate
political signs. Life safety issues will regulate political signs.
Mr. Cerino asked if the code addressed the Wayfinding signs and the
locations. Mayor Lewis stated this is covered in the Wayfinding sign
proposal.
The Committee discussed abandoned signs. Mr. Krauss said the
City did not want to require property owners to take the conforming
sign structure down just because a business has vacated the site.
Mr. Osaki added that if the sign is torn, broken, in disrepair, etc. the
City can then take action.
Mr. Cerino made the motion to forward the amended sign code -
Ordinance 5993 - to City Council for approval. Ms. Backus seconded
and Chair Norman concurred.
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PlanninQ & Community Development Committee Minutes
January 23. 2006
IV. DISCUSSION
A. Paul Wohlhueter, Chair of the Park Board, provided a recap of
2005 highlights. He briefly discussed new projects, OPM, and policy
revisions for the Parks and Recreation Department.
The plans for the Auburn Golf Course Club House have been
approved by the City Council. Mr. Faber stated the architect has
given staff a first look. The plan will be on the agenda for the Muni
Seryices meeting in 2 weeks.
Fenster Park located by the Green River near 4th Street and 2nd Street
SE, has been through community meetings. A consultant has been
hired for the Master Plan Development. Mr. Faber said that a grant in
the amount of $750,000 has been received. Next year the Parks
Department will apply for additional grant money. There may be
additional WRIA money available for a grant for phase 2.
The landscaping and irrigation have been completed in the Cedar
Lanes Park. The Coalition of Churches donated $10,000 both in cash
and an asphalt donation. The Coalition volunteers installed the
playground. There is still some turf work that needs to be completed
at the entrance to the park. There is an on-site building which would
be a suitable site for a before-and-after school program for the
Terminal Park school and Gildo Ray Elementary School. Mr. Faber
added it is a brick building and the interior could be remodel into a
large room and a kitchen.
The Les Gove Park and Community Campus has had the Master Plan
approved by park board. Mr. Faber said there are a few things that
have changed about the area and he will bring a revised Master Plan
back to the Committee at the end of the quarter. The Park Board has
approved the concept and will submit it to the Planning and
Community Development Committee approval. Mr. Faber said they
are meeting with the King County Boys and Girls Club to see if they
want to partner with the City. Also, they are meeting with ACAP
regarding a possible move to the new location.
Mr. Wohlhueter reviewed some of the successful projects of 2005.
The small skate board park at Les Gove has proved very popular.
The skate boarders actually donated money and labor. Mr. Faber
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PlanninQ & Community Development Committee Minutes
January 23. 2006
said this seems to have eliminated the problem of skateboarding at
the library and museum and the spray park.
The White River Disc Golf Club developed a site at Game Farm Park
with donated labor and OPM. Mr. Faber said next summer this
course will attract a large group of participants. It is a nice course
on unused land, and does not distract from the park.
Mr. Faber discussed other sponsorships such as Auburn Medical
Center which will sponsor the Summer Cinema Series. Also, the
transfer of the Game Farm Park from the State to the City was
finalized in 2005. The redesign of the camping sites at Game Farm
Wilderness is ready for the 2006 season.
Some of the 2006 goals are the Golf Course club house, more work
at Game Farm Park, the building at Veterans Park, and before-and-
after school programs. Mr. Faber added Parks Department policy
manual needs to be updated.
Mr. Wohlhueter said one of the concerns of the Park Board is the
lack of soccer fields. Mr. Faber said the City is looking at all weather
fields. There is $600,000 in budget and staff will be applying for state
money to turn the soccer fields into turf fields. Chair Norman asked
if the City was still in discussion with Green River College. Mr. Faber
said there has been the discussion of giving the College about 10
years of free use of soccer fields, with the donation of upfront
money. Mr. Faber added the City has 2 soccer fields, and for a city
the size of Auburn, there should be around 19 soccer fields.
Chair Norman stated that all the parks should be ADA friendly and
user friendly. Mr. Faber acknowledged that the playgrounds are
inadequate and they need to be accessible to all ages.
B. Mr. Faber provided the information regarding thinning trees at
Game Farm Park. The trees were planted too closely to begin with
when the park was developed. The park was over planted and the
City uses plants to move around to other parks. Mr. Faber said the
Parks Department will do citizen awareness related to tree removal
inside of the park. Mr. Faber added that most of the trees that are
going to be thinned are too big to be moved.
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Plannina & Community Development Committee Minutes
January 23. 2006
C. Mr. Osaki provided updated information to the PCD Committee
regarding the Home Occupations Code change. He explained that
this code change is still a work in progress to some extent.
Basically some of the key issues are:
. Only one family member. The present code does not allow
non-resident employees. As the proposed code now reads,
one non-resident employee is permitted if the home
occupation can demonstrate adequate off street parking.
. Staff is proposing to delete the entire section related to
inventory.
. The Home Occupation shall not involve the use of personal
commercial vehicles.
. The business will be allowed to have one - one square-foot
sign. However, if a home is in a commercial or industrial zone
then the amount of signage allowed is determined by the zone.
. Limits customer traffic to 5 daily trips each way.
. Prohibits outdoor storage of materials.
. Eliminates any new requests for an auto repair business.
. Building construction or landscaping businesses would be
required to obtain a Home Occupation permit.
. Eliminates the hearing examiner public hearing process for
special home application permits and replaces it with an
administrative review process.
. Eliminates the hearing examiner public hearing process to
terminate a home occupation.
D. Mr. Pilcher provide an update on the conceptual design of an
expanded City Hall Plaza. Staff met last Friday with Mark Hinshaw of
LMN Architects, who had developed some ideas for redoing the
plaza at City Hall. The potential project would not only improve the
existing plaza, but also extend across Division Street to the "tavern
block," thereby providing a public interest to move forward with
acquisition of properties.
One design is for a "healing garden" concept, which would be tiered
and planted with scented plants. It would probably be high
maintenance and would require volunteers, such as garden clubs.
Several individuals present at the Friday meeting felt this was a
better concept for the hospital to pursue.
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Plannina & Community Development Committee Minutes
January 23, 2006
Mr. Pilcher pointed out that all the designs will change the pattern of
the street intersection. The designs will possibly make use of
colored or stamped concrete. He pointed out that these are all
conceptual studies and as yet there is no cost estimates.
A second "water feature" concept shows some landscaping and a
multilevel shallow water pool, with a smaller amount of greenery.
The water pool could also include a grate that would allow people to
walk over the feature.
Chair Norman said greenery, rockery, water feature and etching
would provide nice setting. The water feature could perhaps be
designed to go under the street and come out across Division. Mr.
Pilcher stated the water can also mask street noise. Chair Norman
added that rainwater could be captured and used for watering the
plants. Also, they would like to see it as a "friendly area" with chairs
that have backs.
Another idea is for a town square concept with a row of trees toward
the main entrance of City Hall. It would also incorporate a redesign
at the top of the stairs leading from the plaza and remove the
podium. Mayor Lewis noted that pieces could be taken from the
three designs in order to come up with the best application.
Mayor Lewis added if the City Council is agreeable, staff would need
to provide an ordinance to start the process by acquiring the
necessary properties. The next step for the Committee is to direct
staff to move forward through the process. The Committee would
like to see more open area for hosting community events. Mr. Krauss
said they will ask Mark Hinshaw to redo the design with more space.
E. Mr. Pilcher also provided an update regarding the Downtown
Design Standards. On February 9 there will be a lunch meeting with
Merilee Utter. Right now, Mr. Pilcher is trying to come up with a time
Mr. Hinshaw can meet the Planning Commission. Their normal
meeting is on a day of the week he can't come.
The Committee discussed the downtown core, and in relation to the
urban center. Mayor Lewis said that the downtown is specifically
speaking of Main Street and anything within walking distance from
downtown as the urban area. Mr. Krauss said staff has asked Mr.
Hinshaw to expand the area from downtown. Mr. Cerino stated that
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PlanninQ & Community Development Committee Minutes
January 23, 2006
he would like to see the term "Urban Center" substituted for
Downtown. Mayor Lewis suggested it could be the Auburn
Downtown Design Standards as defined by the Urban Center area.
Mr. Cerino added the City wants to do what it can for the area, and
the downtown is very limited. He added it is the city center, but may
not always be downtown in terms of retail activity.
V. INFORMATION
A. Planning and Community Development Committee Status
Matrix
The PCD Committee indicated that it would like to see the
Human Seryices Committee attend the February 27, 2006 PCD
meeting.
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 6:31
p,m,
13th DAY OF J:l/1a~
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Carolyn Bro~, Secretary .
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