HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-13-2006
AUwRN
WASH I NGTON
PLANNING & COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
March 13, 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 Rich Wagner was in attendance for Member Nancy
Backus who was excused. Also present were Planning and Community
Development Director Paul Krauss, Parks Director Daryl Faber,
Community Development Administrator David Osaki, Development
Services Coordinator Steven Pilcher; Environmental Protection Manager
Aaron Nix, Planner Bill Mandeville, Planner Stacey Borland and Planning
Secretary Carolyn Brown.
Geri Walker and Denise Stiffarm with the Federal Way School District
were in the audience.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Minutes of the February 27,2006 Meeting
Mr. Cerino moved to approve the minutes as read and Mr.
Wagner seconded the motion.
Motion approved unanimously. 3-0.
III. ACTION
A. Resolution No. 4001 the 2005 Comprehensive Annual
Performance and Evaluation (C APE R) was presented by Mr.
Mandeville.
Mr. Mandeville stated there are a few changes to the document
but most were to clarify statements or to correct typing errors.
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March 13. 2006
Regarding the section on barriers to affordable housing, 4
sections were added in response to comments
Mr. Cerino moved to forward Resolution No. 4001 to City
Council for approval. Mr. Wagner seconded the motion.
Motion approved unanimously. 3-0.
B. Resolution No. 3996 is the annual Agreement with SSS/KC for
Meals on Wheels. Mr. Faber stated this is an ongoing
agreement between King County and the Senior Center. Mr.
Faber added that this is a federally funded program and the
City is reimbursed for expenditures.
Mr. Cerino moved to forward Resolution No. 3996 to City
Council for approval. Mr. Wagner seconded the motion.
Motion approved unanimously. 3-0.
C. Resolution No. 3997 is for a Professional Services Contract for
Shoreline Master Program update.
Mr. Nix provided a background on the request. He said the
last update to the Shoreline Master Program was in 1973. A
consultant team has been assembled to update the shoreline
master program. Some of the areas they will be reviewing are
inventories, maps, an issues of concern analysis, restoration
plans and implementation strategies. When it is ready the
draft master program will come back to committee. Mr.
Wagner asked if streams such as Mill Creek were being
reviewed or just the White and Green rivers. Mr. Nix said just
the rivers qualify. Mr. Wagner asked about the flood plains
and will the City do any work on the closely adjacent flood
plains outside of the City. Mr. Nix said the DOE is asking for
coordination between jurisdictions. The Committee discussed
the critical areas for fish.
Mr. Nix said the May is the due date for the draft inventory. Mr.
Wagner thought that a presentation to council committees on
the inventory would be helpful. There was consensus to
bring the inventory to the committee in May.
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March 13.2006
Mr. Nix added that the preparation of the plan will involve a
citizens advisory committee. Mr. Nix is also planning public
meetings associated with this plan preparation.
Mr. Wagner asked Mr. Nix to attend the City Council meeting
on March 20. There will be a brief discussion on the Puyallup
River Watershed and Mr. Wagner added he would like to make
sure this will not affect this project.
Mr. Cerino moved to forward Resolution No. 3997 to City
Council for approval. Mr. Wagner seconded the motion.
Motion approved unanimously. 3-0.
D. Resolution No. 3998 is for the Federal Way School District
Interlocal Agreement regarding School Impact Fees.
Mr. Osaki stated the City has been working to adopt this
interlocal agreement. He added that this is practically the
same agreement the City has with the Auburn School District.
Mr. Osaki noted that once the interlocal agreement is
approved, then the Committee will work toward an ordinance
adopting the specific school impact fees amounts.
Mr. Cerino inquired about the size of the area of the Federal
Way School District that is in the city limits of Auburn. Mr.
Osaki stated it is a very small area. Part of which is the new
Jovita Heights development and perhaps a small area to the
north of that development. Mr. Osaki added that the
agreement will need to be in place in order to collect the
impact fees from the new development.
Mr. Cerino moved to forward Resolution No. 3998 to City
Council for approval. Mr. Wagner seconded the motion.
Motion approved unanimously. 3-0.
E. Resolution No. 3999 is for the Removal of the Train
Locomotive from the Veteran's Park. Mr. Faber said in
January the Parks Department issued the RFP and three
groups responded. A panel reviewed the RFP's and the
agreement was unanimous to enter into an agreement with a
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March 13. 2006
group from Toppenish. The Park Board also endorsed the
Toppenish group. The Toppenish group also has a strong
core of volunteers, with the expertise to restore this
locomotive. Their hope is to restore the locomotive to become
operational and to pull passenger cars.
Mr. Faber added that the City hopes to have the locomotive
removed by the same time the restoration of the Veteran's
Park building is going on.
The Committee discussed the costs of moving the locomotive.
Mr. Faber stated that none of the cost will be borne by the City
and that the contract will be written to reflect as such. They
will also be some type of agreement to ask them to restore the
locomotive to museum quality even if they can't get it
operational. Ms. Norman suggested that local money could be
raised to help restore the Auburn engine.
The Committee discussed having a history of the engine at the
White River Museum with a little display about the engine.
Mr. Cerino moved to forward Resolution No. 3999 to City
Council for approval. Mr. Wagner seconded the motion.
Motion approved unanimously. 3-0.
IV. DISCUSSION
A. Mr. Osaki stated that the Home Occupation Standards have
been reviewed by the committee at a previous meeting. Mr.
Osaki highlighted the proposed changes.
One item discussed was auto repair. Mr. Wagner added that
the standards should be expanded to include installation of
car stereos, alarms, and similar car accessories. Ms. Norman
expressed concerns about uses that may pose safety issues
and ground contamination.
Mr. Cerino provided the example of auto parts repairs that are
not exactly auto repair, such as transmission repair or radiator
repair. Mr. Wagner suggested that motorcycle repairs should
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be a specific exclusion. The idea is to provide adequate
protection for a neighborhood.
The Committee also discussed the hours that a business
could be open, which can be up until 10:00 pm under the
current proposal. The hours of business are set mainly to
regulate client traffic. Mr. Krauss added an accountant could
work any hours as they wouldn't have traffic. Mr. Wagner
noted that he would actually like to see the hours changed to
end at 9:00 PM or even 8:00 PM. Mr. Osaki said the hours
would be changed from 8:00 until 8:00. .
The Committee also discussed the length of days allowed for a
garage sale. Ms. Norman noted that in the fall some bazaars
can run several weekends in a row. The consensus was to
leave the existing language.
Mr. Osaki said Home Occupation Standards will be scheduled
for a public hearing with the Planning Commission. It will then
come back to the PCD Committee.
B. Mr. Pilcher reviewed the potential Comprehensive Plan and
rezoning actions for implementation of the Downtown Design
Guidelines. He stated that staff has been working with the
consultant, Mark Hinshaw, in order to establish guidelines. Mr.
Pilcher said he wanted to bring this item back to Committee to
discuss some possible significant changes, before the
consultant process went too far in a direction the Council
might find unacceptable.
Mr. Pilcher said that some areas within the urban center, for
example on 2nd Street NW, are zoned for industrial uses. He
added that this might mean changing the zoning and the
Comprehensive Plan. The downtown design vision is for a
commercial mixed use area.
Mr. Pilcher also added that the Planning Commission is
concerned that this could result in houses being torn down in
certain neighborhoods. The Committee discussed the areas
and the fact that the City is not planning for destruction of a
neighborhood.
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Planninq & Community Development Committee Minutes
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Mr. Krauss added that it may be advantageous to extend the
urban center west to the area of the Green Zone and the
Auburn Environmental Park (AEP).
The Committee discussed recognizing the neighborhood as it
is and not intruding into any residential zones. The Committee
discussed that there could be some down zoning and also
some up zoning.
The Committee also discussed the area around the hospital
and there should be firm boundaries on the hospital and the
neighborhoods that surround the hospital. Mr. Pilcher said he
will ask Mark Hinshaw for clarification on his comments
regarding the hospital.
The Committee discussed how changes could impact the
neighborhoods. Mr. Pilcher noted that one difficulty could be
when a builder or someone comes into the area with a plan or
concept but having difficulty complying with the standards.
Ms. Norman noted that the industrial usage was created
because of the tight downtown core. Ms. Norman said in the
future she would like to see infill of housing instead of
industrial development.
C. The Green Zone code amendments and the AEP study update
were provided by Mr. Nix and Ms. Borland. Mr. Nix presented
an updated site plan. He noted that some of the additions
were suggested by the technical advisory committee, such as
trail attachments to the Interurban and how to build so there
would be no impacts to the wetlands.
Mr. Nix stated that grant funds are available for the culvert
work under 15th Street NW. Also, the AEP culvert under 167
could be part of the State's HOV construction project. Mr. Nix
noted the culvert was put in 30 years ago by the DOT and
should be corrected. Mr. Nix added that more habitat would
be created if these culverts under 167 were opened up.
Ms. Norman asked if there is a plan to let more water out of the
area. Mr. Nix answered that the wetlands area will be
mitigated with treated water. Mr. Nix also noted that not all the
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March 13. 2006
water from the downtown area will be treated in the AEP. Mr.
Krauss added that the area is virtually flat and the water is
more of a sheet-flow through a natural wetlands system.
Mr. Nix added that study plots have been identified for the
Green River Community College. Their main area of study will
be on reed canary grass.
Mr. Cerino asked if the AEP will be able to take some of the
water to the north where Mill Creek becomes a flood plain. Mr.
Nix answered that the whole area is under discussion.
Ms. Borland presented the latest revisions on the Green Zone
code amendment. There are a few changes and some items
have been simplified and expanded.
Ms. Borland said one possible requirement is that all
development in the Green Zone should follow sustainable
development processes. The Committee discussed the best
way to accomplish this. The thought is that more proactive
involvement will occur if the process is put in terms of
incentives instead of requirements.
The Committee discussed if the requirements should be strict.
Mr. Nix stated that the City already offers extensive incentives
to development downtown, such as reduced storm water fees.
Mr. Krauss added the City could offer a package to
development. Mr. Krauss said the permit process through the
City is already relatively quick, since a fast process is money
in the pocket of a developer.
Mr. Wagner asked about the maximum lot coverage-area
which states none. Ms. Borland answered that is how the M1
zoning code now reads. Mr. Krauss noted the M1 zone is
obligated to put in landscaping. The Committee discussed
grocery stores being allowed, but also limiting the allowed
size.
Mr. Krauss said the hearing on the moratorium for the West
Auburn area will be on the Monday, March 20th City Council
agenda. Mr. Krauss said when the moratorium was originally
adopted it was all encompassing and even covered business
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March 13.2006
licenses and tenant improvements. The City Council could
amend the moratorium to allow issuance of business licenses
and interior tenant related improvements.
Ms. Borland stated that the next step will be a community
meeting on the Green Zone and AEP and after that should be a
public hearing before the Planning Commission.
Mr. Wagner asked when will the City be ready to discuss the
Green Zone incentives. Ms. Norman stated the City will be
making a decision whether to encourage developers to use
incentives and/or making them a requirement. Mr. Nix added
that this could be a part of the Master Plan for the AEP. Mr.
Osaki added it could be just a matter of deciding what the
range of possible incentives are, selecting the ones the city
wishes to use and drafting an ordinance around them.
D. Mr. Pilcher presented new information on the fence height
issue. Mr. Pilcher noted that staff is still getting comments
about fences from other departments. Most of the issues are
on Lea Hill. Mr. Pilcher stated that an appeal on a wrought
iron fence was recently heard by the City Council and the
council overturned the hearing examiner's decision. Staff is
trying to determine a way to allow these types of fences to
occur. Mr. Pilcher noted that one way would be to change the
definition of a front lot line. Historically the arterial is the front
lot line, but some houses are oriented with the front of the
house away from the arterial.
Mr. Pilcher noted another issues is the concept of allowing a
fence in the front yard to be constructed with see through
ability, such as chain link, wrought iron, or maybe split rail.
This could be put in to the code as an alternative. Mr. Krauss
added that if traffic can be seen through the fence then it can
be authorized. Ms. Norman asked if it could be added as a
standard requirement.
Mr. Pilcher said another standard is to allow a fence in the set
back of the side yard, but this brings in the 42 inch height
limitation. The Committee discussed the different
neighborhoods and where some of the smaller houses
downtown have all the yard space in the front yard. The
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Committee also discussed the new dangerous dog rules and
keeping the dogs inside a fence. Mr. Pilcher added that
most of the complaints are that a house is walling itself off
from the neighborhood. The Committee discussed sight
obstruction on corners and driveways. The Committee
discussed the current limitations and reviewed the changes in
the code. Mr. Cerino asked if someone could come in with an
approved design and ask for permission to build the fence.
Mr. Pilcher stated that the Fire Department also has some
concerns regarding accessibility when electric gates are used.
Mr. Pilcher noted that this concern should be addressed in the
zoning code. Ms. Norman said there is also a concern with
high fences that are gated. Ms. Norman added the Committee
needs to be sure anything under consideration is acceptable
to Fire and Police. Mr. Cerino said there are also the problems
with gates that have chained locks, even though the Fire and
Police Departments usually carry bolt cutters.
Mr. Wagner stated if rockery and retaining walls are to be
considered they should not punish a situation because of
topography or through no fault of the home owner. Mr. Cerino
noted also the slope of a hill can determine the height of a
fence.
The Committee briefly discussed barbed and razor wire
V. INFORMATION
A. Planning and Community Development Committee Status
Matrix
Ms. Norman asked Mr. Nix to bring the interim report on the
Shoreline Inventory the first meeting in May.
VI. OLD BUSINESS
A. Discussed the recognition of groups that come to City
Council.
B. Discussed parking in yards along 8th street between Auburn
Way N and Harvey Road.
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tu~~ ~tU?~0-
Carolyn Bro n, Secretary
Planninq & Community Development Committee Minutes
March 13. 2006
C. Mr. Krauss provided a brief update on the new state tax plan
and how it applies to annexation.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Planning and
Community Development Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 7:25
p.m.
APPROVED THE ;( 7 (j DAY OF 7J; .( Ui,,--
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