Loading...
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. Page 1 Planninq & Community Development Committee Minutes 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. Page 2 Planninq & Community Development Committee Minutes 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 Page 3 Planninq & Community Development Committee Minutes 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 Page 4 Planninq & Community Development Committee Minutes March 13. 2006 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. Page 5 Planninq & Community Development Committee Minutes March 13.2006 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 Page 6 Planninq & Community Development Committee Minutes 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 Page 7 Planninq & Community Development Committee Minutes 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 Page 8 Planninq & Community Development Committee Minutes March 13. 2006 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. Page 9 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,,-- Page 10