HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-26-2007CITTYTOF T T~l ~ ~T
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WASHINGTON
PLANNING & COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE
November 26, 2007
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER - 5:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Chair Lynn Norman called- the meeting to order at 5:08 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: Chair Lynn Norman and Member Wagner. Also present were Planning,
Building and Community Department Director Cindy Baker, Development Services Coordinator
Steve Pitcher, Planner Stacey Borland, Senior Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain, Environmental
Protection Manager Aaron Nix, Finance Director Shelley Coleman, Financial Planning
Manager Karen Jester, City Engineer/Assistant Public Works Director Dennis Selle, Assistant
City Engineer Ingrid Guab, Parks, Arts & Recreation Director Daryl Faber, Economic
Development Manager Dave Baron, Mayor Pete Lewis and Planning Secretary Kirsten
Reynolds.
Committee members absent: Member Backus
Audience Members included: Jeffrey Mann, John Potts, Peter Di Turi and Ryan Hitt
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
November 13, 2007
Member Wagner moved to approve the minutes from the November 13, 2007
meeting as submitted, seconded by Chair Norman.
Minutes approved unanimously 2-0.
III. ACTION
A. Ordinance No. 6138 - 2007 Comprehensive Plan Amendments
Senior Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain presented a revised staff recommendation and
answered questions on the amendments from the summary table previously discussed.
Ms. Chamberlain reviewed existing Multi Family developments on Lea Hill and proposed
recognizing them for what they are, Multi Family; this way they do not have to be
considered anon-conforming use. All other Moderate and High Density areas are
proposed to become Single Family Residential.
Based on public comment, ope_commercial area was being removed -and implemented
elsewhere, pending discussior~-with surrounding property owners. Ms. Chamberlain
submitted a revised comment letter from an applicant who was in support of more
commercial for the SE 304th Street and 132~d Ave SE area because of its close proximity
form HWY 18 interchange.
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes
November 26, 2007
Chair Norman commented on the recommendations and completeness of the reviewed
proposals; Council's next step would be to approve the revised proposals. Member
Wagner asked staff to provide a better aerial picture of the 124tH and 312tH area and
place them in all Council's in-boxes. This item will be brought back to PCD as action on
December 10tH
IV. DISCUSSION
A. Budget Amendment #8 2008 Mid Biennial Correction
Finance Director Shelley Coleman answered questions about the 2008 Mid-term budget
correction presented to the Committee. Several items were discussed including: the
professional services and revenue from traffic photo enforcement. Director Coleman
explained that the contract only covers contracted staff time which is paid for by the ticket
revenue. Director Coleman will revisit the contract and distributed this information to the
rest of Council for clarification.
Another question was raised on interfund printing services, increase allocation of
Multimedia services expenses due to removal of VRFA allocation. Director Coleman
explained that this is the same situation for the Information Systems Department because
the Valley Regional Fire Authority (VRFA) was not utilizing all the services offered by
Multimedia. This amount has to be reabsorbed by other departments.
The solid waste revenue must maintain a balance of one million dollars for working capital.
Director Coleman estimated 2.2 million would be left over at the end of the year. On the
same topic, the Information Services Department's capital balance came down from the
previous year. Director Coleman explained that the capital accumulation was taken
out of the Fire Department; the balance is the City's capital. The Fire relief and pension
fund balance should state restricted as the City can not use those funds.
In the past the medical premiums have been paid with the fire relief and pension fund.
With an increasing demand of claims the 2007 budget needed to be adjusted, as it is
every two years, because this line item was under funded. This will be in front of Council
on Monday, December 3, 2007.
Director Coleman announced there will be a supplemental budget amendments for 2007
and 2008 will be coming up.
B. Downtown Sidewalk Standards
Development Services Coordinator Steve filcher, City Engineer/Assistant Public Works _---
Director Dennis Selle and Assistant City-Engineer Ingrid Guab reviewed final revisions to ---
the sidewalk design standards for implementation. The suggestion, of the City Attorney is
to take these downtown sidewalk standards through the Council as an action item with a
revision to the design standards that would adopt the guidelines at full Council on Monday,
December 3, 2007. Public Works Committee has asked for revisions to the cross sections
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes
November 26, 2007
shown on Page 5 which will be completed prior to the council meeting. Chair Norman
thanked staff for their efforts and determined it was time to move this along for full Council
review.
C. Code Revisions to ACC15.74 related to Land Clearing, Grading and Filling
Assistant City Engineer Ingrid Guab proposed some code changes needed to clarify when
a land clearing or grading and filling permit is required for work being done on private
property and when the work is exempt. The proposed changes included revisions to the
fee schedule related to land clearing and grading/filling types of permits. Ms. Guab talked
about past exemptions and discrepancies in the collected fees. This topic was brought to
Public Works Committee in July 2007, there were some changes made; the Public Works
Committee would like to see a more specific value for the performance guarantee section.
Chair Norman asked about diseased trees; under section 25, staff clarified that there are
some exemptions within the code so that a permit is not required if ground cover and trees
that are considered dangerous are to be removed. Other items talked about included
exemption item O under extreme weather conditions and exemption item I trees located
around driveways were taken out, staff clarified that the definition of a permanent structure
was moved to the definitions section.
Chair Norman had concerns for people doing smaller projects, and felt Option 2 of the
proposed grade/fill permit fee be used instead of Option 1 which was recommended by
the Public Works committee.
There were concerns with being competitive and ensuring that land is being protected while
allowing development. The different options were discussed, Option 1 is slightly higher
then average fees overall compare to other jurisdictions, Option 2 is average with the
surrounding jurisdictions and Option 3 uses a sliding scale to weight projects. Option 1 is
a full cost recovery of staff expenses in processing these types of permits, Option 2 collects
about half the costs and Option 3 collects approximately 2/3rds of the costs. Mayor Lewis
stated everybody needs to understand the consequences of development and know how to
pay for them. Ms. Gaub also indicated that the two highest jurisdictions in the survey had
recently increased their fees and that this is more likely to be the trend with all agencies as
the look at funding shortfalls and their costs for providing services on these types of
permits. This item will be brought back for further review at the next meeting.
D. Parks Inventory -Active Park Space Matrix
Parks, Arts & Recreation Director Daryl Faber reviewed locations of athletic fields located
within he-City. Arial maps of several parks were dist~-+~ted; the Committee reviewed
potential sites for open space improvements. The youth and adult baseball field needs
have been met. The soccer fields are lacking; there are not good lighting and drainage
conditions for the soccer fields. A list of opportunities were reviewed, overlays and
drainage systems were discussed for improving the fields for multi use. Director Faber
stated that this is the first year that fields have been utilized during the winter time.
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes
November 26, 2007
Chair Norman asked for numbers and possibilities of getting grants. Director Faber stated
that Mt. Baker High School and YMCA could be good partnerships for improvements.
Member Wagner inquired if there was a higher demand for one site or another. There was
no real statistical information supporting this. Most people want to keep activities in the
neighborhood. Jacobson Farm Creek site would be the best site for a multi purpose field
that could serve the community well. The Tree Farm site will be expensive to develop but
it is already owned by the City; this site would be a great area to improve. There were no
further questions from the Committee.
Member Wagner asked staff to give more information to the rest of the Council members
along with additional research and numbers involving trends and usage of the fields.
Director Faber briefly talked about potential grants i.e. a $300,000 local sports grant could
be received twice.
E. Planning Commission's Recommendation on Senior Housing Parking Code
Amendments
Planner Stacey Borland reviewed Planning Commission's (PC) recommendations from the
November 7, 2007 public hearing relating to off-street parking requirements for senior living
facilities. Ms. Borland reported on the discussion and recommendation of the code
amendments, which included the following changes:
• Under Section 18.52.020.A.7-change "two blocks" to "500 feet" (which is
approximately two blocks downtown) in order to have a more defined distance.
• Under Section 18.52.020.D.1-increase the requirement for nursing home employee
parking from "one space for each two employees" to "one parking space for each
employee per employee shift" and the requirement of "one space for each three beds"
was recommended to be changed to "one space for each four beds".
Chair Norman asked about overlapping shifts; Ms. Borland replied this is a typical issue
that all businesses have; however this proposal adds additional parking to the current code
and should work itself out as there would be other parking spots available for visitors and
residents.
The Committee requested additional modification to the text, including removing existing
code language under the senior apartments section "operated under contract with a public
agency or subsidized under a state, local or federal program". Also specify that residential
units may be reduced by 20% not 25% under this section.
Staff will make revisions to the senior housing parking code amendments and bring back
to PCD for action: -
F. Planning Commission's Recommendation on Home Occupation Code Amendments
Planner Stacey Borland reviewed the Planning Commission's (PC) recommendations from
the November 7, 2007 public hearing relating to home occupation regulations.
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes
November 26, 2007
Ms. Borland reported on the discussion and recommendation of the code amendments,
which included the following changes:
• On page 2 of the ordinance under Section 18.60.020.A-change "one non-resident
employee" to "one full time equivalent non-resident employee" in order to have more
flexibility. For example two part time employees could be employed rather than one
full time, allowing for job sharing.
• On page 2 of the ordinance under Section 18.60.020.C-add "(except) for bed and
breakfasts" at the end to allow bed and breakfasts to use more of the home due to
the nature of their business.
• On page 3 of the ordinance under Section 18.60.020.E-change "does not exceed
once per day" to "does not exceed twice per day" to allow more deliveries.
• On page 3 of the ordinance under Section 18.60.020.G-change "one square foot in
area" to "not to exceed 18" x 24" in area" to permit an increase in sign size for better
visibility in response to testimony received. This increase in size would result in
allowance of a 3 sq. ft. sign for a home business, which is less than that allowed by
code for a real estate "for sale" sign which can be up to 5 sq. ft. in size.
• On page 3 of the ordinance under Section 18.60.020.J-change the proposed new
provision to read as follows "the home occupation shall only have employee and
customer visits from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9:00 a.m.
to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sundays, and federal holidays, except for bed and
breakfasts;" to apply the hours of work to employees as well as customers and to
accommodate the operation of bed and breakfasts.
Discussion took place about allowing an outside employee and the requirement of
additional parking. A parking space would have to be provided for the employee. The
Committee asked to have the word "adequate" removed, so that simply off street parking
for the employee must be provided on site.
As part of the amendments, Special Home Occupation Permits would become an
administrative decision rather than be reviewed by the Hearing Examiner. This change
was made to simplify the review process for applicants, but still allows for the public to
appeal the decision to the Hearing Examiner. PCD felt that by doing this it would take
away the feeling of an open process and opportunity to be directly involved in the decision
process. They asked for the hearing to remain a requirement in the code. The Committee
was comfortable with exempting bed and breakfasts from the hours of operation and floor
area requirements. The revised allowable sign size was acceptable.
Member Wagner talked about the full time employee (FTE) -that it should be limited to
-- __
-one non-resident employee on site atone times.-Staff will make revisions to the home
- occupation code amendments and bring back to PCD-for action.
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes
November 26, 2007
G. Zoning for Lea and West Hill Annexation areas
Senior Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain reviewed testimony received at the Council's
public hearing on 11 /20/07 on the proposed zoning, specifically on the manufactured
home parks. Auburn Hills Manufactured Home Park has already requested the City for
a zoning change; the other mobile home park Collage Place has not requested a zoning
change.
Currently mobile home parks are zoned all the same. Discussion took place around
converting mobile home parks and state regulations such as relocation regulations. If
the Lea Hill area is annexed with out a mobile home park plan the state would require
the mobile home parks to come up with one. Director Baker talked about the state
requirements and the downsides could be impact on lower income persons, increased
traffic; there would be equal control regardless of when the requests come in for a rezone.
Member Wagner expressed support for moving forward with the rezone to happen now.
Director Baker outlines the State's requirements to find the residents a relocation site;
often times the relocation sites are not located within the same community. Discussion
took place around the families and communities that would be disrupted if relocation
regulations took shape.
If the decision was to not include the Auburn Hills mobile home park rezone the individual
property owner would come in after the first of the year and go through the site specific
rezone process. PCD requested staff take action on option one. Staff will redo the two
option maps, take them to Public Works Committee for additional feedback and then
provide the maps to the rest of Council.
V. INFORMATION
PCDC Status Matrix -the Matrix was reviewed and updated with the following items:
1) Electronic Message Boards will come back to Committee in December;
13) Environmental District /Green Zone Consultant Plan will have an update after the
annual Council Retreat;
14) Wayfinding update with dates and times for installation will come in a memo format
at the next meeting;
39) Sustainable Cities - what a Sustainable Plan would look like -this will be scheduled
for discussion at the first COW meeting in March 2008. Planning staff was asked to bring
examples on sustainability for review.
Items to add to the Matrix for future focus:
• Identify the cost of establishing the City's carbon footprint.
• Universal parks (boundless playgrounds) with ADA=accessibility and use - to be
discussed in February 2008.
• 27) Add "heritage" to the topic of: Preserve heritage of Carnegie Library & Post
Office. Discussion about establishing a plan at the February 25, 2008 meeting.
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes
November 26, 2007
• Les Gove Community Campus: looking at a phase approach for the campus (add
to comments on matrix). The plan will be ongoing improvements.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Planning and Community Development
Committee, Chair Norman adjourned the meeting at 7:10 p.m.
APPROVED THE ~_ DAY OF
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Lynn No a~n,~Chair
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