HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-08-2008CITY OF
UBURN
WASHINGTON
PLANNING & COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
September 8, 2008
MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER - 5:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Chair Lynn Norman called the meeting to order at 5:03 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, Member Nancy Backus and Member Rich
Wagner.
Staff members present included: Planning & Building Director Cindy Baker, Principal
Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain, Senior Planner Stacey Borland, Environmental Protection
Manager Kelly McLain-Aardal, Financial Planning Manager Karen Jester, Assistant Public
Works Director Dennis Selle, Assistant City Engineer Ingrid Gaub, and Community Services
Project Assistant Kirsten Reynolds.
Audience Members included: Greg Watson and Valley Regional Fire Authority Fire Marshall
Jeff Stottlemeyer.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Member Backus moved to approve the minutes from the August 25, 2008 meeting
as submitted, seconded by Member Wagner.
Minutes approved unanimously 3-0.
III. ACTION
A. Resolution No. 4382
Parks Director Daryl Faber spoke about accepting additional property from King
County for the Mary Olson Farm. This transfer of property is located just north
of the Green River; it will be used for additional parking. There is no money
required to do this land transaction; however, a property transfer does need to
take place within the next month. Member Wagner asked if there has been any
history of dumping on the property. Director Faber inquired about this with the
County and got a reply there were no dumping issues.
Member Backus moved to forward Resolution No. 4382 on to full Council for
approval; seconded by Member Wagner.
Motion was approved unanimously 3-0.
B. Ordinance No. 6189
Director Faber talked about the need to change this ordinance to allow the
reservation of grave space without a specific charge for a 30-day period. By
Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes September 8, 2008
making this change it will get the City out of the money lending business.
Member Wagner inquired if there would be a large amount of people asking for
this service. Director Faber replied that there shouldn't be a problem; they sell
200+ plots each year.
Member Backus moved to forward Ord. No. 6189 on to full Council for
approval; seconded by Member Wagner.
Motion was approved unanimously 3-0.
C. Ordinance No. 6198
Principal Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain proposed amending Titles 17,
Subdivisions, and Title 18, Zoning, stating that purely administrative and
procedural code changes would not be reviewed by the Planning Commission.
Staff discussed this change with the Legal Department and took it to the
Planning Commission for public hearing at the September 3, 2008 meeting. The
Commission agreed to have this process changed but asked to have some
language added to clarify the definition of administrative. Staff has improved the
definition to what purely administrative means. With this change there are more
checks and balances in place. The Committee inquired about noticing
requirements. Ms. Chamberlain responded that for the process for noticing will
remain the same with publication in the newspaper and for posting notices in
three general locations.
Member Backus moved to forward Ord. No. 6198 on to full Council for
approval; seconded by Member Wagner.
Motion was approved unanimously 3-0.
D. Resolution No. 4398
Environmental Protection Manager Kelly McLain-Aardal asked the Committee to
authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute an agreement between the City of
Auburn and the lowest qualified bidder for Auburn's Bird Viewing Tower. When
a contractor is selected, the Bird Viewing Tower will be constructed in the fall.
Member Wagner asked for an explanation of the budget presented. Ms. McLain-
Aardal explained the budget is for the entire Environmental Park, bids for the
Bird Viewing Tower came in at approximately $125,000 - $150,000.
Additionally, there are matching grant funds available for construction use.
Member Backus noted there seemed to be an incorrect calculation on the
budget status sheet which made several numbers off. This will be corrected
before moving forward.
There was discussion regarding current parking. There are currently three
spaces available at the northern end of the Environmental Park. There is room
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes September 8, 2008
to park along the street, near the aerospace building; additional parking is not
slated until future expansion
of the park.
Chair Norman asked about handicap accessibility. Ms. McLain-Aardal explained
there is compact gravel at the entrance which acts as asphalt. There will be a
ramp located on the south landing of the Bird Viewing Tower; this will take
people to the first level. All materials being used are low maintenance.
Volunteers will be utilized for maintenance of the facility.
Member Backus moved to forward Resolution No. 4398 on to full Council for
approval; seconded by Member Wagner.
Motion was approved unanimously 3-0.
IV. DISCUSSION
A. Historical Downtown Ideas/Photos
Guest speaker Greg Watson, a teacher at West Auburn High School presented
several points of historical matter and ideas that could be incorporated into
Auburn's downtown development. Mr. Watson is an expert on Auburn's Native
American way of life, Japanese farming culture and the Northern Clay Co.
Gladding McBean.
Mr. Watson spoke about the coincidence of the downtown development project
being called Auburn Junction; Ilalgo, which means junction, is what Native
Americans called the Auburn area; they referred to the area as Ilalgo/junction
because of the Green and the White Rivers met here at one point. Mr. Watson
pointed out this was a great coincidence of history reinventing itself.
Auburn's Native American Heritage
Mr. Watson stated the language spoken in the area is part of the family of Salish
languages. He noted it is important to be aware of stylistic approaches to
artwork and should be within the Salish language. Mr. Watson discussed the
artwork of Susan Point and showed pictures of intricate basket weaving and
suggested that architectural elements could be incorporated into development
that mimicked those basket elements.
Northern Clay Co. Gladding McBean
Made of durable terracotta clay, the material is both beautifully carved and easy
to take care for. This historic company was located off A Street and did many
public building projects, some still standing today in Seattle and Tacoma. One
building remains in Auburn that has some pieces from the Northern Clay Co.,
the Masonic Lodge.
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes September 8, 2008
Japanese Community
The Japanese community flourished in Auburn during World War II. They were
hard workers in the agricultural community and saw mills. It has been reported
that "They grew up on farming and baseball". The White River Buddhist Temple
was the only building that had an Asian influence in the building structure. The
Temple has since been rebuilt in a European style.
Mr. Watson was asked and plans to give this presentation at the next Downtown
Redevelopment Committee in two weeks, staff will get him the date and time.
B. Ordinance No. 6201 Budget Amendment #16
Financial Planning Manager Karen Jester handed out a budget amendment that
included
$50,000 added to Planning's budget for annexation census costs and there was
an additional $30,000 added to Parks budget for the golf course. There was
also a total of $144,000 added for vehicle prep because when vehicles were
purchased for annexation positions they were not budgeted appropriately for
capitalizing all the prep work needed to place the vehicle into service. There
was discussion about the Drug Forfeiture fund budget adjustment; it was
clarified this is only for additional graffiti cameras.
C. Aggressive Begging Code, Section 9.08.010
Chief Jim Kelly was not present at this meeting to answer questions. The
Committee reviewed and discussed the packet materials regarding impeding
pedestrian or vehicular traffic. Chair Norman informed the other Committee
Members that during the busy commuting times there is a problem with
panhandling near Highway 18. There is currently nothing in place that prevents
this activity. With this code revision it will be a tool for the Police to use to stop
this behavior. When people are approached for the first time they are given a
verbal warning to stop this behavior, the second time could constitute jail time
and/or result in a misdemeanor. Members Backus and Wagner asked to have
Chief Kelly come talk with them further about this matter. Staff will contact Chief
Kelly and ask him to attend the next PCD meeting.
D. Encouraging Infill Residential Development
Assistant Public Works Director Dennis Selle, Assistant City Engineer Ingrid
Gaub and Fire Marshall Jeff Stottlemeyer have presented the proposed changes
related to residential infill development to the Public Works Committee. Member
Wagner talked about the Half Street Policy being silent regarding right of way
dedication requirements. Ms. Gaub replied that the intent of the policy is that a
dedication would usually not be allowed to be deferred.
Director Baker asked about the situation where it may not be possible to obtain
the right-of-way for a half street. Mr. Selle stated that the staff is willing to work
with applicants in special situations that arise but such situations are very rare.
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes September 8, 2008
There are additional deviation options if there are situations where there isn't
enough space adjacent to the public road to practically dedicate the additional
right-of way, i.e., such as a privately owned building located too close, the City
would try to get the right of way when they can but may defer it until future re-
development of the property occurs. If staff finds that a particular situation
occurs frequently, staff would come back to the Committee for additional
guidance on this matter.
Chair Norman asked for clarification within the access tract changes concerning
residential units having fire sprinklers, she stated the language was confusing
and asked staff to clarify if this is only for the new buildings or for all buildings
accessing the tracts. Mr. Stottlemeyer clarified that it would only be a
requirement for the new residence. Staff will modify the language to make this
clearer before returning to the Public Works Committee for final approval of the
design standard revisions.
E. Healthcare District Overlay Phase 1
The Committee last discussed this issue in August. In response, staff did
another field survey on the Healthcare District Analysis Area. Senior Planner
Stacey Borland gave an overview of a map that identified current land uses in
the Healthcare District Analysis Area and residential office zoned area north of
3rd Street NE. Staff found a concentration of medical uses near the Auburn
Regional Medical Center. Director Baker added that staff will be working closely
with Public Works on more specifics related to stormwater improvements.
The Committee was provided a smaller map of the Phase 1 area, which is
between 3rd Street NE and 7th Street NE. The Committee asked about the A/B
Corridor and how that impacted this area. Discussion about the wetland impacts
and staff working with the Army Corps of Engineers ensued.
Staff analyzed extension of the area north to 15th Street NE. Staff noted that
established industrial businesses, Fred Meyer, a senior housing facility, the
expansion of Mohawk Plastics, existing wetlands in the area, and the 75' height
limitation near the airport make it difficult to extend the healthcare district north.
There is a vacant site owned by Multicare, however there is very little connection
with the hospital or the residential area to include the site as part of the overlay
district.
Chair Norman spoke about the importance of having the neighborhood remain
residential as the area converts to businesses. There was a brief discussion
around what requirements must be met when converting an individual house into
a business. Ms. Borland discussed the code change to allow for a healthcare
district as an overlay. The Committee also reviewed the list of incentives
prepared by staff relating to the overlay area.
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes September 8, 2008
There was discussion about parking issues in the area. Parking is largely
determined by the square footage of the building structure. One of the
suggested incentives was to round down when the required parking ended up
fractional. The Committee didn't agree with rounding down the required amount
of parking spaces but they did like the compact space concept. Director Baker
talked about having a shuttle as a solution to the lack of parking. Chair Norman
expressed that wouldn't solve the lack of parking in the area; perhaps having an
additional area for off site employee parking may be the answer. Chair Norman
asked for a recommendation on how to deal with the parking issues with out
destroying the neighborhood with control and guidance.
Member Wagner talking about storm water requirements; he stated it is still
worth looking into pervious pavement. Director Baker suggested a bioswale
system that the City could construct that would serve the storm drainage needs
of the area. Chair Norman commented requirements need to work for both
residents and business owners, maybe using the Fred Meyer parking lot for off
site parking. Member Wagner commented that A Street would need to be
punched through to the Fred Meyer parking lot. Discussion took place about
residential preservation and creating a good balance with having the options to
convert homes into businesses.
The Committee was in agreement that they should invite the neighborhood to a
meeting. There will be a presentation from the Council's perspective and then
time will be permitted for the neighborhood to ask questions and make
comments. If nothing is done, it is likely that this neighborhood will convert over
time naturally to more businesses and potentially there will be many issues with
parking and lack of protection for the neighborhood. Council's goal is to
preserve houses in the neighborhood. An invitation will be sent to the neighbors
inviting them to attend a special PCD meeting to participate, the meeting will
need to start at 6:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m.
Major issues recapped included: parking issues need to be solved, compact car
spaces are okay, tandem parking okay (only for employee and owners),
continue work with Public Works around storm drainage issues, not in favor of
the traffic impact fee reduction, not in favor of rounding down of parking space
requirements and in favor of making the Special Exception process
administrative.
V. INFORMATION
A. Director's Official Decisions and Report
• The Assistant Director will start work on Wednesday, September 10th; he
will be in charge of permit processing and code update.
• The City was able to salvage some of the clay tiles from Del's Farm
Supply, the tiles are being stored for future use at GSA.
• The agreement with Alpert is nearing completion.
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes September 8, 2008
• Plans for the garage have come in and are in review.
• Director Baker will be attending the Planning Director's conference later
this week.
• All Planning staff has completed the required FEMA training.
• Meeting next week with BHC to review the code revisions.
B. PCDC Status Matrix
Member Wagner asked what was happening with the Diversity Consultant
position. Chair Norman replied that Community Services Manager Duanna
Richards has been working to put together another Stakeholder meeting on
September 23rd that includes the original consultants and the community
members that were interviewed.
C. Information
• Citizen Survey Questions - due December 15th
V. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Planning and Community
Development Committee, Chair Norman adjourned the meeting at 7:07 p.m.
APPROVED T IS 2,2- DAY OF e
i
Lyn No an, Chair Kirsten Reynolds, Co unity
Services Project Assistant
Page 7.