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Home My WebLink About01-26-2009 rYOF PLANNING & COMMUNITY A ~ DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE `tJ J.1 ~I WASHINGTON January 26, 2009 MINUTES i. CALL TO ORDER Chair Lynn Norman called the meeting to order at 5:01 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 Rich Wagner. Vice Chair Nancy Backus joined the meeting at 6:03 p.m. Staff members present included: Mayor Pete Lewis, Planning Director Cindy Baker, Assistant Planning Director Kevin Snyder, Principal Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain, Principal Planner Jeff Dixon, Senior Planner AI Hicks, Parks Planning & Development Manager Bob Wuotila and Planning Secretary Renee Tobias. Audience Members included: Wayne Osborne, Robert Whale, Ronnie Roberts, and Roger Thordarson. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Member Wagner moved to approve the minutes from the January 12, 2009 meeting as submitted, Chair Norman concurred. Minutes approved unanimously 2-0. III. ACTION A. Resolution No. 4441 - Youth Facilities Grant Parks Planning & Development Manager Bob Wuotila presented Resolution 4441. Grant is in the amount of $50,000 that requires a match from the City of $21,750 and a$7,250 match from a community partner, which is the Auburn Youth Soccer. The improvement includes making turf improvements to the baseball field No. 4 at Brannan Park. Mr. Wuotila confirmed that the area of improvement is to the soccer field overlay area of the baseball field. Project will commence February 2009. Member Wagner moved to recommend that Council adopt Resolution No. 4441 with modification to clarify that it is the soccer portion of the baseball field that is being improved; Chair Norman concurred. Motion was approved unanimously 2-0. IV. DISCUSSION B. Transportation, Transit and Trails Committee Committee Chair Roger Thordarson provided a report on the diversity of inembers on the Transportation, Transit and Trail Committee (TT&T Committee) and their recent activities. Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes January 26, 2009 The TT&T Committee recently sent a letter to the Transportation Chair of Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) inquiring on the status of PSRC funding for the City's projects; the TT&T Committee is waiting for a response. There is a petition drive in the Lakeland and Lake Tapps area in support of the Stewart Road Widening Project which will be sent to Pierce County. Traffic counts show that over three quarters of the Stewart Road traffic comes out of Pierce County. TT&T Committee continues to work with Pierce County to renew their commitment to improve the road to its five lane capability. There is funding for Phase 4 which is from where the City left off at the Burlington Northern tracks to the bridge; this is in the City of Sumner's jurisdiction and construction should be completed this year. There has been a coordinated effort between the City of Auburn, Pierce Transit and Sound Transit to create a shuttle for the Lakeland Hills area to the Transit Station, starting on February 9, 2009. There are two Park and Ride lots in Lakeland. A mailer announcing the ribbon cutting on February 9, 2009 will be mailed to residents. The shuttle will have six morning and evening trips, meeting each train. In September 2010, Metro will be responsible for finro shuttle routes - one to the Transit Center and one to downtown. Committee asked Mr. Thordarson to provide data on the progress of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes at the next Committee of the Whole on March 30, 2009. C. A Frame Signs Code Enforcement has seen an increase in placement of A-frame signs in areas not permitted by Auburn City Codes. Current code only allows A-frame signs in the downtown area. Senior Planner AI Hicks presented research on other jurisdictions' requirements for A-frame signs. Mr. Hicks responded to Committee's question regarding A-frame signage for businesses that are not listed on a shopping center's main sign or not on a main frontage road. One jurisdiction allows up to 150 feet off-site. Committee discussed City liability issues between updating code to allow A-frame signage in non-downtown areas or through permitting. Committee discussed developing a hold harmless agreement required for permitting. Committee asked staff to obtain Risk Management's and City's insurance provider input regarding liability issues, including a hold harmless contract. Committee asked staff to proceed with drafting code changes, addressing the overall height of a sign, safe placement, removing at night and weighted for inclement weather. D. Environmental District/Green Zone Development Assistant Director Kevin Snyder presented a memo and a brief background history. Committee asked that suggested code changes to Auburn City Code (ACC) 18.33.050.F.1.i, regarding native vegetation, be removed. Committee further Page 2 Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes January 26, 2009 suggested utilizing an earned percent matrix, similar to the Code Project matrix, where percentage points would be given to increase the lot coverage. Example would be applying one percent to proposed ACC 18.33.050.F.1.i, two percentage points for each item under ACC 18.33.050.F.1.a-h and 18.33.050.F.1.j, and 4 percentage points for ACC 18.33.050.F.2, rolling up to 75% maximum lot coverage. Assistant Planning Director Kevin Snyder answered Committee's questions on ACC 18.33.050.F1.h, limitation of on-site parking to 125% of required parking. Current code states a minimum, but not a maximum parking space requirement. Committee discussed at length the proposed ACC 18.33.050.F.2., United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Efficiency Design (LEED). Mayor asked staff to develop thresholds for when LEED designations would be applied under City Code without having to obtain LEED certification. Regarding Question 6, Committee asked staff to concentrate on a green roof rather than a vegetated roof. Staff will prepare a site plan example incorporating the proposed increase in maximum lot coverage and bring to Committee with revised draft code on February 9, 2009. Vice Chair Backus joined the meeting at 6:03 p.m. V. INFORMATION A. Director's Official Decisions and Report • Creation of a Sustainable Development Model Code was postponed until after the Code Update Project is completed. However, Planning, Building & Community Department Director Cindy Baker suggested that the Committee be proactive in preparing a schedule. A copy of Municipal Responses to Climate Change from the Association of Washington Cities website was distributed for Committee's review. Committee discussed at length preparation of a carbon footprint. Mayor Lewis suggested staff obtain a quote from multiple private consultants to have a carbon footprint developed. Committee suggested that the amount of staff time needed to service the carbon footprint be determined. • Planning, Building & Community Department Assistant Director Kevin Snyder announced that the Master Builders Association has offered to hold a workshop for Council on its Green Built Program. Committee suggested having this presentation at the June 29, 2009 Committee of the Whole. B. PCDC Status Matrix • Item 2- Mayor Lewis provided an update on this item. • Item 3- Additional information on parking will come back to Committee in February. The neighborhood meeting will probably be in March 2009. C. Information • Inclusive Playground at Les Gove Park. Committee reviewed a project update memo from Director Daryl Faber. Page 3 Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes January 26, 2009 VI. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Planning and Community Development Committee, Chair Norman adjourned the meeting at 6:46 p.m. APPROVED THIS DAY OF FeJQ;u" cQ Z) o'1 I lw- Ly Norman, Chair enee S. Tobias, Planning Secretary Page 4