Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-03-2001MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 3, 2001 The regular meeting of the Planning Commission was held on April 3, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Auburn City Hall. Those in attendance were as follows: MEMBERS: Gama Jones, Karen Ekrem, Bill Taylor, Peter DiTuri, Dan Rollins STAFF · Lynn Rued, Jeff Dixon and Patti Zook The following members were absent: Dave Peace and Fred Helser The meeting was called to order by Vice Chairman Karen Ekrem. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: It was concurred by the Planning Commission that the minutes of the March 6, 2001 meeting be approved as mailed. PUBLIC HEARINGS: · File No.: ZOA01-0002 Assistant Planning Director Rued presented the staff report, amendments to the Auburn City Code Title 18, Zoning, and Title 17, Land Division Ordinance, relating to panhandle lot length and private access tracts. There are a number of changes being proposed which he reviewed. The length for small lot zones such as residential and duplex would increase to 150 feet. Other zones such as commercial/industrial and larger residential, would not have a maximum length. Commissioner Taylor asked who maintains the driveway and Assistant Planning Director Rued replied the property owners maintains the driveway. Vice Chairman Ekrem asked where panhandle lots would apply. She asked if the contractor divides the property to get the panhandle lots. Assistant Planning Director Rued responded that most larger subdivisions have panhandle lots. There are a number of panhandle lots in Lea Hill because of the terrain as well as in Lakeland Hills. The panhandle lots allow developer to take advantage of as much land as possible. Commissioner Taylor wondered about the reason for the maximum number and Assistant Planning Director Rued said this would be explained under the access tract item. Commissioner DiTuri asked about the parking of vehicles and Assistant Planning Director Rued said this should not be a problem if the drive is wide enough and will not block fire lane. Commissioner DiTuri wondered about parking on the access road and Assistant Planning Director Rued said the panhandle lot can have access from the street or culdesac. Commissioner Rollins wondered if a portion of the drive could be declared a fire lane and Assistant Planning Director Rued replied yes. In the subdivision process, the Fire Department would review for this as well as compliance with fire code and access. Commissioner DiTuri wondered if the hydrant can be placed at the end of the access. Assistant Planning Director Rued remarked that the Fire Department can require homes to be sprinklered instead and also could require a turn around. Assistant Planning Director Rued referred to private access tracts and remarked that these are something new for Auburn. King County allows access tracts and there are a number of access tracts in Lea Hill. He then showed an overhead and explained that the tract is owned in common by property owners and lots share in the ownership and taxes on it. -I- MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 3,200_1 Commissioner Rollins believes there is one discrepancy related to private access tracts meeting design standards under section 5 about having parking not required (page 3) and Assistant Planning Director Rued will clarify the section. Commissioner DiTuri is trying to visualize driving into an access tract with a paved road, no sidewalks, no curb cuts and driving on a road with high fencing on both sides and wondered if access tracts will require higher fences. He expressed concern about the possible difference in fence heights. Assistant Planning Director Rued said that you cannot have a six foot high fence in the street right of way now. In this particular case, with arterial frontage, each lot is considered a front lot line and cannot have a six foot high fence. There would never be a six foot high fence on either side. There was no public testimony and the public hearing was closed. Commissioner DiTuri made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Taylor, to recommend approval with the described changes. The motion passed. · File No.: ZOA01-0003 Assistant Planning Director Rued presented staff report, amendments to the Auburn City Code Chapter 18.76, Lakeland South PUD, to address RV parking. The Zoning Ordinance requires multi family complexes in excess 50 units have parking areas to be set aside for RV parking. However, the Lakeland South PUD proposes not to allow RV parking in their PUD area and has covenants to restrict RVs. Staff is recommending that the Lakeland South PUD be changed to reflect that RV parking is not required. The change will require will covenants or restrictions to be recorded that precludes the RV parking for this multi family complex. Commissioner Rollins wondered who enforces the regulations. Assistant Planning Director Rued said this falls to the City and the Homeowners Association or manager of the multi family complex would be sited if there is any violation. This would be considered a civil code violation not a police issue. Vice Chairman Ekrem asked how much space the developer has to provide. Assistant Planning Director Rued replied that 10 feet by 20 feet is adequate for most RVs. He must provide one space for each 10 units at the complex. For this project, Lakeland will not allow RVs, so they do not have to provide space for the RVs. Vice Chairman Ekrem referred to the covenants and wondered if developer can make them more stringent than the Zoning Ordinance. Assistant Planning Director Rued replied yes because the Zoning Ordinance requires RV parking now whether there are covenants or not. Lakeland would be in violation of the City code unless the change is made. Vice Chairman Ekrem asked about City time involved in enforcement of the regulations and Assistant Planning Director Rued remarked that a letter would be sent to the Homeowners Association regarding the violation. Commissioner Taylor inquired who the City contacts regarding any violation. Assistant Planning Director Rued said the City could go after Homeowners Association rather than the individual RV owner. There was no public testimony and the public hearing was closed. Commissioner Rollins made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Jones, to recommend approval with discussed changes. The motion passed. OTHER BUSINESS: 1. Sensitive Areas Ordinance Senior Planner Dixon said it is time to resume discussions and issues related to Sensitive Areas Ordinance (SAO) regulations that were started early last year and continued with discussions during the year. The Commission was provided a list of handouts and materials distributed to date. He briefly reviewed the papers distributed previously. He then distributed a SAO preliminary schedule for inclusion in Commission's notebooks. -2- MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 3, 2001 Commissioner Jones mentioned that she did not get a copy of the list and Senior Planner Dixon will forward it to her. Senior Planner Dixon reviewed the schedule and steps one through 14 and provided an overview of these steps. In advance of the next Commission meeting, he will provide a draft of code language for discussion at next meeting. Commissioner Rollins wondered about the time period between steps one and 12. Senior Planner Dixon will have a better idea of the time frame shortly, but this will be a multi-month process. The 60 day review is with the State can be concurrent with other reviews and steps. There is not a hard and fast deadline for implementation, but the City needs to have the SAO in place. The schedule will be refined for the next meeting. Assistant Planning Director Rued advised that staff is looking at standards for gated neighborhoods and there may be a public hearing on this in May as well as some housekeeping Zoning Ordinance amendments. ADJOURNMENT: With no further items to come before the Commission the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. PC~AGND\MIN04-2001 -3-