HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-06-2008~
CITY OF ~
~~~~~~~►.l ~
WASHINGT'ON
FINAL
PLANNING COMMISSION
May 6, 2008
MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Judi Roland called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers located on the
first floor of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Auburn, WA. Commission Members present
were: Vice Chair Kevin Chapman, Robert Bagget, Ron Copple, Peter Di Turi, Joan Mason, and
Dave Peace. Michael Hamilton was excused. Also present were Principal Planner Elizabeth
Chamberlain, and Principal Planner Jeff Dixon.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion to approve the minutes of the April 8, 2008 meeting as submitted.
Minutes approved 6-0.
III. PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no public comments.
IV. PLANNING DEPARTMENT REPORT
Update on Planning Department activities
Planning, Building, and Community Director Baker indicated that the second half of the year
will be busy for the Planning Commission. The Planning, Building, and Community
department is nearly at full staff with four new planners. Aaron Nix has tendered his
resignation and will become the Director of Environmental Management for Black Diamond.
Downtown Redevelopment
The City has a 90-day letter of intent with developer Spencer Alpert to develop a four
block area around Main Street and Division. The City owns a number of parcels and
may swap parcels in order to have mega sized blocks. The potential would be to either
purchase or lease some of the blocks. There will be several discussions of parking
garages in the area.
• Robertson Property Group
The City is working with the Robertson Property Group to develop an agreement
regarding the Valley 6 Drive-In Theater.
• Code Update
A consultant will be hired to assist with a major regulatory code update, which will
come to the Planning Commission. The PCD Committee will be asked to prioritize the
zoning and engineering codes.
• Green River Levee Project
King County Flood Control District, in conjunction with the Army Corp of Engineers, will
reconstruct segments of the levees that are susceptible to erosion along the west side
of the Green River, south of Brannon Park. The State owns the shorelines and fences
or other structures in this area may have to be moved. Project will begin in July 2008.
Planninq Commission Meetinq Minutes Mav 6, 2008
V. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
VI. OTHER BUSINESS
There will be a joint Planning & Community Development Committee (PCDC), Planning
Commission (PC), and Hearing Examiner meeting on May 27, 2008 at 5 p.m. in Council
Chambers. At this meeting there will be a walk through of the roles of the PC, PCDC and
Hearing Examiner.
City Council relies on the PC to make a recommendation on proposals brought before the
commission that are best for the community. PC can hear testimony from the public and
ensure that the code is followed. Code update decisions are made by Council at the
recommendation of the PC.
Staff reviewed the two types of decisions, legislative and quasi-judicial Qudging). Legislative
covers making the laws, creating laws, and making sure the decision or law complies with
Growth Management Act. The code that comes to PC is legislative and will go to the Council.
Projects, such as Conditional Use Permits (CUPs), are a quasi judicial and go to the Hearing
Examiner and the decision is made as to whether the code was applied appropriately to a
specific project.
Staff reviewed the potential change of the quasi-judicial role resting with the Hearing Examiner
rather than some quasi-judicial decisions being made by the City Council.
A question was raised if the role of the Planning Commissioners role will change because of
the change to the quasi judicial role of the Council. Because the Hearing Examiner
implements the code, Director Baker said the role of the Planning Commission will not change.
Director Baker said any place the Council has a quasi judicial role will now go to the Hearing
Examiner and if an appeal then goes to Superior Court. Development Agreements may revert
back to the PUD process. Development Agreements will be useful in a different way and will
not be eliminated, especially during a project that will be a long term phased development.
The Commissioners discussed the vision of the City and find they act as a sounding board for
the community. The Council depends on the PC to make sure staff is following the law,
especially of the Growth Management Act. It is important for staff to walk through the roles of
the Commissioners. Commissioners would also like to hear results of the key issues they
reviewed and what happens after going to City Council. Legislative and code updates will go
to Council because they can talk to constituents and discuss these issues.
The retreat was discussed and the Commissioners would like to know more about what
happened at the retreat as it applies to the City. Topics for the next meeting, which will be a
combined meeting with PCDC on May 27, were discussed. The Planning Commission will
have about an hour to discuss items at the joint meeting. This meeting will also include the
Hearing Examiner, Phil Ohlbrects.
The group discussed having one of the PC members attend the Committee meeting where a
proposal that is going through PC is brought forward. PCDC members are well informed and
read the PC minutes so they know what is going on at the PC meetings. A PC member could
attend just to answer any questions after staff does the presentation. PC minutes are sent to
Page 3
Planninq Commission Meeting Minutes Mav 6, 2008
PCD after minutes are approved at the next PC meeting. The group discussed how minutes
are reviewed and PC members' participation.
It was discussed if an involvement with a project by a Commissioner participating in the
decision that is also a citizen of Auburn and interested in the project should be cause for a PC
member to recuse themselves. The PC is in a legislative role. It was decided that this
particular participation does not reflect a conflict of interest. The more information learned by
the members the better to make decisions. However, in the case of a public hearing, there is
not supposed to be meetings or discussion of the hearing. Staff will check the rules and have
the City attorney come to the next meeting and clarify the legal aspects. Staff will make sure
everyone has copies of the rules. It was also discussed that the PC, at one time was quasi-
judicial, but is not now.
Discussed the PC minutes and the approval process. The PC would like to look over the draft
minutes. Once reviewed it is still in draft and gets routed to the PCDC. The PC would like to
have the minutes one week after their meeting and will go to PCDC at their last meeting of the
month
Discussed when a legislative decision could be attached to a quasi judicial, such as a
Comprehensive Plan Amendment (which is legislative a policy) attached to a Rezone, which is
quasi -judicial. Discussed when the PC rules of procedure were revised. It appears the last
time was February of 2007. Chair Roland read from the rules of procedures and it was
decided to definitely ask the City Attorney for guidance. Executive session is another process
that needs discussion.
Commissioners would like to have information on any crucial items that may be discussed at
other committees. Zoning code and design standards are up coming important issues.
The PC will have more information after the meeting with the PCD and will then have an idea
of what is coming to the PC meetings.
Planning Director Baker would like to have input from the PC regarding changes they would
like to see.
There will be a second Planning Commission meeting in May, which will be on May 27, in
conjunction with the PCD meeting. The next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 3,
2008.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the Planning Commission adjourned at 8:04 pm.
Page 4