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Home My WebLink About04-23-2009 Special . *CI.TY F CITY COUNC IL SPECIAL MEETING . WAS H I NGTON April 23, 2009 5:30 PM ~ Council Chambers MINUTES I. Call to Order The special meeting of the Auburn City Council was called to order at 5:30 p.m. and the following Councilmembers were present: Rich Wagner, Sue Singer, Gene Cerino, Nancy Backus, Bill Peloza, and Lynn Norman. Councilmember Virginia Haugen was excused. Mayor Peter B. Lewis was also present. Staff members present included: City Engineer Dennis Selle; Assistant City Attorney Stephen King; Planning, Building, and Community Assistant Director Kevin Snyder; Senior Planner Chris Andersen; Planning, Building and Community Director Cindy Baker; Principal Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain; Planner Angelique Moser; Principal Planner Jeff Dixon; Planner Jennifer Shih, and City Clerk Danielle Daskam. Gil Cerise, Senior Planner with the consulting firm of ICF Jones & Stokes Associates, Inc. was also in attendance. II. Study Session to Review Code Update Project Assistant Planning Director Snyder welcomed the Council and explained that the purpose of the special meeting is to provide a briefing on the status of the code update -project, concepts and options. Staff presented a PowerPoint presentation on the Code Update Project. The Code Update Project includes updates to Title 17 (Subdivision) and Title 18 (Zoning) of the Auburn City Code and updates to the City of Auburn Engineering Design Standards. Assistant Director Snyder reviewed the timeline of the code update project: Page 1 Citv of Auburn Citv Council April 23, 2009 January - n Code Consistency Analysis March 2008: March 2008 - Code Consistency Analysis placed on Hold ugust 2008 Project Scope/Purpose Revised September Phase 1 of Code Update Project - Title 17 008 - June 1, (Subdivision) & Residential Portions of Title 18 009 (Zoning) - analysis/information from Code Consistency Analysis brought forward & used Streets Portion of Engineering Design Standards - Public Works Committee une 1, 2009 - Phase II of Code Update Project - Non October 2009 Residential Portions of Title 18 (Zoning) & Title 14 (Project Review) Streets/Utilities/Stormwater Portions o Engineering Design Standards - Public Works Committee Goals of code update project include: Respond to change in quasi-judicial process for City Council through updated regulations and standards Improve the readability and ease of use of City regulations and standards - more "user-friendly" Update technical aspects, development standards & process requirements to address known issue areas Improve the City's development review process and quasi-judicial decision-making process through for the provision of better customer service Ensure land use standards and engineering design standards are coordinated and consistent with the City of i4uburn Comprehensive Plan, Capital Facilities Plans and other regional and state land use & environmental requirements Assistant Director Snyder spoke regarding the Code Working Group. A total of 34 persons were asked to join the Code Working Group representing a broad cross section of interested/affected parties including citizens, businesses, real estate brokers, developers, and consultants. The Code Working Group was formed as an advisory group to advise the City on issues, opportunities, and challenges for update of City regulations and standards. Key issues expressed by the Code Working Group are: Page 2 Citv of Auburn Citv Council April 23, 2009 Desire for development regulations and standards that are easier to read and understand Desire for development regulations that more clearly articulate how Conditional Use Permits are to be applied in residential zones Desire for more flexibility in the development regulations and standards to better address large residential and mixed-use projects Desire for development regulations and standards that provide for a greater variety of housing types Desire for sufficient flexibility in development regulations and standards to provide for the efficient conversion of single family residences into commercial uses in designated areas Desire to reevaluate the number of residential zoning districts, and the uses and development standards for each Desire to reevaluate the City's current development regulations and standards for lot creation and density recognition Director Baker stated that an analysis of densities will be addressed separately. The City's consultant, Gil Cerise, reviewed a summary of the key proposed amendments to Title 17 (Subdivisions). It was noted that the majority of the proposed amendments to Title 17 are intended to clean up inconsistencies and vagueness in the Code and address consistency with State subdivision law. Changes to Title 17 include: User Guide (Chapter 17.00) Boundary Line Elimination (Chapter 17.08) Neighborhood Circulation Plan (Chapter 17.16) Binding Site Plan Approval (Chapter 17.24) Cluster Subdivisions (Chapter 17.26) Gil Cerise also reviewed a summary of the key proposed amendments to Tile 18 (Zoning). Phase 1 of the Code Update Project is primarily focused on residential portions of Title 18; non-residential (commercial/industrial) will be addressed during Phase 2 of the Project. Key proposed amendments to Title 18 include: User Guide (Chapter 18.00) - New General Provisions (Chapter 18.02) - Updated Page 3 Citv of Auburn Citv Council Aari123, 2009 Definitions (Chapter 18.04) - Updated Residential Zones [R-C, RS-1, RS-5, RS-7, RM-10, RM-16, RM-20] (Chapter 18.06) - New/updated Residential Overlay Districts (Chapter 18.20) - Updated: contains standards from current ACC 18.45 (Lea Hill District) & ACC 18.45A (West Hills Annexation Area) that are proposed to be struck from Title 18 Infill Development Standards (Chapter 18.25) - New Supplementary Regulations for Specific Uses (Chapter 18.31) - Updated: combines current ACC 18.48 (Supplemental Development Standards) & ACC 18.58 (Performance Standards) as well as standards from certain sections of ACC 18.04 through ACC 18.20. Chapter 18.31 will include standards for cottage style housing. Chapter 18.49 (Flexible Development Regulations) - New Chapter 18.51 (Density Recognition) - New. Senior Planner Andersen reviewed key issue areas for the Code Update Project. Key issues include: Engineering Standards Update Revised Residential Zone Designations and Development Standards Binding Site Plan Approval Cluster Subdivisions Cottage Housing/Innovative Single-Family Housing Flexible Development Reg u lations/Alternatives Infill Development Standards Multi-Family/Mixed Use Design and Development Standards Enaineerinq Standards Update City Engineer Dennis Selle reviewed the Engineering Standards update. The Engineering Design Standards Update covers: Transportation Water Sanitary Sewer Storm Drainage Grading and Erosion Control Drivers for the Standards update include: Change in City Council's quasi-judicial role Page 4 Citv of Auburn Citv Council April 23, 2009 ' Storm drainage - National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems II (NPDES II) Federal Clean Water Act mandate - Ecology equivalent standards for City's Municipal Stormwater Permit Feedback from users and staff Consistency with other Code updates "Green" considerations The Public Works Committee is authorized to approve updates to the Engineering Design Standards and has designated initial priorities as: • Transportation Grading and erosion control Storm drainage City Engineer Selle reported that the storm drainage design manual must be updated by August 2009 to meet NPDES II compliance. Staff has been working with the Public Works Committee on the Transportation Section of the Engineering Design Standards as well as coordinating with the Code Working Group with other code update efforts. The update of the Engineering Design Standards will be completed by the end of 2009. Revised Residential Zone Designations and Development Standards Senior Planner Andersen reviewed the revised residential zone designations and development standards which are a density based zoning classification system. Residential Desi nations Existin & Pro osed Conversion Table Existin Zonin Desi nations Code U date - Pro osed Zonin Desi nations Designation District Designation District RR Rural RC Residential Residential Conservancy - .25 Dwelling Unit Pe Gross Acre/4 Acres Minimum Lot Area RS Single-Family RS-1 Single Famil Residential Residential - 1 Dwelling Unit Pe Gross Acre/35,000 Sq. Ft. Minimum Lot Area Page 5 Citv of Auburn Citv Councii April 23, 2009 R1 Single-Family RS-5 Single Famil Residential Residential - 5 Dwelling Units Per Gross cre/8,000 Sq. Ft. Minimum Lot Area R2 Single-Family RS-7 Single Famil Residential Residential - 7 Dwelling Units Per Gross cre/6,000 Sq. Ft. Minimum Lot Area R3* wo-Family RM-10 Residential Multiple Residential Family - 10 Dwelling Units Per Gross cre/4,300 Sq. Ft. Minimum Lot Area RM-16 Residential Multiple Family - 16 Dwelling Units Per Gross cre/2,700 Sq. Ft. Minimum Lot Area RM-20 Residential Multiple Family - 20 Dwelling Units Per Gross r cre/2,200 Sq. Ft. i nimum Lim R4* Multiple-Family = • Residential Senior Planner Andersen noted that the current R3 and R4 designations are proposed to be re-assigned to three multi-family density based designations (RM-10, RM-16, and RM-20). Councilmember Wagner suggested changing the RS-5 designation to RS-5.5 to reflect the actual density level of 5.5 dwelling units per gross acre. Councilmembers and staff discussed deleting the word "single" from residential zones that could allow duplexes. Deputy Mayor Singer inquired regarding bed and breakfast facilities in residential zones. Staff agreed to review the zoning designations that would allow bed and breakfast facilities. Page 6 Citv of Auburn Citv Council April 23, 2009 Senior Planner Andersen reviewed the following proposed residential development standards: New maximum/minimum densities New minimum average lot size „ Updated minimum lot size No minimum lot depth Updated minimum setbacks New minimum distance befinreen principal buildings New minimum landscape and open space standards for multi- family development Bindina Site Plan Approval Assistant Director Snyder reviewed the binding site plan approval process. The alternative land subdivision process is allowed under state law for industrial/commercial development and certain types of residential development (e.g. residential condominiums). The binding site plan approval process is offered by many jurisdictions in the state and is used as a tool for economic development. The process allows an expedited process for commercial/industrial development and requires a higher level of development detail (i.e. building size and locations, parking areas, landscape areas) than the typical plat approval process. Councilmember Wagner inquired as to the public involvement in the binding site plan approval process. Assistant Director Snyder advised that the binding site plan process includes a Type II level review with staff review and public noticing, including notice to property owners and notice published in the newspaper. The binding site plan would be appealable to the hearing examiner. Councilmembers and staff spoke regarding better signage of proposed land use actions and methods for notification of property owners. Options will be discussed further by the Planning and Community Development Committee. Cluster Subdivisions Gil Cerise reviewed cluster subdivisions where property owners are allowed to subdivide land into smaller lot sizes in exchange for conservation of an open space. Cluster subdivisions are: Page 7 Citv of Auburn Citv Council April 23, 2009 Alternative land subdivision process that allows clustering of lots within a subdivision onto portion of a site while maintaining underlying allowable density for purposes of: Efficient provision of infrastructure services Protection of on-site environmentally sensitive areas Proposed to be required when a property zoned RS-1 is partially or wholly within a designated urban separator Proposed to be voluntary when a property zoned RC or RS-1 or RS-5 or RS-7 is located wholly outside of an urban separator Offered by many jurisdictions in the region & state When required, 50% of non-constrained area must be in common open space - critical areas buffers can be counted When voluntary, 25% of non-constrained area must be in common open space - critical areas buffers can be counted Councilmembers discussed options to require usable open space above and beyond critical areas. CottaQe Housina/lnnovative Sinqle-Familv Housinq Councilmembers discussed various styles of cottage or innovative single family housing and viewed examples in slides. Planning and Community Development Committee members spoke of several examples of cottage housing that they previously toured in Redmond, Kirkland, Seattle and Shoreline. Cottage housing features small lot sizes oriented around common open space. Average house size is approximately 800 to 1,100 square feet. Shared parking areas are typical. Cottage housing can be developed as condominiums or as separately owned lots. Flexible Development Requlations Senior Planner Andersen reported that early on the Code Update Working Group and Planning and Community Development Committee expressed a desire for more flexibility in the City's development regulations while ensuring a high level of predictability of what would be constructed and a clear public benefit. Assistant Director Snyder and Senior Planner Chris Andersen presented the following elements of flexible development regulations: Alternative development tool to gain development flexibility through the provision of public benefits Voluntary Proposed to be available for residential development, industrial/commercial development & mixed-use development Page 8 Citv of Auburn Citv Council April 23, 2009 Multi-tiered approach: Tier 1: Minimum Requirements to be eligible Tier II: Weighted Public Benefit Scoring Matrix: Up to 9 scoring categories drawn largely from Comprehensive Plan goals and policies + a Design Innovation bonus Have to score minimum 100 points from minimum of 3 categories . Qualified projects would have proposed access to reduced land use and engineering standards as well as expedited permitting Senior Planner Andersen discussed the public benefit scoring matrix and how projects could qualify for flexible development standards. Infill Development Standards Gil Cerise reviewed the following infill development standards: Designed to encourage development of underutilized parcels Ensure compatibility of infill development with existing neighborhoods Applicable in RS-5, RS-7, RM-10, RM-16, RM-20 3 types of standards - all are required to be met if infill development is proposed: Land Division - lot dimensions Development Standards - i.e. setbacks, height Design Standards - building modulation, building design Assistant Director Snyder stated that staff will be looking to the Planning and Community Development Committee for guidance in balancing infill development and compatibility with existing neighborhoods. (Councilmember Peloza left the meeting at 7:01 p.m.) Gil Cerise stated that infill development is based upon the size of the parcel and how much development exists around it. Infill could occur on an existing parcel with an existing development that is redeveloped or it can be a vacant lot. Multi-familv/Mixed Use Development Standards Senior Planner Andersen reviewed the following elements of multi- family/mixed use development standards: Page 9 City of Auburn Citv Council April 23, 2009 Specific development and design standards to promote quality designed multi-family/mixed use development Potential regulations would address: Architectural Standards: Building articulation Building rhythm Fagade breaks Site Standards: Building orientation ' Building massing Common open space • Parking area design & location Area of Impact: Site Specific Area Wide Site Specific/Area Wide Hybrid More information related to multi-family/mixed use development standards will be presented to the Planning and Community Development Committee on Monday, April 27tn III. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:07 p.m. APPROVED THE DAY OF MAY, 2009. Peter B. Lewis, Mayor Danielle Daskam, City Clerk Page 10