HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-12-2009 Special
CITY OF
PLANNING & COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
~ WASHINGTON
. May 12, 2009
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Lynn Norman called the meeting to order at 5:32 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 was excused.
Staff members present included: Director Cindy Baker, Assistant Director Kevin Snyder,
Principal Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain, Principal Planner Jeff Dixon, Senior Planner
Chris Andersen, Planner Stuart Wagner, Assistant City Attorney Steve King and
Planning Secretary Renee Tobias.
II. DISCUSION
A. Code Update Project
Staff distributed an Issue Summary for Tit/e 17-Subdivisons and Title 18-Zoning to
the Committee. The Summary contained proposed code revisions reviewed by the
Planning Commission and public hearing comments received May 5 and May 7,
2009. Further review of Planning Commission recommendations was discussed.
Section 17.06.010(F) - Boundarv Line Adjustment
Planning Commission recommends modifying to allow a boundary line adjustment to
increase the nonconforming aspects of an existing nonconforming lot if another
existing nonconforming lot becomes more conforming as a result. Committee asked
that staff specify that the nonconforming relates to minimum length, width and total
area requirements and not setback requirements.
The following three sections (17.12.010.6, 17.14.010, 17.14.015)-are proposed to
expedite the process for final plat submission. Proposed amendment allows for a
concurrent review rather than waiting to either having all the improvements
completed and signed off by Public Works for the Engineer's Certificate or putting up
a guarantee and having the Engineer's Certificate signed, then submitting for final
plat.
Sections 17.12.010.6 - Aqplication submittal and contents
Planning Commission recommends that this section be modified as proposed:
Proposed list of public improvements that will be incomplete at the time of final plat
approval and the associated cost to complete the work. This will be used to
determine the financial security required as part of the final, plat review process. The
Engineer's Certification is required prior to setting the date for hearing with the City
Council and the Engineer's Certification will not be issued until the requirements of
ACC17.14.010 have been met.
Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes May 12, 2009
Section 17.14.010 - Improvement methods and Section 17.14.015 - City Enaineer's
Certificate of Improvements
The current requirements process does not allow a developer to submit for final plat
approval while working toward completion of construction of the required
improvements. Planning Commission recommends that requirements should be
amended to allow for submission of an application for final plat at some specified
point where a minimum required level of improvements have been completed. By
setting a minimum level of required improvements, the requirements for final plat
submission and approval will be clearer for both the applicant and the City earlier in
the process.
Committee asked staff to refine language with Public Works staff to ensure
consistency with their policies.
Cluster Subdivisions - Common Open Space
At the May 11, 2009 PCD Committee meeting, Committee expressed a concern
about allowing 100°/a of the critical areas/buffers to be counted towards a
subdivision's required common open space. Staff reviewed the issue and distributed
the written findings to the Committee for discussion.
Current code provides for lot averaging, which is a form of clustering, in the Lea Hill
overlay zone. Code specifically requires it in the Urban Separators and is optional
outside of the Urban Separators in the Lea Hill zone. Planning Commissioners
recommended modifying the code to allow critical areas and their buffers to be
calculated toward the 50% common open space requirement for properties in
designated Urban Separator areas. For properties outside of the designated Urban
Separator areas, the critical areas and their buffers would be calculated toward the
25% common open space requirement. Committee discussed active and passive
open space and provided direction to staff. Staff will develop recommendations and
bring back to the May 26, 2009 Planning & Community Development Committee
meeting.
Multi-Familv/Mixed Use Design Standards
Committee reviewed the draft Multi-Family & Mixed Use Developments Design
Standards and provided direction to staff. Staff will bring updated Multi-Family &
Mixed use Developments Design Standards to the May 26, 2009 Committee
meeting. Some of the changes identified by the Committee at the May 12th meeting
included:
Sustainability
• Add language about sustainability incentives where appropriate. Discussion
about sustainability will be discussed at a future PCD Committee meeting.
Page i.
• Staff confirmed for Committee that the Design Standards apply to new and
existing construction. Committee discussed the applicability and exemptions
for minor improvements to existing structures.
Page 2
Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes May 12, 2009
• Staff will provide wording regarding exemptions to the Design Review
requirements based on the nature and the scale of the proposed
improvements to an existing building.
Page 6, Item 1.C.2.
• Remove this item
Page 6, Item 1.C.4.
• Change second sentence to read: Perpendicular or angled parking spaces
may be permitted by Planning Director following consultation with City
Engineer.
Page 8, Item 3.13.4.
• Clarify that variation of colors between building intervals may be vertical or
horizontal.
Page 9, Item 4.13.
• Reword that variety in design is required, but not be so prescriptive with
design variety.
Page 10, Item 6.A.3.
• Committee recognized the intent of the proposed language regarding
windows and asked staff to review again.
Page 13, Item A
• Committee asked for clarification on invasive, nuisance plants on the State
noxious weed list. Assistant City Attorney Steve King researched and
responded that noxious weeds are referenced in Auburn City Code
16.10.120. The State refers to "noxious weeds" and not invasive, nuisance
plants as proposed in the Design Standards. Committee concurred that
reference to the state noxious weed list should be deleted.
Page 19, Item 8.A.1.
• Remove this item regarding vegetation.
Page 24, Item 6.A.
• Committee agreed to allow drive-through lanes between the building and the
public street in mixed use retail areas that are not in the Downtown Urban
Center. Staff will add language regarding building design integration and
mitigation.
Page 25, Item 7.C.
• Committee suggested refining first sentence to read "Loading and service
areas shall not be visible from residential areas" and delete the rest of the
sentence.
Page 26, Item 9.C.
Add chain link materials to the prohibited fencing list
• Add wording about temporary or removable fencing such as that viewed in
Redmond.
Page 29, Width/Spacing of Driveways
• Staff will confer with Public Works staff on this section
Page 3
Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes May 12, 2009
Page 30, Pedestrian Orientation
• Staff will reword this section.
II1. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Planning and Community
Development Committee, Chair Norman adjourned the meeting at 8:07 p.m.
APPROVED THIS DAY OF MAY 2009.
Lynn rman, Chair e ee S. Tobias, Planning Secretary
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