HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-26-2009
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PLANNING & COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
WASHINGTON
May 26, 2009
MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Lynn Norman called the meeting to order at 5:00 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, Vice Chair Nancy Backus and
Member Rich Wagner.
Staff members present included: Director Cindy Baker, Assistant Director Kevin Snyder,
Principal Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain, Principal Planner Jeff Dixon, Senior Planner
Chris Andersen , Planner Angelique Moser, City Engineer Dennis Selle, Assistant City
Engineer Ingrid Gaub, Assistant City Attorney Steve King, and Planning Secretary
Renee Tobias.
Audience members included: Steve Chinn, Cassie Chinn, Nicole Petrino-Salter, Susan
Hauck, Matt Borgwardt, Rudy Terry and Joyce Terry.
I1. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Minutes - May 11, 2009
B. Minutes - May 12, 2009
Member Backus moved and Member Wagner seconded to approve the minutes as
presented.
MOTION CARRIED 3-0
II1. ACTION
A. Ordinance No. 6239 - Title 17 Amendments
Planning staff worked with Public Works staff to further refine the amendments and
staff distributed the updated pages for Title 17 (Subdivisions) as additional staff
recommendations to the Committee. Senior Planner Chris Andersen reviewed the
recommended changes with the Committee and joined City Engineer Dennis Selle,
Assistant City Engineer Ingrid Gaub and Assistant Planning Director Kevin Snyder in
answering the Committee's questions.
Committee discussed the proposed changes and amendment. Other than scrivener
corrections, the Committee concurred with the staff recommendations and had the
following additional changes for staff.
Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes May 26, 2009
Chapter 17.14.010.A(1) - Improvement Methods.
• Change sentence to read, "The amount of the assignment of funds or
irrevocable letter of credit or other security shall be 150 percent of the
estimated construction costs of all remaining required public improvements,
as determined by the applicant, and approved by the city engineer."
Chapter 17.24.030.3(e) - Application Submission Requirements
• Change sentence to read, "Concepfual transportation site plan for streets,
pedestrian, and bike facilities. . . "
Chapter 17.24.020.E - Approval Process
• Replace "good faith" with "diligently".
Chapter 17.26.010 - Purpose
• Remove word, "future" in second sentence.
Chapter 17.26.040 - Clustering in Residential Zones Outside Urban Separators.
Staff distributed four illustrations regarding common open space in cluster a standard
subdivision and a cluster subdivision. The illustrations were presented as an
alternative to what was received in the packet for active open space. After
discussion, Committee concurred on Option 2: Cluster Subdivision - Area Differential
Approach.
Member Backus moved and Member Wagner seconded to forward to Ordinance
No. 6239 as amended to full Council for approval.
MOTION CARRIED 3-0
Following comments provided by Mr. Garrett Huffman of the Master Builders
Association (on the following page) regarding concerns with the requirement for the
designation of common open space in cluster subdivisions outside designated Urban
Separators, the following motion was made.
Member Backus moved and Member Wagner seconded to re-open Ordinance No.
6239 for further discussion.
MOTION CARRIED 3-0
Member Backus moved and Member Wagner seconded to forward Ordinance No.
6239 to Council for approval, removing Chapter 17.26.040 and all references to
clustering outside the urban separator for further discussion at a later meeting.
MOTION CARRIED 3-0
B. Ordinance No. 6245 - Title 18 Amendments
Planning staff worked with Public Works staff to further refine the amendments and
staff distributed the updated pages for Title 18 (Zoning) as additional staff
recommendations to the Committee. Senior Planner Chris Andersen reviewed the
recommended changes with the Committee and joined City Engineer Dennis Selle,
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes May 26, 2009
Assistant city Engineer Ingrid Gaub and Assistant Planning Director Kevin Snyder in
answering the Committee's questions.
Committee discussed the proposed changes and amendments. Other than scrivener
corrections, the Committee concurred with the staff recommendations and had the
following additional changes for staff.
Chapter 18.07.030 - Residential Zone Development Standards
• Change Interior Side Setback, Item F.5, to 20 feet in the RC zone. Chair Norman offered to hear brief comments from the audience.
Garrett Huffman, Master Builders Association (MBA), 335 116th Ave SE, Bellevue,
WA 98004, was concerned that developers will not be able to attain the number of
lots identified in Chapter 17, Cluster Housing. The whole point of cluster
development is to achieve density. The introduction of active open space further
deters the ability to attain the number of lots necessary to make the development
viable. Mr. Huffman suggested a fee in lieu of open space on a proposed
development site that would be used for parks.
Ms. Nicole Petrino-Salter, 31021 132"d Way SE, Auburn, WA stated Lea Hill
residents are fearful that their property will be rezoned from Light Commercial. They
would like to be able to sell their property at its value. Committee responded back
that the Council is committed to having commercial in that portion of Lea Hill but to
get it right, they will also look at the transportation impacts from any development.
Ms. Petrino-Salter stated that the traffic issues have not increased with the Season's
Project but as a result of Green River Community College since the re-routing of
State Route 18. There are difficulties filling the retail portion of the Season's Project
and the two moratoriums did not help.
Mr. Rudy Terry, 31011 132"d Ave SE, Auburn, WA thanked the Committee for the
opportunity to speak tonight. Mr. Terry concurs with the points made by Ms. Petrino-
Salter said. Mr. Terry asked for the Committee's help to ensure that the
opportunities for development are not lost; he has an individual that might be
interested if the same zoning, light commercial, is maintained.
Member Backus moved and Member Wagner seconded to forward to Council
Ordinance No. 6245 as amended.
MOTION CARRIED 3-0
C. Resolution No. 4492 - CDBG-R Funding Through Stimulus
Human Services Manager Michael Hursh reported that the City received notice that
HUD is awarding American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (ARRA)
stimulus funding to entitlement communities receiving Community Development
Block Grants (CDBG); the City of Auburn's portion of the award is $108,877. HUD
requires that the project be "shovel ready" and the public hearing process completed
by June 5, 2009. The project must be completed within three years.
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes May 26, 2009
Staff recommendation for the project is the Barrier-Free Playground in the Les Gove
Community Campus. The playground does fall within the auspice for use of CDBG
monies. If the Committee agrees that the playground is a good project, the next step
would be a public comment period and then brought to City Council on June 1, 2009.
Member Backus moved and Member Wagner seconded to forward to Council
Resolution No. 4492 - CDBG-R Funding through ARRA.
MOTION CARRIED 3-0
IV. DISCUSSION
A. Resolution No. 4483 - Encouraging Economic Renewal Efforts
Committee is supportive of Resolution No. 4483, but not in favor of using the word
"commits" in Section 2 of the resolution. Legal staff will change the wording that
encourages purchasing only products and services that are made or performed in
the United States of America.
B. Multi-Family & Mixed Use Developments Design Standards
Based on the previous discussion at the May 12, 2009 Special PCD Committee
meeting, changes were made to the Multi-Family and Mixed Use Development
Design Standards. The Committee supported the newly added Sustainable Design
Practices. Committee asked staff to add additional flexibility in wording; using
"should" in place of "shall" were applicable.
Committee had the following changes to the Design Standards.
Mixed Use Development
Building Design, Item 8- Treatment of Blank Walls (page 19)
• Reinstate deleted A.1., changing the wording to read "Vegetation, such as
trees, shrubs, and ground cover. Vines are permitted provided they do not
adhere to the wall surface."
• Preference is for vegetation to not grow onto parking structure, but on
separate structures, i.e. trellises, etc.
Site Design, Item 2- Bicycle Infrastructure Requirements (page 26)
• Change A.7 to read, "Bicycle parking areas are encouraged...
• Add wording that artistic bike designs are encouraged.
Staff stated that the Design Standards should be implemented shortly after Title 18 is
adopted on June 15, 2009. Staff will bring the Design Standards back to the
Committee on June 8, 2009.
C. Tower Structures
Planner Angelique Moser provided background, stating that at the April 20, 2009 City
Council meeting, the Council heard a citizen's comments regarding a pending
application for a wireless communication antenna installation atop an existing church
building. The three primary concerns were that no public hearing was held, that
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes May 26, 2009
radio frequency emissions (RF) from antenna placement on existing building may
cause health issues, and that RF emissions may cause interference with television
reception.
Staff reviewed the process and zoning regulations for Wireless Communication
Facilities (WCFs) and noted that certain types of WCFs and wireless antennas
require a Conditional Use Permit that requires a public hearing. Other types that are
permitted outright or require an Administrative Use Permit do not require a public
hearing.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is required to evaluate the effects
of RF emissions from FCC-regulated transmitters on the quality of the human
environment. Some Personal Wireless Communication Facilities are exempt from
the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)
Staff distributed a table outlining the regulatory decision-making of the City, State
and Federal governments, noting that the city zoning code regulates the placement
of Wireless Communication Facilities and antenna height, but does not regulate
Radio Frequency emissions or broadcast station interference. The FCC does not
allow local jurisdictions to restrict placement of Wireless Communication Facilities
and other wireless antennas based on radio frequency emissions output.
Staff stated that the Auburn City Code does address aesthetics for wireless facilities.
Staff said there may be opportunities to amend the Auburn City Code to require that
cell towers are hidden or disguised with stealth design technology. Staff also noted
that antennas and supporting equipment are getting smaller due to technology.
Some jurisdictions are entering into contracts to permit these smaller antennas to be
installed in public right of ways, such as street lights or utility poles, thus generating
revenue. Committee asked that stealth design and allowing public right of ways
installation for antennas be discussed in Fall 2009.
V. Information
A. Mayor's Report
• Mayor Lewis briefed the Committee on local revitalization funding efforts,
including the anticipation of hearing from the Federal Economic Development
Administration regarding the $3 million grant for the Promenade project.
B. Director's Official Decisions and Report
• Birdinq Tower. Grand opening is scheduled for June 22, 2009.
• Greenhouse Gas Inventorv/Carbon Footprint Analysis. Staff have prepared
drafts and interviewed three professional service consultants. With the Mayor's
approval, the inventory and analysis will be completed in approximately 90 days.
• Healthcare District Overlav. This item was tabled until the next Committee
meeting.
• Historic Post Office. Staff met with Auburn Regional Medical Center who may be
interested in using the building for health care activities. The City is looking at
possibly partnering with Auburn Regional Medical Center and Green River
Community College for joint grant applications and funding.
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes May 26, 2009
C. Roles of PCDC and Municipal Services Committee in Parks and Recreation
Functions.
• The Committee asked Councilmember Wagner, Chair of the Committee on
Committees, to confirm who has oversight for Parks, Arts & Recreation functions.
Member Wagner confirmed that the primary committee for recreational services
would be the Municipal Services Committee. For new park development,
changes to existing parks or art services, the Planning & Community
Development Committee would have oversight.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Planning and Community
Development Committee, Chair Norman adjourned the meeting at 7:57 p.m.
APPROVED THIS DAY OF JUNE 2009.
Lynn an, Chair nee S. Tobias, Planning Secretary
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