HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-27-2009
PLANNING & COMMUNITY
CITY OF * *
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
UBUR:N
* WASHINGTON July 27, 2009
MINUTES
1. 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: Mayor Pete Lewis, Director Cindy Baker, Assistant
Director Kevin Snyder, Principal Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain, Principal Planner Jeff
Dixon, Senior Planner Chris Andersen, Environmental Protection Manager Kelly McLain
Aardal, Dan Repp, Utilities Engineer, Water Quality Program Coordinator, Water Utility
Engineer Cynthia Lamothe and Planning Secretary Renee Tobias.
Audience members included: Wayne Osborne, Nicole Petrino-Salter, and Karen
Campbell.
II. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND AGENDA MODIFICATIONS
At 5:01 p.m., Chair Norman recessed the meeting to Executive Session for approximately
10 minutes in order to discuss potential litigation pursuant to RCW.42.30.110(1)(i). Those
in attendance at the Executive Session were City Attorney Dan Heid, Chair Lynn Norman,
Vice Chair Nancy Backus, Member Rich Wagner, Planning Director Cindy Baker,
Assistant Planning Director Kevin Snyder, and Principal Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain.
The meeting reconvened at 5:13 p.m.
III. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Minutes - July 13, 2009
B. Project C412B0 - Bird Viewing Tower Physical Completion
This project constructed the first bird and wildlife viewing tower within the Auburn
Environmental Park. Project included construction of the platform footings, lower,
intermediate, and upper platforms, two staircases and 30-foot accessible ramp. City
Planning and Parks staff provided and installed the wetland plantings and wood straw
mulch within the disturbed areas around the tower. M& O staff completed
construction of the ADA-accessible gravel trail leading from the road to the ramp and
staircase.
Committee noted that the Budget Status Sheet was incorrect; staff will correct before
item goes forward to Council
Member Backus moved and Member Wagner seconded to approve the Consent
Agenda as presented.
Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes July 27, 2009
IV. ACTION
There were no i#ems for Committee's consideration
V. DISCUSSION
A. Water Use Efficiency Program
Water Quality Program Coordinator Chris Thorn stated that the Water Use Efficiency
Program is a state-mandated requirement for municipal water suppliers. It is intended
to contribute to long term water supply reliability and public health protection and
ensure efficient management and operation of water systems. As a water utility, the
City is required to collect water production and usage data, forecast demand, meet a
distribution leakage standard of 10% or less, and set goals to reduce water
consumption and performance reporting.
The City is required to set nine measurable goals. The goal setting process must
include the opportunity for public comment. For 2009-2014, the water use efficiency
goal is to reduce retail customer use by 1% per year. To achieve this, staff plans to
implement a number of ineasures geared at encouraging the public to reduce their
water consumption. The measures can include educational efforts, possible rebates,
conservation pricing, and putting water use history on utility bills.
Chair Norman opened the meeting to receive public comments on the Water Use
Efficiency Program. There were no public comments.
B. Ordinance No. 6251 - Amendments to ACC 13.48, Storm Drainage Utility
This Ordinance amends Auburn City Code Chapter 13.48, Storm Drainage Utility, to
bring it into compliance with requirements of the Western Washington Phase II
Municipal Stormwater Permit issued January 17, 2007 and modified June 17, 2009.
The Permit specifies that each municipality regulated by the permit shall develop and
implement an ordinance or other regulatory mechanism to effectively prohibit non-
stormwater, illicit discharges into the municipality's storm drainage system to the
maximum extent allowable under State and Federal law. The ordinance or regulatory
mechanism is required to be adopted no later than August 17, 2009.
The proposed changes include addition of definitions, addition of allowing conditional
non-stormwater discharges, and modification to permissible non-stormwater
discharges.
Water Quality Program Coordinator Chris Thorn responded to Committee's question
about charity car washes, stating the City recently purchased six additional car-wash
kits; staff is preparing website education and information, and will issue a press
release notifying the public about the kits.
State law prohibits the discharge of soapy water into the storm drainage system;
however, strict enforcement is usually not conducted. The State is addressing the
issue through education. City code prohibits soapy water discharge and staff are
following state's example of education rather than enforcement.
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes July 27, 2009
In response to Committee's question about how the City was going to enforce removal
of connections to the storm drainage system that had been installed without a permit,
Water Quality Programs Coordinator Chris Thorn stated that the City had no plans to
require removal of drains that discharge rainwater. The changes to the code were
intended to allow the City to require the removal of drains that discharge non-
stormwater flows such as sanitary sewage or wastewater.
C. Agency Draft Comprehensive Water Plan
Water Utility Engineer Cynthia Lamothe informed the Committee that Department of
Health requires that the City's Comprehensive Water Plan be updated on a regular
basis, approximately every six years; this Plan was distributed to Committee on June
17, 2009 for their review.
The Plan utilizes population, employment, zoning and land use data provided by the
Planning Department. Further, the draft plan reflects comments previously made by
Public Works Committee on Policies & Criteria, Water Supply Strategy and the Capital
Improvement Program. There will be a public Open House between 6 pm - 8 pm on
August 18, 2009 to receive community comments on the 2009 Comprehensive Plan
Amendments.
Member Rich Wagner, chair of the Public Works Committee, noted a few items that
were community development related. The Committee reviewed and discussed these,
providing direction and feedback to staff.
Ms. Lamothe reported that staff will incorporate both committee comments into the
final document, which will then be available for public review and review by adjacent
jurisdictions and water purveyors. A SEPA determination will also be issued for the
draft water comprehensive plan to coincide with the issuance of the document for
agency review and the City is working towards adoption by the end of 2009 or early
2010. Department of Health requires a 90-day review period.
D. Ordinance No. 6253 - Amendments to Chapter 18.04 - Definitions and Chapter
18.26 - C-1 Light Commercial District
At the special meeting on July 13, 2009, the Committee reviewed and provided staff
with direction on text amendment approach options to Title 18 (Zoning) that would
address the current moratorium on filing of conditional use permit applications for
multi-family development in C-1 Light Commercial District.
The Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing on the text amendments on
August 4, 2009 beginning at 7:00 p.m. during which there will be a public comment
opportunity on the amendments. The draft text amendments have four major
components including:
• Adding a new definition (Section 18.04.625) for Mixed Use Development Chapter
18.04 (Definitions);
• Establishment of Mixed Use Development as a permitted use in Section 18.26.020
(Permitted Uses) in the C-1 Light Commercial District;
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes July 27, 2009
• Establishment of an allowance for multi-family development only as part of a mixed
use development as a permitted use in Section 18.26.020 (Permitted Uses) in the
C-1 Light Commercial District; and,
• Removal of apartments as a conditional use in Section 18.26.030 (Uses Requiring
Permit) in the in the C-1 Light Commercial District
The Committee provided staff with feedback and direction on the draft text
amendments. Committee asked staff to prepare a summary on the concept of a
circulation plan for the Planning Commission as it is a new concept. The Committee
also asked staff to prepare a map for use by the Planning Commission at the August
4, 2009 public hearing showing C-1 zoned properties in the City and indicating
whether they are developed or undeveloped to help the Commission understand the
overall applicability of the proposed text amendments.
E. Population Targets
Planning Director Cindy Baker reported on recent meetings with Suburban Cities
Association regarding population targets. Staff analyzed housing unit capacity,
including units in pipeline projects, in the following areas: Urban Center, West Hill,
Lea Hill, city limits as of 2006, and potential multifamily development in C1, C3, EP
and M1 zones. The findings - Auburn's Housing Capacity Summary Table - July 2009
- were distributed and reviewed with Committee.
Staff analyzed the current floodplain map and appeal floodplain map, and deducted
units from the overall capacity total. Staff deducted 2007 and 2008 residential building
permit activity from the total as well. Staff also looked at airport height restrictions and
determined that there were none that could be deducted from the overall total. The
total housing capacity for the King County portion of the City is estimate to be
approximately 11,449.
Per Director Baker, Public Works staff has indicated that current infrastructure for
storm, water, and sewer systems could meet the population target; however, the
infrastructure for roads would not. Councilmember Wagner, Chair of Public Works
Committee, responded that the current plans, if implemented, would support; but the
current infrastructure as of today will not.
Committee asked what population numbers were used for the Comprehensive Water
Plan. Ms. Chamberlain responded that the data used is from Puget Sound Regional
Council at the transportation analysis zone level. Using this analysis provided data at
a smaller scale to coincide with the water basins of Lea Hill service area, the Valley
service area, the Academy service area, and the Lakeland service area. Committee
discussed the capacity totals and data used for the Comprehensive Water Plan. Staff
will work with Public Works to confirm the data used for the Comprehensive Water
Plan is consistent with the work being done on population targets and present the
finding to the Committee.
Director Baker reported on the core cities discussion at the recent Housing and Jobs
Targets Committee. Of the additional 2,500 housing units that could potentially be
allocated to the City for the annexation areas, other jurisdictions will accept
approximately 1,200. Committee discussed the numbers and data.
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes July 27, 2009
Director Baker distributed a copy of a letter from Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels to King
County Executive Kurt Triplett. Mayor Nickels requested a substantive discussion
about establishing a stronger connection between the allocation of growth and the
resources for services to support that growth at the September Growth Management
Planning Council. Committee provided suggested wording for a similar letter to be
penned by Mayor Lewis.
The Growth Management Planning Council anticipates taking action on the targets at
their September 15, 2009 meeting. Once the King County Council takes action on the
amendment to the Countywide Planning Policies, then Auburn has 90 days to take
action; either ratify or not to ratify.
Committee requested that staff review redevelopable land within the City and explain
the methodology to the Committee and provide in a memo for Committee's review.
Staff will bring to the August 10, 2009 Committee meeting.
F. Signage
The City has received numerous requests from businesses to increase and expand
the use of signage in an effort to increase business activity and revenue. Staff
developed a decision matrix that was reviewed by the Committee at the meeting to
assist the Committee in considering relevant issues for three proposed options.
These options were 1) Expand the allowance of portable and temporary signs; 2)
Expand the allowance of outdoor sales displays; or 3) Allow outdoor storefront seating
for food and beverage establishments.
The Committee reviewed and discussed the questions presented in the matrix and
provided feedback to staff. Staff will take the signage to the Planning Commission on
August 4, 2009 and return to Committee with recommendations.
VI. INFORMATION
A. Director's Official Decisions and Report
There were no items.
B. PCDC Status Matrix
• Item No. 9 will read "Building Community".
• Item No. 12, Environmental Park District. Committee asked that the incentive
matrix be released prior to October 2009.
C. Information
• Loading Zones The Committee requested that staff attend a future downtown
redevelopment committee meeting to present information on loading zones based
on the feedback staff received from the information provided to the Committee at
their July 13, 2009 meeting. This is an important issue for the Committee and they
would like staff available during the discussion. Also mentioned is how the Auburn
Junction project will be addressing loading zones and that should be brought
forward as part of the discussion.
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes • July 27, 2009
VII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Planning and Community
Development Committee, Chair Norman adjourned the meeting at 7:36 p.m.
APPROVED THIS I Q~ DAY OF AUGUST 2009.
L A ~A/VVV\--' ~ ~ ~
Ly n orman, Chair en e S. Tobias, Planning Secretary
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