HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-09-2010
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CiTx oF PLANNING & COMMUNITY
- ' DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
)WASH W GTON August 09, 2010
MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER .
Chair Lynn Norman called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. in Annex Conference Room 1
located on the second floor of the One East Main :Building; 1 East Main Street; Aubum, WA.
Committee members present were: Chair Lynn Norman, Vice Chair Nancy Backus and
Member Rich Wagner.
Staff Members present included: Principal Planner Jeff Dixon, Planning Manager Elizabeth Chamberlain, Planning Director Kevin Snyder, Finance Director Shelley Coleman, City
Attorney Dan Heid, Environmental Planner Jennifer Shih, Traffic Engineer Pablo Para, and
Project Engineer Robert Lee.
Audience members present were: Terry Danysh.
II. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND AGENDA MODIFICATIONS
III. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Minutes - July 26, 2010
Vice Chair Backus moved and Member Wagner seconded to approve the Consent
Agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 3-0
1V., ACTION
A. Permission to Award Contract 10-07, White River TraiF Extension (CP0745)
A brief discussion was held on the phasing of this project.
It was moved by Vice Chair Backus, seconded' by Member Wagner, thatthe Committee
recommend City Council approve and award Contract 10-07, Project No. CP0745, White
River Trail Extension
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 3-0
B. Resolution No. 4613 - Setting Public Hearing for 2011-2016 Transportation
Improvement Program
Mr. Para provided finro handouts to the Committee; one map and the other an updated
project summary spreadsheet. He explained that the'highlighted map shows the
corridors and the Level of Service E or F which was cequested by Member Wagner. Mr.
Para explained that the Group A projects wilf be completed in 2030. These are not the
current conditions. The levels are from Table 2;4 in the Transportation Comprehensive
Plan. Assumption is Group A projects are only ones to be completed by 2030. TIP
document fakes you through 2016. By 2030 the roads highlighted will be moved up to
Level of Service A and B leyels. Mr.. Para explained that the projects at the bottom of the
project summary spreadsheet are_ projects nof to be completed by the City. These
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projects wouid be by WSDOT, King or Pierce County. The Committee requested that
language be added explaining the Level of Service of key corridors within the City. The
Committee would like to spend some time over the next year including Level of Service -
in the TIP as it is outlined in the Transportation Comprehensive Plan.
Staff was asked to clarify the,project costs totals since the financial summary table does
not show money spent in previous years. It was asked if the Committee agreed the
entire. amount should be shown and yes the Committee concurred: Mr. Para agreed to
_ add a note as in #9 in the TIP document for the final draft. Chair Norman requested that
there will be a memo in the council packet that states what is being changed in the
packet. Any corrections or additions will be noted so that they are all on the same page.
Questions were asked on page 5 about the amount of GO bonds that were sought for
downtown projects. Ms. Chamberlain clarifed thaf'the amount shown is for the
promenade only and Mr. Para confirmed this is one of those areas that would show
previously spent funds: , ; ' . .
On Page 6 the Committee questioned the amounts which rely on some large grants.
They wanted clarification on where the grant information was located. They would like to
see a list of what grants are :in the process and status as a resource documenf for the
council members. Member Wagnerwanfs to bring back to committee.
It was moved by Vice Chair Backus, seconded by Member Wagner, to forward
Re"solufion No. 4613 to full City Council for consideration.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 3-0
C. Resol.ution No. 4633 - Grant Agreement for Fenster Levee Setback &
Floodplain Restoration II ,
' Environmental Planner Jennifer Shih presented a map of the area of .the project. Back in
March this projecf came before the Committee and the full Council in April to accept a
grant for this project from the Salmon Recovery Board. We have now gotten a grant from
the King Conservation District for $200,000.00 for this project which will act as the match
forthe Salmon Recovery Board Grant.
There was discussion on any Green Rivertrail projectsthat might affectthis levee
setback project. Member Wagner stated that King County has had a proposed trail in
the area of #his project for years. Director Snyder added that the County is looking at a
trail system on top of the levees.
Ms. Shih stated that the City and the County are working togetheron the design of this
project. The goal is to make all the ongoing projecfs tie in to each other.
The Committee asked if any other levee projects were going on further upstream
towards Black Diamond. Director Snyder and Ms. Shih agreed they would look into it.
It was moved by Vice;Chair Backus, seconded by Membec Wagner, to forward
Resolution No. 4633 to full City` Council for consideration.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 3-0
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D. Ordinance No. 6321
Principal Planner Jeff Dixon reported that at the last PCD meeting the Robertson
Property Group extension was introduced and in response the Committee had three
concems on #he extension of the conditional zoning, comprehensive plan, and special
area plan changes for a period of one year. The request is similar to what had been
done for two previous extensions. The City is currently working on redrafting the
development agreement.
The first concem was any traffic improvements identified were brought current since the
EIS was completed in 2004. Mr. Dixon explained that because the applicant has
acquired 11 additional acres to the west and the need to explore what improvements will
be associated with what phases of the project, which was not studied in the original EIS,
additional environmental irnpact analysis is being prepared.
. The additional environmental analysis includes a traffic study and the Transportation
Division is looking at this traffic study information provided by the consultant: Once
completed, this update to the EIS will eventually be available to serve as a basis for
updates to the Special Area Plan. The special area plan and comprehensive plan
changes are policy level documents. The original special area plan documented that
. this part of town was underserved by a road networks, and _by utilities so the main
purpose was to identify what road hetworks and. utilities were necessary to support
development in this area. Those policy statements do not assign financial responsibilities
but do identify what types of improvements are necessary to provide a complete road
and utility network. The identified improvements are in keepingwith the type of
improvement that the City has envisioned all along such as the widening the south side
of 277t' and extension of I Street NE and 49t', Street to connect to I Street NE among
other improvements that the City has been planning, on.
Mr. Dixon.stated that he expects once the City;receives the updated environmental
analysis they will be able to update the text of the special area plan and the
comprehensive plan changes that have already been conditionally approved. There will
be a need to bring the information current, such as the exchange of right of way for I
Street NE with the Port of Seattle which has already faken place.
The second issue was the financial analysis of the project. Robertson Property Group
(RPG) had prepared a financial analysis that was reviewed by the City Council at their 2008 retreat. There has not been any effort by RPG to update that information even
though changes in the economic climate would suggest that this information is no longer
accurate and that would suggest things are going to be a lot different. Since that time,
the City has determined that it will not participate financially to the degree that they may
have participated before, so there has not been any new financial analysis since what
was prepared in 2008.
The third concern was the CounciPs continued involvement in the Development
Agreement discussion. Kevin Snyder handed out a memo from Dan Heid to the Mayor
and Council members dated July 30, 2010 regarding the Council quasi judicial role and
vesting of development agreements.
Mr. Dixon stated that they would like to bring this Ordinance to the PW Committee
meeting and on to full. council at their August 16"' meeting, as may be appropriate.
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Member Wagner asked whether the development agreement or the special area plan is
the final word. He is concemed that allowing this extension to go foruvard does allow us
to make the development agreement the final word.
Mr. Dixon pointed out in finro locations within the NE Auburn Special Area Plan it does
state that theplan is not the final word. It stafes that the special area plan is only
intended to be implemented through subsequent adoption of a development agreement
and planned action ordinance Staff reviewed this language with the Committee and the
Committee was satisfied the language covered their concems.
City Attomey Dan Heid explained that the city codes had changed and that Aubum City
Code chapter 14.21, which was the development agreement process and the old PUD
code, may have been in place wlien the plan was originally developed.
Member Wagner stated that the paragraph Mr. Dixon pointed out does answer his
concern; that Council will get anofher review opportunity prior to the project proceeding.
There was clarification on the dates of the plan and that the official record is the one
attached to the Ordinance.
It was moved by Vice Chair Backus, seconded by Member Wagner, to forward
Ordinance No. 6321 to full City Council for consideration.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 3-0
V. DISCUSSION and INFORMATION
A. 124t' Avenue SE Corridoc lmprovements
Traffic Engineer Pablo Para explained the Green River .Community College (GRCC)
improvements to 124~' AVE SE are due to some extra funds that the college had from an
onsite project. They are making improvements proactively prior to the Trades project.
They are striving to complete construction prior to the start of the school year.
Chair Norman stated that they are making some, major changes to the main entrance to
the campus once the Trades project moves forward and believes the college is still
interested'in the roundabout concept.
Mr. Para explained that #he Valley Regional Fire Authority (VRFA) is also going to be
working on 124t' AVE SE for the frontage improvements forthe new fire station. He
stated pedestrian facilities are mostly on the east side. The VRFA improvements are
mainly storm drainage related and emergency signal related.
Mr. Para stated that the City'is applying for a Safe Walking grant from the Washington
State for a portion of 120 AVE SE but there will still be ihtersection issues at SE 312"'
ST. The goal is two through lanes all the way to the college from SE 312t'.
Concems were voiced about the construction on 124t'' AVE SE and the 8t' and R ST NE
signal construction causing major trafFc issues for the residents on Lea Hill. Mr. Para
assured the committee that there is coordination befinreen projects and that no full street
closures are being allowed on any of the projects. The major impact from the signal
construction at 8t' & R wilf be fo the apartmenfi tenants.
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The Committee asked if an area circulation plan is required for any development other
than multifamily mixed use. Director Snyder confirmed that when the code update was
done they did not include any other types of development as this was slated for phase II
of the code update. Mr. Para did state that the engineering design standards were
updated with similar language:'- For ttie Trades' Building 'a pedestrian and a vehicle
circulation plan wilf be required. '
B. Ordinance No. 6323
Finance Director'Shelley Coleman handed out a revised spreadsheet for the proposed
budgefi amendment. Director Coleman stafed'this is the same information thaf was
handed out at the Fnance Committee except for this revision which is for a new SWAT
vehicle through VNET. Director Coleman stated she needs to add the revenue side to the summary
spreadsheet sheet so the Commiftee will see a revision at the Council meefing on
August 1e. The other items on the list are mainly book entries to clean up items such
as the Valley Com agreement,.the Plaza and Promenade budget amounts and ca.rrying
forward the Airport runway lights project that should have been carried forward from last
year.
PCDC Status Matrix
The Committee had a couple minor changes requested for the Matrix. Aubum
Environmental Park moved from summer to fall and IDEX was listed as a separate line
item. A line item for electric vehicle infrastructure was added to the list. Vice Chair Backus reminded the committee that she will not be here for the August 23rd
meeting.
I. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Planning and Community
Development Committee, Chair Norman adjoumed the meeting at 6:08 p.m.
APPROVED THIS DAY OF
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I v ww a&ftaoq-~
Lynn No n, Chair Darcie Hanson, Administrative and
Business Services Manager
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