HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-07-2013 *
crnr'oF * � .. .
PLANNING COMMISSION
WAS H I N GTON May 7, 2013
MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Judi Roland called the meeting to order at 7'00 p.m. in the Council Chambers
located on the first floor of Aubum Gity Hall, 25 West Main Street, Aubum, WA.
II. ROLL CALUESTABLISHMENT OF QUORUM
Planning Commi'ssion Members;preserit weie: Chair Judi Roland, �ce-Chair Copple,
Commissioner Gouture, Commissioner Mason, Comrimissioner Baggett, Commissioner
TrouYand Commissioner Smith. Commissioner Rameywas not present. The Pianning
Secretary received an email upon retuming from the meeting sent 6y Commissioner
Ramey at 6:51 p.m.
Staff present included: Planning and Development Interim Director Jeff Tate, Planning
Manager Elizabeth Chamberlain, and Planning and Development Secretary Tina Kriss.
Member of the audience present'included: Citizen Scot Pondelick.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Apri12, 2013
Commissioner Copple moved and Commissioner Baggett sewnded to approve the
minutes from the April 2, 2013 meeUng as written.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 7-0
IV. PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no public commeMs on any item not listed on the agenda for discussion or
public hearing.
V. PLANNING DEPARTMENT REPORT
Planning Manager Chamberlain reported that the Landmark Development Group has a
Pre-Application meeting scheduled; they ezpect to submit theirdesign review within two
weeks and by the end of June have their building permit application submitted.
Resolution No. 4947, authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to negotiate and execute a
purchase and sale agreement between the City of Aubum and Teutsch Partners, LLC
was presented at the May 6, 2013 City Council meeting. The resolution was passed by
Council and authorizes a negotiation and execution of the Purchase and Sale
Agreement for the purchase of either or both the SW Block and or the SE Block of the
City owned blocks downtown for the purposes of vertical construction and development.
Planning and Development Interim Director Jeff Tate stated by the end of this week the
Orion Industries building permit should be approved.
� PLANNING COMAAISSION MEETING MINUTES May 7, 2013
Last year the City experienced the biggesYdepelopment year since 2000. This year 158
Singl�Family Residentiai permits were issued with an approximate construction value of
$35;000,000.00 (as compared to 83 last year u4ith an approximate construction value of
$19,000,000.00).
This year 100 Commercial permits have been issued with an approximate construdion
vaiue of $83,500,000.00 (as compared to 80 last year with an approximate constrvction
value of$12,000,000.00). There are currenUy a lot of projects in the review process and
a few more expected to be submitted, this will be a big year for development.
Ordinance No. 6461, Electric Fence Code update, was adopted by the City Council at
the May 6, 2013 City Council meeting as recommended by the Planning Commission.
At the February 5, 2013 Special JoiM Meeting between the Planning and Comrriunity
Development Committee and fhe Planning Commission staff explained The Washington
State Building Code Council (the reviewing and adopting agency for the Washington
State Codes) will go through a process to adopt the 2012 Building Code updates. City
staff received the State amendments on May B, 2013 and is currently reviewing the
proposed changes. Staff would like to meet for a work session with the Commission on
June 4, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. before the Fublic Hearing at 7:00 p.m. to review the proposed
updates. Staff will provide a memo to review the substantive changes from,the 2009 to
2012 Building Code.
VI. PUBL_IC HEARING
There were no public hearing items.
VII. OTHER BUSINESS
A. StudenURentaF Housing-Amending the Definition of Family in the Auburn City
Code(Chamberlain/Tate)
Planning Manager Elizabeth`Chartiberlain briefed the Commissiom on the proposed
code amendmeM to amend the d�nition of family in Title 18. Additionally,
background ir�fortnation was: provided on StudenURental Housing and the City's
regulations;currently in place.' � •
Over the last several months, residents who live in the single family residerrtial
communities near G�een RiverCoinmunity College (GRCC) are observing a spike in
rernal homes in their neighborhood that are oxupied by students of GRCC: They
have expressed severel concems:
• Parking Impacts
• Unpermitted conversion of garages to living space
• Overcrowding of single family homes wkh too many occupants
• Lack af property solid waste management
• Noise impads
• Lack of proper oversight by GRCC
Planning Manager Chamberlain reported that City staff has met with Green River
Community College (GRCC) to review their housing programs; staff reviewed these
programs wkh the Commission.
Page 2
� PLANNING GOMMISSION MEETING MINUTES May T, 2013
Planning and Development IMerim Director Jeff Tate explained that the curtent definition
of "Family" means a person living aione, two or more persons related by blood or
marriage, or a group of eight or fewer resideMs who are not related by blood or marriage
customarily living together as a single housekeeping unit and using common cooking
facilities. "Boardinghouse" means any dwelling in which three or more persons; eithe�
individually or as families, are housed or lodged for hire with orwithout meals.
Changing the definition of"family" in the zoning code is an interim solution as staff works
on the longer Phase 2 steps to address more detailed code amendments and input by
Green River Community College on the proposed code amendments and community
outreach. The currerrt definition is in c.onflict with the definition of"Boardinghouse".
The City is concemed about Health, Life and Safety issues for students and rental
housing. The local and intemational studerrt population has grown and will continue to
increase, the City would like to review policy and plan ahead for a trend that is
expanding and increasing the need for studerrt housing.
The Planning Commission agreed they will review the new definition of "family" at the
June 4, 2013 work session in ;preparation for a public hearing that evening; In
discussing Phase 2 work with staff, the Planning Commission provided the following
input: .
• Check with GRCC to see if, in addition to the three housing options, there are
other housing recommendations made by the college through student services
under the oversight of the.college.
• Review�the definition of "fam'ily" used within the City Code to understand if the
term is necessary and used appropriately.
• Research the number of Iocal §tudents tfiat utilize housing around GRCC.
• Discuss incorporating a °hardship clause° to proposed code updates for those
individuals living with family members on a temporary basis.
• Discuss how the Owner/Landlord/Tenant can provide oversight (implementation
of any regulation could be implemented through a signed documeM linked to the
business license).
B. Major Comprehensive Plan Update(ChamberlainlTate)
Planning and Development Interim DireGor Jeff Tate reported the City of Aubum is
required, under the Washington State Growth Management Act (RCW 36:70A), to
develop and implement a Comprehensive Plan that is comprised of several
mandatory elements. Under the Growth Management Ad (GMA), the City of Aubum
is required to update its Comprehensive Plan by June 30, 2015.
A Strategic Plan identifies broad commitments to the enhancing and maintaining of
community goals. This plan will serve as the road map to achieving those
commitments and will be (1) action oriented, (2) spec�caliy targeted, (3)
appropriately sequenced, and (4) measurable over time.
The Strategic Pian and the Comprehensive Plan are two differerrt documents. The
Comprehensive Plan will run its course through the Pianning Commission process,
Page 3
� PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES May 7, 2013
with involvement in every area of the Comprehensive Plan. Staff believes the
existing plan can use an overhaul to streamline the plan and make it more uger
friendly for citizens, policy makers, and implementers. Staff would like to create a
shorter, more nimble document that is much more usable. As part of the process
staff would like to conduct some visioning exercises through community wide
dialogue as to the direction in which the City should be steered over the neM several
decades.
Staff reviewed the strategy scheduie with the Planning Commission. As part of the
brainstortning process, staff asked the Gammission for ideas or input on thoughts
and ideas to consider as staff moves forward to develop the structure and outline
that will be used to successfully implement these endeavors. The Commission
provided the following ideas and thoughts:
• Meet with Planning and Community DevelopmeM Committee to discuss
strategy planning.
• When renewing a City business license they get a questionnaire for thoughts
and ideas about long-temi planning and visioning.
• If there is a Ciry event; the Mayor or a City official could be present at a booth
to provide and obtain information or a conduct a questionnaire from the public
forfiufure plannirig:' , � . '
• Put together a City staff team from every level of the City to obtain feedback
and input of the plan. .
. Form committees from .various areas of the City to gain insigM from the
public.
The next meeting will be held Tuesday, June 4,2013. A workshop will begin at 6:30
p.m. for the proposed code updates for the definition of "family" and to discuss the
2012 Building Code updates. The public hearing on these two items will begin at
7:00 p.m. on June 4, 2013 after the work session.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Planning Commission, Chair Roland
adjoumed the meeting at 8:36 p.m.
Page 4