HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-23-2019 Minutes ..,‘,
A, ,,r
UBURN PLANNING COMMISSION
WASHINGTON January 23, 2019
MINUTES
I. 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 Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Auburn, WA.
a.) ROLL CALL/ESTABLISHMENT OF QUORUM
Planning Commission Members present were: Chair Roland, Vice-Chair Lee,
Commissioner Mason, Commissioner Stephens, Commissioner Moutzouris, and
Commissioner Khanal.
Staff present included: Assistant City Attorney Doug Ruth, Planning Services
Manager Jeff Dixon, Planner II Alex Teague, and Administrative Assistant Tina
Kriss.
Members of the public present: Jeff Watson and Rick Cardoza.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Regular Meeting Minutes — November 7, 2018
Commissioner Khanal moved and Commissioner Mason seconded to approve the
Minutes from the November 7, 2018 regular meeting as amended.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 6-0
III. PUBLIC HEARING
No items were on the agenda for Public Hearing.
IV. OTHER BUSINESS
A. Election of Officers
Chair Roland called for nominations for the Election of Chairperson for the City of
Auburn 2019 Planning Commission. Member Mason nominated Commissioner
Roland; no other Commissioners were nominated.
A vote was taken. By majority vote of Commissioners, 5-0, Commissioner Roland
was elected as the Planning Commission Chairperson for 2019.
Chair Roland called for nominations for the Election of Vice-Chairperson for the City
of Auburn 2019 Planning Commission. Member Mason nominated Commissioner
Lee as Vice-Chair; no other Commissioners were nominated.
A vote was taken, by majority vote of Commissioners, 5-0, Commissioner Lee was
elected as the Planning Commission Vice-Chairperson for 2019.
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES January 23, 2019
B. PSERN -Zoning Code Amendment
Planner II Teague presented the staff report on PSERN, Emergency Wireless
Communication Facility (ZOA18-0001).
Commissioner Khanal stated due to his work with Verizon Wireless he is recusing
himself.
Planner Teague explained that PSERN stands for Public Safety Emergency Radio
Network and is an association of public agencies seeking to establish a wireless
communications network intended to replace the current King County (KC) E-911
Emergency Radio Communications System, which is 20 years old and is limited in
coverage. PSERN, much like the KC Emergency Radio Communications System,
will be used by first responders to communicate during emergency incidents, and will
be used by all jurisdictions in King County.
Staff provided an overview of the proposed construction of the tower and facility, the
location, and the requested code amendment. Staff clarified that the construction
would not be allowed under current regulations and therefor code changes are
requested in order to allow. The construction authorization is not the purview of the
Planning Commission but the code changes are. As a basis for discussion, staff
introduced the current City regulations applicable to private wireless communication
facilities (WCF) and contrasted this with the proposed code amendment., To start,
staff reviewed what a wireless communication facility is as defined by Auburn City
Code (ACC 18.04.912.) and the current supplemental siting standards applicable to
WCF.
Staff reviewed the proposed zoning code amendment requested by PSERN:
Item 1. Add Emergency WCFs to List of Established Zones
The purpose of Item 1 is to establish a new definition as a special category of
"emergency WCF" in the City's Zoning Code (Title 18). Therefore, a new
definition for emergency WCFs is proposed to be added within Chapter 18.04
"Definitions" ACC is presented below.
18.04.912 Wireless communications.
"Wireless communications" means the provision of any personal wireless
service, as defined in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and for the
purposes of this title includes the following terms:
K. "Emergency WCF" means an emergency communication facility
system operated by a local public agency responsible for providing
emergency communication services.
Item 2. Exempt Emergency WCF Height and Setback Siting Standards
Item 2 describes the proposed height and setback exemptions for emergency
WCFs from the siting standards contained in Chapter 18.31 "Supplemental
Development Standards".
Page 2
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES January 23, 2019
Item 3. Add Emergency WCFs as an Allowed Use in the I, Institutional Zone
Item 3 depicts emergency WCFs as new use allowed within the I, Institutional
Zone within the existing Chapter 18.35 "Special Purpose Zones".
To orient the Planning Commission, Planner Teague discussed the regulatory
approach of several other nearby jurisdictions. She discussed other jurisdictions
that were contacted for information and showed on the screen a chart of those
other jurisdictions with emergency WCF siting standards.
Staff reviewed the allowed and prohibited uses within the institutional zone and
stated that staff believes is most appropriate to be allowed outright in the I,
Institutional zones since the proposed supplemental siting standards (provided in
Exhibit 1) give a sufficient degree of control to ensure that the proposed use is
compatible with the intent of the Institutional zone and the other existing and
permitting uses within the zone. Planner Teague explained that staff considered
various approaches for permitting an emergency wireless communication facility.
She explained the possible range of land use permitting available, from being
permitted outright as a permitted use, or administrative use requiring an
administrative decision by the Department Director in order to allow, or a
conditional use requiring a public hearing or considered a prohibited use as they
are not allowed in that zone (shown in Exhibit 1).
Staff stated it is staff's recommendation that emergency wireless communication
facilities should be permitted outright in the I, Institutional zone. Staff explained
the purpose of an administrative use permit and conditional use permit (shown in
Exhibit 2).
Staff explained that current Auburn City Code (ACC) provides regulations
applicable to private wireless communication carriers. The proposal before you
tonight provides an approach to establish a unique subcategory that is for the
emergency wireless communications by a public agency. As part of the approach,
a fairly narrow definition of what type of facilities that consists of and make certain
regulations that are only applicable to that subcategory of those emergency
wireless communication facilities.
Staff explained that at the next meeting staff would like to hold a discussion on
collocation, commercial and non-commercial collocation on this tower. Tonight's
discussion only addresses the PSERN Emergency Wireless Communication
facility.
Staff asked the Commission the following questions.
1. Are the proposed supplemental development standards reasonable and
appropriate in light of the request?
2. Is the Institutional zoning district the most appropriate zoning district for such
as facility?
Page 3
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES January 23, 2019
3. Should emergency WCFs be permitted outright in the Institutional-zoning
district or subject to an Administrative Use Permit or Conditional Use Permit?
The Commission provided the following feedback:
The Commission asked if there could be a height restriction in the institutional
zoning designation applicable to emergency WCF. Staff explained that one has
not yet been discussed, a height limitation could be proposed within the I,
Institutional zone.
The Commission asked staff if this was the first E-911 wireless communication
tower proposed in Auburn and could it be relocated. Staff responded, this is the
first facility of its kind in Auburn and staff does not believe this specific facility
would be relocated in the future. Staff explained PSERN has completed an
extensive site selection process and upon selecting this site has spent
considerable resources for soil borings to confirm the height and foundation load,
road grades, and other improvements in anticipation to use this specific site.
Staff explained that one of the factors, as part of an extensive site selection was
elevation of the site and the lack of presence of surrounding obstacles.
Emergency wireless communications siting is predicated upon radio frequency
engineering, and requires an unobstructed line of site between receivers and
transmitters. To achieve adequate communication signal coverage, the tower
antennas must be mounted at a height taller than surrounding obstructions and
this location is proposed on a hill.
If the 180-foot tower were allowed on this site, the Commission asked if another
tower could be put on other institutional zoned sites within the City. Staff stated
that under the concept being discussed, if another property was zoned
institutional, it also could be developed with a similar facility but that there are
limited areas zoned I, Institutional at higher elevations within the city. Some
specific examples were discussed.
Commissioner Stevens asked if we know how long the lease term is; staff
responded that they do not have the specific answer to PSERN's intended lease
period but would bring back that information at the next meeting. Commissioner
Stevens stated if they lose their lease in ten years, would that mean they could
relocate to another property.
A discussion was held as to the appropriate zoning of this type of use and staff
reported that city staff felt the I, Institutional zone is the best fit for this use.
Commissioner Mason asked there would be traffic impacts from the facility. Staff
explained that this is an unmanned facility and there would only be employees
visiting once or twice monthly for maintenance and not generating a lot of traffic.
Commissioner Stephens asked if there are instances where the city requires
different degrees of land use approval process based on the intensity of land use
action. He suggested a model of requiring an administration use permit for a
Page 4
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES January 23, 2019
certain height and when the height limitation is exceeded requiring a conditional
use permit. Staff explained that this regulatory approach is currently applicable to
the private wireless communication facilities based on the category, height and
zoning district. Planner Teague pointed out that the table shows the different
requirements based on zone and height.
Staff questioned if the Commission's concern is due to locating another tower
within Auburn and the unlimited height. The Commission concurred.
Commissioner Stephens asked staff to provide visuals of what a high-density
collocation emergency wireless communication tower looks like. Staff confirmed
they would bring these recommended items back to the next meeting.
Commissioner Lee asked, if the purpose of a E-911 wireless communication
facility is to enhance or enable emergency 911 communication, is there any
negative impact for Auburn and our residents if this tower is not built in Auburn?
Staff stated they would find out how vital this project would be to any E-911
communications in Auburn.
The Commission suggested that the facility must not interfere with airport
operations and there must not be Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Concerns; staff confirmed that the FAA has already issued a determination of"no
hazard to aviation".
The Commission asked how big the base of the tower and equipment yard would
be; staff indicated the appropriate fenced area dimensions and would bring back
information on those details at the next meeting.
Staff confirmed that at the next meeting they will respond to the request made by
the Commission to provide visuals on co-location and proposed language to
address height and co-location.
C. Rules of Procedures
Planning Services Manager Dixon indicated that the Commission has as a matter of
practice has reviewed their Rules of Procedure annually to ensure they remain
appropriate and that there are not new issues to be addressed by changes. He
explained that the Commission made several changes last year and the Rules of
Procedures of the Planning Commission; were last revised June 5, 2018.
After reviewing the Rules of Procedure, the Commission recommended that changes
be made to the wording of Section II. Meetings, 4. Special Meetings. The
Commission suggested the first sentence be changed from "shall" to "may" and to
read follows:
"Special meetings of the Planning Commission may be called by the Chair.
Special meetings of the Planning Commission may also be called by any three
members of the Commission. A minimum notice of 24 hours shall be provided for
special meetings in accordance with State Law."
Page 5
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES January 23, 2019 •
Staff stated that if there were no other changes, staff would update the document
with strikethrough and underline revisions and provide the Commission with an
update to vote on at their next meeting in accordance with the procedure in Section
XIII. Amendment. There were no further changes offered.
V. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT
Planning Services Manager Dixon explained that the WA State Dept of Commerce
would be holding an upcoming Short Course on Local Planning on April 10 from 6:15 to
9:15 pm in the nearby City of Normandy Park. The Washington State Department of
Commerce organizes these voluntary trainings. Copies of the training announcement
were provided to the Commissioners. Please feel free to contact the planning staff or
follow the link to sign up. If that location does not work for you, a few options for
different dates and location are noted on the link provided by the Department of
Commerce.
This is an optional training opportunity, which is offered periodically. This training while
covering some of the same topics is different from the required Open Public Meetings
Act and Open Public Records Act offered by the City's Legal Dept. on a reoccurring
basis.
Staff reported that the former Heritage building on Main Street has been partially
removed after experiencing the fire damage. The owner has had to secure services of a
new contractor and will soon be removing the remaining debris and cleaning up the site
and installing more permanent fencing. Staff continues to discuss plans for
redevelopment of the property with the property owner's architectural team and are
expecting an application for the required Downtown Design Review for a redevelopment
proposal before the end of the month.
Staff provided an update on the previously discussed Auburn Apartments. The Auburn
Apartments, that is located two blocks south of city hall, and consists of ground floor
commercial and upper story residential, has recently had their civil plans approved to
address the utility extensions and street frontage improvements necessary to serve that
project. The building permit is also expected to be issued very soon.. They are looking
to mobilize for ground breaking in February.
The next regular Planning Commission meeting will be held February 5, 2019.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Planning Commission, Chair Roland
adjourned the meeting at 8:17 pm.
Page 6