No preview available
HomeMy WebLinkAboutLUTC MINS 04-18-2005 City of Federal Way City Council Land Use/Transportation Committee April 18, 2005 City Hall 5:30 pm Council Chambers MEETING MINUTES In attendance: Committee members Jack Dovey, Chair, Council Member Michael Park, Council Member Eric Faison, Deputy Mayor Linda Kochmar; Council Member Jim Ferrell; City Manager David Moseley; Assistant City Attorney Karen Kirkpatrick; Community Development Services Director Kathy McClung; Public Works Director Cary Roe; Public Works Deputy Director Ken Miller; Traffic Engineer Rick Perez; Surface Water Manager Paul Bucich; Senior Planner Margaret Clark, Associate Planner Isaac Conlen, Consultant Betsy Czark, and Administrative Assistants E. Tina Piety & Marianne Stiles. 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Dovey called the meeting to order at 5:34 pm. 2. AMMENDMENT TO AGENDA Motion to add Maravista Platt update to agenda moved & passed. 3. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES The minutes of April 4, 2005, were not approved. Cary Roe – Requested clarification on an item in the 04-04 minutes: were they authorized to move forward with both the bridge and the pavement analysis, and authorized to contact King County? Council member Dovey said this understanding was correct. Lloyd’s is to pay for the study. Mr. Roe suggested that revised minutes for 04-04-05 be submitted to the May 2nd meeting for approval. This was accepted. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT There were no public comments at this time. 5. BUSINESS ITEMS A. AG #03-141 – 2003 Citywide Pavement Marking Project Acceptance – Mr. Perez went over the background on this project. He suggested the City accept the work as complete. It is finished for $99,226.89. The Committee accepted the staff recommendation. It was Moved/Seconded/Carried (m/s/c). This issue will be placed on the May 3, 2005, City Council Agenda. B. 1st Avenue South @ South 312th Street Access Management – Mr. Perez went over the background on this proposed safety project. Project reviews safety access for left-hand turns out of the driveways of the two businesses. Staff investigated and found there have been three collisions in the last two years, a total of 12 collisions since 1997, all of which involved access on 1st Avenue only. 10 collisions involved left-hand turns onto 1st from the businesses. Implementing restrictions would prevent further accidents. Mr. Perez outlined three options, recommending installation of the C-Curb. 1) Take no action (not recommended). Land Use/Transportation Committee Page 2 April 18, 2005 G:\LUTC\LUTC Agendas and Summaries 2005\04-18-05 LUTC Minutes.doc 2) Install a barrier line (18” solid yellow line) and a right-hand turn only sign. $1,000 to implement and require police enforcement. 3) Install a C-Curb, which is a raised curb and would be more effective. $2,500 to implement and would be self- enforcing. There would be a one-mile detour and perhaps some loss of business. John Wilde, Citizen – He told the committee that there were more close calls than reported accidents. He said that an 18” line was not enough of a deterrent. Preventing collisions should be most important. He has seen vehicles turn left and travel north in the southbound lane for a distance before merging into the northbound lane. When the re-zone comes back up he urges the city to address safety issues along with the re-zone. Councilman Ferrell asked what the access impact to the businesses would be? He suggested that any action needs forethought. He asked, what is the back up at that light? Southbound, people are trying to break through the backed up traffic. He stated that access to business matters. As he heard it, nine accidents were from people turning left to get out of the project. One accident was for a left-hand turn into the driveway. People are driving on the wrong side of the road to avoid traffic back-ups. Councilman Ferrell told his fellow council members that he would approve a C-Curb. The committee discussed the location of entryways to the upcoming Lakota Platt (Which is located NW of this site on 1st) and the potential grocery/drug store, which is located east of this site. The Committee discussed U-turn capability, how the existing businesses would deal with the restriction of left hand turns on to 1st, whether the businesses have been notified (they have, Mr. Perez stated), visibility at the corner, and the cost of installation and removal of a C-curb. The Committee accepted the staff recommendation of Option #3. The recommendation was Moved/Seconded/Carried (m/s/c). This issue will be placed on the May 3, 2005, City Council Agenda C. 2004 Comprehensive Plan Amendments – Margaret Clark, Senior Planner. 1) Puget Center Partnership Request – Request to change zoning from PO (Professional Office) to BN (Neighborhood Business). Staff recommended approval on condition of the deed restriction offered by the property owner. Don Barker – He told the committee he is with Powell Development Co, works with the owner, Paul Benton. He supports the staff recommendation and stated that they have 600’ of frontage on 1st Avenue so accessing the site will not be a problem. Paul Benton – The owner submitted a copy of a letter he wrote agreeing to deed restrictions. He stated that he was raised on the church property (whose pastor has concerns about what is built there) and that his father pastored the church. He is fully in accord with restricting development to exclude adult entertainment, taverns, and vehicle repair shops. The letter was entered into the public record. Bill Murphy – Mr. Murphy is a practicing attorney who lives close to the mentioned property and has lived there for 28 years. He stated that Bob Roper asked him to attend on behalf of the Mirror Lake Residential Community. Mr. Murphy stated that from the corner of this intersection east on 312th to Pacific Hwy is less than a mile- there are multiple large grocery and retail stores there. South on 1st is the Merrill Lynch building, which has unoccupied office space. The Quad shopping center is also close by. He disputes the facts of the developers and is concerned, as the discussion on the C-curb for this same intersection previously in the agenda demonstrates, about traffic, safety, and also water quality. He urges the developers rezoning request be denied and submits that there is no new need for development. No questions. Councilman Faison stated that Federal Way has a general policy to protect single-family residences. He said the uses and converting from PO to BN are significant. He will support a change but wants it to be done like Kitt’s Corner to address specific development. Councilman Dovey asked, if the change were approved as recommended, what would happen? They will work with applicant to come up with a site plan that will come back to LUTC. Motion was passed for Item C subtopic 1, with the addition of an added development agreement. (Later it is rescinded. This item did NOT PASS but was held for next meeting.) Land Use/Transportation Committee Page 3 April 18, 2005 G:\LUTC\LUTC Agendas and Summaries 2005\04-18-05 LUTC Minutes.doc Ms. Clark stated that staff will need to receive direction from the council on this issue before they can work with the applicant and bring the plan back to the next LUTC. Council members discussed restricting fast food restaurants, car washes, vehicle services & repair shops, the amount of light pollution, surface parking, and the fit in the neighborhood of a grocery or drug store. Further discussion with the property owner regarding group homes, multi-unit staff housing was suggested. Ms. Clark said that the process is for the council to approve. Councilman Dovey suggested that the council talk it over as it goes through the process; as the developer is attending the meeting, there will be no surprises. Ms. McClung expressed a wish to find the simplest way to address the council’s goals. Decision: Hold for next meeting. The Committee decided to hold the item. This issue will be revisited on the May 2, 2005, LUTC Agenda. 2) Housing Chapter Update – Consultant Betsy Czark provided an update of ‘Chapter 5, Housing’ current policies and went over text that had been added to support the data. Federal Way is affordable compared to the rest of the area. There are seven policy categories: a) Preserving Neighborhood Character – changes are HP1, to have more moderate densities (such as cottage housing) be considered. HP2, moved to HP 13. HP3 to be reviewed and revised looking at accessory house development. b) Community Development c) Good Design & Diversified Housing Choice – now is more in accord with the Growth Management Act. d) Housing Affordability – three new policies are listed. e) Special Needs Housing – the definition of family was simplified. f) Emergency & Transitional Housing – title was added; eliminated HP38. g) Regional Participation Council members discussed home prices in Federal Way, noting t hey are still $120,000 less than other parts of King County and that the market will bear out if prices are affordable or not. It was felt the council needs to better understand HP27, 28, & 29 before voting. Ms. Czark noted that the policies she outlined in the plan (such as density bonuses) are already in place. After a bit more discussion, Staff Recommendation was moved & passed, but as only part of item C, it was held with the rest of item C to be revisited at the next LUTC meeting. 3) Kitts Corner Request – Request to change zoning from BP (Business Park) to BC (Community Business) & RM2400 (Multil-Family). D. Cottage Housing –Associate Planner Isaac Conlen went over the background on this concept. The council discussed the desirability of cottage housing in Federal Way, both for Seniors and for young or childless families. Mr Conlen was given direction to further study this. E. Maravista Plat annexation – Ms. McClung presented additional follow-up information on this agenda item from the last meeting. The citizens had attended that meeting to express their concerns. Maravista consists of 43 lots on 10.5 acres partially bordering Lake Geneva in the city’s PAA. The City picks the issues to contest with King County and although this plat did not meet all the city’s requirements, it did meet King County’s, and is part of unincorporated King County. The builder has already agreed to widen its streets to meet Federal Way’s city code. Ms. McClung met with concerned citizens following the last meeting and presented additional information to them. Council member Faison asked what R4/R6 zoning means in King County. Ms. McClung stated that the county (3000 sq ft) has a smaller minimum lot size than the city (7200 sq ft). The county uses a formula with maximum density, minimum density and lot averaging, which may result in a density closer to six lots per acre than four. 6. FUTURE MEETINGS The next scheduled meeting will be May 2, 2005. 7. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.