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Home My WebLink AboutLUTC MINS 12-04-2006G:\LUTC\LUTC Agendas and Summaries 2006\12-04-06 LUTC Minutes.doc City of Federal Way City Council Land Use/Transportation Committee December 4, 2006 City Hall 5:30 pm City Council Chambers MEETING MINUTES In attendance: Committee Chair Jack Dovey and Committee Member Dean McColgan; Committee Member Eric Faison was excused; Council Member Linda Kochmar; Council Member Jeanne Burbidge; Management Services Director Iwen Wang; Public Works Director Cary Roe; Community Development Services Director Kathy McClung; Public Works Deputy Director Ken Miller; Street Systems Manager Marwan Salloum; Street Systems Engineer John Mulkey; Contract Planner Janet Shull; Assistant City Attorney Amy Jo Pearsall; Administrative Assistant II Tina Piety 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Dovey called the meeting to order at 5:37 p.m. and excused Council Member Faison. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The November 20, 2006, minutes were approved. Moved: McColgan Seconded: Dovey Passed: Unanimously 3. PUBLIC COMMENT None 4. BUSINESS ITEMS A. Setting Public Hearing Date for the Street Vacation Request for a Portion of 35th Avenue South John Mulkey was available to provide the background on this item. There was no discussion. Moved: McColgan Seconded: Dovey Passed: Unanimously Committee PASSED Option 1 on to the December 19, 2006, City Council Consent Agenda for approval. B. Flag Lots Code Amendment Janet Shull provided the background on this item. Currently, the city allows flag lots, also known as panhandle lots. This amendment will clarify how existing setback requirements are applied and how lot area and lot coverage requirements are applied. The benefit of this amendment will be increased predictability for future development proposals. Staff proposes a change in addition to the change to the Planning Commission recommendation noted in the staff report. This change is for Section 22-667 to cross reference note 8 for attached or staked dwelling units under the column for Required Sideyard. Note 8 refers to the Landscaping section of the FWCC, which presently requires a minimum 10-foot landscaping buffer for multi-family uses, which would supersede any setback requirements. Council Member McColgan asked what is the purpose of a setback. Ms. Shull replied that setbacks allow for access and are a separation between the building and the property line. In addition, there are life and safety reasons for setbacks. Council Member Kochmar asked how many such lots are in the city. Ms. McClung replied that it is difficult to determine how many. The city is seeing more flag lots as smaller lots are being subdivided. This is likely to increase even more as the city becomes denser and if the city annexes the potential annexation area. Council Member Kochmar asked if driveways have to be paved. Ms. McClung replied that driveways must be paved for all new construction. Council Member Burbidge asked if a certain percentage of a lot is considered for lot coverage. Ms. Shull responded yes and it depends upon the zoning. She stated that the proposed amendment clarifies that the driveway will not be included as lot area for the purpose of determining lot coverage. Land Use/Transportation Committee Page 2 December 4, 2006 G:\LUTC\LUTC Agendas and Summaries 2006\12-04-06 LUTC Minutes.doc Moved: McColgan Seconded: Dovey Passed: Unanimously Committee PASSED the staff recommendation of approval of the recommended amendments to the FWCC on to the December 19, 2006, City Council Agenda for first reading. C. Stakeholder Report Kathy McClung provided the background information on this item. She gave the committee a handout of the stakeholder’s recommendations with staff comments and proposed actions. This is the fourth year city staff has met with stakeholders. This time, the focus of the meeting was on the stakeholders experience and perceptions of the city’s permit process, which was mostly favorable. Mr. Roe commented that he felt the meeting was very productive, with generally positive comments. In regards to bonding, the staff was asked why bonds are required for private improvements on private property, as opposed to just the public aspects of the project. Mr. Roe informed the LUTC that staff is researching this issue. Public Works will survey other jurisdictions to find out how they handle bonding issues. Staff wants to make the bonding process more user friendly and less costly to the applicant. Ms. McClung commented that for landscaping, bonds are required only for wetland mitigation. Staff will be researching landscaping bond requirements to determine if any changes are needed. In regards to Lakehaven and the city, the stakeholders would like permits from Lakehaven and the city to be ready at the same time. Staff is working with Lakehaven staff on this issue. Lakehaven is willing to consider having a staff person at City Hall. In regards to surveys, the city sends out survey cards with each completed permit. There is a low return rate for the surveys. Staff will review them and make changes in hopes of improving the return rate. Mr. Roe commented that his staff is researching a process used by another jurisdiction called a zoom process. Under this process, the city commits to responding to comments within five days, and the developer also comments to responding to comments and resubmittal requests within five days. 5. FUTURE MEETING The next scheduled meeting will be December 18, 2006. 6. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m.