LUTC MINS 03-16-2009G:\LUTC\LUTC Agendas and Summaries 2009\03-16-09-Minutes.doc
City of Federal Way
City Council
Land Use/Transportation Committee
March 16, 2009 City Hall
5:30 PM City Council Chambers
MEETING SUMMARY
Committee Members in Attendance: Committee Chair Kochmar and Committee Member Duclos
Council Members in Attendance: Council Member Burbidge
Staff Members in Attendance: Assistant City Manager Cary Roe, Director of Community Development Services Greg
Fewins, Deputy Public Works Director Ken Miller, Assistant City Attorney Peter Beckwith, Planning Manager Isaac
Conlen, City Traffic Engineer Rick Perez, Associate Planner Matt Herrera, Senior Planner Joanne Long-Woods and
Administrative Assistant II Darlene LeMaster
1. CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Kochmar called the meeting to order at 5:33 PM. Committee Member Ferrell was excused.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
One public comment was received.
Sam Pace, South King County Association of Realtors – Mr. Pace is in support of local economic stimulus plan,
specifically extending the life of plats, especially short plats. Mr. Pace expressed concern for builders during
our current economic crisis as well as forecasted implications of this recession on the housing market once our
economic situation turns around. Mr. Pace will email statement as well to be entered into record at Council
meeting on 3/17/09.
3. BUSINESS ITEMS
Forward
Topic Title/Description to Council
A.
Approval of the March 2, 2009 LUTC Minutes
Committee approved March 2, 2009 LUTC minutes as presented.
Moved: Duclos Seconded: Kochmar Passed: Unanimously, 2-0
N/A
B. 2007-2008 Pavement Marking Contract Closeout
Rick Perez presented information on this item. There was no public comment or discussion.
Committee forwarded Option #1 as presented.
Moved: Duclos Seconded: Kochmar Passed: Unanimously, 2-0
4/07/2009
Consent
C. Steel Lake Crest Preliminary Plat
Joanne Long-Woods presented information on this item. There were two public comments.
H. David Kaplan, Federal Way Resident – Mr. Kaplan is concerned that adding 29 homes with
this plat, without widening 28th Ave S is an accident waiting to happen. Are residents aware of
the impacts this plat may have on traffic on 28th Ave S. Can the widening of 28th Ave S be moved
up into the six year TIP?
Brant Schweikl, Engineer for the developer – Mr. Schweikl thanked staff and commented that
the new code amendments will be an improvement and allow developers more flexibility in
developing some of the last remaining developable parcels in the city. Mr. Schweikl supports
approval of the Steel Lake Crest Preliminary Plat.
4/07/2009
Consent
Land Use/Transportation Committee Page 2 March 16, 2009
G:\LUTC\LUTC Agendas and Summaries 2009\03-16-09-Minutes.doc
Assistant City Attorney Beckwith ascertained that because the item before the Committee is
whether or not to forward the Hearing Examiner’s recommendation, Mr. Kaplan’s testimony
may only be considered if he had brought this item forward earlier and it was part of the
information reviewed by the Hearing Examiner. Staff confirmed that Mr. Kaplan had raised this
questions regarding 28th Ave S during the SEPA review and was part of the record of the
Hearing Examiner.
Deputy Public Works Director Miller commented on Mr. Kaplan’s statement, saying that a left
turn lane on 28th Ave S was not warranted at the time of review. Through redesign, staff was
able to get around the site-distance issue. The widening of 28th Ave S can be evaluated in the
yearly review of the six-year TIP.
Council member Burbidge asked about driving access to the plat from Military Road. Mr.
Miller responded that because of the topography, the curve of Military Road and a bridge, that
vehicle access from Military Road was not considered; however, there will be a trail for
pedestrian access from the plat to Military Road.
Committee Member Duclos expressed concern over grading and filling and how long this plat
may be bare before homes would be built. Mr. Schweitkl noted that his client intends to sell this
project to one builder and feels that the lag time between the time the land is clear cut and the
time the land has homes built on it may be influenced by the time it takes to obtain the proper
permits.
Committee Member Duclos also commented on the Hearing Examiner citing case law, and
commenting that our code is too vague. Mr. Fewins answered that some of the code
amendments on the Council agenda for first reading on 3/17/09 address these codes. Once
enacted, this issue will be resolved. Staff is also carefully reviewing all other code for any other
code amendments that are needed to make the code more concise.
Mr. Fewins also noted that this plat will be held to the existing code and not the newly amended
codes as the code amendments are still being heard by the City Council.
Committee forwarded Option #1, to adopt the Hearing Examiner Recommendation and
approve the Steel Lake Crest Preliminary Plat Resolution.
Moved: Duclos Seconded: Kochmar Passed: Unanimously, 2-0
4. OTHER
There was brief discussion on reducing paper in the LUTC agenda packet. Staff commented that it has reduced
paper at the Council level by not replicating information already distributed in the Committee agenda packets;
however, a continued effort will be made to reduce the amount of paper used whenever possible.
5. FUTURE MEETING
The next regular LUTC meeting will be Monday, April 6, 2009 at 5:30 PM in City Council Chambers.
6. ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 6:08 PM.
Attest:
Darlene LeMaster, Administrative Assistant II
COMMITTEE APPROVAL:
Linda Kochmar, Chair Jim Ferrell, Member Dini Duclos, Member