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Planning Comm MINS 03-04-2009 K:\Planning Commission\2009\Meeting Summary 03-04-09.doc CITY OF FEDERAL WAY PLANNING COMMISSION March 4, 2009 City Hall 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers MEETING MINUTES Commissioners present: Merle Pfeifer, Hope Elder, Lawson Bronson, Wayne Carlson, Tom Medhurst, Sarady Long, and Tim O’Neil. Commissioners absent: none. Staff present: Senior Planner Margaret Clark, Traffic Engineer Rick Perez, Assistant City Attorney Peter Beckwith, and Administrative Assistant E. Tina Piety. Chair Pfeifer called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of February 18, 2009, were approved as written. AUDIENCE COMMENT None ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT Ms. Clark informed the Commission that the Churches and Adult Family Homes Code Amendments went to second reading at last night’s City Council meeting. They will become effective March 12, 2009. The RV’s in Residential Zones and Construction Hours Code Amendments went to the Land Use/Transportation Committee (LUTC) on March 2, 2009. They requested that the RV code amendment include language that the applicant is making a “good faith effort” to repair their home. The amendments were forwarded for first reading at the March 17, 2009, City Council meeting. At that meeting, the LUTC also recommended adoption of the 2009 Planning Commission Work Program. In addition, they recommended that the City Council approve funding for Planning Consultants. The Work Program will also be on the March 17, 2009, City Council agenda. COMMISSION BUSINESS STUDY SESSION – City Center Access Study Mr. Perez delivered the staff report. In order to enhance access to and circulation within the City Center, the City of Federal Way seeks to improve safety and reduce congestion on the transportation network. The City of Federal Way, in conjunction with its project partners WSDOT, FHWA, PSRC, and the additional supporting agencies (the “Core Support Team”) performed a feasibility study with a Public Stakeholder Team. The study was to determine viable solutions to the safety issues and the congestion at the interchange of South 320th Street and I-5 (access to Federal Way City Center). Beginning in 2003, there have been ongoing opportunities for the public to provide feedback. These opportunities include recent public open houses that drew between 100 to 200 attendees in April and November 2008, as well as at briefings for interested community groups. Eventually two alternatives were developed: Alternative One, North City Center and Alternative Two, South City Center. Both the Core Support Team and Public Stakeholder Team voted 100% to recommend Alternative One, North City Center. Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 March 4, 2009 K:\Planning Commission\2009\Meeting Summary 03-04-09.doc Alternative One modifies freeway ramps from South 320th Street to South 312th Street. It includes dual exit ramps and on-ramps with freeway exit and entry point at one location. Alternative One will add a new overpass at South 312th Street and will widen South 312th Street between 23rd Avenue South and 32nd Avenue South. It goes past Steel Lake Park and will require a strip of land from the north Steel Lake Park and from the south Steel Lake Park. The City of Federal Way is closely coordinating their work on the City Center Access Project with the requirements of two federal regulations that protect park resources. These regulations are Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966 and Section 6(f) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965. Steel Lake Park meets the criteria for a Section 4(f) resource because it is a significant public park. Only the south side of Steel Lake Park meets the criteria for Section 6(f) because the soccer fields on this property were developed and renovated with funds from a Land and Water Conservation grant. The project will identify and evaluate options for pedestrian enhancements along South 312th Street and connection improvements between the north and south sides of the park. It will be designed to modify or reduce the project footprint in order to avoid Steel Lake Park where possible. The project will follow National Park Service policies and provide replacement property of equal value, location, and usefulness for land acquired from south Steel Lake Park. Discussions need to be held on existing Steel Lake Park issues and potential impacts including: recreation use (field #5); parking and vehicle access; and pedestrian access/crossings. The next steps include presenting work items at the Core Team and Public Stakeholder Team meetings for comments; screening mitigation concepts by the work group after open house comments; screening replacement properties from six to three to present at open house for comments; and on March 10, 2009, the work group choosing the final mitigation plan and two replacement properties for the appraisal work. Commissioner Elder commented that she has been involved in this project since its beginning and asked were the funding is coming from. Mr. Perez responded that currently from City funds. This stage is expected to cost $3 million. The City has spent about $1½ million so far. There will be several construction phases and the City has submitted for grant funding. Commissioner Elder commented that one reason she is concerned about the funding is that the skateboard park went over its anticipated budget because of unforeseen issues due to the water table and now you are considering an underground tunnel. Another concern is whether this will take funds away from the Triangle project. Mr. Perez responded that the Triangle project is the City’s top emphasis, with the City Center Access second. The City Center Access seeks different funds. Commissioner Elder expressed concern that a person may build along 312th without knowing about this project and they could lose some of their land because of it. Mr. Perez responded that the City informs people of such projects when they apply for a permit. He also commented that it may be 10 to 20 years before the City has the funds to proceed and purchase property. Commissioner Elder also expressed her concern that the project not take any usage away from Steel Lake Park. Commissioner Carlson stated if park modifications are done, the City should take the opportunity to upgrade the parking. The south side of the park needs enough parking to accommodate eight teams. Mr. Perez responded that the City is considering the need for access across 312th for those parking on the other side of the park. Commissioner Medhurst asked what is the square footage or acreage of the park that will be impacted. Mr. Perez responded that 4/10 on an acre on the south side and 1½ acre on the north side will be impacted. Commissioner O’Neil asked where replacement land would come from for the park and what about bicycle lanes. Mr. Perez responded the City is considering replacement land from the Lauralwood wetland or property next to Celebration Park. The project provides an opportunity of good bike access to 312th Street. Planning Commission Minutes Page 3 March 4, 2009 K:\Planning Commission\2009\Meeting Summary 03-04-09.doc Commissioner Bronson commented that there is no indication of the HOV lanes on 317th; what impact will this project have? Mr. Perez commented that he has spoken to the Department of Transportation about them and no changes are proposed for the direct access on 317th. It is the most successful direct access ramp in the state and they expect the volume of use will increase over time even with future construction. Commissioner Bronson stated that for better understanding of the project, the direct access ramp should be included on maps of this project. Chair Pfeiffer asked what kind of land can be used for the park replacement land. Mr. Perez responding it must be in-kind; wetland for wetland, ball field for ball field, etc. The study session was closed. ADDITIONAL BUSINESS None AUDIENCE COMMENT None ADJOURN The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.