Planning Comm MINS 04-15-2009
K:\Planning Commission\2009\Meeting Summary 04-15-09.doc
CITY OF FEDERAL WAY
PLANNING COMMISSION
April 15, 2009 City Hall
7:00 p.m. Council Chambers
MEETING MINUTES
Commissioners present: Merle Pfeifer, Hope Elder, Lawson Bronson, Wayne Carlson, Sarady Long, and Tim
O’Neil. Commissioners absent: Tom Medhurst (excused). Staff present: Senior Planner Margaret Clark,
Traffic Engineer Rick Perez, Assistant City Attorney Peter Beckwith, Planner Manager Isaac Conlen and
Administrative Assistant Darlene LeMaster.
Chair Pfeifer called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of March 4, 2009, were approved as written.
AUDIENCE COMMENT
None
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
None
COMMISSION BUSINESS
PUBLIC HEARING – 2008 Comprehensive Plan Amendments
Margaret Clark delivered the staff report. Ms. Clark summarized the 2008 Comprehensive Plan
Amendments as including housekeeping changes to Chapter 6, “Capital Facilities” and Chapter 10, “Private
Utilities,” as well as two citizen-initiated site specific requests for Comprehensive Plan amendments and
rezones and one City-initiated site-specific request for a Comprehensive Plan amendment and rezone. Ms.
Clark also noted in her procedural summary that staff received no comments for these Comprehensive Plan
amendments.
Ms. Clark reviewed all of the 2008 Comprehensive Plan amendments with the commissioners, stating that
the amendments to Chapters 6 and 10 were housekeeping amendments being made in compliance with the
Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A.070).
Site-specific request #1 is for Federal Way Village, requesting to shift a dividing line between RM 2400
and BC zoned parcels to add 1.53 acres to the BC-zoned parcels. This request will have no significant
impacts.
Site-specific request #2 is for Trinh Nguyen, requesting to change the comprehensive plan designation and
zoning of 13,210 sq. ft. located south of S 288th St and west of 18th Ave S from Multi-family (RM 3600) to
Community Business (BC). Should this request be granted, the applicant wishes to construct a mixed use
building on this site. Any proposed development would be subject to Concurrency Review and other City
regulations.
Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 April 15, 2009
K:\Planning Commission\2009\Meeting Summary 04-15-09.doc
Site-specific request #3 is a City initiated request to change comprehensive plan designation from Single
Family (RS 7.2) and Multi-family (RM 1800) to Multi-family (RM 3600) to comply with a Settlement
Agreement between the City of Federal Way, City of Des Moines, Granville Southern Corporation and Mr.
and Mrs. Tavis that set out terms of how this property will be developed. Pacific Heights plat covers land
in both Federal Way and Des Moines.
There was one public comment:
Jon Potter, Federal Way Village – Mr. Potter did not have comment but was present to answer any
questions from the Planning Committee.
Regarding site-specific request #3 (Pacific Heights), Commissioner O’Neil asked if this zoning
modification had been approved through the Settlement Agreement between the Cities of Federal Way and
Des Moines, why is this issue before the Planning Commission?
Regarding site-specific request #1 (Federal Way Village), Chair Pfeifer asked for confirmation of where
roads are planned. Ms. Clark stated that there will be two points of access from S 336th Street and one from
SR 99. The plans for roads stay as-is, the zoning within the parcels is the only change. Chair Pfeifer also
inquired if there were any leads on tenants for this property. Mr. Potter responded, saying there is one
potential anchor for the development. The market will need to recover before development takes place. Mr.
Potter was hopeful that both residential and retail markets will improve soon.
Commissioner O’Neil asked if the seven-year updates can be cumulative, so that Planning Commission is
able to make one major change, rather that reviewing changes so frequently. Ms. Clark commented that
staff returns to the Planning Commission annually with requests for comprehensive plan amendments as
the code allows for public requests annually.
Regarding site-specific request #2 (Nguyen), Chair Pfeifer wanted to make sure that the applicant
understands the language in the staff recommendation. Also, he asked whether anyone had spoken with
surrounding neighbors and had they been notified. Ms. Clark answered that neighbors were notified twice
and that no comment was received. The applicant stated that they understand the verbiage in the staff
recommendation. Commissioner Long asked if there was any mixed use tenants west of Nguyen’s
property. Ms. Clark responded that she did not know.
Commissioner Carlson made a motion to accept the 2008 Comprehensive Plan Amendments as recommended
by staff. Commissioner Elder seconded. There was no further discussion. Motion passed, 6-1; Commissioner
Long abstaining. Commissioner Long has been a project engineer for Federal Village and wished to recuse
himself.
Chair Pfeifer asked is there was any objection to closing the hearing. Hearing none, the hearing was closed.
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
None
AUDIENCE COMMENT
None.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 7:39 p.m.