Planning Comm MINS 12-03-1997 SUMMARY
Commissioners present: Robert Vaughan (Chair), Todd Suchan, Karen Kirkpatrick, Lu Joslin,
and Dean Greenough. Commissioner absent: Tim Carr and Peter Morse. Staff present: Deputy
Director of CDS Kathy McClung, Senior Planner Margaret Clark, Contract Planner Don Largen,
Contract Planner Dyanne Sheldon, and Administrative Assistant E. Tina Piety.
Chair Vaughan called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
It was m/s/c to approve the minutes of November 19, 1997.
AUDIENCE COMMENT
None.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
None.
COMMISSION BUSINESS - Environmentally Sensitive Areas
Public Hearing was reconvened at 7:06 p.m. and Public Testimony opened at 7:07 p.m.
Barbara Reid, 1828 S 330th Street, #B - She is concerned with buffers. Has been
working on Celebration park and is aware of the important role of wetlands. We are
getting more roads causing problems with runoff to aquifers. She wants the buffers to
stay as recommended. The future depends on it.
Bruce Harpham, 2518 S 361st Street - He represents Rainier Audubon and the
Friends of the Hylebos. He is concerned with wetlands. Part of the reason we became a
city was because local people would better protect the environment. Our wetland
system is the best in the state. Until an inventory is done, a tiered system will not work.
In regards to buffers, DOE says anything less than 50 feet will cause the wetland to fail.
City of Federal Way PLANNING COMMISSION
December 3, 1997 City Hall
7:00 pm Council Chambers
Planning Commission
December 3, 1997 2
Laura Stiles, 89 - 18th Avenue, Milton - Congratulations on a good current buffer
system. You do not want to lose the buffers, once something is built, you can not get the
buffer back. It is very hard to try and fix problems later.
Ray Congdon, 29009 - 4th Place S, Auburn - Wetlands are our filter system for
drinking water. Lower buffers will take away habitat area.
Ted Enticknap, 36817 - 12th Avenue S - Concerned that lower buffers could reduce
the flow of streams.
Ned Gulbran, 2833 Mt. St. Helens Place S, Seattle - Landscape architect for Monte
Powell. Appreciates the changes that will allow Mr. Powell to get in and do the stream
maintenance.
David Kaplan, 30240 - 27th Avenue S - He is involved with Celebration Park. We are
losing sight of the fact that the city is buying water from Tacoma and Auburn. This is
because impervious surface messes up our aquifers. Wetlands and aquifers recharge
aquifers with clean water. The city is spending a lot of money to enhance the wetlands
in Celebration Park, but that was needed because the park sits on a major aquifer. We
can advert the cost of water if we protect what we now have. He is concerned that
language about replanting native vegetation was deleted. Other vegetation can clog up
wetlands.
Peter Townsend, 29508 - 12th Avenue S - He presented the commission with two letters,
one from Sue Burgemeister. He stated that using two classes to define wetland categories is
too restrictive. The existing setbacks are capricious and unfair. A sense of balance should be
encouraged.
The Public Testimony was closed at 7:34 p.m. Ms. McClung went over a couple of letters the
commission received. She than gave a presentation comparing buffers with other jurisdictions
and going over the Dept of Wildlife Report which has been frequently cited in public testimony.
It was decided to eliminate the word “major” in the rehabilitation section in order to include
major and minor streams. Discussed why the requirement to replace native vegetation was
deleted. It is very expensive to replace vegetation and native vegetation will colonize the area if
non-native vegetation is controlled. Discussed the suggested matrix from the B-Twelve letter of
December 3. It was m/s/c to accept the ordinance as written. It was m/s/c to over-turn the
previous vote. It was m/s/c to accept the ordinance as amended.
The Public Hearing was closed at 8:47 p.m.
Planning Commission
December 3, 1997 3
Ms. McClung gave an update of the status of previous code amendments. Ms. Clark gave an
update of the Enchanted Park Annexation. Discussion was held on height and concern was raised
over the type of structures and removal of the tree buffer.
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
None.
AUDIENCE COMMENT
None.
ADJOURN
It was m/s/c to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 p.m.
120397.SUM