Planning Comm MINS 06-17-1998 SUMMARY
Commissioners present: Robert Vaughan (Chair), Tim Carr, Todd Suchan, Dean Greenough, and
Karen Kirkpatrick. Commissioners absent: Peter Morse and Lu Joslin. Staff present: Senior
Planner Margaret Clark, Public Works Director Cary Roe, Traffic Engineer Rick Perez, and
Administrative Assistant E. Tina Piety.
Chair Vaughan called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of June 3, 1998, were approved.
AUDIENCE COMMENT
None.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Mr. Perez informed the commission that the city has received applications from Weyerhaeuser to
develop office buildings on the Weyerhaeuser Corporate Park. The city has also received an
application for an Extended Stay America hotel.
COMMISSION BUSINESS
The commission was pleased to welcome back Commissioner Carr. He has been absent lately
due to union contract negotiations.
Ms. Clark presented the commission’s work program.
- Comprehensive Plan Amendments
The public hearing was reconvened at 7:30 p.m. Mr. Perez presented the Transportation Site
Specific Requests.
T1 - This is a request to delete the proposed extension of SW 342nd Place. As proposed, it would
divide a proposed development. In addition, the proposed development is for senior
housing which would not generate much traffic. The staff recommends approving this
request. The commission discussed the issue. It was m/s/c (no nays) to accept the staff
recommendation.
City of Federal Way PLANNING COMMISSION
June 17, 1998 City Hall
7:00 p.m. Council Chambers
Planning Commission
June 17, 1998 2
T2 - This is a request to delete the proposed extension of South 308th Street. Potential buyers
have been discouraged from purchasing in the area due to the proposed extension. The
area is at least a ¼ mile from thru streets in either direction. In addition, it is near
undeveloped area that could potentially add traffic in the future. The staff recommends
denying the request. The commission discussed the issue. It was m/s/c (no nays) to accept
the staff recommendation.
T3 - This is a request from staff to reconfigure the network of collectors in and around
Celebration Park. The staff feels the reconfiguration would better serve the park and
surrounding area. The staff recommends approving this request. The commission
discussed the issue. It was m/s/c (no nays) to accept the staff recommendation.
Mr. Perez introduced the code revisions. These are proposed changes to Federal Way City Code
Chapters 20 and 22 in order to make them consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Perez
then explained the major changes. For Sec. 20-156(a), where the words, “and neighborhood
circulation” were added, the commission expressed the concern that it be made clear that this
includes the city center. Staff will wordsmith the section to make this clear. The commission
discussed Sec. 20-185(a) and requested the staff to end the sentence after the words “design
standards.”
Mr. Perez noted that a great deal of the Sight Distances at Intersections division of chapter 22 is
to be deleted. The reason for this is that the city will be using the AASHTO requirements instead
(this represents a policy change). The commission found it difficult to understand Sec. 22-
1160(a) and asked that the sentence be broken up and made more clear. For Sec. 22-1474(a), the
last sentence says, “…improvements shall be required to provide improvements…” This is
confusing. Staff will rewrite it to remove one of the improvements.
The commission discussed the size of residential driveways (Sec. 22-1542). Concern was
expressed that 20 feet would not be wide enough for a three car garage. It was decided that
deleting the word “larger” in Sec. 22-1542(3) would take care of this concern, as well as allow
for boats, RV’s, etc. It was m/s/c (no nays) to accept the code revisions as amended.
Mr. Perez commented that the City Council recently adopted City Center Design Guidelines and
these will be added to the code. The staff will provide the commission with a copy.
Ms. Clark went back to the Comprehensive Plan amendments. There are quite a few changes, for
which the staff did not have the time to provide the commission with a written copy. Ms. Clark
went over these during her presentation. She also showed an overhead of a matrix of each page in
the chapter that has a change and whether it is a housekeeping change or a response to the
Washington State Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (DCTED)
letter of March 8, 1996.
Planning Commission
June 17, 1998 3
Chapter 1 - Introduction
Ms. Clark went over the changes. The commission suggested dropping the first two sentences in
the last paragraph on page I-1 in order to bring it up to date. Ms. Clark went over a few more
proposed changes that are needed to bring the chapter up to date.
Chapter 2 - Land Use
Ms. Clark went over proposed changes, many which are needed to bring the chapter up to date
(for example, add a subtitle to Chart II-1 stating that the information is based on 1995 zoning).
The commission requested that the numbers in the first paragraph under section 2.1 The Land
Use Concept, be rounded up (for example, change 54.91 percent to 55 percent). On page II-6, the
staff added ‘property rights’ to the list of GMA goals. Discussion was held on the definition of
property rights. Concern was expressed over property needed for right-of-way. The commission
requested staff to check the source of this definition. It was noted that Chart II-3 differs from
Chart II-1. This is because Chart II-1 comes from older data. Discussion was held on Single
Family High Density and the change from reflecting this as feet to acres. Staff will rewrite this
section to make it more clear. Ms. Clark remarked that the staff will be rewriting section 2.9
Essential Public Facilities, because the city now has an essential public facilities process.
Ms. Clark told the Planning Commission that the staff will give them a copy of the amended
Comprehensive Plan that shows all of the changes and commission amendments before it goes
on to the City Council.
It was m/s/c to continue the Public Hearing to July 1, 1998, at 7:00 p.m. in the city’s Council
Chambers.
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
None.
AUDIENCE COMMENT
None.
ADJOURN
It was m/s/c to adjourn the meeting at 10:00 p.m.
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