LUTC MINS 05-15-2000
MEETING SUMMARY
In attendance: Committee members Phil Watkins, Chair, Jeanne Burbidge and Dean McColgan; Deputy Mayor
Linda Kochmar; City Manager David Mosely; Director of Community Development Services Stephen Clifton;
Public Works Director Cary Roe; Assistant City Attorney Bob Sterbank; Deputy Director of Public Works Ken
Miller; Street Systems Manager Marwan Salloum; Senior Planner Margaret Clark; Traffic Engineer Rick Perez;
Administrative Assistant Sandy Lyle.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Watkins called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the May 1, 2000, meeting were approved as presented.
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
Patricia Owen, a longtime Federal Way resident, spoke about how developers have filled natural drainage
areas which causes occasional flooding in winter. Her concern was that further development would make
the flooding worse.
Bernie Mottershead and Charles Connon also commented on winter flooding and the negative impacts
further development might create.
Charles Connon mentioned the wireless facility near his property. He had an additional concern about an
ethics issue.
4. BUSINESS ITEMS
A. Community Design Guidelines – In response to comments received regarding the Pep Boys
building on Pacific Highway South, the Committee m/s/c recommendation of approval to the City
Council to add Community Design Guidelines to the 2000 Planning Commission code
amendments work plan.
B. Set Public Hearing for Adoption of the TIP – The Committee m/s/c recommendation of approval
to the City Council to hold a public hearing on the 2001-2006 Federal Way Transportation
Improvement Plan and Arterial Street Improvement Plan at 7:00 pm, June 20, 2000, at the Federal
Way City Hall Council Chambers. Per Chapters 35.77 and 47.26 of the Revised code of
Washington, the City is required to adopt a revised TIP and ASIP on an annual basis that reflects
the City’s current and future street and arterial needs.
C. 2000 Benchmark Report – The Committee discussed the 2000 King County Benchmark Report
which shows Federal Way to be behind in new affordable housing units compared to benchmark
targets established in 1995. It was a generally held belief of the Committee Members that
population density in Federal Way is greater than the report shows. The Committee wondered if
the targets could be changed by changing the boundaries of the urban center. They questioned
why the City was given no credit for units outside City boundaries and supported by taxpayer
dollars.
City of Federal Way
City Council
Land Use/Transportation Committee
May 15, 2000 City Council
5:30 pm Council Chambers
D. Sound Transit Update Briefing – In a briefing to update the Committee about Sound Transit and
the transit projects in Federal Way, it was learned that due to budget shortfalls on the Federal Way
Transit Center, Sound Transit was possibly planning to eliminate the clock tower and the top floor
of the parking structure. This was the first the Committee had heard of a potential funding
problem. The idea of a changed Transit Center was unacceptable to them. Star Lake and Pacific
Highway South projects are under budget and the Committee agreed that a letter should be drafted
to Sound Transit expressing the City’s desire to apply money left over from the Park and Ride
projects to the proposed Transit Center. In the future, a Sound Transit Update will be a once-a-
month Land Use/Transportation Committee agenda item.
E. Roundabouts – A Consultant hired by the Weyerhaeuser Company surveyed City residents on
what they thought about traffic roundabouts instead of traffic lights. There was a need to install
up to six lights on Weyerhaeuser Way in order to deal with increased development in the East
Campus area unless another solution was found. City respondents indicated that they did not want
to have this City look like Factoria. Safer than signals, roundabouts cause a drop in accident rates
from 33-80%. Roundabouts slow traffic to accepted posted speeds. A roundabout was proposed
at 336th and Weyerhaeuser Way. A future roundabout will be built at 333rd and Weyerhaeuser
Way to replace the existing two lights. Cost of roundabouts vs. signals is about the same. Right-
of-way acquisition adds to the initial cost of roundabouts. With lower maintenance costs,
however, roundabouts and signals are about equal expense over time.
5. FUTURE MEETINGS
The next meeting will be held in Council Chambers at 5:30 pm on June 12, 2000.
6. ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 6:50pm.
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