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LUTC MINS 01-22-2001 MEETING SUMMARY In attendance: Committee members Dean McColgan, Chair, Jeanne Burbidge, and Eric Faison; Deputy Mayor Linda Kochmar; City Manager David Mosely; Interim Director of Community Development Services Kathy McClung; Public Works Director Cary Roe; City Attorney Bob Sterbank; Deputy Public Works Director Ken Miller; Principal Planner Greg Fewins; Senior Planner Jim Harris; Associate Planner Deb Barker; Senior Engineering Plans Reviewer Jim Femling; Traffic Engineering Rick Perez; Assistant Traffic Engineer Hazem El- Assar; Administrative Assistant E. Tina Piety. 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair McColgan called the meeting to order at 5:35 pm. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the December 18, 2000, meeting was approved as presented. 3. PUBLIC COMMENT None. 4. BUSINESS ITEMS A. Preliminary Plat of Meadowlane – A subdivision consisting of 10 single-family lots proposed in the southwest portion of the City. There is one existing residence, which shall remain. Access will be from 35th Avenue SW via a new local access street (SW 343rd Street/34th Avenue SW). The new local access street will end in a temporary cul-de-sac, and is designed and proposed to allow future connection to the existing SW 342nd Street, east of the site. Staff recommends the LUTC forward to the City Council a recommendation approving the Meadowlane preliminary plat with conditions, based on the findings and conclusions in the December 18, 2000, Hearing Examiner Report. Chair McColgan asked for any public comment. Ken Shattock, 34312 31st Avenue SW – President, Grouse Pointe (Div. II) Homeowner’s Association. Members of his HOA are concerned that the property is not big enough to hold 10 new homes, but their main concern is the proposed street extension. They are concerned that extending the street would mean taking developed residential property. They are also concerned over the possible increase in traffic flow (especially from commuters taking a short- cut). They are concerned for their children’s safety, with the increase of traffic. Scott Sharrow, engineer for the project, said he was available to answer any questions. Mike Mills, 3126 SW 342nd Street – He is the father of a deaf child. He is very concerned over the proposed street extension. He bought his house because it is on a dead end, and would therefore, provided the protection of few cars. If the street goes through, he would have to keep his son indoors, and possibly have to move to ensure his son’s safety. The City has put up a deaf child sign on his street. He asked if there are any other actions the City can take to help protect his child if the street is extended. Chair McColgan asked the staff to research if there is any way the City can help beyond the deaf child sign. City of Federal Way City Council Land Use/Transportation Committee January 22, 2001 City Hall 5:30 pm Council Chambers Discussion was held over whether the City could require installation traffic calming devices (speed humps) on the new street as part of the conditions. Usually, traffic calming devices are not installed until a need is proven. City Attorney Sterbank said the City could require them if it is expected that future development would need them. City Manager Moseley stated that there are no plans at this time to extend the street. Extension would only occur with future development of the area, and that is entirely in the hands of the property owners. They could come in next week with a proposed development, or it might not happen for 20 years. When future development is proposed is the time to discuss the issues of the street extension. It was moved/seconded/approved to forward to the City Council a recommendation approving the Meadowlane preliminary plat with conditions, based on the findings and conclusions in the December 18, 2000, Hearing Examiner Report. B. Preliminary Plat of Star Lake Vista – There was no public comment on this issue. A subdivision of 18 single-family lots proposed in the northern part of the City. Access will be from South Star Lake Road. Staff recommends the LUTC forward to the City Council a recommendation approving the Star Lake Vista preliminary plat with conditions, based on the findings and conclusions in the December 19, 2000, Hearing Examiner Report. It was noted that one condition requires some lots with steep slopes provide additional geotechnical information when they are developed. It was moved/seconded/approved to forward to the City Council a recommendation approving the Star Lake Vista preliminary plat with conditions, based on the findings and conclusions in the December 19, 2000, Hearing Examiner Report. C. Olympic View Neighborhood Traffic Safety Project – There was no public comment on this issue. Proposal is to install five speed humps in the Olympic View Neighborhood. Staff recommends the LUTC forward to the City Council a recommendation to approval installation of five speed humps on 26th Avenue SW and 27th Avenue SW, south of SW 320th Street. The City Council has adopted installation criteria for speed humps. According to a September 2000 traffic study, this project meets the criteria. On October 17, 2000, a meeting was held with the neighborhood that concluded installation of five speed humps was in order to mitigate the identified traffic problems. Ballots were sent to property owners and occupants within 600 feet of the proposed speed hump locations. Over 50% responded, and approval rates were high. The LUTC asked how speed humps were working in other neighborhoods of the City. Staff responded that initially there is more noise from annoyed drivers, but this soon passes. Generally, speeds are reduced by some three mph, and usually there is 10% traffic diversion (some areas have experienced up to 50%). The FWSD and Metro Transit do not like speed humps, but will put up with them. They do cause a drop in the FWFD response time (they lose about 10 seconds per speed humps), so the City works closely with them to make as little impact as possible. The speed humps will be designed like those in Celebration Park and will cost approximately $2000 each. It was moved/seconded/approved to forward to the City Council a recommendation to approve installation of five speed humps on 26th Avenue SW and 27th Avenue SW, south of SW 320th Street. D. 509 Update – The state is proposing to extend 509 from where it ends (west of SeaTac) to I-5 at 210th Street. It will add collector/distributor lanes to I-5. It will impact the 272nd interchange. Some issues with the current proposal is that it would remove a general purpose lane from I-5 and in order to exit at 272nd, vehicles would have to begin their move some four miles from the interchange. There is a class 1 wetland near 272nd. The current proposal would come very close to this wetland, and it may mean that the proposed in-line transit station could not be built. E. 312th Freeway Connection – Currently in the comprehensive plan, the plan is to extend 312th over I-5. It has been proposed that the City pursue an interchange. Staff figures it would cost some $20 million for the extension, and another $50 million for an interchange. WSDOT has specific criteria for interchanges and staff has done some research into the issue. One issue is that the City must show that it meets all relevant comprehensive plans, not just the City’s. Another issue is that it is only ½ mile from the 320th interchange and WSDOT prefers at least two miles between interchanges. The City could argue that is unrealistic in a city of this size. WSDOT says it would take some 10 years to get approval. The City needs to decide if this is a high priority and if so, it should be added to the TIP and comprehensive plan. The City also needs to consider what kind of staffing would be required. It might be best to consider a corridor analysis instead of just this interchange. The LUTC is definitely interested in this issue. Dave Kaplan, 30240 27th Avenue South – He finds it hard to imagine a 312th interchange. It would have a major impact on the apartments and Steel Lake Park. 312th would have to be widened and a traffic light installed. It makes more sense to him to have an interchange at 304th. 5. FUTURE MEETINGS The next meeting will be held in Council Chambers at 5:30 pm on February 5, 2001. 6. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 6:45pm.