Planning Comm MINS 08-01-2001
City of Federal Way
PLANNING COMMISSION
Regular Meeting
August 1, 2001 City Hall
7:00 p.m. Council Chambers
MEETING SUMMARY
Commissioners present: Nesbia Lopes, Dini Duclos, and Dave Osaki. Commissioners absent (excused):
John Caulfield, Hope Elder, and Bill Drake, (unexcused) Sophia McNeil. Staff present: Community
Development Services Director Kathy McClung, Contract Planner Rick Sepler, Public Works Director
Cary Roe, and Administrative Assistant E. Tina Piety.
The meeting began at 7:05 p.m. Due to both the Chair and Vice-Chair being excused from the meeting,
those members present elected Dini Duclos as temporary chair.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes were tabled due to the lack of a quorum.
AUDIENCE COMMENT
None.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Ms. McClung stated that since tonight is a workshop and not a public hearing, a quorum is not required.
The city issued the land use decision for the new high school. The SEPA decision had been appealed, so
the city will soon hold the appeal hearing since the land use decision has been issued. The city anticipates
the shell permit for St. Francis Hospital’s expansion will be issued this week. An application has been
placed for Pavilion Centre Phase II-B (Phase II-A is under construction). The city is working with Sound
Transit on design issues for the transit center. The city is organizing a Developers Forum on October 10,
for developers, bankers, and owners interested in development in the City Center Core and Frame. The city
is in the midst of a Potential Annexation Area study and is requesting a Planning Commission volunteer
for the oversight committee (more about this on August 15).
COMMISSION BUSINESS
WORKSHOP – 25% Threshold for Frontage Improvements
Commissioner Duclos announced that she has been newly elected to the Board of the Federal Way
Chamber of Commerce, but she has not been involved in any of Chamber’s discussions on this issue. Rick
Sepler presented the staff report. The Chamber requested the City evaluate the trigger requirements for
street frontage improvements because of their belief that businesses have chosen not to locate in Federal
Way due to the cost of these improvements.
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Mr. Sepler commented that there is no formula to address this issue. The City must work with the Chamber
to strive to balance the needs of property owners and the general public. The staff compared the City’s 25
percent trigger with other jurisdictions and concluded that the City’s regulation falls somewhat in the
middle (page 4 of the staff’s memorandum). The staff also compared the cost per linear foot of street
standards among other jurisdictions and again, concluded that the costs in Federal Way fall somewhat in
the middle. There is interest by the City Council to protect small businesses. They more easily trigger the
25 percent than businesses with larger buildings. Staff is working to develop a balanced and equitable
outcome that protects small businesses.
Dolores Shull, Federal Way Chamber of Commerce – She encouraged the commission to
consider the Chamber’s recommendations as a package, rather than piecemeal [the Chamber’s
recommendations can be found on page 6 of the staff’s memorandum, and in the Chamber’s
letter presented to the Planning Commission on June 6, 2001]. She also commented that this
proposed amendment should apply citywide in fairness to all and asked the staff to provide cost
estimates.
Bob Couper, Federal Way Chamber of Commerce, Chair, Economic Vitality Committee – He is
chair of the committee that studied this issue. He commented that the City staff that took part in
this committee was very professional. The Chamber started with a pie-in-the-sky number and the
City staff started in the basement. The discussions ended on the third floor of a seven-story
building. The Chamber wishes to build an atmosphere in this City so that small businesses will
want to come here. They want small businesses to be able to improve so that people will be
drawn to them. As an example, Value Village cannot afford to make improvements because the
cost would trigger the 25 percent threshold.
The commission would like the following information included in the staff report:
• What arrangements could be used to spread out the cost of improvements over time?
• Does Federal Way have deferral agreements for street improvements and examples of same?
Cary Roe stated that the City tries not to have formal agreements; rather we have a street
modification process that is on a case-by-case basis. Right-of-way acquisition is one
modification that can be done.
• Are on-site storm drainage improvements related to this issue, and if so, how?
• What are the other nonconformance triggers? Staff will include a copy of the
nonconformance chapter with the report.
• Can the City standardize aspects of the 25 percent trigger issue rather than reviewing projects
on a case-by-case basis? Staff replied that this amendment is responding to the Chambers
request and standardizing is outside the scope of the request.
• Include the City’s six-year CFP.
• Would the Chamber include examples of opportunities Federal Way is losing due to the 25
percent trigger and would staff include how often the 25 percent trigger comes into play.
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• What if the amendment was applied to just the City Center Core and Frame as opposed to the
City as a whole?
• Would the City have a problem with placing this amendment in effect for four to five years
and then analyzing the results?
• Does the City have a sidewalk improvement program? How much has the City invested in
sidewalk and street improvements over the last three years.
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
None.
AUDIENCE COMMENT
None.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.