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Planning Comm MINS 09-01-2004K:\Planning Commission\2004\Meeting Summary 09-01-04.doc City of Federal Way PLANNING COMMISSION Regular Meeting September 1, 2004 New City Hall 7:00 p.m. Patrick Maher Room/1st Floor MEETING MINUTES Commissioners present: Hope Elder, Dave Osaki, Dini Duclos, Bill Drake, and Merle Pfeifer. Commissioners absent: John Caulfield and Grant Newport (excused). Alternate Commissioners present: Lawson Bronson. Alternate Commissioners absent: Christine Nelson and Tony Moore (unexcused). City Council present: Deputy Mayor Linda Kochmar. Staff present: Senior Planner Margaret Clark, Deputy City Attorney Karen Kirkpatrick, City Staff Attorney Amy Jo Pearsall, Contract Planner Janet Shull, and Administrative Assistant E. Tina Piety. Vice-Chair Elder called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was m/s/c to adopt the April 21, 2004, minutes as presented. AUDIENCE COMMENT None. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT None COMMISSION BUSINESS PUBLIC HEARING – Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas & Wellhead Protection Areas Code Amendments Ms. Shull delivered the staff presentation. She introduced Stan French from the Lakehaven Utility District, with whom the staff worked to prepare these amendments and who attended the meeting in order to answer questions. The purpose of the amendments is to identify and protect critical aquifer recharge and wellhead areas in order to protect the primary source of drinking water for Federal Way. The City is obligated to adopt such amendments before December 1, 2004 in order to meet the state’s Growth Management Act (GMA) mandates. The Commission asked how many residential and business areas would be affected by these amendments? Ms. Clark responded that for the most part, residential areas would not be affected. Business would be affected if, when filing out the environmental checklist, they indicate they will store over 20 gallons and/or 200 pounds of hazardous material. In such cases, further studies would be required. This threshold is typical of other jurisdictions. The Commission expressed concern over failing septic tanks and asked if Lakehaven planned to convert areas in the City that are currently using septic systems to sewer. Mr. French replied that Lakehaven has no jurisdiction over septic systems. Septic systems work well as long as they are properly maintained and Lakehaven is working to educate owners. Ms. Clark commented that all new subdivisions must have water and sewer. Mr. French went on to say that Lakehaven has nine sites with 16 wells in the City. The oldest Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 September 1, 2004 K:\Planning Commission\2004\Meeting Summary 09-01-04.doc well in the City dates from the 1960’s. Boundaries for these wells are determined using a computer model based on groundwater movement, rate of withdraw of water, and time of travel from the point of entry. Most wells currently have a buffer zone of 100 feet that is owned by Lakehaven. Lakehaven has a list of low-, medium-, and high-risk users near these zones. Commissioners stated that proposed Federal Way City Code (FWCC) Sections 22-1374 and 22-1375.1 need some clarification. For Section 22-1374(1) regarding single-family, does this apply to proposed or existing single-family? For Section 22-1375.1, is it possible for this requirement to be implemented? Lawson Bronson, Alternate Commissioner – He expressed concern that a lot of businesses will be affected by these code amendments and better notification should have happened. In many places in FWCC Chapter 18 it states that the City will adopt a certain WAC section as currently stated, “or amended.” He does not agree with the “or amended” phase because it does not give opportunity for public comment. The Commissioners also expressed concern that not many businesses that may be affected by these code amendments received notification. The Commission requested staff to send out additional notification for the Land Use/Transportation Committee meeting that discusses this issue. It was m/s/c to adopt the staff recommendation, with the understanding that staff will clarify FWCC Section 22-1374, and will review FWCC Section 22-1375.1 and if it cannot be implemented, will remove the section. ADDITIONAL BUSINESS None. AUDIENCE COMMENT None. ADJOURN The meeting was adjourned at 8:14 p.m.