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Planning Comm MINS 03-23-2005K:\Planning Commission\2005\Meeting Summary 03-23-05.doc CITY OF FEDERAL WAY PLANNING COMMISSION March 23, 2005 City Hall 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers MEETING MINUTES Commissioners present: John Caulfield, Hope Elder, Bill Drake, Dini Duclos, Merle Pfeifer, and Lawson Bronson. Commissioners absent: Dave Osaki (excused). Alternate Commissioners present: Pam Duncan- Pierce. Alternate Commissioners absent: Christine Nelson (excused) and Tony Moore (unexcused). Staff present: Senior Planner Margaret Clark, Assistant City Attorney Amy Jo Pearsall, Consultant Betsy Czark, and Administrative Assistant E. Tina Piety. Chair Caulfield called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was m/s/c to adopt the March 2, 2005, minutes as presented. AUDIENCE COMMENT None ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT Ms. Piety informed the Commission that the Annual Volunteer Dinner is scheduled for April 22, 2005. This year the City will be hosting a mystery dinner put on by the company that does the Murder Mystery Dinners on the Dinner Train. It should be a lot of fun and she hopes all the Commissioners will be able to attend. COMMISSION BUSINESS PUBLIC HEARING – 2004 Comprehensive Plan Amendment The Commission first discussed the Site-Specific Request. Ms. Clark delivered the staff presentation. She stated that the proposed amendment includes the Kitts Corner Site-Specific Request that the Commission has already reviewed and therefore, is not part of this Public Hearing. The Site-Specific Request that is the subject of this Public Hearing is Puget Center Partnership’s application to amend the comprehensive plan designation and zoning of 4.03 acres located north of South 312th Street and east of 1st Avenue South from Professional Office (PO) to Neighborhood Business (BN). The Commission had no questions for staff and the Public Testimony was opened. Don Barker – He is with Powell Development and is the developer for this project. He commented that as Ms. Clark explained, any development would require mitigation. He has worked on another project in the City and knows to expect strict requirements. He feels the project will enhance the water quality of the area and will help control flooding. He believes the Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 March 23, 2005 K:\Planning Commission\2005\Meeting Summary 03-23-05.doc City will require them to construct curb, gutter, and sidewalk, which will enhance pedestrian activity in the neighborhood. He envisions this to be a neighborhood shopping center; a place people can go to meet their neighbors for a cup of coffee. He stated they can give it an aesthetic connection to the neighborhood. Paul Benton – He represents the owner of the shopping center. He read a letter into the record. In the letter, he states that he believes, “…that water quality and flooding issues will be adequately addressed through current City rules and regulations.” In addition, the letter states they are willing to, “…deed restrict the property from being used as a bar, tavern, cocktail lounge, adult bookstore, adult video store, or other adult entertainment business and for the renting, leasing, or selling of any boat, motor vehicle, or trailer.” Robert Burton – He is an Associate Broker and has been in the real estate business for 38 years. In addition, he teaches corporate real estate at a local college. He has researched retail uses in Federal Way. He commented that a small shopping center draws from within one mile. He feels this neighborhood would be better served by a small shopping center. He stated that the last three grocery stores in Federal Way have gone into neighborhoods. Bob Roper – He is the President of the Mirror Lake Resident’s Association. He commented that BN is more intense than PO. He feels we have enough BN in the City. He doesn’t agree with the water quality standards used by the City. He feels the City should be using standards that deal more with phosphates. In a recent Mirror Lake Resident’s Association meeting, there was no support for this rezone. Don Barker – In response to a question from a Commissioner, he stated that they are talking to retailers, but no one has signed on as yet. Bob Roper – His comments are in regard to the discussion the Commission had regarding water quality. He stated that the City uses the King County Surface Water Design Manual, which has two menus for pollution in lakes and streams. One menu deals mostly with zinc and the other mostly with phosphates. While there is not a current problem, Mirror Lake has the potential for a serious problem with phosphates. There was no further public testimony on this issue. Ms. Czark delivered the staff presentation on the update to the Federal Way Comprehensive Plan (FWCP) Housing chapter. There is no major vision change. Staff has rearranged and condensed information. In addition, language was added regarding possible methods to increase capacity, affordable housing, and housing choice. Finally, two new sections were added on household size and housing cost and affordability. Ms. Czark commented that Federal Way has the largest household size in South King County and close to the highest median household income, but still has a large number of low income households. She went over the policy changes and noted that HP22 should be deleted because HP21 says the same thing. In addition, a heading, “Emergency and Transitional Housing,” was added to HG6 because there was no heading previously. There was no public testimony on the Housing Chapter. Commissioner Duclos expressed her concern with the transitional housing requirements and how she feels those requirements discriminate against people in need of transitional housing by signaling them out for special requirements. The entire Commission agreed that sometime in the future they would like to review the requirements for transitional housing. Planning Commission Minutes Page 3 March 23, 2005 K:\Planning Commission\2005\Meeting Summary 03-23-05.doc It was m/s/c to recommend to the City Council adoption of the proposed comprehensive plan amendments as drafted in the staff report, with the modification that Puget Sound Partnership’s proposed deed restrictions be put into place. ADDITIONAL BUSINESS Ms. Clark informed the Commission that the next meeting will be April 20th, at which time there will be a public hearing on signs along Interstate-5. AUDIENCE COMMENT None ADJOURN The meeting was adjourned at 8:21 p.m.