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Planning Comm MINS 11-08-2006 K:\Planning Commission\2006\Meeting Summary 11-08-06.doc CITY OF FEDERAL WAY PLANNING COMMISSION November 8, 2006 City Hall 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers MEETING MINUTES Commissioners present: Hope Elder, Dave Osaki, Dini Duclos, Merle Pfeifer, Bill Drake, and Lawson Bronson. Commissioners absent: Wayne Carlson (excused). Alternate Commissioners present: Richard Agnew, Kevin King, and Caleb Allen. Alternate Commissioners absent: none. Staff present: Community Development Services Director Kathy McClung, Planning Consultant Janet Shull; Assistant City Attorney Amy Jo Pearsall, and Administrative Assistant E. Tina Piety. Chairperson Elder called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Duclos moved and it was seconded to adopt the October 18, 2006, minutes. The motion was carried. AUDIENCE COMMENT None ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT Moved to the end of the meeting. COMMISSION BUSINESS ELECTIONS Hope Elder was nominated for the position of Chair. There were no other nominations. Ms. Elder was unanimously selected. Dini Duclos was nominated for the position of Vice-Chair. There were no other nominations. Ms. Duclos was unanimously selected. PUBLIC HEARING – Flag Lots Code Amendment Chair Elder opened the public hearing. Ms. Shull delivered the staff report. The proposed amendments will add definitions and clarify how existing setbacks are to be applied to flag lot development. Ms. Shull explained a graphic (Exhibit B of the staff report) that shows how the proposed amendments will work. She stated that access to residential lots is prohibited from an arterial or primary collector for safety reasons. The front yard of a residential lot is adjacent to where vehicles access the lot. Commissioner Drake asked if the size of the setbacks next to an arterial is due to sight distance. Ms. Shull replied that is one of the reasons. Another is to allow parking in front of the house and/or garage. Commissioner Drake asked what would happen if there were two flag lots side-by-side. Ms. Shull replied that situation would require a different arrangement than the proposed for access. She commented that no more than two lots may have access off a panhandle. Staff is currently working with Public Works staff on access for this type of situation. It is a different category of development. Public Testimony: Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 November 8, 2006 K:\Planning Commission\2006\Meeting Summary 11-08-06.doc Rodney Grant, 2202 South 300th Street – He is a property owner who ran into confusion by city staff in regards to the setbacks for his flag lot. He feels these amendments will clarify the issue and help owners to obtain the best use from their property. It will make things easier. Dini Duclos moved adoption of the staff’s recommendation and the motion was seconded. There was no discussion. The motion passed. Chair Elder closed the public hearing. ADDITIONAL BUSINESS None ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT Ms. McClung informed the Commission that the city has purchased the old SeaTac North Theater (Cratsenberg) property. The city will be seeking a developer to design a project that will follow the Federal Way Comprehensive Plan and will bring to light the potential of Federal Way’s downtown. The Public Safety initiative passed, which means the Community Development Services Department will be hiring a new Code Compliance Officer who will focus on quality of life issues, such as graffiti. The Building Official has accepted a position with the City of Spokane Valley and will be leaving in late December. The city recently held a stakeholders meeting and about 30 people attended. Most of the time is spent listening to their permit process experience. From this, staff has prepared a list of concerns that the staff is working to improve. The city is preparing to annex all of the remaining Potential Annexation Area (PAA) and is close to reaching an agreement with King County. King County is encouraging all cities in the county to annex their areas and is willing to help fund the process. The city and King County are meeting with homeowner associations in the PAA for their input and to answer questions on this issue. It is likely that an election on annexation will occur in November 2007, with the areas becoming a part of the city in January 2009. The city is in the midst of its budget process and the City Council is very interested in staffing levels. They are concerned about whether departments have enough staff to complete their workloads. Departments were asked to make 2% cuts, so Community Development Services is not asking for new staff. Ms. McClung asked the Commission to be thinking about what code amendments, if any, they would like to see on next year’s work program. The “Honey I Shrunk the Lots” is a good presentation and visual picture of how good different densities can look with good design. Once the presentation is rescheduled with the LUTC, the Commission will be invited. At the next LUTC on November 20th, there will be a presentation on the proposed Community Business/Business Park (BC/BP) code amendments. Staff will be seeking the LUTC’s direction on the proposed amendments. Chair Elder requested that the Commission be kept informed of development in the city. Ms. McClung replied that she will give the Commission a copy of the monthly list she prepares for the Chamber of Commerce. AUDIENCE COMMENT None ADJOURN The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.