Planning Comm MINS 05-18-2011
K:\Planning Commission\2011\Meeting Summary 05-18-11.doc
CITY OF FEDERAL WAY
PLANNING COMMISSION
May 18, 2011 City Hall
7:00 p.m. Council Chambers
MEETING MINUTES
Commissioners present: Merle Pfeifer, Hope Elder, Wayne Carlson, Tom Medhurst, Lawson Bronson,
Tim O’Neil, and Sarady Long. Commissioners absent: None. Staff present: Planning Manager Isaac
Conlen, Principal Planner Margaret Clark, Senior Planner Janet Shull, Assistant City Attorney Peter
Beckwith, and Administrative Assistant Tina Piety.
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Pfeifer called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of April 20, 2011, were approved as presented.
AUDIENCE COMMENT
None
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Mr. Conlen announced the next Planning Commission meeting will be June 15th, which will be a public
hearing on a citizen requested changes to the Office Park (OP) zone.
COMMISSION BUSINESS
PUBLIC HEARING – Proposed Amendments Related to Allowing Animal Kennels and Animal Care
Facilities in the Neighborhood Business (BN) Zone
Ms. Clark delivered the staff report. This is a request from a citizen (Jon Moore) to allow animal kennels,
dog day care, and pet training in the Neighborhood Business (BN) zone. The proposed amendments
include regulations that are intended to mitigate any adverse impacts associated with outdoor uses for
animals and noise. The proposed amendments also include a definition for animal kennel.
Commissioner O’Neil asked staff to explain how the noise regulations work. Ms. Clark responded the
regulations are set by the state and it is her understanding they are based on measuring from where the
noise originated to where it ends. A chart is used showing acceptable dBa (decimal levels) for certain
zones. The length of time the noise continues is also taken into account. At night, the dBa limitation is
reduced by 10. Commissioner Bronson was able to add to the explanation. The meter measures at the
receiving end of the noise. Noise is dissipated by the square root of the distance. If you are ten feet away
it is one number, if you are 20 feet away it is one-fourth of that. This is done on a log scale. Dropping dBa
by 10, halves the sound level.
Commissioner Carlson asked if the noise regulations would pertain only to outdoor dog runs. He is
concerned that some businesses that only have animals inside will still be too noisy. Commissioner
Medhurst expressed concern about night time noise. Do other jurisdictions have time limits for outside
runs? Commissioner O’Neil expressed concern over the number of animals. What about the noise if they
have 50 to 60 animals? Ms. Clark responded that other jurisdictions do not have time limits. She went on
to state that all businesses must comply with the city noise ordinance, which uses the same language as
Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 May 18, 2011
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the state’s noise regulations. There are some dog kennels in other zones of the city and the city has not
received any noise complaints about them.
Jon Moore – He is the owner of a grooming facility. He stated that dog day-care and dog kennel
are two different things. Some dog day-cares will have an outdoor component. Generally, the
animals are brought in at night. The business and animal owners do not want the animals left in
an uncontrolled situation. If animals are left out at night, the night-time staff will calm the
animals if they act-up and make a lot of noise. His business (and none of the others he is in
contact with) has not received any noise complaints. He suggested the proposed amendments
separate out breeding kennels. A breeding kennel may have up to 50 dogs and many unneutered
males. They are very noisy and are not suited for the BN zone.
Commissioner Bronson agreed that the breeding language should be removed from the amendments.
Chair Pfeiffer noted that the city has not received any complaints about veterinary offices and they have
many animals.
Commissioner Carlson moved (and it was seconded) to adopt the proposed amendments with a change to
the BN zone notes that breeding kennels are prohibited. The motion passed unanimously. The public
hearing was closed
STUDY SESSION – Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan
Ms. Shull delivered the staff presentation. The citywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan is a
component of the Cities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) grant. The overall goals are to:
• Make it easier for citizens to choose active transportation;
• Replace the existing non-motorized section of the comprehensive plan;
• Improve overall connectivity of neighborhoods with commercial centers and recreation areas;
• Improve connectivity of Federal Way with the regional bike and trail system; and
• Address areas where fewer citizens have access to cars and have fewer dollars to spend on
transportation and higher rates of health issues.
As stated above, the plan will replace the current non-motorized section of the Federal Way Comprehensive
Plan transportation chapter. This section was last updated in 1994. An advisory committee was formed to
help guide development of the plan. So far they have met three times. Their next meeting is May 23, 2011.
The Commissioners are invited to attend. Staff is also gathering citizen input from an on-line survey and
open-house meetings to be held in June. The city does have a number of biking routes, but they are
disconnected. To date, the city has received approximately 50 responses to the on-line survey. The results
show that those walking and biking mainly do so for exercise. Walkers and bikers are discouraged by traffic
volume/noise and safety concerns, with bikers also discouraged by the lack of bike routes and facilities.
Emerging themes include: improved overall network for biking and walking; integration with the regional
system; supporting an active community; improved safety; and education.
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
None
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m.