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Planning Comm MINS 03-07-2012 K:\Planning Commission\2011\Meeting Summary 02-22-12.doc CITY OF FEDERAL WAY PLANNING COMMISSION March 7, 2012 City Hall 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers MEETING MINUTES Commissioners present: Merle Pfeifer, Tom Medhurst, Hope Elder, Lawson Bronson, Tim O’Neil, and Sarady Long. Commissioners absent: Wayne Carlson (excused). Staff present: Planning Manager Isaac Conlen, Principal Planner Margaret Clark, Assistant City Attorney Peter Beckwith, and Administrative Assistant II Darlene LeMaster. CALL TO ORDER Chair Pfeifer called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of February 22, 2012, were approved as presented. AUDIENCE COMMENT None ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT Planning Manager Isaac Conlen reported the following: 1. There are no items scheduled for the March 21st Planning Commission meeting, therefore the March 21, 2012 Planning Commission meeting will be cancelled. 2. Beginning in 2012, commissioners are receiving all documents and agenda packets electronically as part of frugal innovation and trying to cut costs wherever possible. Planning Manager Conlen asked for feedback from the commissioners. The commissioners stated they would like to continue receiving all commission related items electronically. 3. Tina Piety, Administrative Assistant II, is very ill and it is not known how long she may be out for. In the interim, Darlene LeMaster, Administrative Assistant II, will be staffing the Planning Commission meetings. COMMISSION BUSINESS BRIEFING – 2012 Planning Commission and Long Range Planning Work Program Ms. Clark delivered the staff report and prefaced the report with each year the Planning Commission’s work program for that year is approved by the City Council. The staff report and any input from either the Planning Commission or the Land Use and Transportation Committee will be used in assisting the City Council to approve a work program for 2012. Ms. Clark briefed the Commissioners on a list of Work Program items that were completed in 2011 along with those carried over to be completed in 2012 (code amendments only). Ms. Clark also updated the Commissioners on 2012 code amendment requests, 2011 and 2012 Comprehensive Plan amendment Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 March 7, 2012 K:\Planning Commission\2011\Meeting Summary 03-07-12.doc requests, the 2015 major Comprehensive Plan update, and other long range planning responsibilities. Ms, Clark then presented staff’s recommendations for a potential 2012 Work Program divided into categories of mandatory, non-mandatory: high, medium and low priority. Once the Planning Commission recommends forwarding the 2012 Planning Commission and Long Range Work Program, it will be recommended for approval from the Land Use and Transportation Committee and approved by the City Council. As an approved Work Program, it will come back to Planning Commission for further action. Chair Pfeifer called for any questions or discussion from the commissioners. Commissioner Bronson asked for clarification about potentially adopting a streamlined process for a binding site plan. Ms. Clark explained that a binding site plan is requirement whenever there is a lease or purchase of commercial property. Staff is recommending adopting a short plat process that will be shorter and simpler than the existing binding site plan. Commissioner O’Neil used the example of selling a strip mall in its existing condition, would the seller have to go through a binding site plan? Ms. Clark answered yes, a binding site plan would be required. Staff may want to suggest separating selling vs. leasing a commercial piece of property. Ms. Clark clarified her statement by explaining a binding site plan would be required if the seller was selling/leasing a portion of the strip mall. Commissioner Medhurst asked about canopy codes and how they apply to view properties and the ability/inability to remove trees that block views. Are people ignoring these codes? Planning Manager Conlen stated that staff feels the current canopy codes have been effective. The codes allow for removal of diseased or dying trees, specify a ratio for trees to lot sizes and address critical areas and steep slopes. Commissioner Long asked for clarification on how items were prioritized in the staff report. Ms. Clark commented that items were categorized as noted above: mandatory, non-mandatory, high, medium and low priority, but not further prioritized beyond that point. Commissioner Long also asked if it possible to combine the parking stall ratio with the maximum allowable height amendment code. Ms. Clark answered that these two examples of code amendments would not work well together because one is a very simple amendment while the other is much more difficult. Commissioner Bronson had one last item to ask about the canopy code and how the recent winter storm may impact that. Planning Manager Conlen stated that the trees that came down as a result of the recent storm were removable without a permit due to the exemptions in the code. Commissioner O’Neil also noted out canopy code, like most any other code, is enforceable through the code compliance complaint process. ADDITIONAL BUSINESS The next Planning Commission meeting will be April 4, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. ADJOURN Chair Pfeifer adjourned the meeting at 7:31 p.m.