Planning Commission MINS 03-06-2013CITY OF FEDERAL WAY
PLANNING COMMISSION
March 6, 2013 City Hall
7:00 p.m. Council Chambers
MEETING MINUTES
Commissioners present: Merle Pfeifer, Hope Elder, Sarady Long, and Tim O'Neil. Commissioners absent:
Lawson Bronson, Tom Medhurst, Wayne Carlson (all excused). Staff present: Planning Manager Isaac
Conlen, Principal Planner Margaret Clark, and E. Tina Piety, Administrative Assistant 11.
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Pfeifer called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of January 16, 2013, were approved as presented.
AUDIENCE COMMENT
None
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
None
COMMISSION BUSINESS
ELECTIONS
Commissioner Long moved (and it was seconded) to postpone the elections until the next meeting
because three Commissioners are absent. There was no discussion. The motion carried unanimously.
BRIEFING — Planning Commission Work Program
Principal Planner Clark delivered the briefing. This evening, she will update the Commission on the status
of the proposed 2013 Work Program. This will include what was accomplished in 2012 (and early 2013)
and potential new work items for 2013 (she stated a number of items will be carried over from 2012). In
addition, she will inform the Commission of items that Long Range Planning staff will work on in 2013
that do not come before the Commission. No action is being requested of the Commission. The proposed
work program will go to the Land Use /Transportation Committee (LUTC), which will make a
recommendation to the City Council. Principal Planner Clark will introduce the citizen- initiated
comprehensive plan amendment requests, but these items need to go through a selection process before
the City Council before a decision is made on which ones will be considered.
Commissioner Long commented that he would like to see the code amendments for the Twin Lakes
Commercial Subarea proceed. The area is ready for redevelopment, especially since the Public Works
Department will be doing street improvements in the area. Principal Planner Clark responded one reason
these are lower down on the priority list is because Planning staff wishes to implement form -based codes
KAPIanning Commission \2013 \Meeting Summary 03- 06 -13. doc
Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 March 6. 2013
in the area and currently do not have the resources to proceed. (A form -based code is a more illustrative
document that provides predictability. It shows potential developers up -front what a building would be
expected to look like.) Commissioner Elder asked about the status of the street improvement, specifically
about the proposed Michigan lefts. Commissioner Long replied that Public Works staff were informed of
a number of concerns regarding the Michigan lefts (one from property /business owners concerned it
would not allow left turns into their property) and therefore, the street improvements continue to be a
work in progress.
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
Planning Manager Conlen distributed an agenda for a Planning Short Course to be held in Fife on March
14`x.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
KAPlanning Commission \2013\Meeting Summary 01- 16- 13.doc