Planning Commission MINS 03-19-2014CITY OF FEDERAL WAY
PLANNING COMMISSION
March 19, 2014 City Hall
7:00 p.m. Council Chambers
MEETING MINUTES
Commissioners present: Tom Medhurst, Lawson Bronson, Hope Elder, Tim O'Neil and Wayne Carlson.
Commissioners absent: Merle Pfeifer (excused) and Sarady Long (recused, he is working on this project as
a staff member). Staff present: Planning Manager Isaac Conlen, Principal Planner Margaret Clark, Senior
Planner Janet Shull, Senior Planner Matt Herrera, and Assistant City Attorney Peter Beckwith.
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Medhurst called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
OPEN HOUSE — 2015 Major Update to the Federal Way Comprehensive Plan (comp plan) &
Update to the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO)
Welcome & Introductions
Chair Medhurst introduced the staff and Planning Commissioners in attendance. He thanked participants
for their involvement in this critical process. The purpose of the open house is to inform the public the '
city has started the updates as required by Washington State, provide a quick overview of the comp plan
and CAO, discuss the process the city will be following and the anticipated timeline, and inform the
public how they can participate in the process. The Commission encourages the participants to review and
comment on the informational boards.
Short Presentation & Overview
Principal Planner Clark delivered the presentation and overview of the comp plan update. All cities in
Washington are required by state law under the Growth Management Act (GMA) to do a major update to
their comprehensive plans and critical areas ordinances. They must be completed by June 2015. The last
major update was 2004. The major updates are to be done every eight years, but since the economy was
not doing well, the state changed the deadline for the following update from 2012 to 2015. The city has
two webpages on its website: one for the comp plan update (www.ciiyoffederalwgy.com /compplan) and
the other for the CAO update ( www. ciiyoffederalway .com /criticalareas). For the comp plan, the GMA
requires the cities: review their comp plan; revise if necessary (based on Washington Department of
Commerce checklists); take legislative action; and have an overall public participation plan. The comp
plan is the vision of how the city should grow in the next 20 years. The goals and policies guide the city's
decisions and actions. Principal Planner Clark gave a quick history of the city's comp plan. The city does
update the comp plan annually. These are usually housekeeping updates to the chapters if necessary and
requests from citizens for changes to comprehensive plan and zoning for their property. The major update
deals with policies. The city will consider comments and suggestions from the public. Principal Planner
Clark explained the make -up of the current comp plan (available at www.cityoffederalway.com). The
comp plan needs to be consistent with the: GMA, PSRC (Puget Sound Regional Council) VISION 2040
(multi - county vision); and King County Countywide Planning Policies. In 2014 the city will: kick -off open
house this evening (with future on -line survey); obtain public input via web page, e-mail, and written mail;
review and prepare draft amendments; and present drafts (will be on website for public comment) to
Planning Commission, City Council's Land Use /Transportation Committee (LUTC) and City Council for
an initial briefing and to get feedback. In 2015 the city will: make revisions to chapters as necessary; hold
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a Planning Commission Public Hearing; send to LUTC for review and recommendation to City Council;
send to City Council for decision to approve (or not) the Comprehensive Plan Amendments (and the
Critical Areas Ordinance) by adopting ordinances; and if adopted, send a notice of the adopted amendment
with the comp plan and CAO ordinances to the state by June 30, 2015. The public is welcome and
encouraged to participate during all stages of this process.
Senior Planner Herrera delivered the staff presentation on the CAO update. The GMA requires
jurisdictions to designate critical areas. The CAO provides protection of areas such as wetlands, steep
slopes, landslide hazard areas, streams, aquifers, frequently flooded areas, lakes, and fish and wildlife
habitat conservation areas. The purpose of the ordinance is to protect the natural environment and the
public health, and safety. The ordinance is part of the Federal Way Revised Code (FWRC), our zoning
and development code. The city is required to update its CAO as a component of the overall major comp
plan update. The city will identify any gaps and verify whether policies and regulations within the
ordinance meet the Best Available Science (BAS) of the GMA. The city has hired the consulting firm of
Environmental Science Associates (ESA) to assist in the CAO update process. The city will: kick -off the
open house this evening; host additional public workshops and study sessions (to be determined); conduct
surveys, interviews, and focus group meetings; obtain public input via web page, e-mail, and written mail;
and adopt the amendments using the process outlined by Principal Planner Clark.
Q &A
Commissioner Elder stated the GMA mandates certain goals. She would like to know the status of the city
on reaching these goals and what is expected of the city. Principal Planner Clark responded that the goals
are general (they are outlined on a board). She stated we are meeting the goals through implementation of
our zoning code. The PSRC would not certify our plan if we were not meeting the goals. Commissioner
Elder is more specifically concerned that the city does not have the amount of low- income, affordable
housing required by the GMA. What is the city's housing goal? Principal Planner Clark replied that the
goal for affordable housing for the City of Federal Way is located in the King County Countywide
Planning Policies. The current policy requires affordable housing countywide, as opposed to each city
(which was the requirement in the past). Countywide, 12% of the total housing supply needs to be
affordable (30% to 50% of area median income). In addition, 12% of the total housing supply needs to be
affordable to those at 30% and below. The city does have affordable housing, but not for those at 30% and
below. The city will work with the region on meeting these goals. The 30% of median income for a family
of 2.4 (average household) is approximately $20,200 (based on 2013 HUD table).
How will the priorities be decided? Principal Planner Clark replied that the priorities are for the current
chapters of the comp plan and staff would like to have an idea of what the public are interested in. They
are intended for feedback and do not have a role beyond that.
Cynthia MacCotan — Regarding affordable housing in Federal Way, we are meeting the 12% goal for 30%
to 50% of area median income. Very few jurisdictions in the area are meeting the 12% goal for below 30%
of area median income. There are many extenuating circumstances that go into meeting the goal for 30%
and below. Federal Way has unique circumstances that will help us achieve this goal. One of these is that
the land costs in Federal Way are lower than many other nearby areas. The city has the land and
infrastructure for manufacturing and other businesses. She suggests the city develop subareas within the
comp plan that will. attract manufacturing and other businesses.
Alex Wilford (representative of Master Builders Association) — Regarding PSRC growth targets, the city
has a new housing target of 8,100 new units. The current capacity is for 5,670. He is looking forward to
how the city will address this shortfall in the comp plan. He welcomes any comments or questions in this
process.
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Gene Loher — Business in the city since 1945. He has a unique perspective as a "winter" Texan. Texas'
primary emphasis is on business. In Washington, business gets forgotten in favor of the environment and
housing. He stated 90% of the character of a city is small businesses. Unique towns nurture their small
businesses. Federal Way has location and small businesses can thrive here (a good marketing area).
However, the city has burdened them with red tape. He encourages the city to consider the needs of small
businesses through this process.
Barry Margolese — He has a plat application to the city with environmental issues. Redmond allowed them
to apply environmental easements that allowed them to obtain density transfer units that let them place
more lots on a parcel they developed there. He asked if the City of Federal Way has such environmental
easements and density transfer units.
Planning Manager Conlen stated that the city does not currently have a program for density transfer. It is
something the city can research. The city has heard from citizens that they like the lower neighborhood
densities that already exist.
Commissioner Elder commented that she attended the City Council's recent retreat and noted that council
members are very attentive to the business community. Chair Medhurst commented that he is a business
owner in the city and he has seen that the city staff has worked hard to streamline process.
Open House & Wrap -Up
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
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