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Planning Commission MINS 03-18-2015CITY OF FEDERAL WAY PLANNING COMMISSION March 18, 2015 City Hall 6:00 p.m. Council Chambers MEETING MINUTES Commissioners present: Tom Medhurst, Hope Elder, Wayne Carlson Tim O'Neil, Sarady Long, Diana Noble - Gulliford, and Anthony Murrietta. Commissioner absent: Lawson Bronson (excused). Staff present: Planning Manager Isaac Conlen, Principal Planner Margaret Clark, Economic Development Director Tim Johnson, Assistant Attorney Mark Orthmann and Administrative Assistant E. Tina Piety. CALL TO ORDER Chair Medhurst called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES There were no minutes. AUDIENCE COMMENT None ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT Planning Manager Conlen announced the next meeting is scheduled for April 1 and will be a continuation of the proposed critical areas regulations study session and a study session on regulations for manufactured home parks. Staff expects the Commission will be meeting twice a month in April, May, and June. Planning Manager Conlen asked if the Commissioners would be willing to meet an additional day if needed in order to complete the 2015 Comprehensive Plan Update. The Commissioners stated they would. COMMISSION BUSINESS BRIEFING — Federal Way Comprehensive Plan (FWRC) Major Update — Chapter Four, "Economic Development" Principal Planner Clark delivered the staff presentation. Much of the proposed changes update policies and demographic information. Sections with old language and dated material are proposed to be deleted. The housing section is proposed to be deleted because that information may be found in the Chapter 5, "Housing." Some of the information in this chapter comes from the city's economic development strategy, "Some Assembly Required." Commissioner Long noted that under the current conditions summary section, the Performing Arts and Conference Center (PACC) is referenced, but the Farmers Market is not. Should not the Farmers Market be included? Principal Planner Clark responded that staff can add the Farmers Market to the retail section KAPlanning Commission\2015\Meeting Summary 03- 18- 15.doc Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 March 18, 2015 of the current conditions. Commissioner Long noted that Wild Waves (Norpoint Entertainment LLC) is included in the table of major employers in Federal Way, but is this not misleading because they are seasonal workers. Principal Planner Clark replied that staff will research the issue. Commissioner Noble - Gulliford asked if staff knows how many part-time vs full -time jobs are in Federal Way. Principal Planner Clark replied that staff does not know, but will research the issue. Commissioner Noble - Gulliford stated that the City Council had received a briefing last night on transit oriented development from Sound Transit. Would staff explain what transit oriented development is? Planning Manager Conlen that he does not know how Sound Transit defines it, but to his understanding transit oriented development draws upon the symbiotic relationship between development (such as residential, retail, or office) and transit. She asked if it is possible to have a formula for the number of jobs we might be able to attract using the transit oriented development concept. Planning Manager Conlen replied that it would be complicated (it would have to take into account capacity for development and market conditions /factors) but it may be possible. Principal Planner Clark will talk to the Puget Sound Regional Council for help in developing a formula. Commissioner Carlson commented he agrees with streamlining the chapters, but is concerned it may have gone too far. He is concerned that much that provided a connection between the chapters is being deleted. He suggested staff consider an Executive Summary that would show the connections between the chapters. Principal Planner Clark replied that staff will consider it, but there may not be enough time to write an Executive Summary. Commissioner O'Neil commented that staff has talked about encouraging a university satellite to locate in Federal Way. Given the city's demographics (a young population with lower income) it sounds like a good idea and he asked about the status of project. Economic Director Johnson replied that staff is actively recruiting universities and hopes to have an announcement of one locating in Federal Way in about nine months. Commissioner O'Neil asked what can be done to encourage the redevelopment of the Weyerhaeuser property. Economic Director Johnson commented that the concomitant agreement (that outlines how the land may be used) is very helpful. The city has been talking to corporations that have expressed an interest in purchasing the property to use as a corporate campus. Commissioner Long expressed concern that Economic Development Goal 3 specifically names Weyerhaeuser. Since this is a long -term document and the Weyerhaeuser property is likely to change hands within the next year, it does not seem appropriate to refer specifically to Weyerhaeuser. Planning Manager Conlen replied that the goal could refer to the former Weyerhaeuser property. Alternate Commissioner Murrietta suggested using the word corporation instead of Weyerhaeuser. Commissioner Carlson feels the goal should be left as it is. This way, when the time comes again to update the chapter, it will show the progress the city has made. Commissioner Noble - Gulliford asked if the chapter contains information on tourism. Principal Planner Clark noted that tourism is dealt with as part of Services. Commissioner Noble - Gulliford commented that since the city is seeking tourism through the PACC, tourism should be more prominent. Commissioner Medhurst asked is not the multi - family tax exemption (whereby a developer of a mixed -use project can receive a tax exemption if 20% of their project is designed for lower incomes) contrary to the city's effort to raise the median income in the city and provide higher level housing. Planning Manager Conlen replied it is not because the forrimula that calculates affordable housing allows a developer to earn the multi - family tax exemption for not truly low income housing. He noted that the city needs to strive for KAPlanning Commission\2015Weeting Summary 03- 18- 15.doc Planning Commission Minutes Page 3 March 18, 2015 a balance between lower and higher income housing. Commissioner Medhurst asked what percentage the city is seeking in order to arrive at a balance of housing. Commissioner Noble - Gulliford asked what the city can do to attract higher end housing. Commissioner Long commented that the goals and policies should have language indicating how they will be financed. Planning Manager Conlen replied that it is not appropriate for a city policy document (such as the comprehensive plan) to contain language specific financing as budgeting is a city council decision. Commissioner Carlson expressed concern that only one citizen is attendance for this important discussion about the future of Federal Way. Planning Manager Conlen and Principal Planner Clark explained that the staff has been doing as much as possible to advertise the meetings. There have been open houses and flyers were sent home with school kids advertising the open house. The meetings are on the city calendar which may be accessed on the city's website. In addition, the city has a list of citizens on the Notify Me function of the city website and information about the meetings is sent to them. Peter Townsend — He has given this chapter much thought and feels if the city gets it right, it will attract people to the city. While he not yet prepared with specific comments, one general comment he has is that it seems the amount of goals and policies is excessive. They should be more concise and meaningful. He does intend to provide specific written comments. ADDITIONAL BUSINESS None ADJOURN The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. KAPIanning Commission\2015\Meeting Summary 03- 18- 15.doc