Planning Commission MINS 05-06-2015CITY OF FEDERAL WAY
PLANNING COMMISSION
May 6, 2015 City Hall
7:00 p.m. Council Chambers
MEETING MINUTES
Commissioners present: Lawson Bronson, Hope Elder, Tim O'Neil, and Sarady Long. Commissioner
absent: Tom Medhurst, Wayne Carlson, Diana Noble - Gulliford, and Anthony Murrietta (all excused).
City Council present: Deputy Mayor Jeanne Burbidge. Staff present: Community Development Director
Michael Morales, Planning Manager Isaac Conlen, Principal Planner Margaret Clark, City Traffic
Engineer Rick Perez, Assistant Attorney Mark Orthmann, and Administrative Assistant E. Tina Piety.
CALL TO ORDER
Vice -Chair Bronson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
None
AUDIENCE COMMENT
None
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Planning Manager Conlen announced the next Planning Commission meeting will be on Wednesday, May
20, 2015. Business will include two public hearings: critical areas code update and the comprehensive plan
updates. The manufactured home park issue's first stakeholders meeting is scheduled for early June. Please
let staff know if you want to attend a few weeks in advance so if there is a quorum of Commissioners
planning to attend, staff will have time to advertise the meeting, per the Open Meetings Act.
COMMISSION BUSINESS
Briefing — Federal Way Comprehensive Plan (FWRC) Citizen- Initiated Requests
Principal Planner Clark delivered that staff report. The FWRC requires the city to accept applications for
amendments to the Federal Way Comprehensive Plan text and map on an annual basis. For this cycle, we
have combined the annual update with the 2015 major update. The city received five site - specific requests
to change the comprehensive plan designations and zoning, and one request for a text amendment. The
Belmor request for a comprehensive plan amendment and rezone of six acres has been withdrawn.
Site - Specific Request #1 (Lee/Princen) is to rezone property from Single - Family Medium Density to
Single - Family High Density. Site - Specific Request #2 (A &R Development, LLC) is to rezone property
from Office Park to Community Business. Site - Specific Request #3 (Hiu Ok Peak) is to rezone property
K1PIanning Commission\2015\Meeting Summary 05- 06- 15.doc
Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 May 6, 2015
from Multiple Family to Community Business. Site - Specific Request #4 (32020 Professional Building) is
to rezone property from Professional Office to Office Park. The Mayor recommends approval of each of
these site - specific requests.
The text amendment request (Youngspring LLC) is to allow senior housing, including assisted living and
nursing homes, in the Commercial Enterprise zone. The Mayor recommends denial of this request.
Commissioner O'Neil asked what development does A &R Development plan. Mr. Frankovich of A &R
Development stated they do not have specific development plan at this time, but expect it will be senior
housing with mixed -use. They have not had any interest in the property in question, but believe a zoning
change will generate interest in senior housing. The Vargas, who have property next to them, are also
interested in changing their zoning to Community Business, but did not have the time to meet the
deadline for this year's requests.
Commissioner Long asked what is the closest senior housing development to the Youngspring property.
Principal Planner Clark said she believes it is Mitchell Place. Currently, there is no residential in the
Commercial Enterprise zone; there is multi - family residential to the south.
Briefing - Federal Way Comprehensive Plan (FWRC) Major Update Chapter 3, "Transportation"
City Traffic Engineer Perez delivered that staff report. Commissioner Long recused himself. The major
changes to the chapter include:
• Revise the Level of Service {LOS) Standard
• Incorporate the adopted Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan
• Include Intelligent Transportation Systems Plan
• Restructure and update Goals and Policies
• Link transportation goals to CIP project prioritization
• Update maps and text
Traffic Engineer Perez explained how the LOS standard currently works for automobiles, the current
status of some intersections, and how LOS will be revised. The Mayor's proposal is to revise the LOS
standard for signalized intersections and maintain the current LOS standard for unsignalized intersections.
The amended chapter also includes LOS standards for bicycles, pedestrians, and transit.
The proposal consolidates 11 goals into 6. It includes 6 new policies to support the goals and meet
legislative requirements and eliminates 29 existing policies. Eliminated policies include those where the
goal already states the intent, those redundant with the law, those no longer relevant, and those that are
immeasurable.
Updated maps and text include:
Revised roadway cross - sections based on:
• Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan
• Updated LOS standard
• Updated traffic forecasts
Updated project and program information
Includes new interchange at South 324`h Street
Commissioner Elder expressed concern over traffic and the Performing Arts & Conference Center
(PACC). Specifically, she is concerned that patrons will not return if they are stuck in traffic the first time
they visit the PACC. This is an issue that needs to be dealt with soon. She is concerned traffic could make
KAPlanning Commission\2015Weeting Summary 05- 06- 15.doc
Planning Commission Minutes Page 3 May 6, 2015
or break the PACC. Traffic Engineer Perez commented that he shares her concern. The major project to
address this and other development in City Center is the proposed new interchange at South 324''' Street
Road work is expensive. It can take a long time to acquire funding (we still have not completely funded
the Triangle Project). His plan is to start as soon as possible with any environmental work that must be
done and then proceed with additional road work in phases.
Commissioner O'Neil asked where the city gets its funding for road work. Traffic Engineer Perez replied
that the city has been very successful obtaining grants and currently about half of our funding is coming
from grants (approximately 20% federal and 30% state). The city's total revenue is approximately 3
million per year and we currently have 200 million worth of TIP projects. The City Council must consider
all city projects, not just roadwork, when deciding how the revenue will be spent.
Commissioner Bronson asked why the city is considering pursuing access to the freeway at South 324"'. It
is his understanding that the objection to freeway access at South 312th was its proximity to South 320'''.
Traffic Engineer Perez responded that objection is a misunderstanding. The objection to South 312th was
that for it to work, South 312`h would have to be widened through Steel Lake Park. Commissioner
Bronson asked if the city has considered making South 320'h two levels. Traffic Engineer Perez stated the
city has considered it. It would be very expensive (the city would have to purchase additional right -of-
way) and not aesthetically pleasing.
Commissioner Bronson asked if there are national standards for roadway cross - sections. Traffic Engineer
Perez responded there are national standards, but they are designed for state highways, not local streets.
Staff has taken these standards into consideration when .developing the city's cross - sections.
Commissioner Bronson asked if the roadway cross - sections have to be in comprehensive plan. It may
make more sense to just have them in a different standards guide. Traffic Engineer Perez commented that
the roadway cross - sections do not have to be in the comprehensive plan.
Commissioner O'Neil asked if the city has considered having street -cars that would service commuters
(say taking someone from the Twin Lakes area to the downtown Transit Center). Traffic Engineer Perez
commented that the city has not considered street -cars. It would require a lot of research. He feels it
would likely not be cost effective.
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
None
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
KAPIanning Commission\201SWeeting Summary 05- 06- 15.doc