Loading...
Planning Commission MINS 10-07-2015CITY OF FEDERAL WAY PLANNING COMMISSION October 7, 2015 City Hall 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers MEETING MINUTES Commissioners present: Lawson Bronson, Hope Elder, Wayne Carlson, Sarady Long, Tim O'Neil, Diana Noble - Gulliford, and Anthony Murrietta. Commissioner absent: Tom Medhurst (excused). City Staff present: Community Development Director Michael Morales, Planning Manager Isaac Conlen, Senior Planner Matt Herrera, Assistant City Attorney Mark Orthmann, and Administrative Assistant Tina Piety. CALL TO ORDER Vice -Chair Bronson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of September 2, 2015, were approved as presented. Vice -Chair Bronson asked if there were any objections to changing the order of the meeting to hold the Telecare Presentation before the Manufactured Home Park Update. Hearing no objections, the meeting order was changed. AUDIENCE COMMENT None Presentation by Telecare on Mental Health Facilities Proposed for Federal Way Director Morales introduced Faith Richie and Cameron Coltharp of Telecare. Commissioner Long stated that as a city employee, he will be working on this project. Since this is just an informational presentation, he requested that he be allowed to stay, rather than recusing himself. Vice -Chair Bronson stated he saw no conflict with Commissioner Long staying for the presentation. Telecare is planning to build a 16 -bed acute psychiatric treatment facility. They are working closely with the Community Development Department on the planning of this facility. They had originally considered a site near the Federal Way High School. After further consideration and talks with the city, they decided to find another site. Currently, they are considering a site on 131h Place South, close to the Multi - Service Center. Director Morales stated that the city is required to provide the opportunity for these types of facilities to be sited in Federal Way. The Federal Way Revised Code has regulations regarding such facilities, and staff is encouraging Telecare to go above and beyond these regulations. Ms. Richtie provided the Commission with a folder of information about Telecare. They have three programs like the one considered for Federal Way in other areas of the state; in addition to nine facilities in California. They also have other types of mental health facilities throughout the country. The proposed Federal Way facility will offer adult residential treatment consisting of evaluation and treatment programs KAPIanning Commission\2015UNeeting Summary 10- 07- 15.doc Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 October 7, 2015 for people with acute mental health issues. Patient must be referred by mental health professionals and may be considered a danger to themselves and /or others. The facility will be locked and while it will have an outside space, that area will also be locked. The facility will be staffed by multiple disciplined mental health professionals at a ratio of one to four (about 40 staff). The average length of stay will be 10 to 15 days. When discharged, patients will be discharged to a specific place, such as family or additional care /service. There is a desperate need in the South King County for such services. Some 20 to 25 percent of all King County acute referrals come from South King County and the nearest facility is in Tukwila. Many patients are forced to go outside of the area, causing additional difficulties and costs to patients and family members. The proposed 16 -bed facility will serve approximately 400 individuals per year in a recover - based environment close to home. Mr. Coltharp is with Telecare's Building Facilities and will work with the city on the siting, development, and ongoing operations of the facility. They are currently considering two parcels on 13'h Place South close to the Multi- Service Center. The parcels would allow them to create a good buffer from the street and nearby businesses. One of those businesses is a KinderCare. Telecare and the city will be working closely with KinderCare to address any concerns they may have. They will build one single -story building of 10,000 to 12,000 square feet. The facility will have one and two person rooms; a day room; group treatment areas; counseling spaces; and offices. It is intended to be a home in which patients can recover. The facility and outside areas will be secured. Telecare has about 80 programs in 60 locations. They are in regular communities next to parks and schools. They believe in being a good neighbor and will engage the community and speak to their neighbors after the preapplication conference with the city. They will hold a public forum to address any concerns and questions and will include these in the design of the facility. Commissioner Elder asked what age will the facility serve and will it serve men and women? Ms. Richtie replied that is will serve only adults (those 18 and older) and will serve men and women. Commission O'Neil asked how quickly the facility will be full. Ms. Richtie replied given the need, it will likely be full the first week the facility is open for business. Commissioner Carlson asked why does it seem you have less concern locating near a KinderCare than you do next to the Federal Way High School. Ms. Richtie replied that KinderCare is a secure facility where parents /guardians drop off the children and the children stay in the facility until the parents/ guardians pick them up. Federal Way High School is an open campus with students coming and going at all hours of the day. Telecare will be working with KinderCare on the design of the facility. Commissioner Carlson asked how many sites they reviewed. Mr. Coltharp replied that they considered some 25 sites in and around Federal Way over the last 10 months. Commissioner Long asked once your facility reaches capacity, would you consider another site in Federal Way? And, what about transit? Ms. Richtie replied that King County is working with another provider on another facility. Telecare is considering a facility in the Tacoma area. Mr. Coltharp commented that they want to locate near transit for the staff, but it is unlikely it will be used by patients. Patients are usually picked up or put in a taxi. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT Manufactured Home Park Stakeholder Group Update Director Morales reported that they have met again and are working well together. The city has talked to the King County Assessor on the methodology of how manufactured home parks are assessed. The goal is KAPIanning Commission\2015UNeeting Summary 10- 07- 15.doc Planning Commission Minutes Page 3 October 7, 2015 to work together to come to a proposed zoning to reduce the assessed value. It is likely the city will have to work with other assessors in the state for a legislative change. COMMISSION BUSINESS Public Hearing — Proposed Zoning & Development Code Amendments Related to Variance Procedures of the Federal Way Revised Code (FWRC) Senior Planner Herrera delivered the staff report. The proposed amendment will streamline the decision making process for variances by changing the final decision maker from the Hearing Examiner to the Community Development Director for variances of up to 25 percent of code requirements. Any variance greater than 25 percent, and any variance that is appealed, will still go to the Hearing Examiner. All variances will still be required to notice those within 300 feet and accept comments. The proposed streamlined decision will reduce the process time significantly. Under the current regulations, variances must go to a public hearing before the Hearing Examiner. This requires additional noticing for the hearing, scheduling the hearing based on the Hearing Examiner's schedule, and a 10- working day allowance provided to the examiner to issue the decision following the hearing. Commissioner O'Neil asked how many applications this proposed amendment would affect. Senior Planner Herrera replied that he does not have a specific number, but since the city incorporated, there have been 15 to 20 variance applications (he does not know how many fall below the 25 percent threshold). Commissioner Noble - Gulliford asked how this will relate to homeowner association covenants. Senior Planner Herrera replied that the city does not enforce CC &Rs. Homeowners will need to check their CC &Rs since the city zoning may allow something that the CC &Rs do not. Commissioner Long asked if there has been any variance requested by a commercial project. Senior Planner Herrera replied that there has been, but they are rare because the code allows more flexibility for commercial projects. Commissioner Carlson stated this is a good amendment because it allows for flexibility in response to challenges. Commissioner Bronson asked if the city has a maximum timeline to process a variance application. Senior Planner Herrera responded that the city has 120 days to issue a decision once an application is deemed complete. The 120 day timeline may be extended if the city requests additional information from the applicant. He noted that variances usually do not take that long to process. Commissioner Carlson moved (and it was seconded) to recommend adoption of the FWRC text amendments as proposed. Assistant City Attorney Orthmann noted that there was no public in attendance and therefore, no public testimony. There was no further discussion and the motion carried unanimously. Hearing no objections, the public hearing was closed. ADDITIONAL BUSINESS It is likely the Commission will not meet again until the first meeting in December (December 2 "a) ADJOURN The meeting was adjourned at 8:06 p.m. KAPlanning Commission\2015\Meeting Summary 10- 07- 15.doc