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Planning Commission MINS 01-20-2016CITY OF FEDERAL WAY PLANNING COMMISSION January 20, 2016 City Hall 7:00 p.m. Patrick Maher Room MEETING MINUTES Commissioners present: Tom Medhurst, Lawson Bronson, Hope Elder, Wayne Carlson, Sarady Long, Tim O'Neil, and Diana Noble - Gulliford. Commissioners absent: Anthony Murrietta (excused). City Staff present: Community Development Director Michael Morales, Planning Manager Isaac Conlen, Principal Planner Margaret Clark, Assistant City Attorney Mark Orthmann, and Administrative Assistant Tina Piety. CALL TO ORDER Chair Medhurst called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of October 7, 2015, were approved as presented. AUDIENCE COMMENT None ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT Planning Manager Conlen thanked the Commissioners for a productive 2015. With their help, the city was able to complete the mandated comprehensive plan update and the Critical Areas Ordinance, and meet the deadline. He provided the Commissioners with an updated Roster. COMMISSION BUSINESS Election for Chair and Vice -Chair According to the Planning Commission Rules, the election of officers (Chair & Vice - Chair) will take place once each year, at the first regularly scheduled meeting of the year. Chair Medhurst asked if there were any nominations for the Chair. Commissioners Medhurst and Bronson were nominated and the vote held. Commissioner Medhurst received two votes and Commissioner Bronson three. Commissioner Bronson is the new Planning Commission Chair. Chair Medhurst asked if there were any nominations for the Vice - Chair. Commissioner Medhurst was the only nomination and the vote was held. He was elected unanimously. Commissioner Medhurst is the new Planning Commission Vice - Chair. Chair Medhurst turned the meeting over to the new Chair Bronson. Update on 2016 Planning Commission Work Program Principal Planner Clark delivered the presentation. Long range staff with the assistance of current staff (as time permits) works on projects that are presented to the Planning Commission. These projects include: KAPIanning Commission\2015\Meeting Summary 01- 20- 16.doc Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 January 20, 2016 — Annual Comprehensive Plan Update (have received four site - specific requests this year) — Code Amendments — Monitoring and Reporting (not part of the Planning Commission Work Program) — Responding to the Public on Planning- Related Questions — Researching Emerging Policy Issues The City Council approved the Planning Commission's 2016 Work Program on October 20, 2015. They amended the 2016 Work Program on January 19, 2016, to add two code amendments based on two Supreme Court cases. 2016 Planning Commission Work Program (added items in bold) REQUIRED ACTIONS ESTIMATED TIME FRAME FOR COMPLETION Address marijuana- related code amendments in response to its legalization I` Qtr. 2016 (Completed) within the state of Washington. Amend the language of the Sign Code to make it content neutral in 1st Qtr. 2016 response to case law. 2016 Annual Comprehensive Plan Update. 2nd tr. 2016 Amend the Subdivision Code to address open space requirements in 2nd Qtr. 2016 response to case law. DISCRETIONARY ACTIONS Amend the language in Chapter 14, Environmental Policy related to the 151 Qtr. 2016 (Completed) time horizon of the Planned Action SEPA. Advocate for legislation to address the sustainability of manufactured home 2nd Qtr. 2016 arks. Review of growth targets as they relate to multi-family housing. 2 "d Qtr. 2016 Amend regulations to address development regulations and design 3`d Qtr. 2016 guidelines in the City Center. Adopt an ordinance establishing a historic preservation program and request 3`d Qtr. 2016 certification as a "Certified Local Government." Amend regulations to broaden uses and standardize bulk and dimensional 4`h Qtr. 2016 requirements by zone, provide more appropriate setbacks and landscape buffers for commercial uses, and address types of improvements or structures allowed in required yards. Principal Planner Clark gave a short explanation of each proposed action: • The city has banned all marijuana - related businesses including recreational and medical marijuana (November 2015). • Sign regulations should only specify what types of signs are allowed, where they may be placed, and what size they can be. • The city has received four citizen- initiated requests for comprehensive plan amendments and rezones. • A recent Supreme Court Case requires open space requirements to be related to the need for additional open space generated by the subdivision. • The SEPA Planned Action has analyzed the impacts of potential development in a portion of the City Center -Core and City Center Frame zones (215 acres) through the end of 2025 in order to provide streamlined development. KVIanning Commission\2015Weeting Summary 10- 07- 15.doc Planning Commission Minutes Page 3 January 20, 2016 • There has been a concern on the part of residents of manufactured home parks of being displaced due to redevelopment of the park. A Stakeholders' Group was formed to study this issue. It was decided that the city should reach out to the Assessor's Office to determine if a change could be made on how manufactured home parks are assessed for tax purposes, or to work at the state level to address this. The Stakeholder's Group will reconvene at a later date. • We have been looking at the numbers and types of multi - family within the city and will be coming up with specific design guidelines for new multi - family development. Director Morales stated that the city is looking at development regulations, not guidelines. He also explained that this amendment came up due to the influx of apartments and associated impacts, such as increased crime and impacts on the school district. The Commission had some questions on Park 16, the first apartment complex built. There was also a discussion on how the apartments were financed and the impacts on property taxes. • We are working with Public Works and Parks to develop specific design guidelines for the City Center in order to achieve the vision as described in the Federal Way Comprehensive Plan Chapter 7, "City Center." This would include the typology of development and streetscapes. • Establishing a historic preservation program is self - evident. • The existing code is very specific as to uses allowed in each zoning district and is based on separation of uses. The proposed amendment would generalize categories and allow uses based on appropriate form and scale of development, rather than only distinctions in land - use types. Existing zoning regulations limit the height of structures allowed in building setback areas to 18 inches in height. The proposed amendment would add flexibility to allow structures taller than 18 inches in required yards. Year -End Statistical Report Director Morales provided the Commissioners with a report of the building permits and land use applications handled by the department in 2015 (and 2014 for a comparison). The report included amounts of customers assisted (in- person, phone, and email) and fees collected. He intends to provide the Commissioners with quarterly reports. It was noted that the 2015 revenue is approximately $300,000 lower than the 2014 revenue. Director Morales stated that these are preliminary numbers and the final amount is likely to be higher. In addition, there is at least one large project that the city has processed, but the applicant has not yet picked up the permit and therefore, has not paid the fees. Once collected, these fees will be part of the 2016 revenues. Commissioner Carlson asked if the fees have gone up and what about salaries. Principal Planner Conlen replied that fees did not increase in 2014 or 2015; they have been slightly increased for 2016. Salaries were frozen in 2014 and have increased 1.5% in 2015 and 2016. Commissioner Noble - Gulliford asked about impact fees. Discussion was held on what impact fees the city collects, how they are determined, and how they are collected. Vice -Chair Medhurst commented that he has been an applicant and the Permit Center staff does a great job. ADDITIONAL BUSINESS It is likely the next Commission meeting will be February 17, 2016. ADJOURN The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. KAPlanning Commission\201MMeeting Summary 10- 07- 15.doc