Planning Commission MINS 01-18-2017CITY OF FEDERAL WAY
PLANNING COMMISSION
January 18, 2017 City Hall
6:30 p.m. City Council Chambers
MEETING MINUTES
Commissioners present: Lawson Bronson, Tom Medhurst, Hope Elder, Wayne Carlson, Sarady Long,
Tim O'Neil, and Diana Noble - Gulliford. Commissioners absent: Anthony Murrietta (excused). City Staff
present: Community Development Director Brian Davis, Principal Planner Margaret Clark, Assistant City
Attorney Mark Orthmann, Economic Development Director Tim Johnson, Senior Policy Advisor Yarden
Weidenfeld, and Administrative Assistant Tina Piety.
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Bronson called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of December 7, 2016, were approved as presented.
AUDIENCE COMMENT
None
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
None
COMMISSION BUSINESS
Elections
Lawson Bronson was nominated for Chair. No other nominations were made. The vote was held and he
was appointed unanimously. Tom Medhurst was nominated for Vice - Chair. No other nominations were
made. The vote was held and he was appointed unanimously.
Briefing — Multi - Family Moratorium
Principal Planner Clark delivered the staff presentation. The City Council adopted a six -month
moratorium on multi - family housing on June 7, 2016. The moratorium was renewed for six months on
December 6, 2016, and is set to expire on June 6, 2017. (The moratorium covers all multi- family and
senior housing, except for duplexes, triplexes, accessory dwelling units, and townhouses.) This gives a
short timeline to prepare the proposed code amendments, issue the SEPA determination (including
comment period), and present proposed code amendments to the Planning Commission, Land Use/
Transportation Committee, and City Council for adoption. Staff expects to hold the Planning Commission
Public Hearing on March 15, 2017. Principal Planner Clark then proceeded to go over the questions raised
by the City Council and Planning Commission at previous briefings (and as stated in the staff report).
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Commissioner O'Neil asked how many active permits for multi- housing the city has. Principle Planner
Clark replied that she is aware of one. He asked if the moratorium has led developers to delay submitting
for permits. Principal Planner Clark responded not to her knowledge. The Commissioners would like to
see the city's actual numbers of affordable housing supply compared to other cities. Principal Planner
Clark replied that staff will research this issue.
Commissioner Carlson expressed concern that the staff report states that the Commissioners support the
proposed amendments. The Commissioners support the board principals presented as potential actions,
but not necessarily specifically proposed amendments (the specific proposed amendments will be
presented later). He would like to have a study session before the public hearing. Principal Planner Clark
apologized for implying the Commissioners support the specific proposed amendments. Staff will plan to
hold a study session on February 15`h
Commissioner Long asked if staff knows why the school impact fee for multi - family is much larger than
the school impact fee for single- family? Principal Planner Clark replied that she does not know why or
why the large increase from the past school impact fees for multi - family. She will research the issue.
Other Commissioners commented that they had heard the school district was concerned about the large
increase in the number of multi - family units in Federal Way over the last few years. After researching the
possible impact, they increased the fee based on that research.
Commissioner Noble - Gulliford asked if Ordinance 14 -757 (which states that school impact fees may be
decreased for projects within the city center) is still in effect. Assistant City Attorney Orthmann replied
that Ordinance 14 -757 is still in effect. Commissioner Noble - Gulliford inquired if there similar
accommodations in the city center for the traffic impact fees. Commissioner Long explained how the
city's traffic impact fees are determined. In addition, staff will research this issue. Commissioner Noble -
Gulliford commented that she has attended meetings and heard comments and concerns about traffic
impacts in regards to multi- family, but no one has commented about the design for multi - family projects.
Commissioner Elder is concerned about the ability (or rather, lack thereof) for low - income tenants to
afford housing, given that they most likely will have to pay first, last, and security deposit. She asked if
the city would consider a law like Seattle's new law that will require landlords to allow these fees to be
made using a payment plan. Vice -Chair Medhurst commented that while he agrees it is good to have a
pathway that will make housing more affordable, he is also concerned that payments may not be made
and property owners will need protection to insure payment.
Vice -Chair Medhurst asked what the overarching goal for the proposed amendments is. What is the city's
current number of available housing? Principal Planner Clark went over the city's affordable housing
inventory. She noted that the city's rental housing exceeds the need for moderate and low income housing
(moderate —need 16% and have 41.3 %, and low —need 12% and have 39 %), but is well below the need
for very-low income housing (need 12% and have 3.5 %). The city's owner occupied housing exceeds the
need for moderate income housing (need 16% and have 24 %, but again, is well below the need for low
and very-low income housing (low —need 12% and have 4.2% and very-low —need 12% and have I%).
Commissioner Long asked regarding potential action #15 on Exhibit A, has any jurisdiction in
Washington implemented something like this? Principal Planner Clark replied that staff will need to
research this issue. Commissioner Noble - Gulliford asked regarding potential action #2, is there a different
school impact fee for mixed -use projects? Principal Planner Clark replied no, school impact fees are
assessed based on if the project is a single- or multi -unit use. Commissioner Noble - Gulliford asked if
there is a difference between condominiums and rental units. Principal Planner Clark replied that the city
does not distinguish between them.
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For the proposed amendments, the threshold for those multi - family projects that will be subject to the
proposed amendments is 100- units. Commissioner Carlson suggested the city consider lowering the
threshold.
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
Administrative Assistant Piety informed the Commission that Parks Director John Hutton requested to have a
Commissioner on the Parks Plan Update Stakeholders Committee. The committee will meet for approximately 18
months, one meeting a month with an occasional second meeting, and will likely meet in the evening. Chair Bronson
and Commissioner O'Neil expressed interested in serving on the committee.
Commissioner O'Neil asked if Telecare has submitted a permit. Principal Planner Clark replied that they have.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 P.M.
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