Planning Commission MINS 09-18-2019CITY OF FEDERAL WAY
PLANNING COMMISSION
September 18, 2019 City Hall
6:30 p.m. City Council Chambers
MEETING MINUTES
Commissioners present: Wayne Carlson, Tom Medhurst, Hope Elder, Lawson Bronson, Dawn Meader
McCausland, Tim O'Neil, Diana Noble-Gulliford, Eric Olsen, and Dale Couture. Commissioners absent:
(ex). City Staff present: Principal Planner Margaret Clark, Senior Planner Ryan Medlen, Deputy City
Attorney Mark Orthmann, and Administrative Assistant E. Tina Piety.
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Carlson called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commission O'Neil moved (and Commissioner Medhurst seconded) that the July 17, 2019, minutes be
corrected to state "professional" engineer and not "certified" engineer. There was no debate and the
motion carried.
AUDIENCE COMMENT
None
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Principal Planner Clark announced that Surface Water Manager Teresa Thurlow will be attending the
October 2, 2019, meeting to present a study session on proposed change to the code in regards to
mitigation and fees to add a system development charge; this is a one-time fee paid at the time of
development. The public hearing is scheduled for October 16, 2019. Planning staff is continuing to work
on the housekeeping amendments. In response to a question, Attorney Orthmann clarified that the system
development charge would be assessed on new development (a connection charge), or development that
cause a significant burden to the surface water system. Chair Carlson commented that we have had
uneven quality of presentations from public works; sometimes they have difficulty explaining complex
topics. Principal Planner Clark will relay the concerns to SWM Thurlow.
COMMISSION BUSINESS
BRIEFING/DISCUSSION: Sound,Transit Link Extension Projects in Federal Way
Senior Planner Medlen delivered the staff presentation. The purpose of this briefing is to update the
Planning Commission on the status of three core areas of interest:
* Federal Way Link Extension;
* Operations & Maintenance Facility site selection process; and
* Tacoma Dome Link Extension.
Planning Commission Minutes Page 1 September 18, 2019
And to inform the Commission of an upcoming planning effort related to potential South Federal Way
station areas. He first discussed the Federal Way Link Extension. The permitting process is in the early
stages. An open house is scheduled for November. Sound Transit is expected to approve a grant for
$730,000 for the city to install a traffic light and pedestrian improvements at 21St and 320th. He then
opened the floor to any Commissioner questions.
Commissioner O'Neil expressed concern about the proposed traffic light and street level pedestrian
crossing at 320th and 21 ". He doesn't believe it will prevent traffic accidents. He expects a large number
of pedestrians using the crossing after each train. Why not a pedestrian bridge? How was this decision
made? Commissioner Bronson agrees. The Federal Way Station is not the end of the line. The train will
cross 320' at an elevated level. Why not widen that to include a pedestrian crossing lane? Senior Planner
Medlen commented that the decision was considered the one most practically and feasible. Commissioner
Noble-Gulliford agrees with both Commissioners. She noted that the Northgate facility has a pedestrian
bridge, so why not Federal Way? She commented that a bridge would be Transit Oriented Development
(TOD), a pedestrian -friendly facility, something Sound Transit strongly encourages. We have a J -walking
problem in Federal Way. A bridge would help. A street -level pedestrian crossing doesn't best serve
Federal Way. Commissioner Meader -McCausland asked if there might be an opportunity in the future to
re -visit the pedestrian bridge question. She also asked an explanation of where the funds are coming from
and the benefits for the city. Senior Planner Medlen explained that the $730,000 for the signal and
pedestrian crossing comes from a $10 million grant pool for jurisdictions in Sound Transit's jurisdiction
for mitigating the Link Extension. This is a project that Public Works has been considering, but no
funding has been available. It is expected to improve both vehicle and pedestrian circulation. He also
commented that there will always be opportunities to reconsider a pedestrian bridge. Chair Carlson
commented that his concern is having yet another signal between I-5 and Pacific Highway South. The
area is highly congested with vehicles and pedestrians. He also feels there are pedestrian crossings in the
area close enough to walk to. Commissioner Medhurst commented that he agrees with the other
Commissioners. As he has heard, the funding has not been approved and the official approval has not yet
been made. As such, he feels the city can re -visit the issue in a way that brings a different result. Senior
Planner Medlen will have to pass this along to Public Works. Commissioner Bronson asked if this will
comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act. Senior Planner Medlen commented that will happen
during the design phase. Commissioner Couture commented that it might be more beneficial to the city to
spend the funds on a different part of the Link Expansion project further south. Senior Planner Medlen
stated that since the funds are coming from a grant, he doesn't believe that will be allowed under the
terms of the agreement. Senior Planner Medlen will respond to the Commissioner regarding the
background of the decision not to move forward with a pedestrian bridge.
Senior Planner Medlen went on to discuss the Operations & Maintenance Facility site selection process. A
preferred alternative is estimated to be identified in mid -2020. The city supports the Midway Landfill site in
Kent (only the alternative on I-5 was moved forward by Sound Transit). The two Federal Way alternatives
are at the Christian Faith Center and 344th and 1-5. The city is planning to have a fiscal impact analysis
prepared for the two Federal Way alternatives. He then opened the floor to any Commissioner questions.
Senior Planner Medlen went on to discuss the Tacoma Dome Link Extension. Three station location
alternatives in South Federal Way have been identified. For all options the guideway follows the
alignment of 1-5 through Federal Way. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement is expected to be
released for comment in 2021. The preferred alternate is at Enchanted Parkway and 352' because while it
will impact a larger number of businesses it has broader TOD potential. He also explained the design
options for the Belmor Mobile Home Park. He then opened the floor to any Commissioner questions.
Commissioner O'Neil commented that he is concerned that in the future many Federal Way jobs will be
located on the east side of I-5, while people live on the west side. Has there been discussion/analysis of
how people will be able to travel from west to east? Is there a plan for this? Senior Planner Medlen
commented that this is a concern of the city and the city is talking to Metro Transit about offering more
east -to -west bus service (ideally in conjunction with the light rail). Commissioner Noble-Gulliford noted
Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 September 18, 2019
that the Federal Way transit stations are being planned in areas that are already over-burdened with car
traffic. She also commented that the 352nd area is one of the few areas the city has that is available for
industrial zoning. Is the city considering allowing more residential uses in this area? How will TOD fit into
the current zoning? Senior Planner Medlen commented that this question is a good segue into his next
discussion point on an upcoming Vision Framework Exercise. He asked if there any further questions/
comments on the Tacoma Dome Link Extension before he went into his next discussion point.
Commissioner Bronson noted that when the proposed alternatives were discussed last year, it was stated
that the currently preferred alternative the rail guideway will have to cross the cloverleaf (Highway 18)
intersection. Is there a plan in place for this and if so, what is it? How high will the rail guideway have to
be? Senior Planner Medlen commented that issue will be in the preliminary plan, which is not yet
available. Commissioner Bronson commented in regards to the Belmor plan, he is concerned about the
speed of the trains in the planned curves of the proposed design. Senior Planner Medlen replied that staff
will make a note of the concern and will check the draft environmental impact statement when it is
available to be sure the concern is addressed. Commissioner Meader McCausland asked if there is any
section of the track in Federal Way,will be at grade? Senior Planner Medlen replied that most of the track
will be elevated, but small areas in the I-5 section will be at grade.
Senior Planner Medlen went on to discuss the upcoming Vision Framework Exercise. City staff will lead
an effort with the support of Sound Transit staff and resources to do a community vision exercise for the
South Federal Way area. The exercise is far ahead of the actual South Federal Way station in part so that
Sound Transit can use the findings to help inform their early design work. The information will be used to
inform future planning efforts, such as zoning considerations, design considerations, etc. The exercise
may lead to a sub-area plan or updates to the comprehensive plan during the next major update. The
details of the exercise are currently being designed. Once the details are clear, staff will be informing and
receiving information from the public on the future of the area. Staff is planning a kick-off workshop, a
stakeholder group, an online open house with a survey, and a lot of advertising and outreach. Staff hopes
to have the kick-off workshop before the end of the year.
Chair Carlson encourages the staff to include residents, business owners, environmental community, etc.
in the stakeholder group. Commissioner Bronson commented that he was one of the original stakeholders
for this effort, he feels that he wasn't listened to because he is "just" a citizen. Senior Planner Medlen
commented that he will take these comments into consideration as part of the design of the exercise.
Commissioner Noble-Gulliford asked if the current comprehensive plan and zoning will be used as a
guideline of how the vision will be developed. Senior Planner Medlen replied that staff wants to know
how people envision the future of this area without being influenced by the current comprehensive plan
and zoning (are they looking for something different from the current plan and zoning? Do they envision
residential being a part of the area?).
Commissioner Medhurst commented on the proposal to add an additional traffic light to 320`''. Who can
the Commissioners go to at this point to express their concerns about adding a traffic light to an already
"dangerous" overly burden street. The idea needs to be revisited. He feels this is the most glaring problem
out of what the city can control in this light-rail process. Attorney Orthmann commented that ultimately it
will come down to what Sound Transit is willing to pay for under their budget. He suggested
Commissioners send their concerns in an email to Assistant Piety and staff will send them on to Public
Works and Sound Transit as appropriate.
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
Commissioner Noble-Gulliford asked about the status of the 2019 work plan. Principal Planner Clark
responded that plan will be done once the housekeeping amendments are completed. Staff has started to
prepare the 2020 work plan. Commissioner Noble-Gulliford continued that at the City Council meeting
last night there was discussion of funding for the PAEC and one suggestion for funding was using some
Planning Commission Minutes Page 3 September 18, 2019
from Community Development permit fees. This concerns her because the department is doing a lot of
work with a small number of staff and needs that funding. She would rather the money stay within the
department. She asked Principal Planner Clark to pass on her concerns to the department's director.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 7:50 P.M.
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