2021-03-17 Planning Commission MinutesPlanning Commission Minutes Page 1 March 17, 2021
CITY OF FEDERAL WAY
PLANNING COMMISSION
March 17, 2021 City Hall
6:30 p.m. Zoom
MEETING MINUTES
Commissioners present: Lawson Bronson, Tim O’Neil, Wayne Carlson, Diana Noble-Gulliford, Dale
Couture, Tom Medhurst, Eric Olsen, and Anna Patrick. Commissioners absent: Jae So and Hope Elder.
City Staff present: CD Director Brian Davis, Senior Planner James Rogers, City Attorney Eric Rhoades,
and Administrative Assistant II Tina Piety. Sound Transit Staff: Andrew Austin and Curvie Hawkins.
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Bronson called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M.
MINUTES
The March 3, 2021, minutes were approved as presented.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
COMMISSION BUSINESS
Discussion, Preliminary Sound Transit Briefing – Mr. Austin introduced the briefing and Mr. Hawkins
delivered the briefing. Mr. Austin stated that any comments made tonight will not be official Sound
Transit comments. To ensure your comments are heard by Sound Transit, please use one of Sound
Transit’s official comments channels as shown on PowerPoint Slide 31 and at the end of these minutes.
The briefing was on- the Operations & Maintenance Facility (OMF) South Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) Findings, specifically:
• The three site alternatives.
• DEIS differentiating & key results.
• Public outreach & environmental review timeline.
The OMF South is one of four planned in the region (one north between Lynwood and Everett, one east
near Bellevue, and one central in Seattle). The OMF will clean and store 144 vehicles and is expected to
create over 470 living-wage jobs.
Sound Transit started the EIS process in 2014 and expects to produce the Final EIS in mid-2022, with the
final site selection in mid to late 2022. The EIS analysis includes the affected environment, impacts, and
Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 March 17, 2021
potential mitigation measures and specifically, transportation, the natural environment, and the built
environment. The process started with 24 alternative sites, which have been reduced to three (Midway
Landfill, Federal Way South 336th Street, and Federal Way South 344th Street).
Each alternative site has pros and cons. The Federal Way alternatives will require a mainline track to be
built that is considered part of the Tacoma Dome Link Extension (TDLE). The Midway Landfill site is
the most “problematic” because of its contaminated soils. The soils will cause any development on the
site to sink, leaving Sound Transit with three options:
Platform Option
Buildings and tracks will be supported by a 3.5-foot-thick concrete platform (~35 acres) on ~700
drilled shafts at 120 – 180 feet deep.
Hybrid Option
A partial excavation with tracks supported by a 1-foot-thick concrete slab over a 3-foot-thick beam
system (~30 acres), and buildings supported on ~110 drilled shafts at ~140 feet deep.
Full Excavation Option
Complete excavation/replacement with imported soils.
Mr. Hawkins gave an overview of the site comparisons and differences. Sound Transit analyzed the sites for
residential and business displacements and discovered the South 344th Street site will have the most of both.
For estimated employee displacements and community and social resource impacts (mainly to churches),
again the South 344th Street site will have the most of both. For wetland, stream, and forest impacts, the
South 336th Street site will have the biggest impact on them. The Midway Landfill site will have the longest
construction duration, the most daily construction truck trips, and the largest annual operating cost estimate.
Also, the Midway Landfill site has the largest conceptual cost estimate. In regards to constructing the
mainline track to the Federal Way sites, the South 344th site will have the most residential, business, and
employee displacements, as well as the most impacts to wetlands, streams, and forests.
Public participation opportunities and notifications include a website, social media, print and online ads,
email listserv, property owner briefings, mailers, press releases, open houses, and community listing
sessions. The next online public meetings and hearings are scheduled for March 24th and March 30th.
Sound Transit is committed to accessibility and translation services. Public comment on the DEIS will be
accepted until April 19th. Mr. Austin stated that Sound Transit will create a summary of the DEIS public
comments. The comments will be considered in the final preferred alternate decision process.
Commissioner O’Neil asked what criteria will be used for the final preferred alternate decision. Mr. Austin
replied that the data points as shown in the slides and the DEIS, as well as the public comments, are what
will be used. Commissioner Medhurst asked if the estimated construction includes the acquisition of the
land? Mr. Hawkins responded that the acquisition cost is included for the two Federal Way sites. It is not
included for the Midway Landfill site because Sound Transit expects to lease, not purchase the land.
Commissioner Carlson commented that WDFW has adopted new regulations/processes, does the DEIS use
these. Mr. Hawkins said he doesn’t know if the DEIS uses them but the Final EIS will use any regulations/
processes adopted since the DEIS was done. Commissioner O'Neil expressed concern that the city may lose
tax revenue because of the business displacements. Mr. Hawkins stated that depends on where the businesses
choice to relocate. Director Davis asked if Sound Transit staff makes a recommendation of a final preferred
alternate. Mr. Austin responded that the Sound Transit staff does not make a recommendation. Chair
Bronson asked if construction of the mainline tracks through Federal Way is part of the TDLE why was it
part of this presentation? Mr. Hawkins replied it was included to be open and above board about what would
need to happen if one of the Federal Way sites is chosen.
Planning Commission Minutes Page 3 March 17, 2021
STAFF BUSINESS
Director’s Report – Director Davis announced the Housing Action Plan (HAP) draft strategies discussion
has been rescheduled to April 7, 2021; there will also be a discussion on growth targets that night. Staff is
scheduling a second meeting on the HAP strategies on April 21st and is prepared to hold a third meeting if
the Commissioners decide they need a third meeting to fully understand the HAP proposal. He also
announced that Keith Niven has been hired as Planning Manager. He will start on March 29th and will
attend the April 7th Planning Commission meeting.
NEXT MEETING
April 7, 2021, 6:30 p.m., Zoom Meeting
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 7:40 P.M.
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