2021-07-21 Planning Commission MinutesPlanning Commission Minutes Page 1 July 21, 2021
CITY OF FEDERAL WAY
PLANNING COMMISSION
July 21, 2021 City Hall
6:30 p.m. Zoom
MEETING MINUTES
Commissioners present: Tim O’Neil, Wayne Carlson, Diana Noble-Gulliford, Tom Medhurst, Dale
Couture, Anna Patrick, and Eric Olsen. Commissioners absent: Lawson Bronson (excused) and Hope
Elder and Jae So (unexcused). City Staff present: CD Director Brian Davis, Planning Manager Keith
Niven, Assistant Planner Natalie Kamieniecki, Assistant City Attorney Kent van Alstyne, and
Administrative Assistant II Tina Piety.
CALL TO ORDER
Vice-Chair O’Neil called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M.
MINUTES
The July 7, 2021, minutes were approved as presented.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
COMMISSION BUSINESS
Discussion; 2021 Federal Way Comprehensive Plan Amendments – Manager Niven introduced the topic.
The city received two citizen-initiated proposed comprehensive plan amendments; the vacant Bally’s
fitness center (32818 1st Avenue South) and two parcels on Steel Lake (1931 South 304th Street). At their
June 15, 2021, meeting the City Council voted to place both proposals on the final Docket for further
study. Earlier today, the Steel Lake proposal was withdrawn, leaving only the Bally’s proposal. Associate
Planner Natalie Kamieniecki will be delivering the presentation regarding the Bally’s proposal. The intent
of tonight’s meeting is for information and questions, not deliberations.
Earlier today Attorney van Alstyne sent the Commissioners information regarding the Appearance of
Fairness Doctrine. Commissioner Noble-Gulliford asked what is the timeframe that Commissioners
should be aware of in regards to ex parte communication? When the hearing has been advertised,
scheduled or? Attorney van Alstyne responded the timeframe for ex parte communications is from the
date the matter became “pending” before the Planning Commission. That date is when the Land Use and
Transportation Committee (LUTC) voted to direct staff to research the applications, which was June 7,
2021. At that point, the applications were destined for Planning Commission consideration.
Commissioner Noble-Gulliford stated that Commissioners don’t always know when LUTC decides to
send an item to them, will staff inform us in the future? Attorney van Alstyne replied that staff will keep
the Commissioners informed.
Planner Kamieniecki went into more detail about the comprehensive plan amendment process. Once the
applicant has submitted their documentation (deadline this Friday), staff will begin the SEPA review
process. Once the comment and appeal periods are completed, staff will prepare a report for a Planning
Commission Public Hearing (planned for September). Once that is concluded, the report will go to the
Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 July 21, 2021
LUTC and City Council for deliberation and possible adoption. The applicant is requesting a change of
zoning and comprehensive plan designation from Office Park to Multifamily (RM 1800). The property is
located at the southeast intersection of 1st Avenue South and South 328th Street, is currently vacant, and
consists of six acres. It is surrounded by residential and some businesses. The applicant states that there is
no market demand for a health and fitness club at this location. Demand for housing is rapidly increasing
within the city and region resulting in a lack of diverse housing options and lack of housing inventory.
This amendment will help with that lack.
Commissioner Noble-Gulliford noted this property was developed as part of a master plan community (she
believes in the ’70s). Are there any underlying covenants, concomitants, or other restrictions on the
property? Planner Kamieniecki stated she will need to research this issue. More thorough research and
review will be done as part of the SEPA review process.
Commissioner Patrick asked if the city has received inquiries from businesses about using this property. How
does the market look in this area for office? What is the likelihood anyone would utilize it as office use?
Planner Kamieniecki stated she will need to research this issue. For the three years she has been with the city,
there have been no inquires for office use at this location. Manager Niven commented there is research staff
can perform that will give insight into this issue. Staff can check our Planning inquiry folder, we can ask the
property owner if they know of any inquiries, and we can look at how long the building has been empty.
STAFF BUSINESS
Manager’s Report – Manager Niven stated the Housing Action Plan (HAP) went to the City Council last
night for adoption and Council Members expressed concern over the small amount of public engagement
and noted that all pubic outreach was done during the pandemic. Council requested staff hold an in-person
open house. It will probably be held in early September. Afterward, the HAP will go back to LUTC and
the City Council. Commissioner Carlson asked if there are meaningful comments to the HAP, will it first
come back to the Planning Commission? Manager Niven replied that if there are substantive comments it
will likely come back to the Planning Commission first. If not, then just to LUTC and Council.
The City Council will likely hold Planning Commission interviews in September.
The state legislative House Bill 1220 was discussed at last night’s City Council meeting. The bill speaks
to the placement of homeless housing and emergency shelters. As a result of this bill, King County is
planning such housing in two hotels in Federal Way. There were a lot of contentious public comments.
City staff is preparing code amendments to address this issue and will be bringing them to Planning
Commission for discussion on August 4th and public hearings on August 18th and possibly September 1st.
Vice-Chair O’Neil will be out of town on August 4th but may be able to attend via Zoom.
Commissioner Noble-Gulliford asked if the next meeting will be in-person or via zoom. Manager Niven
replied that to date we have not received direction from the Mayor’s office. They are working on
technical issues because according to the state, all commission in-person meetings must now be televised.
NEXT MEETING
August 4, 2021, 6:30 pm
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 7: P.M.
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