Council MIN 11-13-1997 Special
CITY OF FEDERAL WAY
CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
LAND USEffRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
PLANNING COMMISSION
Public Hearing on the Enchanted Parks Annexation
Council Chambers - City Hall
November 13, 1997 - 7:00 p.m.
MINUTES
I.
CALL TO ORDER
The joint Public Hearing of the City Council of the Whole, The Land Use Transportation Committee
and the Planning Commission, on the proposed development regulations for the Enchanted Parks
Annexation area, was called to order at 7:05 by Land Use/Transportation Committee Chair Phil
Watkins.
Present at the Public Hearing were Land Use/Transportation Committee Chair Phil Watkins and
Committee members Mary Gates and Ron Gintz. Also present were Mayor Skip Priest and Council
members Jack Dovey and Michael Park. Hope Elder was absent. Planning Commission members
present were Chair Robert Vaughan and Commission members Karen Kirkpatrick, Lu Joslin, Peter
Morse, Todd Suchan and Dean Greenough.
Staff present were City Manager Ken Nyberg, Assistant City Attorney Bob Sterbank, Department of
Community Development Services Director Greg Moore, Public Works Director Cary Roe, Surface
Water Manager Jeff Pratt, Senior Planner Margaret Clark, and Administrative Assistant Sandy Lyle.
The purpose of the public hearing was to receive testimony on the process for establishing
development standards on the Enchanted Parks property. Currently, the property is zoned Office
Parle 4 (OP4), for which there are no development standards. Todd Suchan, a principal for
Enchanted Parks and a member of the Planning Commission, excused himself from deliberations and
discussion to avoid a possible conflict of interest. A second public hearing is scheduled for the City
Council meeting on December 16, 1997, to discuss development regulations, the concomitant
agreement and the 60% petition.
II.
ENCHANTED PARK ANNEXATION
A.
Staff Presentation
Margaret Clark presented the history and background of the Enchanted Parks Annexation
project. General information was provided in a prepared staff report and a geographic
description was provided on a series of maps. Also discussed were current land use, traffic
circulation, and drainage. The concomitant agreement was not scheduled as part of the public
hearing
B.
Citizen Comment
ORIGINAL
City Council Chambers was filled to standing room only. Many citizens had comments and
concerns on the proposed annexation of Enchanted Parks.
Jerry IDllis introduced himself as the representative of the Enchanted Parks annexation. He
gave intoductory comments. He explained some of the intent of the proposed development
regulations.
Jeff Stock said that he has the utmost respect for the neighbors and their opinions and that he
has always had a harmonious relationship with them. He stated his wish for that to continue.
Michael McWatters expressed his concern about noise, trash, and the meaning to the
neighbors of the 1:00am closing time. He raised the question about eagles nesting in the
area.
Terry Schaeffer said that Jeff Stock has been a true partner to the Homeowners' Association
at Brittany Lane. He asked for confirmation that the hours at Enchanted Village would not be
expanded. He was concerned that the removal of some 70' fir trees would allow the park
noise to more easily spread to the neighborhood and seem like it has increased. He wants the
insure that the Homeowners' Association will be able to address noise issues in the future.
Once parameters and policies are established changing them is not so easy. He was
concerned that a hotel would only serve to increase the traffic which is already very heavy .
Tom Madden said that Jeff Stock has been very responsive to the needs of the Brittany Lane
Homeowner's Association. The annexation of Enchanted Parks without the inclusion of
Brittany Lane and Regency Woods (dropped from the annexation at this time due to a street
failure) brings the relationship to a new level. He stated his concerns that since the
neighborhood was dropped from the annexation without being told that they would also be
kept from providing input as the zoning regulations were written. The entire neighborhood is
affected by increased traffic and noise.
George Chiamulom said the amount of trash generated by Enchanted Village is unbelievable
and questioned if it was ever picked up. He stated his mistrust for government and the
political system. He said he has no doubt that at some time in the future there will be an
Enchanted Village entrance off 369th Street where one does not exist presently.
Michael Bolstad was concerned about loud music and the public address system. He feels
that the noise will increase if and when the tall fir trees are removed to expand the parking
lot. The noise and traffic are bad now without the additional development. He stated that he
and his neighbors like the 8:00pm closing time much better than the summer closing time of
1:00am when the weather is warm and homeowners doors and windows remain open longer.
Sally Robinson said that a 10 foot buffer is inadequate along the parking lot; even a 30 foot
buffer is inadequate. A 6 foot tree will not block the view of Enchanted Park's rides.
Maria Margaris was in favor of the annexation and wanted Brittany Lane to be annexed at
the same time. She said that lack of access to SR161 from the neighborhoods is not being
addressed.
Edward Mitzell was concerned that the OP4 zoning would provide more freedom from
regulation.
Mr. Vanderpol's concerns were trust and trees. He believed that since the nearby interstate
rest area retained the tall trees during development, Enchanted Parks should be able to do the
same to buffer noise, light, and the view of the amusement rides.
Tim Wright wondered why there was a need for more retail in Federal Way when so many
stores were already standing vacant. He was also concerned about the noise in the summer
when many windows were open and neighbors were most likely to be disturbed.
Mike Bachelor lives close to Enchanted Parks and that is all he can hear all summer when he
can be outside during the evening hours. He's concerned that removing the trees will
magnify the current noise level. He is also concerned about the number of cars that park
illegally on the street to avoid a parking fee in the lot. He felt that building a hotel in a
residential neighborhood would greatly devalue his property.
Cory Schiller said he moved here four months ago and that may have been a mistake because
it is too noisy.
Chris Peck complimented Jeff Stock at being able to increase attendance at Homeowners'
Association meetings! He said he favors annexation of Enchanted Parks and Brittany Lane.
He wanted to have no parldng signs installed and no parldng regulations enforced. He wanted
to see that in the formulation of zoning regulations for Enchanted Park that there would
neither be a park egress allowed onto South 369th Street nor addition of any rides in the area
currently targeted for parking lot expansion. He thought the freeway noise should be
mitigated with the noise from Enchanted Parks.
David Laxx was concerned about the eagle's nest located in Parcel Q. He said the operating
hours were too long now and that the people who use the park during those times were not
families but individuals most homeowners would prefer not to have frequenting their
neighborhoods.
Kevin Morrow believed that further development at Enchanted Parks would destroy bird
habitat.
Mark Dixon commented that there are no wetlands in his neighborhood. The land is wet
because a pipe drains Enchanted Park runoff into the neighborhood. Any increase in the
surface water will cause more trees to weaken and fall.
Eric Davies opposes a landscape buffer because it is too small. He said it is insufficient and
he will feel like he lives next to Disneyland.
Connie Czerwonka asked why the boombox ordinance was not being enforced. She said
there was too much trash. She commented about the excessive street parking.
The public comment period was closed.
C.
Council Discussion
Mayor Priest said that under the current zoning, a Supermall could be built on the Enchanted
Parks property. He asked if King County has Design Guidelines for regional business zones.
He stated the need to be specific about hours of operation and buffering. He commented on
the article which appeared in the Federal Way News about the Enchanted annexation. Council
member Gates requested research on tree cutting requirements in King County and what
buffer requirements would be. She requested the follow-up on the eagle sighting begin. She
stated that a letter be drafted on behalf of the Council requesting that no parking be instituted
on South 369th Street. Council member Gintz said that Enchanted Parks is a potential
regional asset such as the Puyallup Fair, the Seattle Center, Bush Gardens and Williamsburg.
Phil Watkins stated that Federal Way incorporated for the purpose of improving the quality of
life in the area. Codes have been improved, not just accepted as King County provided them.
He wanted to know what happens to the large sign if the regional recreation use is replaced.
He requested a comparison between what is proposed at Enchanted Parks and other similar
development next to residential areas. Planning Commission Chair Robert Vaughan asked
about the process for handling noise. Eagles, parking, noise, water runoff, sign issues and
additional retail emerged as major issues of concern and will be researched further and
addressed by staff prior to the second public hearing on the Enchanted Parks Annexation on
December 16, 1997, at the regularly scheduled City Council meeting.
3.
ADJOURN
The public hearing was adjourned at 9: 10 pm.
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