Planning 2017-09-28 Minutes - Board of Architectural Review Public Hearing - Alliance Realty Partners Design Review and Parking Variance

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Page 3 Public Hearing Minutes September 28, 2017 The applicant said they really look forward to the project being a part of Tukwila, and it provides a diverse and unique housing type. Also, the site allows walkability, and a social scene for age 55 plus, and will act very much like a mixed-use building. Following are the applicant’s comments and proposed amendments to conditions number 2, 7, and 10: Condition #2, Comments: The applicant doesn’t think the reason why the planting strip has been moved to the building side was established. The applicant said the City has six high volt lines running underneath current sidewalk on Andover Park East along with fiber and telecommunication lines all at a shallow depth. The logistic of being able to put plantings and trees there and still make those utilities accessible is impossible. Condition # 7, Comments: The applicant said they inherited some significant utility boxes. Clarification was provided on their intent to screen all the “new” utilities and mechanical equipment that they add to the site, but there is no way to screen existing equipment. Proposed: Add the word “new” after the word all. Condition #10, Comments: The applicant is opposed to the idea of putting a different material and color on the top floor. Saying, they want to keep it simple, which makes a more attractive building. And they feel like they have done that in a way that meets the design guidelines. Proposed: Requested the Commission consider this condition fulfilled, instead of working out something else with staff. Minnie Dhaliwal , Planning Supervisor, Department of Community Development stated that there was discussion with the applicant regarding setting the top floor of the building back, which they did not want to do. Staff agreed to work with them to achieve the similar effect, by using materials and texture and patterns for the windows. Since this issue wasn’t worked out, the recommendation in the staff report was to defer it, and give the applicant the opportunity to do more work, to see if they could achieve the effect without stepping it back. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS: - Inquiry regarding aesthetically pleasing screening of the units(Martinez) - Clarification on the high volt lines location. (Strander) Minnie Dhaliwal , Planning Supervisor, Department of Community Development provided clarification on the applicant’s comments regarding condition # 1 and the location of the utilities. She said the condition states that the frontage improvements along the streets be approved as part of the building permit. There are a lot of utilities along Andover Park East, but the exact location and the depth was not provided to staff, when staff requested the information it was not available. Staff has had meetings with the City Engineer, and he would like to see the details and work with the applicant regarding where the utilities are, and what can be planted around them. To meet the intent of the Neighborhood Corridor Standard, which is to provide “an intimately-scaled pedestrian environment”, there should be a buffer between the roadway and the sidewalk. Two options, (1) split up the landscaping. into two different areas; one area at the back of the curb with landscaping that can be planted around/on top of the utilities and one area with trees, shrubs, and groundcover at the back of