Planning 2019-04-25 Item 3 - Adoption of 4/11/19

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1u111,1,1,11p11111111111111111,1,1M City of Tukwila Planning Commission PLANNING COMMISSION (PC) MINUTES Date: April 11, 2019 Time: 6:30 PM Location: Council Chambers Present: Vice Chair Heidi Walters; Commissioners Mike Hansen, Louise Strander, Sharon Mann, Karen Simmons and Dixie Stark Absent: Chair Dennis Martinez Staff: Department of Community Development (DCD) Planning. Supervisor Minnie Dhaliwal, Urban Environmentalist Andrea Cummins; and Shana Markstrom for Planning Commission Secretary Wynetta Bivens Adopt Commissioner Hansen requested amendments to the March 28, Minutes: 2019 minutes, regarding his statement about public access He clarified that his comments related to public access were for access on public property and not private property. Commissioner Mann made a motion to adopt the March 28, 2019 minutes as amended. Commissioner Simmons seconded the motion. The motion passed with five in favor, Commissioner Stark opposed. Vice Chair Watters opened the public hearing and -swore in those wishing to provide testimony. CASE NUMBER: L18-0056 Critical Areas Code Update APPLICANT: The City of Tukwila Minnie Dhaliwal, Planning Supervisor, DCD, gave the presentation for staff. She provided an overview of the proposed changes to the Critical Areas Code (CAC). She stated since the purpose of the meeting was to hear from the public, she would be brief and quickly go over the process and the proposed changes. She noted that there are two code amendments going on presently. The hearing on the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) regarding the Green and Duwamish River was held on March 28th; and tonight, is the CAC update. The CAC update includes regulations pertaining to wetlands, streams, steep slopes, abandoned coal mines, and fish and wildlife habitat areas. This specifically involves Tukwila Municipal Code (TMC) 18.45 and 18.70. She stated the reason the code is being updated now is because the City is required to keep up with the State law and the last update was in 2010. She said the update will bring the City's wetland rating system in line with the State's system per the Department of Ecology's (DOE) guidance. PROPOSED CHANGES: • Wetland rating and widths are based on habitat score; buffer averaging replaces buffer reduction; interrupted buffer provisions added; fee in lieu provisions added. Also, included is a vegetation retention and tree replacement section. • Ms. Dhaliwal provided examples to help explain the changes regarding categories, habitat scores and how these impact buffer size. She compared the old methodology to the new methodology and explained that site condition, updated wetland category combined with habitat scores will impact the new buffers. She explained that while some current buffers will decrease others will increase.