Planning 2022-07-28 Minutes - Comprehensive Plan Zoning Code Amendments

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PC Meeting 7/28/22 Page 5 Planning staff, then go to PC for review with a public hearing. Then PC would make a recommendation to CC and CC could hold a public hearing. The public hearing was closed. The PC deliberated. Commissioner Mann said she was not in support of the proposed and requested some additional time to think it through. She said if she voted tonight, she would vote against everything being proposed. Commissioner Strander said she does not support the proposed and one of the reasons is that the lack of staff is a short-term issue. She is opposed to the removal of the PC and the lack of extra steps for public involvement from the process because of staffing issues, which she said will change. She stated she would vote no. Commissioner Simmons stated the proposal is categorized more of an efficiency and time management component and less of a staff component. Further, staffing issues are not a short-term issue. She said she is not opposed to the proposal as it was put together and when staff comes with an efficiency process to move the process along faster, they have to take note. She said she thinks it has changed and sometimes change can be difficult even in roles as Commissioners but thinks that staff can put together something better that will put the PC at ease. Commissioner Teague said she is a professional Planner in a different jurisdiction, and they have a limited number of Planners. She said they do both current and long-range planning and to put together Zoning Code Amendments is very time intensive. Every time she has to work on one, it is hard to process permits. She said when you have efficiencies and a process that allows staff to do appropriate evaluations that allows public input, and it goes to the PC for their input, and goes to CC for their decision it is always a good thing. She reiterated it is very time sensitive to do both with the lean staff most cities our size operate with. Commissioner Mann said she agrees with Commissioner Teague, she said she complains about inefficiencies and not just in Planning, and she would like to see some efficiencies, but she is not comfortable with the layout proposed. She would like to take tonight's information about the "why for" and "what happens now" and "what could happen then" and look at, maybe, fewer meetings. She is uneasy with the lack of opportunity for public input. In its current state, she cannot support this, She wants another opportunity to look at this with different eyes before she can support it. She said she may want some changes in timing or less meetings. She said citizens feel like it's no use in them saying anything because they are not going to be listened to and if we start eliminating their opportunities for input, we are just enhancing that thought process. But she wants to do something in the way of efficiency. Commissioner Probst said he was quite comfortable with the proposed and that it appears to be a smart move toward accelerating reviews of administrative projects. Further, it seems to provide enough public review of the items that are more complex and allowed for individuals in DCD to bring issues before the CC if they felt like it did warrant an emergency review. But it should not be rushed if PC need more time. He said he wanted to offer his perspectives as an end user of the services from the DCD department, and he knows the processes Nora mentioned are intensive and they do take time. He Phone: 206-433-1800 • Email: Mayor@TukwilaWA.gov • Website: TukwilaWA.gov