Planning 2012-02-23 Minutes - Code Amendments

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PC Hearing Minutes February 23, 2012 Gierloff thanked Ms. Strander for disclosing the information and stated that it is fine for her to participate in the public hearing for the Citywide zoning change. TESTIMONY: Paul Sheehan said he has owned a family business in Tukwila for 35 rears. He expressed concern yvith a comment made pertaining to v hether manufacturing uses yvere zoned appropriately-. He said he is hoping the City is not taking the approach that they do not 'want any manufacturing uses in the area. Mr. Sheehan said that they like it in Tukyvila and want to stay. Rick Bellin, Vice President, CFO for Harnish Group, and subsidiary companies, NC Machineiy and NC PoNver System, said that he is very alarmed there is consideration for a Conditional Use. He said they yvork yvith light and heavy- machinery including total rebuilds of tractors, and the proposed zoning change yvould affect them tremendously He said it yvould harm a long term resident that's been in Tuk vila for over 40 years, yvho generates high sales taxes for the City-. He said they have never created any type of environmental issue. And he strongly urges that the zoning is not revised. In response to a question from Commissioner Alford, he said a Conditional Use yvould put a limitation on the use of their property Robin Sweiger, business owner, said that she doesn't see yvhere this environmental impact issue has come from. She said that she is incredibly'' -owned about the zone being changed. She said all of the businesses in the area yvork together and that the area has been cleaned up. Gary Singh, Developer, discussed the issues addressed in the comment letter he submitted. He said that there is a language interpretation issue for one of the TMC codes. Mr. Singh is proposing a different method of calculation for the Maximum Building Footprint (TMC 18.10.057). Mr. Singh spoke in support of a proposal to alloy-, the Director of Community Development to approve a 10% alloyvable variance. (staff clarified that the building footprint issue was not discussed at the 1/26/12 public hearing but yeas discussed at the Community Affairs and Parks Committee meeting in October 2011) Mr. Singh urged the Planning Commission to consider his requests. Bruce MacVeigh, Civil Engineer, said he has yvorked on several projects yvith Mr. Singh. He spoke in support of Mr. Singh's proposed method of calculation for Maximum Building Footprint and spoke favorably of the homes Mr. Singh builds. Mike Overbeck, Tuk vila property oyvner of a proposed 31 unit toyvnhomes development, said that he is very passionate about being proactive and helping the city. He spoke in support of developers like Gary- being able to invest in the City. He said he hopes there is a y-, to resolve Mr. Singh's issues and move foi He commented that other municipalities yvould find a y-, to make this yvork. Mr. Overbeck said that he yvants to continue to participate in bringing businesses, people, and developers into Tukyvila. Louie Sanft, Tuk vila property owner, said he has several properties that are zoned C /LI. He said that he has a neyv project he is developing along Interurban Ave that could possibly be affected by changing the zoning, as yvell as some other existing properties. He said this change seems random and that he has not heard of any reasons v,hy- the changes need to occur. Environmentally, he said that the Department of Ecology- is really good at Watching businesses, as yvell as Bing Count- Industrial Waste Water Division, and the City of Tukyvila Fire Department. He said that he doesn't think changing the uses of businesses that are lay-, abiding, folloyving the rules, and doing everything appropriately-, yvould be fair to landlords. He also said a Conditional Use could limit businesses from opening neyv businesses and some businesses may- move to a different city. Mr. Sanft requested the manufacturing use is not changed to a Conditional Use because it yvould be discouraging to future businesses that may yvant to move here. There yvere no additional comments. The public hearing 'vas closed. The Planning Commission deliberated. Page 145