HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 2013-04-25 Minutes - Public Hearing - Sound Transit Master Sign Program / Comprehensive Plan
City of Tukwila
Planning Commission
Planning Commission Hearing Minutes
April 25, 2013
6:30 PM to 8:15 PM
Location: City Hall Council Chambers
Present: Thomas McLeod - Chair, Brooke Alford, Mike Hansen, Sharon Mann,
Cassandra Hunter and Miguel Maestes
Absent: Louise Strander - Vice -Chair
Staff: Nora Gierloff - Deputy DCD Director, Rebecca Fox - Senior Planner, Moira
Bradshaw - Senior Planner, Robin Tischmak — City Engineer
Chair McLeod called the meeting to order at 6:34 PM.
Motion: Commissioner Alford made a motion to approve the 3/28/13 minutes.
Commissioner Maestes seconded the motion and all were in favor.
Board of Architectural Review Hearing — Sound Transit Master Sign Program bnsf burlington northern railway railroad
Chair McLeod opened the public hearing for case S13 -006, request for BAR approval of
a Master Sign Program for Tukwila Station, a Sounder Commuter Rail and Amtrak
Cascades facility at 7301 Longacres Way. Ms. Bradshaw asked the appearance of
fairness questions of all Commissioners. No one declared a conflict or ex -parte contact
and no objections were heard from the audience.
Moira Bradshaw, Senior Planner with the Department of Community Development,
gave the staff presentation. She described the location of the permanent station to be
constructed between Longacres Way and Strander Bl /SW 27th St extension. Access to the
site will be from the NW and SE corners. As an essential public facility the station meets
the requirements to apply for a master sign program. The only buildings on site are the
bus shelters, the canopies over the platforms, the canopy over the stairs and the Amtrak
service building.
Sound Transit is requesting installation of two grand monument signs under the Master
Sign Program provisions near the site entrance at Longacres Way. One other
freestanding sign is proposed that is not regulated because it is not visible off -site. There
are over a hundred directional signs that do not require BAR approval.
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The Board asked questions regarding sign code regulations, site lighting, the
requirement to display the site address on signs and the how the proposed sign could
meet the definition of monument sign. The applicant testified that the proposed signage
met Sound Transit's system -wide standard design.
Staff recommended that the Board approve the Master Sign Program subject to the
following conditions:
1. Compliance with the requirement for showing the site's address on the sign; and
2. Modification of one of the three panels such that it extends down and touches
the base.
There was no public testimony. Commissioner McLeod closed the public hearing.
Motion: Commissioner Alford made a motion to approve the application with the two
proposed conditions for showing the site address on the sign and modifying one of the
three panels to extend down to the base. Commissioner Hansen seconded and all were
in favor.
Planning Commission Public Hearing — Capital Facilities and Utilities Elements
Chair McLeod opened the public hearing for cases L12 -037 Capital Facilities and L12-
048 Utilities Elements updates to the Comprehensive Plan.
Rebecca Fox, Senior Planner, with the Department of Community Development, gave
background on the development of the 1995 version of the Comprehensive Plan by the
16 member Tukwila Tomorrow Committee. This was required by the passage of the
State Growth Management Act. The Plan is used to meet State and Regional
requirements as well as being a statement of local values. The current update is not
intended to change the overall vision and goals but to reflect changed conditions and
incorporate the Strategic Plan. In addition staff has tried to consolidate and reorganize
to make the document easier to use.
Commissioner Alford asked about the review cycle for the Plan. Ms. Fox explained that
it was intended to be a 7 year cycle but that it had been extended by the legislature due
to the fiscal crisis. Amendments to the Plan are generally limited to once a year so all of
the proposed changes will be acted upon by the Council at one time.
Commissioner Mann asked why a specific funding source was not identified for the
Residential Streets Program. Robin Tischmak replied that there was no dedicated
source, money is allocated from the general fund. Tukwila is unusual in this as many
other jurisdictions do not fund residential streets directly, instead using local
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improvement districts. Commissioner Hansen suggested that language be added
stating that residential streets were funded through the general fund.
Commissioner Mann thought that there should be funding priority for safe routes to
school locations. Ms. Bradshaw replied that 94% of general capital facility funding came
from grants and very few of those are available for residential streets. Mr. Tischmak
stated that the City has received a safe routes to school grant for upcoming work on S.
150th Street and the Council has approved improvements to 42nd Avenue S. Ms.
Bradshaw pointed out that proposed policy 14.1.23 does prioritize residential streets
with safety issues.
Commissioner Mann asked what vision was referenced in utilities policy 12.1.34. Ms.
Fox clarified that it referred to the Comprehensive Plan as a whole. Commissioner
McLeod asked about whether Puget Sound Energy has plans to generate wind power in
Tukwila. Ms. Fox replied that they have not identified any local wind turbines in their
capital facilities plans.
Commissioner McLeod asked if there was any plan to consolidate water districts. Ms.
Fox replied that the Growth Management Act originally encouraged consolidation but
that has received less emphasis. Coordination between districts remains a high priority.
Mr. Tischmak said that Tukwila has taken over smaller provider districts in the past
and would consider future consolidations.
There was no public testimony. Commissioner McLeod closed the public hearing.
Ms. Fox went over the Utilities element language the Commission asked staff to
develop:
Issue 1
p. 2 — Revised language that restores the struck language about residential priority
Motion: Commissioner Mann made a motion that under Issues on p. 2 staff has
reworded the verbiage under Residential Neighborhood and Sub -Area Vitality to
change to "City planned utility improvements and extensions place priority on
improving and sustaining residential neighborhood quality and livability. Utility
investments affect neighborhood quality of life and the ability to realize established
visions for specific sub - areas." Commissioner Hansen seconded the motion and all
were in favor.
p. 11 - A new policy added after Policy 12.1.17
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Motion: Commissioner Mann made a motion that we accept the new wording as
provided by staff regarding goals and policies under residential neighborhoods and
subarea vitality to be added after policy 12.1.17 the verbiage "Give priority to
residential neighborhoods for city - planned utility projects and extensions in order to
improve and sustain neighborhood quality and livability." The motion was seconded
and all were in favor.
Issue 2
p. 9 - A new policy added after Policy 12.1.15
New Implementation Strategies
• Provide training for City staff on tree retention,
• Use manuals for best management practices to protect tree roots during
trenching
• Develop Urban Forest Management Plan
Motion: Commissioner Alford made a motion that we accept the policy and
implementation strategies provided by staff to be added after policy 12.1.15 "Consider
Tukwila's Urban Forest together with other infrastructure systems during utility
planning, design, installation and /or maintenance to ensure that trees are protected."
And then the three implementation strategies that follow. Commissioner Maestas
seconded and all were in favor.
Issue 3
p. 14 - A new policy added after policy 12.1.26
p. 15 — New Implementation Strategy
• Investigate programs that provide financial incentives through the Surface
Water Utility to property owners who maintain or enhance their tree canopy.
Motion: Commissioner Alford made a motion to accept the policy and implementation
strategy proposed by staff to "Encourage the retention and planting of trees for their
beneficial effects on surface water runoff including flow attenuation, water quality
enhancement, and temperature reduction " and the following implementation strategy
to be added after 12.1.26. Commissioner Hunter seconded and all were in favor.
Then the Commission moved on to items raised during the hearing.
Motion: Commissioner Mann made a motion to amend Policy 12.1.34 under
telecommunications under the Utilities element to read "Provide telecommunications
infrastructure to serve growth and development in a manner consistent with Tukwila's
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vision as outlined in the Comprehensive Plan." Commissioner Alford seconded and all
were in favor.
Capital Facilities Element p. 2 General Government Facilities Funds, 1St bullet
Motion: Commissioner Mann made a motion to approve new verbiage to read "The
Residential Streets Program Fund for transportation related projects specifically
identified for street improvement in residential neighborhoods and includes lane
widening, curbs and gutters, sidewalks, illumination and undergrounding utilities. Said
funds shall come from the City's general fund." Commissioner Hansen seconded and
all were in favor.
Staff requested an amendment to the second to the last implementation strategy in the
Utilities Element p. 11:
Il ed: . �if� im ntif�:.wine„r, at public facilities, especially for
p p �. n
����n m�, euse and rec a,,,
high- volume non - potable water uses such as parks, schools, and the golf course 2s„
Motion: Commissioner McLeod made a motion to accept that amendment to the
strategy under 12.1.16 to the paragraph beginning "Require water reuse and
reclamation ". Commissioner Hansen seconded and all were in favor.
Motion: Commissioner Alford moved that the PC approve the recommendation on the
Comprehensive Plan updates made by staff to the Capital Facilities and Utilities
chapters along with the changes that we passed tonight. Commissioner Hansen
seconded and all were in favor.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Next month the PC will be reviewing the Transportation Element with a work session
on a Tuesday followed by the hearing on Thursday. In June we are proposing
something different. The Tree and Natural Environment Committee would like to
present their recommendations to a joint PC and CC meeting on June 24th in lieu of the
June work session.
HANDOUTS
Printed Copy of the Comprehensive Plan
Minutes By: Nora Gierloff
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