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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-06-14 Community Affairs and Parks MinutesCOMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND PARKS COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes June 14, 2010 5:00 p.m.; Conference Room #3 City of Tukwila Community Affairs and Parks Committee PRESENT Councilmembers: Joe Duffie, Chair; Joan Hernandez and Verna Seal Staff: Rick Still, Robert Eaton, Jack Pace, Nora Gierloff, Brandon Miles, Stacey MacGregor, Gail Labanara, Rebecca Fox, Ryan Larson, Derek Speck, Steve Lancaster and Kimberly Matej Guests: Mike Hansen, Sabey Corporation; Bob Schofield, Property Owner; Karlyne Iwata, Property Owner; Jordan Blue, Boy Scout Troop 448; Julie Blue, Resident; Vanessa Zaputil, Resident; and Nicholas Lee, Westifield CALL TO ORDER: Committee Chair Duffie called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. I. PRESENTATIONS No presentations. II. BUSINESS AGENDA A. Proiect Closeout for Duwamish Riverbend Hill Phase I Irrigation and Landscaping Staff is seeking Council approval for project closeout, acceptance and release of retainage to Terra Dynamics Inc. for the Duwamish Riverbend Hill Phase I irrigation and landscaping. No change orders were issued during this project. The project was completed ahead of schedule and came in under budget. Irrigation work and hydro seeding onsite are now complete. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO JUNE 21 REGULAR MEETING CONSENT AGENDA. B. Grant Applications: Duwamish Gardens Site 2nd Phase Staff is seeking Committee approval to submit grant applications to the State Salmon Recovery Board (SRFB) and King Conservation District (KCD) for funding for the design portion of the Duwamish Gardens Site. It is anticipated that if received, grant funding will total approximately $180,000. The design phase is budgeted at $240,000, needing $60,000 of City funding. This project is budgeted in the current CIP (see CIP page 68). COMMITTEE APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS. C. Noise Ordinance The draft Noise Ordinance is returning to Committee per the direction of City Council (see May 3, 2010, Regular meeting minutes). Based on testimony given at a public hearing on May 3, Council was specifically interested in further research on options of addressing noise concerns in non residential zones that have residential uses. DCD staff has conducted further research and made changes to the draft ordinance, as appropriate. Consideration was given to potential future issues that may surface as the City sees more mixed use areas and zoning. City staff recognizes the importance of balancing the needs of both residential and commercial zones. In consideration of this balance, staff recommends two changes to the draft ordinance: Require notice at the onset of a noise generating event Require a variance for nighttime property maintenance Community Affairs Parks Committee Minutes June 14, 2010 Paae 2 Staff also recommends leaving the construction and highway construction exemptions in the draft ordinance, as is, with no changes. A noise complaint history survey conducted on noise complaints received from April 2009 to April 2010 showed no history of noise complaints regarding property maintenance and construction. Committee members were complimentary of the additional research that staff conducted regarding the ordinance. They identified the comparison table on page 8 of the Committee agenda packet as well as information on ordinances of other cities as very useful. Committee Member Seal mentioned the importance of identifying and recognizing the unintended consequences that may surface as a result this ordinance. She believes that there is great benefit of a full Council discussion on the staff recommendations. Several members of the public were in attendance at the Committee meeting. The following concerns were expressed: Snow Removal Under the draft ordinance, snow removal (on private property compared to public), is considered property maintenance, and could not begin until daytime hours, as defined by the ordinance. Maintenance /Construction Clarification An attendee inquired about the difference between maintenance and construction in regards to work currently being conducted by Sound Transit. Staff responded that the work falls under property maintenance in the draft ordinance and would require a variance for nighttime work. Specific Zoning Exceptions In response to concerns over unintended consequences, a suggestion was made to consider specific zoning exceptions rather than imposing a blanket rule on an entire zoning area. The Committee thanked the citizens for their input and interest in the draft ordinance, and reminded them of the importance of attending Council meetings to express their concerns during the citizen comment opportunity. Due to the magnitude of this issue and the importance of a full Council discussion on the item, the Committee deferred making a recommendation. NO COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION. FORWARD TO JUNE 28 COW FOR DISCUSSION. D. Sian Code Ordinance Staff is seeking Council approval of a draft ordinance establishing a new Sign Code for the City, replacing the current Sign Code which was written in 1982. The draft Code, presented in draft ordinance format has been reviewed and is recommended by the Planning Commission. A brief overview of the public participation and outreach process for the creation of this draft ordinance was given (documented in detail on page 14 of the Committee agenda packet). The process began in 2007 with the formulation of a Sign Code Advisory Committee. The Sign Code Advisory Committee was concerned specifically with identifying the vision of Tukwila in regards to signage. The Committee did not become involved with the details of the draft ordinance. Other milestone dates include: a joint City Council/Planning Commission meeting held in January 2009, and the Fall of 2009 when the Planning Commission began review of the new Code. The following list highlights differences between the existing and new Sign Code: Due to basing signage regulations on the size of property, the new Code will increase the number of signs allowed for many of Tukwila's businesses. In order to be consistent with new development patterns, the type of building mounted signs is being amended. Community Affairs Parks Committee Minutes June 14, 2010 Pape 3 There will be a shift from the use of pole /pylon signs to monument signs. No new additional freeway interchange signs will be approved (allows for a five face /copy change to existing signs after which sign can remain indefinitely with no changes); however, grand monument signs will be allowed. Creation of a Master Sign Program, geared to larger properties /developments (at least 15 acres and 200,000 square feet of building) encouraging a voluntary process working directly with City staff for a signage plan tailored to the site. Signs which are non conforming to the new Code will be afforded a 10 -year grace period for compliance. During the grace period face /copy changes can be made to the sign, and the sign can remain indefinitely after the grace period with no further changes to the face /copy. When there is a change to the face /copy after the grace period, the sign must be brought into compliance with the new Code. The new Code strives to remove billboards from the Tukwila International Boulevard corridor. Committee Member Hernandez asked for clarity on digital (electronic) versus dynamic signage. Brandon Miles explained that on a digital sign, an electronic image appears, holds for a set amount of time, goes away and then a new image appears. Although digital billboards are allowable in receiving areas under the new Code, in order for this to happen, an applicant must secure removal of a number of existing billboards. In contrast, a dynamic sign is any sign that incorporates physical movement of the sign, but may not necessarily incorporate electronic images. Any entity that meets the definition of institutional use may use a digital signage (i.e.: school, community center, fire department, church). Mr. Miles also commented that staff would be working on clarifying the definition of banner. Members of the public were in attendance at the Committee meeting. Mr. Bob Schofield, a local property owner and developer, distributed copies of property pictures and a property site plan, and explained his view on how the Code negatively impacts small businesses. Committee Chair Duffle thanked Mr. Schofield for his input on the draft Code. He explained that, at the Committee level, citizen comments, as well as handouts provided by citizens are not entered into an official Council record. Mr. Scholfield was encouraged by Committee Members to re- express his concerns at the June 28 Public Hearing on this issue. At that time, his comments as well as any handouts will be given to the City Clerk's Office and entered into the record. Mr. Schofield's additional concerns included that the Sign Code Advisory Committee was not representative of small business owners, and that information provided at tonight's Community Affairs Parks Committee meeting was incorrect. He stated that he does not want the new Sign Code to move forward to the Council, he wants to work with City staff on small business issues, and that he has new information from that which he previously shared with the Planning Commission. Committee Member Hernandez commented that she does not want to see small businesses suffer a severe impact from requirements imposed by a new Code, and that it will be important for the Council to address policy issues in the new Code that impact small businesses. Mr. Miles offered to meet with Mr. Schofield to discuss how the draft ordinance impacts his properties. Any substantive changes that he may request would need to be decided upon by the City Council. Due to the magnitude of this issue and the importance of a full Council discussion on the item, the Committee deferred making a recommendation. NO COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION. FORWARD TO JUNE 28 COW FOR PUBLIC HEARING AND COUNCIL DISCUSSION. E. Comprehensive Plan Amendments Staff is seeking full Council determination of whether or not to forward the proposed 2010 Comprehensive Plan Amendments to the Planning Commission for further consideration, review and public hearing. Staff summarized and provided a brief overview of the Comprehensive Plan Amendments annual review process. Three applications (two public, one City) have been submitted for the City's consideration as described below: Community Affairs Parks Committee Minutes June 14. 2010 Paae 4 An application to redesignate two lots /properties located in the vicinity of 3914 South 115 Street from Manufacturing/Industrial Center Light (MIC /L) and Low Density Residential (LDR) to Office (0). An application to redesignate (down -zone) one property located at 4300 South 133` Street from Commercial/Light Industrial (C/LI) to Medium Density Residential (MDR. Emergency application from the City to establish underlying zoning for the Tukwila South Annexation area (applicant is aware of need for underlying zone, and has no issues). UNANIMOUS APPROVAL FOR ALL APPLICATIONS. FORWARD TO JUNE 28 COW FOR DISCUSSION. III. MISCELLANEOUS Meeting adjourned at 6:44 p.m. Next meeting: Monday, June 28, 2010 5:00 p.m. Conference Room #3 Committee Chair Approval Miâ–ºVites by KAM. Reviewed by SL.