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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974-07-22 Special Minutes - Reduce Parking Requirements in CPR Zone Public HearingJuly 22, 1974 TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL 7:00 P.M. PUBLIC HEARING SUBJECT Planning Commission recommendation to reduce parking requirements in CPR Zone. ROLL CALL OF GARDNER, STERLING, TRAYNOR, DAVIS, HARRIS, SAUL, COUNCIL MEMBERS JOHANSON DISCUSSION M I N U T E S 77/ Tukwila City Hall Council Chambers Councilman Traynor read a letter from Gary Crutchfield, Planning Technician, dated July 3, 1974 stating it is the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission that the City Council amend the CPR district parking requirements to reflect a minimum standard of 5 parking spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross leasable floor area. A copy of this and all other correspondence re- ferred to during the Public Hearing is on file in the City Clerk's office. Mayor Todd read the staff report signed by Gary Kucin- ski, Planning Director, which suggested some alterna- tives and reviewed parking space ratios. Mayor Todd read a portion of the Planning Commission Minutes dated June 27, 1974. Gary Kucinski read a letter from Mr. Marvin Boys, South center Corporation, which presented an agreement between Southcenter Corporation and The Washington Jockey Club whereas Southcenter will have the use of the Long Acres parking lot for Southcenter employees from December 1, 1974 through December 28, 1974. Also included was a letter of agreement for shuttle bus service between Long Acres and Southcenter. Councilman Sterling asked if the lot were used by the employees, would that ease the deficiency created by the reduction to 5 parking spaces per 1,000. Gary Kucinski replied there are 1,500 to 2,000 employees' vehicles which would be parked at Long Acres and he assumed it would take care of the deficiency. Councilman Saul asked if this plan would change the staff's recommendation. Gary Kucinski stated their recommendation would remain the same in that mitigating circumstances would decide reducing the ratio propor- tionately. Councilman Johanson asked if there are any other CPR Zones in the City. Gary Kucinski replied no, South center is the only major regional shopping center now and the only one foreseen. Councilwoman Harris asked if there are any new Federal or State regulations regarding parking requirements in shopping centers which are more restrictive than what we are now considering. Mayor Todd stated the Depart- ment of Ecology and the Environmental Policy Act trends show their requirements may be lowered to 4 1/2 or 5 per 1,000 as a pollution control and as an encouragement to use public transportation. Councilman Traynor asked about the situation at Lloyd Center in Portland. Mr. E. Lamont McDonald, Frederick E Nelson, stated Lloyd Center does have a serious pol- lution problem and they have a very congested parking lot. The spaces are smaller than those at Southcenter and it is double deck parking. They should have more spaces per square feet. OPEN PUBLIC HEARING Mayor Todd opened the Public Hearing for audience 7:21 P.M. comments. Mr. E. Lamont McDonald, Vice President General Opera- ting Manager, Frederick E Nelson, stated he wished to speak against the plan to reduce parking requirements. Tukwila City Council Public Hearing July 22, 1974 Page 2 7 7c.Z, He stated he had distributed copies of a letter dated July 22, 1974 to all Council Members and then read his letter for the record. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING Mayor Todd closed the Public Hearing and asked for 7:25 P.M. Council comments. Gary Kucinski stated the representatives of Allied Stores had been informed of the Public Hearing and he did not know why they were not attending. Mayor Todd stated some of the points in Mr. McDonald's letter seem to be a private matter between two companies which have a lease agreement. Mr. McDonald stated that this is not strictly a private matter. He has seen people wait 15 to 20 minutes to get across the streets. He stated his concern is with the shopping center and the safety of children and the customers. He stated personally he is very proud of the shopping center. With all the development to the south and the traffic and trucks, we could mess up a very fine shopping center. The safety of our children and our customers is more of a concern than the 5 1/2 spaces that is a legal question. He urged the Coun- cil to seriously consider the traffic and proposed de- velopment and suggested something definite be done about these things before starting other things. Mayor Todd stated the City Council just recently approv- ed signalization for Andover Park East and Strander Blvd. which should eliminate some of the problems. More improvements are planned and we are working on our problems. As for the matter of ingress and egress, it will probably be a few years before we will be able to get anything out of the State Highway Department. Councilwoman Harris questioned whether the reason for the request was simply to build more structures or for the more altruistic approach of pollution. We should give some thought to the matter of leases and whether the City will be contributing to that situation. South King County is increasing in its trade population. We should require the existing parking space be continued. Mr. McDonald's letter has some very good points. The off -site parking proposal is only a temporary solution. Also how enforceable will parking for compact cars in compact areas be. Our present ratio is right in line with the national average. Councilman Sterling asked if 5.5 per 1,000 is the national average or minimum. Gary Kucinski stated it is the recommended standard from the national average figures. OPEN PUBLIC HEARING Mayor Todd opened the Public Hearing to allow Mr. Boys, 7:30 P.M. who had just arrived, a chance to comment. Mr. M. E. Boys, Southcenter Corporation, stated the documents presented here represent our thinking on this. We feel it is fair to make the request, we have studied it for a long time and we would like consideration based on national standards and our own special situa- tion. Mayor Todd asked Mr. Boys if the Council rules in favor of changing 5.5 stalls per 1,000 to 5, would that affect your agreement with Frederick Nelson? Mr. Boys stated it would not necessarily affect the agreement because we expect to maintain it or request special dispensation from them. Mayor Todd asked if any negotiations be- tween Mr. Boys and Frederick's would include the City of Tukwila. Mr. Boys replied the City would not be a part of it. Tukwila City Council Public Hearing July 22, 1974 Page 3 ATTEST: 273 MOVED BY HARRIS, SECONDED BY JOHANSON, THAT THE APPLI- CATION TO REDUCE PARKING RATIO AS SUBMITTED BE REJECTED Councilwoman Harris stated the recommendation from the Planning Commission to the Council is not in written form. The Council has the perogative to accept, reject or modify this application. Councilman Sterling sug- gested rather than reject it, he would prefer to amend the application to 5.5 spaces to be in compliance with the national standards and will at the same time pro- vide a building area. He stated he did not know if the off property parking proposal is legally acceptable as an alternative. MOVED BY STERLING, SECONDED BY SAUL, TO AMEND THE MOTION AND AMEND THE APPLICATION TO PROVIDE 5.5 PARK- ING SPACES PER 1,000 SQ. FT. IN THE CPR ZONE. Councilman Gardner stated he did not think it is proper to take this action at a Public Hearing, that the Coun- cil should make its decision at a Regular Meeting. *MOTION AND SECOND WITHDRAWN. *MOTION AND SECOND WITH- DRAWN. Councilman Johanson stated he would like to see a plan of the proposals and alternate solutions before making a decision. Otherwise, we will be creating a problem with no way out later. He stated he would also like to see the proposal from Metro. Mayor Todd suggested a special meeting to discuss all the information and review all the documents. Councilman Traynor asked if there is a standard size for parking stalls in the City. Gary Kucinski stated no, there are no minimum requirements for parking stalls and this is a significant problem. He stated all the information provided for the Council tonight was pro- vided at the Planning Commission meeting. Councilman Johanson stated he recalled some minimum parking stall sizes written down somewhere before. Mr. Norman Seethoff, Allied Stores, stated the Minutes of the Planning Commission should indicate that we did not want to reduce present parking stall size for the average automobile. Our position was that the compact car parking be in conformance with a stall size which would accomodate compact cars. Councilwoman Harris asked how this would be enforced. Mr. Seethoff stated all employees register their license plate numbers and these are checked by the patrols to see that they are not parking in customer parking spaces. We would res- trict compact car parking areas to our employees, but we would have the option of providing compact car park- ing areas to our customers too. Councilwoman Harris asked if they have the power to issue citations to off- enders. Mr. Seethoff replied no. He stated we do exer- cise control over our employees parking however. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING MOVED BY DAVIS, SECONDED BY TRAYNOR, TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC 7:48 P.M. HEARING. CARRIED. ADJOURNMENT MOVED BY TRAYNOR, SECONDED BY STERLING, THAT THE PUBLIC 7:49 P.M. HEARING ADJOURN. CARRIED, WITH SAUL VOTING NO. ank Tockt, Mayor Shirlee A. Kinney, City Clerk