HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-11-16 Regular MinutesNovember 16, 1987
7:00 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER AND
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL OF COUNCIL
MEMBERS
OFFICIALS
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
D.A.R.E. Program
CITIZEN'S COMMENTS
Sister City Visit
CONSENT AGENDA
OLD BUSINESS
Discussion on appeal
to BAR approval of
54 -unit apt. complex
proposed by Gencor.
Sunwood Condo. Assn.
appealed BAR deci-
sion the SEPA
determination of
non significance.
TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL City Hall
REGULAR MEETING Council Chambers
MINUTES
Mayor Van Dusen called the Regular Meeting of the Tukwila City
Council to order and led the audience and the Councilmembers in
the Pledge of Allegiance.
MABEL J. HARRIS, JOE H. DUFFIE, EDGAR D. BAUCH, WENDY A. MORGAN
(COUNCIL PRESIDENT), CHARLES E. SIMPSON, MARILYN G. STOKNES,
JOHN M. MCFARLAND.
Rick Beeler (Planning Director), Larry Martin (City Attorney),
Don Morrison (City Administrator), Jack Pace (Senior Planner),
Don Pierce (Police Chief), Byron Sneva (Public Works Director).
Mayor Van Dusen presented Police Officer Tom Kilburg, the
D.A.R.E. officer. Officer Kilburg explained the D.A.R.E. program
which is being presented to elementary level students in the
schools with a video tape. The program is designed to teach students
in the lower grades of school what to do and say when drugs are
offered to them.
Dan Saul, audience, thanked the City Council for the fine work they
did in planning the entertainment and visit of the Sister City.
The dedication of the park was impressive.
a. Approval of Vouchers
Claim Fund Vouchers #32388
Current Fund
City Street
Arterial Street
Water fund
Sewer Fund
Foster Golf Course
Equipment Rental
Firemen's Pension
#32549
94,318.74
9,944.22
19,687.08
36,320.98
53,571.97
102,120.17
4,387.69
767.02
$323,350.28
b. Accept completion of North Hill Transmission Pipeline.
MOVED BY HARRIS, SECONDED BY SIMPSON, THAT COUNCIL APPROVE THE
CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED.
Larry Martin, City Attorney, stated the appeal by the Sunwood
Condominium Association is based on the Board of Architectural
Review (BAR) decision and the SEPA determination of non significance.
If it is determined an EIS is necessary we will have to go back to
the beginning. If it is not required then input on the BAR decision
will be taken. Mr. Martin stated the appellant does not have
further input.
Council President Morgan stated she would like to ask the Planning
Director if there has been any resolution or movement toward
resolution of the traffic concerns.
Planning Director Beeler stated he has additional information he
would like to put into the record. It is from the North Hill
rezone application file. In the last hearing he talked about the
traffic situation and one of the exhibits that he would like to enter
into the record is a visual one with the overhead that will show
the traffic circulation. Exhibit 7 is an actual copy from the 84 -11 -R
North Hill rezone file. Mr. Beeler explained the design and traffic
flow as it was shown with the overhead.
Exhibit 8 was entered into the record which is a letter from
Steven M. Friedman, Gencor Apartments, dated November 12, 1987,
TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL REGUALR MEETING MINUTES
November 16, 1987
Page 2
OLD BUSINESS Contd.
Disc. on appeal to
BAR approval of
54 -unit apt.
(Gencor).
Appealed by Sun
wood Condo. Assn.
on BAR decision
SEPA det. of
non significance.
contd.
which states their knowledge that traffic is of serious concern
to the City Council and they want to alleviate that concern by
offering in advance that they are willing to cooperate in the
future with the City and adjacent property owners, in efforts to
work for joint access or improved access along Southcenter Boulevard.
Council President Morgan asked if there has been any rechannelization
of the road, such as addition of a lane or redirection of anything
that might require additional construction? Mr. Ross Earnst,
City Engineer, said there was no additional work in that area. There
will be when the driveway is developed to the east.
Council President Morgan said ordinarily when there is a major
development we ask the developer to share in the cost of changes.
Mr.Earnst then is saying this will not require changes in the
access, the turning or the signaling. Mr. Ross said there will be
no additional work in that area.
Mr. Earnst said the Arco Station and Store has not been contacted
regarding the road that will go down past their station as it does
not involve their property. Mr. Earnst explained how the traffic flow
to the east and the west would be managed.
Council President Morgan asked for a brief review of the appellant's
reasons for appealing.
Rick Beeler, Planning Director, stated briefly the appeal states
there has been inadequate consideration given to slopes and
stability of the property and view blockage that could occur.
Appellant was not making a SEPA appeal when he filed, but he was
advised that was what he was doing.
Council President Morgan said then his concern was not so much the
individual project as it was the collective effect of the planning
for vacant property for that particular area. This is something
the City needs to consider in its separation. We are looking at
whether or not an environmental impact statement should be authorized.
Mr. Beeler said he has not seen the necessity of an EIS.
Council President Morgan said she would suggest that an environmental
issue was raised in the discussions. She said she would question
the City Attorney as to the appropriateness of the Council dealing
with the issue of traffic. The Council may determine that the
questions dealing with traffic have been answered this evening.
The issue of traffic was not part of the appellant's concern.
City Attorney Martin said it was proper.
Council President Morgan said she would ask the question of the
Planning Director of alternatives of response other than an EIS,
which is a rather thorough document.
City Attorney Martin said the motion would be to uphold the threshold
determination of the responsible official. There is some analysis
included in this. He suggested staff come back with written
findings and conclusions and it could be based on both the discussions
and findings.
Council President Morgan said then the Council has the option of
saying they accept the findings and conclusions as presented.
The other option is to say that in fact an environmental impact
statement is required. I would like information from staff that
in substitute of an EIS may deal with a single issue. That was the
only issue the Council had consensus on.
Rick Beeler, Planning Director, said he would have to ask if the
Council felt that the access issue was of significant adverse
impact. If the Council decided that it was then they would be
faced with two alternatives: require an EIS which would identify
the significant environmental impact, or issue a mitigating
determination of nonsignificance. The first requires an EIS,
the second does not.
TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
November 16, 1987
Page 3
OLD BUSINESS Contd.
Disc. on appeal to
BAR approval of
54 -unit apt.
(Gencor).
Appeal by Sunwood
Conco. Assn. on
BAR decision
SEPA det. of non
significance.
contd.
MOVED BY MORGAN, SECONDED BY STOKNES, THAT THE COUNCIL UPHOLD THE
NEGATIVE THRESHOLD DETERMINATION OF THE SEPA RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL
AND THAT INCLUDES A DIRECTION TO ADMINISTRATION TO PREPARE
WRITTEN FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE DECISION.
Councilmember Bauch said he disagrees and he felt the reason the
Planning Director made this decision was because he was too busy
and did not want to take on another EIS. He thought there were
considerable impacts and they will be noticed. They said there
is plenty of room on Southcenter Boulevard, but down the street we
are getting ready to connect Grady Way and we are going to turn all
of the traffic going to Seattle onto Southcenter Boulevard instead
of by- passing it onto I -405. That impact has to be looked at. It
is going to be a freeway on Southcenter Boulevard and we will be
putting more traffic onto it. There are impacts to the environment
by this project and they should be looked at.
Councilmember Simpson said there were restrictions put on another
complex that was just as far from the freeway as this one, in
fact we even had them close up the garbage dumpsters. None of that
will be addressed if we don't have an EIS. We should put mitigation
measures on this.
ROLL CALL VOTE: DUFFIE, BAUCH, SIMPSON, MCFARLAND VOTE NO;
HARRIS, MORGAN, STOKNES VOTING YES. MOTION FAILED, FOUR TO THREE.
MOVED BY BAUCH, SECONDED BY SIMPSON, THAT AN EIS BE PREPARED FOR
THIS PROJECT.
The City Attorney said the Council seems to focus on the traffic
issue and the vote to have an EIS would just trigger the procedure
the staff goes through and there are all of the various issues that
could possibly be covered. One option that Mr. Beeler mentioned
was the mitigated DNS (determination of non significance). It
means that where a City is considering requiring an EIS that it
tells the developer what he would have to do not have to prepare the
whole EIS. In this case, for example, if you were to determine
that if a traffic analysis of the traffic flow and operation of those
various intersections there would have to be done and reviewed and
any conditions placed on the building permit as found necessary.
You would get the traffic portion of an EIS. It would then be a
traffic study.
Councilmember Bauch said he is questioning whether the site is
getting too close to the freeway and the noise associated with
traffic. Soil stability has not been addressed.
Councilmember Harris stated the traffic problem is being looked
at and to go through a whole EIS which will not address traffic
only is a large request. Tonight when the committee looked at the
Planning Department budget we found they will have to
have three new people if they have this task. She felt it was an
unnecessary expense and it was not that she was for or against
developers.
Councilmember McFarland said there is the issue of equity. If
one developer is required to have an EIS another one should have
to also. There is the impact of high density in single family
areas. He said he was concerned that this development will be in
close proximity to the freeway and the noise of the traffic.
Could the Council be provided with a study as to the comparison
of this project with Valley View Estates.
Larry Martin, City Attorney, said we are looking at the living
environment of the residents. It is arguable that the best vehicle
to do that would be through information provided as part of either
the building permit review or an additional site plan review
that might be required to try to focus on that particular issue.
It is different than the traditional EIS.
Councilmember McFarland said with respect to the issue of traffic
he did not feel the situation of 54 units would add a lot of traffic.
When Grady Way and Southcenter Boulevard are connected it is going
TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
November 16, 1987
Page 4
OLD BUSINESS Contd.
Disc. on appeal to
BAR approval of
54 -unit apt.
(Gencor).
Appeal by Sunwood
Condo. Assn. on
BAR decision
SEPA det. of non
significance cont.
to be a channel to I -5. It is necessary to see what the realignment
will do to the Arco Station, Dennys and City Hall.
Council President Morgan said the proximity to the freeway has been
an issue of continued development in an area that makes it dense.
Were other developers in a proximity to the freeway required to
provide an EIS?
Councilmember Bauch said the reason the Council could require this
now is because it was brought before them. The reason the last
three did not require an EIS was because it was not brought before
them. The later ones to come in to develop come in and impact
the area.
Councilmember Harris said the City does not have a road adequacy
ordinance. We do not have a vehicle where we can make people
add to our streets or mitigate measures. We do not have our
streets numbered into A, B, C and D. Until we do that we are
certainly in violation in asking people for mitigation for something
that we don't have an ordinance for.
Council President Morgan stated she would like to reopen some
discussion from the audience.
City Attorney Martin said the Council could reopen discussion from
the audience or ask questions.
Council President Morgan said she would like to ask a question of
the attorney and planner. She said she failed to see what substitive
information that an EIS provides that changes the course of a
development. Her opinion is that it is a reference document that is
placed on the shelf once it is done. Its adequacy is determined
by whether in fact it touches a number of different issues, which
to her mind is of no use to anyone. She said SEPA should be
restructured at state level so it did something for people and
would become what she would call a quasi- consumer protection law.
It is not that right now, it is an odd document and she wanted to
know what it would do in this case that would create a "quality of
life" that everyone wants.
Councilmember Simpson asked if it was correct that if an EIS
document is brought forward mitigation measures can be placed on it?
Larry Martin, City Attorney, said that the substantive part is that
once you have the disclosure, you have the impacts laid out in the
document. The City has the authority to either condition a project
or to deny it based upon those impacts, so if they are in the EIS
and you see impacts in traffic or impacts in air pollution the
City has the right to put on reasonable conditions that try to
lessen those problems. If you don't have an EIS you can't do anything,
that isn't true. The City still has authority to regulate under the
normal police power through the process, for example in the building
permit process or in the architectural review process the board
has placed conditions on. The test really is when you are looking
at the impacts, when you apply all of the City ordinances and
normal processes and you assume they are going to be enforced as
they normally are and you look at what the development has built in
to try to take care of the problem, like the soils study. Does it
still leave you with the probability that there are substantial
impacts on the environment, if that is the case then you can require
the EIS to get the information necessary to try to deal with those
impacts. Here, again, the two things identified that I have heard
are the concerts about traffic and one suggestion was is the impact
stemming from City plans to reroute traffic or is the impact stemming
from this development. If it is the first, impacts from City plans
to change traffic then that is something that we need to look at
and determine whether we need an EIS. If it is the imiiact from the
development then that may warrant an EIS. Likewise, the real tough
question is the concerns that people will rent or buy these units
and in fact they are going to be miserable because there is so much
noise. It is really a health and safety issue for regulation of
the occupants. He said he would suggest that another approach is
TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
November 16, 1987
Page 5
OLD BUSINESS Contd.
Disc. on appeal to
BAR approval of
54 -unit apt.
(Gencor). Appeal
by Sunwood Condo.
Assn. on BAR
decision SEPA
det. of non
significance contd.
3 7Z,
really more appropriate than an EIS. That would be, for example,
to inquire of the applicant whether they are willing to have as a
condition of any building permits to do a study of the noise levels
and if necessary if the building official is not able to determine
whether these units are designed properly to take care of that,
to submit to the BAR review on that issue to see whether or not
these units are designed to take care of the noise. It could be that
they would feel that a permit would have to be denied based on the
concerns for the health and safety of the occupants, or maybe that
would be a condition to have to take care of that problem. But
that internal kind of a living condition probably is more appropriate
in our permit process than to try and get an EIS. In a strict sense
it really is an impact upon the environment, putting up the building
or having the occupant there really does not create the noise
it is the traffic outside.
Councilmember Simpson asked how will he be assured these items are
going to be addressed?
City Attorney Martin said what he had in mind, and it certainly is
up to the Council, is that on the noise issue the Council could in
fact go to the mitigated DNS route. The Council would then be
directing the SEPA responsible official to advise the applicant that
if they are willing to produce the analysis by a qualified sound
engineer, I am not sure what the right term would be, whoever the
right expert would be, what the noise levels will be in the units
as designed. If the building official feels it necessary to get input
from BAR, submit to that review, so they can intelligently apply
conditions if necessary. The applicant could agree to that of if not
then we could go ahead with the EIS. The shortcut to that would be
if the applicant would be willing to stipulate tonight to those
conditions, then you could on the condition that they do those things
uphold the decision that we would not need an EIS. As to the traffic,
I think we are on the track on the analysis, who is really generating
traffic we are concerned about, is it the 54 -units and the traffic
they are generating, if it is then we are looking at an impact
that maybe we need a traffic study or an EIS, but if it is really
that traffic would not be that substantial when you look at the
volumes, and when the alinements are changed.
Councilmember Simpson asked about the landscaping plan it shows
open space in front of the buildings. According to other projects
we have required they shift the building in order to protect the
play areas.
Rick Beeler, Planning Director, stated there will be forty -eight
1- bedroom apartments and six 2- bedroom apartments. The tenancy will
be different from most apartments, it will be predominantly adult
apartments, there will be enclosed decks with rails. What is
difficult with this particular project is the noise from I -5 and 405,
especially I -405. When the determination of non significance was
made he looked at 54 units and most of the apartments are studio
apartments. The 54 units would not increase the noise level. One of
the uses of SEPA, one of the counter balances we have to use and
was part of the framework in reaching the decision of non significance
was not only these units but the people who would likely live there
would not increase the noise level, but rather the noise is generated
by Southcenter Boulevard and the highway and not be the apartments.
He did not think there was a significant impact of noise to the extent
that it was going to create a problem at this particular development.
When we reach a decision on a project we look at that individual
project because a condition was imposed on a project elsewhere does
not necessarily mean that it would fit on a different project in a
different place. They are all looked at on their different merits
and evaluated accordingly.
Councilmember Bauch said the applicant is not addressing noise
until he is forced to consider it.
Councilmember McFarland said he would like to know what a mitigated
DNS would do in terms of stipulations, in terms of covenants, in
terms of requirements we could put on the developer that we would
have a reasonable expectation of being met.
TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
November 16, 1987
Page 6
OLD BUSINESS Contd.
Disc. on appeal to
BAR approval of 54
unit apt. (Gencor).
Appeal by Sunwood
Condo. Assn. on BAR
decision SEPA det.
of non significance
contd.
RECESS
9:10 9:15 P.M.
7 Z
City Attorney Martin said the effect of it would be to say if you
will agree to abide by these conditions, which the Council would list,
then you will not have to do an EIS. He changes his project to
incorporate the Council conditions. That is is what the mitigated DNS
would do.
mitigated
Councilmember McFarland said he was looking at the weight of a /DNS
as compared to the EIS.
City Attorney Martin said the weight of it is, it is a statement to
the applicant that says if you will do these things you won't have
to do an EIS. If you don't agree with them then the Council will
issue a determination that you have to do an EIS.
Mayor Van Dusen called for a 5 minute recess.
Mayor Van Dusen called the Regular Meeting of the Tukwila City
Council back to order, with Council Members present as previously
listed.
Cris Crumbaugh, 15215 52nd Avenue South, Tukwila, was sworn in by
the City Attorney. He stated he wanted to discuss the procedure.
The applicant asked him to be present and talk on the matter. Two
concerns, the first relates to equity on the EIS. Each individual
project is its own project and each has its own particular circums-
tances acid SEPA says that. There are differences between the two
areas this is nested within some commercial and apartment areas.
The City in its comprehensive planning and zoning reaffirmed that
this was an area for multi family developments. Issues on the other
hill are different in that regard. The applicant, throughout
the process with the City staff, has made their decision making and
designing in presenting it in view of the information gained from
other projects in the City. That is something I would like to say
about SEPA. We can build in this town and we have been a record of
concerns in problems and how we have dealt with them and the SEPA
process allows the responsible public official to take into account
other impact statements that have been done in the City in making
the decision. There have been many traffic reports, there was a
traffic report done for the office site right below here about two
years previous. A lot of reports have been generated in this area.
Under SEPA the responsible official can take those into account.
The applicant has taken these things into consideration. As a
result of what happened on Valley View across the way, they have
put in a certain type of windows, they have put in a certain type
of insulation, they have designed the project in certain ways. Your
system is working in this town and your planning staff is taking into
consideration past experiences and is now applying those in the
permitting process. They did take a lot of those things that were
developed out of past actions into account. From the applicants
point of view we do not think an EIS is appropriate. Once a decision
is made here then there is the BAR review process where there are
other issues to look at, also when the applicant comes back he goes
through a whole new process. There is time for the City to look
at some of these issues. The applicant is willing to do a noise
analysis, if necessary. They have already designed their project
taking into account the concerns regarding noise that were addressed
by staff in making the determination. As far as mitigation, the
applicant is willing to do a study on the noise if that is the concern.
On the traffic, he is willing to look at the traffic. The staff took
into consideration the reports, their knowledge, the whole background,
and determined that with 54 units they would not significantly
impact the environment. For an applicant to do an EIS, it is very
expensive and long process. These applicants inquired as to the status
of this property when they applied and found it was planned for
apartments, it was zoned for apartments. Council has a right to look
at these things, but staff has been addressing these issues.
Councilmember Simpson asked if the apartments would be strictly
adult?
Steven Friedman, applicant, said they would be mainly studio
apartment and a few two bedroom apartments. The two bedroom may
have children, there will be six two bedroom apartments. There is a
play area.
TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
November 16, 1987
Page 7
OLD BUSINESS Contd.
Disc. on appeal to
BAR approval of 54
unit apt. (Gencor).
Appeal by Sunwood
Condo. Assn. on BAR
decision SEPA det.
of non significance
contd.
5
Cris Crumbaugh said the Council does have concerns about apartments
on the hillsides. The applicant is willing to mitigate. This
should be addressed head -on in a planning process or relook at the
regulations governing these things.
Rian Thrower,representing Sunwood Condominium Association, said he
is beginning to get angry at this process. It seems there are a lot
of people here who are determined the Council not deal with these
issues here tonight. He said he was contacted by the City Attorney
in an effort to get the Sunwood Association to drop their appeal.
All of the issues are not germane for Council consideration. There
might be another place for the Association to consider this at.
They are saying this based on the comments two weeks ago, that what
we really wanted to talk about were the bigger issues. The more I
see and hear I think the deck is being stacked against the Council.
Everybody is saying, "let's make one more decision." My concern
is the incremental decision making process that is going on here.
One of the Council people raised the question if you don't require
it of the first guy do you require it of the second? the third guy?
the fourth guy? You finally end up in such a mess you say this is
why the process should have begun at day 1. Unfortunately, you have
to do that to the last guy here. This appeal was the only way
that we as the homeowners of Tukwila get before you people and you
are the policy- making people. You have staff people here who are
trying to slip one more by us I am talking about policy. Who
is going to determine what you want Tukwila to look like? Where
does comprehensive planning come in in this process we have here?
You are again relying upon the applicant to provide you with an
expert who is going to tell you what the sound conditions are going
to be like in their units. What do you think that answer will be?
They are paying the bills and they are going to get the answer they
want. You have raised tonight an issue we had not thought about.
As a homeowner in Sunwood I can tell you that freeway noise is a
real negative aspect of living on that hill. You have to live on that
hill on a rainy night when you hear those tires coming down I -5 or
I -405. One of the things that acts as a buffer for that noise is a
very large stand of maple trees. This proposal is going to knock
all of that buffering down. The noise level may be great in their
apartments because they may have triple glazed windows and lots of
insulation, but what is going to be the impact of knocking those
trees down on the Sunwood complex? You can't put this project in
without it having rippling effects on the rest of us. When you put
in one bedroom units it will attract one parent low income families.
They may be full of kids. As this drags on and on you are getting
at the issues.
Councilmember Harris asked Mr.Throwerwhat he wants the Council to
look at? You said the "big picture." We're looking now at the
nitty gritty, we're not looking at the big picture as such. The
big picture is already drawn. The zoning is there.
Mr. Thrower said in his appeal he pointed out the City has comprehen-
sive land use planning and you have zoning that says another thing.
What determines the growth, what is setting policy here? If it is
the comprehensive land use planning then let's get it in place and
let's get the zoning fix and put some teeth into it. You have
comprehensive planning that acknowledges that you are trying to
discourage growth or development on hillsides, that is in your
comprehensive land use planning. It says not to develop on 20%
slopes. There are slopes in here in excess of 100 You have
objectives and policy in your comprehensive land use policy that
you want to maintain the hills in a wooded condition. They are going
to knock all of that vegetation off. You talk about recreational
space, about tennis courts, swimming pools, permanent facilities
as part of the goal in your comprehensive land use policy. In your
zoning code it does not require any of that stuff. Who is setting
policy? Your zoning is supposedly the teeth behind your comp plan
and you have it turned around. You are letting the zoning dictate
what is going to be the development and not the comprehensive plan.
Councilmember Harris said the zoning dictates where we will
have those things. We have a golf course, we have all kinds of open
space, tennis courts, etc. In each one of the developments that are
multiples a certain amount of open space is required.
TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
November 16, 1987
Page 8
OLD BUSINESS Contd.
Disc. on appeal to
BAR approval of 54
unit apt. (Gencor).
Appeal by Sunwood
Condo. Assn. contd.
3
Mr.lhrower said if open space is meant why isn't it said like that?
Stop talking about recreational facilities. There are no
recreational facilities in that project. What you have is grass.
Someone can lay out in the sun. That is not recreational facilities.
That requirement has to be fulfilled by the City. If you don't
want recreational facilities on these complexes then why don't
you take it out of the comprehensive land use plan? I'll be back
here in two years or so when we are talking about the next development
that will be going in on the border of Sunwood. If you really want
to build on that hillside, if you really want to knock down all of
those trees, if you want developers to go in there and not put in
recreational facilities, say so.
Councilmember Harris said the Council can only do and say what the
zoning says or else change it.
Mr.Thrower said that is his point. I came here and said I wanted to
talk about the bigger issue, the bigger issue of what have you got
in your comprehensive plan, how does it fit with zoning? I did not
want to get into all of these issues with you but you have raised
some good issues. This is apparently the way we can get to you and
raise the issue of the problems we are having to deal with. This
problem is not going away. I will be back if you don't deal with me
now.
Councilmember Harris said we have to do what we have ordinances for
or otherwise those of you who have bought in there will be sued
and we will be paying court costs because we have not allowed what
is allowed in our zoning. What we can do is put mitigating measures
on what we allow there, a quality of life type of project.
Mr. Thrower said he hears a lot about this suit issue.
Councilmember Harris said it is a threat that hangs over the City's
head all of the time. Many of our suits have gone to the Supreme
Court and they have said "this is what you must allow." The only
way we could change it is by changing the comprehensive plan or the
land use. Even if we changed it these people would still be allowed
to build there because the land use is such that allows it and also
we, under the BAR, could put stipulations on what has to be part of
the complex. We do not want any more land zoned as multiple use.
What we have we cannot take away without asking for a suit. We
would like to listen to things you would like changed.
Mr.Throwersaid he too is an elected offical. The City needs
comprehensive planning. He said he has attempted to take advantage
of the opportunities of getting before the Council to express the
concerns of the homeowners. This may not be the best form but it
is the form that was provided to him. He said he was concerned about
the bigger issues. The people of Sunwood are being affected.
It is a question of quality. You are the people who get to make
policy.
Mayor Van Dusen asked Mr.Thrower if it was his opinion that
the appeal was the only way of dealing with the comprehensive
plan?
Mr.Thrower said he guessed not. If he had come down to the City Hall
and had done his homework he could have found a way to get these
concerns before the City. This is the mechanism that he knew the most
about. About two years ago the Sunwood Association came before the
City in connection with Sunwood Phase III. At that time it came to
the attention of the Council how little the recreational facilities
were being taken care of by the developers. There were promises
that in committee some of these issues were going to be looked at.
Some teeth was going to be put into the recreation requirement.
A telephone call from the City Attorney representing the Planning
Commission, I assume the Council, and I don't know who all, stating
they had heard my opening remarks two weeks ago that I was interested
in talking about the larger issues and that if I could withdraw
the appeal maybe there would be some other vehicle for pursuing these
issues. I stated we were going to have a board meeting of the Sunwood
Association on Sunday and would present it for consideration. I had
a call today asking for the decision of the board, and I said
TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
November 16, 1987
Page 9
OLD BUSINESS Contd.
Disc. on appeal to
BAR approval of 54
unit apt. (Gencor).
Appeal by Sunwood
Condo. Assn. contd.
Ord. #1448 Levying
gen. taxes for City
for fiscal year
Jan. 1, 1988.
s7Z
the board did not have anything to decide on and I felt that another
forum was going to be offered to us to voice our concerns with land
use and the issues that have been raised. I was told there were
other ways open to get to the Council other than through the appeal
process. The City Attorney said the City would rather that the
Mayor's office act as an intermediary or third party in bringing
this consensus together as to how the homeowners of Sunwood could
voice their concerns and how we could get these issues before the
Council.
Mayor Van Dusen said they just wanted to offer this as a way for
the homeowners to present a package to the Council.
Mr. Thrower said he understood that position.
Council President Morgan stated she would like a historic report on
whether or not EIS's have been required on similar projects in the
area. She stated she did not want to make a decision on the matter
this evening. She would ask the City Attorney if there was a list
of the concerns that have been discussed. There is the noise issue
and the traffic concerns. The answer to these concerns will determine
whether or not an EIS is desired. She said she would ask that the
Council not make a decision on the EIS at this time.
Rick Beeler, Planning Director, stated the City is in the budget
process and some of these big issues will have to be added if there
is an appeal to be added.
Mayor Van Dusen closed the Public Hearing at 10:05 p.m.
Councilmember Bauch said he was not interested in a fullblown EIS
process. He stated he was interested in some specific issues. We
have not heard a report on the soils. The Planning Director says
they are adequate. Have we asked anyone else if they are adequate?
He stated he was willing to compromise if someone will come up with
a list of answers to the concerns.
*COUNCILMEMBER BAUCH WITHDREW HIS MOTION, WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE
SECOND (SIMPSON).
MOVED BY MCFARLAND, SECONDED BY STOKNES, THAT A MITIGATED DNS BE
REQUIRED OF THE APPLICANT THAT WILL ADDRESS SPECIFIC ISSUES OF NOISE
LEVELS BOTH WITHIN THE DWELLINGS, OUTSIDE THE DWELLINGS AND THE
RECREATION AREAS, TO INCLUDE THE ISSUE OF DEALING WITH MAXIMUM
RETENTION OF THE NATURAL VEGETATION AND INCLUSION OF ANY ADDITIONAL
VEGETATION OR REASONABLY AND MEANINGFUL MITIGATE NOISE IMPACTS
AND VISUAL IMPACTS ON SURROUNDING DEVELOPMENT AND REQUIRE THE APPLICANT
TO STIPULATE TO MORE SPECI'.FIC MITIGATING MEASURES IN COOPERATING WITH
THE CITY OF TUKWILA AND ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNERS IN ORDER TO RESOLVE
THE JOINT ACCESS PROBLEMS.
MOVED BY BAUCH, SECONDED BY SIMPSON, TO AMEND THE MOTION AND ADD THE
ISSUES THAT WERE RAISED BY THE APPLICANT ON SOILS STABILITY AND
DRAINAGE. MOTION CARRIED.
*MOTION CARRIED, AS AMENDED.
MOVED BY SIMPSON, SECONDED BY DUFFIE, TO CONTINUE THE HEARING ON THE
BAR DECISION TO DECEMBER 7.
City Attorney Martin said this information can be taken back to the
BAR and they can determine the requirement.
*MOTION WITHDRAWN BY COUNCILMEMBER SIMPSON, WITH APPROVAL OF SECOND
(DUFFIE).
MOVED BY BAUCH, SECONDED BY MORGAN, THAT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE BE
READ BY TITLE ONLY. MOTION CARRIED.
City Attorney Martin read an ordinance of the City of Tukwila, Wash-
ington levying the general taxes for the City of Tukwila in King
County for the fiscal year commencing January 1, 1988, on all
property, both real and personal, in said city which is subject to
TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
November 16, 1987
Page 10
OLD BUSINESS Contd.
Ord. #1448 Levying
gen. taxes for City
for fiscal year
Jan. 1, 1988
contd.
REPORTS
Mayor
(Interurban Ave.)
EXECUTIVE SESSION
10:55 11:30 P.M.
MOVED BY BAUCH, SECONDED BY SIMPSON, THAT COUNCIL GO OUT OF
EXECUTIVE SESSION. MOTION CARRIED.
Mayo
ary L. Van Dusen
Norma Booher, Recording Secretary
taxation for the purpose of paying sufficient revenue to carry on
the several departments of said City for the ensuing year as required
by law by title only.
MOVED BY BAUCH, SECONDED BY DUFFIE, THAT COUNCIL ADOPT ORDINANCE
#1448 AS READ. MOTION CARRIED.
Res. 1058
Fixing time for a MOVED BY BAUCH, SECONDED BY HARRIS, THAT THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION BE
public hearing on READ BY TITLE ONLY. MOTION CARRIED.
petition for vac.
of public R -0 -W City Attorney Martin read a resolution of the City Council of the
desc. as portion City of Tukwila, Washington, fixing the time for a public hearing
of Nelson P1. E. upon a petition for vacation of certain public right -of -way within
of W. Valley Hwy. the City of Tukwila generally described as a portion of Nelson
Place East of the West Valley Highway by title only.
MOVED BY BAUCH, SECONDED BY HARRIS, THAT THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION BE
ADOPTED AS READ. MOTION CARRIED.
Byron Sneva, Public Works Director, discussed the Interurban Avenue
Project and cited elevations showing the existing roadway profile. He
explained that the roadway has some uniform dips. Tney cut off some of
the high spots with a milling machine but it did not correct some of
the low areas. They do not want to cut off any more as there will
not be enough roadway material left.
Mr. Woods, audience, said the street will be a mess with an overlaid
mend. The condition is getting worse. It is 2" lower in front
of Councilmember Harris' house. This has been going on for three
years.
Mayor Van Dusen said the construction on Interurban is on a 3 -year
plan. The patch job is all that can be done this time until the
whole street can be torn up.
MOVED BY MORGAN, SECONDED BY HARRIS, THAT ADMINISTRATION BRING BACK
APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTS TO SPEND $6,500 TO TEMPORARILY FIX THE ROAD
(INTERURBAN PORTION). MOTION CARRIED.
City Council Council President Morgan said a budget hearing would be held on
November 30, which is a fifth Monday, to expedite the budget hearings.
MOVED BY SIMPSON, SECONDED BY BAUCH, THAT THE COUNCIL GO INTO EXECUTIVE
SESSION TO CONSIDER SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL AND ADULT ENTERTAINMENT
SHOPS. MOTION CARRIED.
ADJOURNMENT MOVED BY HARRIS, SECONDED BY DUFFIE, THAT THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
11:30 P.M. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL AD 1 'N. MOTION CARRIED.