HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-02-23 Community Affairs and Parks MinutesCity Of Tukwila
• Community Affairs and Parks Committee
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND PARKS COMMITTEE - Meeting Minutes
February 23, 2015 — 5:30 p.m. — Hazelnut Conference Room
PRESENT
Councilmembers: Verna Seal, Chair; Dennis Robertson, Allan Ekberg
Staff: David Cline, Rick Still, Bob Giberson, Dave Johnson, Jack Pace, Nora Gierloff, Minnie
Dhaliwal, Rachel Turpin, Laurel Humphrey
Guests: David Kwok, Thomas Kennedy, Dale Sweeney, Brook Alford
CALL TO ORDER: Committee Chair Seal called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
I. PRESENTATIONS
II. BUSINESS AGENDA
A. Development Agreement for Proposed Hotel at 90 Andover Park East
Staff is seeking Council approval of a development agreement with Tukwila TSD LLC for a new
five story hotel at 90 Andover Park East with approximately 90 rooms. The development
agreement would waive the parking requirement of one space per room in lieu of a proposal for
shared parking and drive aisle area in the Christensen Road right -of -way. When this item was
originally presented to the CAP Committee in November 2014, the agreement included a
provision for the developer to develop and maintain a pocket park in the adjacent cul -de -sac in
exchange for the use of the right -of -way. On December 1, 2014 the Committee of the Whole
referred this matter back to Community Affairs and Parks with the intent for the Committee to
review additional information regarding the proposal's compliance with the Shoreline Master
Program (SMP), as well as review of the parking needs of recreational trail users. Since that
time the developer has proposed two additional options for compensation, and the Park
Commission has reviewed these as well. To organize the issues at hand, staff asked the
Committee the following questions:
1) Does the proposal comply with the City's shoreline regulations? Staff confirmed that
the conceptual site plan meets shoreline use, site setback and site configuration
requirements. Further review by the City and the Department of Ecology will occur when
the construction plans are submitted.
2) Does the City want to allow use of public right -of -way for shared parking for the
hotel? Committee members expressed support for this development and the plan to
share parking.
3) How many parking spaces should be shared and how many should be guaranteed
for trail users? Committee members and staff discussed this at length with an emphasis
on ensuring sufficient parking for trail users, including evening hours. While the current
proposal guarantees four dedicated recreational spots, trail users are allowed to use any
available spot in the shared parking area which is currently designed to have 45 spots.
Based upon current trends and experience with its other hotels, the developer believes
that parking demand will be less than one car per room, and there will be ample parking
for both guests and trail users. The Committee did not make a firm recommendation on
the number of dedicated parking spaces, but ultimately requested that if the number of
proposed hotel rooms is reduced in the final plan, that additional parking spots be
dedicated to trail use.
Community Affairs & Parks Committee Minutes February 23, 2015 - Pape 2
4) What is the appropriate compensation to the City for shared parking in the right -
of -way? Since the Council last reviewed this proposal the developer has prepared the
following options:
Option 1: Develop and maintain a public pocket park in the existing cul -de -sac, with
$10,000 payment to the City.
Option 2: Replace the asphalt in the cul -de -sac area with landscaping, with a $93,849
payment to the City.
Option 3: Convert the cul -de -sac into parking area, with a $145,897 payment to the
City.
All three options cost the developer $186,037, none present a negative financial impact
to the City, and the pedestrian connection from Andover Park East is not affected in any
scenario. Staff recommends option 2 because the City will receive monetary
compensation, impervious surface in the shoreline zone is reduced, vegetation is added,
and the City retains the flexibility to construct the pocket park in the future if it desires.
The Park Commission has also been briefed on the proposal and while it is supportive of
the proposed pocket park, at its February meeting it unanimously voted to reject Option
3. The Committee discussed the merits of each, and options 2 and 3 emerged from this
discussion without full agreement. The Committee asked that a development agreement
be drafted including options 2 and 3 for Committee of the Whole discussion.
The issue of how the monetary payment to the City will be dedicated is a separate matter
requiring discussion another time. Committee members expressed preliminary support for
dedicating those funds to shoreline restoration activities on this reach of the river. COMMITTEE
DIRECTION TO FORWARD DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT INCLUDING OPTIONS 2 AND
3TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
B. Ordinance: Medical Cannabis Collective Gardens and Dispensaries Moratorium
Staff is seeking committee direction on the development of an ordinance relating to the
moratorium on medical cannabis collective gardens and dispensaries. The current moratorium
is set to expire on May 27, 2015, and it is still unknown whether the State Legislature will take
any action on new or clarified regulations in its current session. The Committee was asked to
choose between renewing the current moratorium or directing staff to develop a new ordinance
prohibiting medical cannabis collective gardens and dispensaries, which would then be sent to
the Planning Commission for review. If the latter, the City could choose to revisit the issue if
either the Federal or State government makes changes to the legal or regulated status of
medical cannabis. Committee members discussed the option and unanimously asked staff to
draft an ordinance that would renew the moratorium including a provision to be in effect until six
months after the close of the legislature. The separate issue of appropriate penalties for violation
of the moratorium is on the Committee work plan to be discussed at a future date after additional
research has been completed.
Regarding recreational marijuana, staff noted that no licenses have been issued by the
Washington State Liquor Control Board for recreational marijuana producers, processors or
retailers within the City. None of the 19 proposed applications meet the zoned criteria for such
uses. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD ORDINANCE TO RENEW MORATORIUM TO
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
Community Affairs & Parks Committee Minutes February 23, 2015 - Page 3
III. MISCELLANEOUS
Parks and Recreation staff provided an update on the parking lot at Foster Golf Links. It has been
determined that non - recreational users of the lot, such as Metro Transit riders, will have negative
impact to customers of the golf facilities after the season begins. Therefore, staff will be implementing
a plan to limit use of the lot to recreational users for periods of 6 hours or less and will be taking
several actions to provide notice, including installation of new signs and issuance of warning notices.
When this goes into effect April 1, 2015, violators will receive two warnings before their cars will be
towed. Committee Chair Seal noted that Metro Transit riders have trouble finding parking on
Interurban, and this message should be broadcast widely.
Councilmember Ekberg requested that the work plan item pertaining to property maintenance
standards be moved up to quarter 2 if possible.
Meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m
Next meeting: Monday, March 9, 2015
Committee Chair Approval
Minutes by LH, Reviewed by MD