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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 2011-01-27 Minutes - Board of Architectural Review - Taco Time at 15037 Tukwila International Boulevard City of Tukwila Planning Commission/BAR Board Of Architectural Review (BAR) PC Minutes Date: Januai 27, 2011 Time: 6:')0 PM Location: City Hall Council Chambers Present: Margaret Bratcher, Chair, Lynn Peterson, Vice Chair, Commissioners, Bill Arthur, Brooke Alford, Thomas McLeod, and Louise Strander Staff: Nora Gierloff, Deputy DCD Director, Brandon Miles, Senior Planner, and Wynetta Bivens, Planning Commission Secretaiy Commissioner Arthur moved for Commissioner Batcher to assume the position as Chair, and moved for Commissioner Peterson to assume the position as Vice Chair. Commissioner Bratcher accepted the position as Chair. Chair Bratcher opened the public hearing at 6:30 PM, and swore in those wishing to provide testimony. She explained that the public hearing would require two decisions, 1) BAR, Design Review, and 2) PC, Parking Variance. Minutes: Commissioner Strander made a motion to adopt the December 9, 2010 minutes and Commissioner Arthur seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Topic: CASE NUMBER: L 10 -077 and L 11 -004 APPLICANT: Taco Time REQUEST: Taco Time has requested Design Review approval to construct a ne'kv restaurant with site improvements. As part of the project the parking lot will be reconfigured and new landscaping will be installed. The existing Tavern located on the site will be demolished. The applicant has also requested a Parking Variance for a 25 percent reduction in the City's minimum parking requirements. LOCATION: 15037 Tukwila International Bhd Brandon Miles, Senior Planner, Department of Community Development entered into the record comments received by email and a letter on 1/27/11, from the Citv of SeaTac. He asked the BAR the appearance of fairness questions. He explained that there would be a combined public hearing and one staff report on the entire project, and that testimony could be provided on either the Design Review and /or the proposed Parking Variance. Typically, the Parking Variance would be reviewed bv_ the Hearing Examiner but since there is also a TNpe 4 decision, the application Nvas combined so that there is only one hearing. Normally the project would need to meet the Design Review requirements but since the project is on the TIB corridor staff has deferred to the TIB development standards, landscape standards, and sign code. The Parking Variance is covered under TMC 18. 56. The site currently contains three parcels. The north parcel will remain and stand alone with a commercial building on the site, and Taco Time will be constructed on the other two parcels. A PoNverPoint presentation 'kvas given on the proposed project. Page n of 4 BAR PC Hearing Minutes January 27, 2011 Site Plan The applicant is proposing to construct the building as close to TIB as possible with no parking between TIB and the building. Access off the property can be off both TIB and Militaiy Road. The applicant is proposing a plaza area to the northeast side of the building directly along TIB, and a small outdoor dining area. The front of the building is facing north, which will provide a prominent visual focus when moving south onto the Blvd. TN 2 landscaping on the south side of the propel ty will provide a visual screen to help separate the drive thtu lane. Architectural Layout The applicant proposed building elevations. The building has three entrances, one on the north, west, and east side of the building. There will be tower elements to emulate the front door. There is currently no landscaping on the site and the applicant is proposing a site plan that complies with the City's landscaping requirements. For safety reasons the Police Department requested that some of the landscaping be scaled back so they could see without a visual barrier on TIB and the adjacent property. A black chain linked fence will nin along the north and south property line, which will be transparent. The fence vvas requested by the Police Department. The fence will be 6 feet lugh on the south side of the property but on the north side, it will drop down to 4 feet at the plaza area, and will denote ownership, wluch the Police Department considers veiN important. Parking Variance The applicant has requested to provide 28 parking stalls on the site. It is the applicant's expectation that sixth percent of the customers will be using the drive thru window. Ten stacking spaces for parking have been provided for customers using the drive thtu window. The average number of parking stalls on site at most of the applicant's existing restaurants is 18 stalls. City Staff contacted three other Cities to inquire on their parking ratio and any issues with parking at their site. It Avas determined that the City of Tukwila parking ratio is higher than the other three Cities, and there have been no problems at the other cities restaurants. Item Number 4 of Sea Tac's letter states objections to the Parking Variance, due to concerns related to Militaiv Road. Staff commented that if this project was built in the City of SeaTac it would actually exceed SeaTac's parking standards. Staff recommends approval of the Parking Variance with two conditions as listed in the 1/27/11 staff report. Signage, the applicant will be installing four wall signs. Also the applicant qualifies for one monument sign, wluch they are proposing to erect on TIB. Staff addressed questions and concerns from the Commission. Commissioner Strander asked for clarification on the Case Number. Staff clarified that the correct Case Number for the project is L 11- (_)(_)4. The Commission raised concerns on the building design. Howard Kimura, HG Kimura Architects PLLC, for the applicant, said that they are excited about the location for the project, and to be in the City of Tukwila. Mr. Kimura commended Mr. Miles on his presentation and stated that they agree vvith the conditions of the prOJect. In response to Commissioner Peterson's comments regarding the difference in the fence height, Mr. Kirmura said if staff is not opposed, he's in agreement for the fence to be 4 feet high on the north and south side of the property. The purpose of the fence is for security from the drive thru traffic. Regarding the Parking Variance, Mr. Kimura said that the parking ratio in Tuk vila is one of the highest he has seen in Washington and Oregon. He said with 28 stalls that they feel vet comfortable that the site is going to be successfid and will work, and it is their interest to make the site work. Chris Tonkin, family representative for Taco Time, complimented Mr. Miles on his presentation and said that he agreed with eveiN -thing he said. Mr. Tonkin also provided some lustoiy on Taco Time. Testimony: Sharon Mann, Representing herself and The Tuk vila International Blvd Action Committee, (TIBAC), said she would like to applaud Taco Time for investing in TIB. Ms. Mann expressed concern with the proposed presentation along TIB, for one window and canopy on the building. She said that she would like to see a more pleasing presence along the Blvd. She raised concerns regarding the p arking lot on the north side of the building, and said she is in favor of lowering the fence along the Blvd to 4 feet. Ms. Mann asked if the building would be Page 2 of 4 BAR PC Hearing Minutes January 27, 2011 franchised or corporate owned and expressed concern with the owners cooperating and keeping the Bhd clean. She asked the PC to consider a condition for some visual improvements on the parcels and the sides of the building. Pam Fernald, Co- Chair of Neighbors Nvithout Borders Action Committee, expressed concern regarding not having vvindovvs on the TIB side of the building and wanted to know if the Police Department had weighed in on not having a vvindovv. She agrees with the suggestion to have a more interesting design on the building. A concern Nvas expressed regarding overflow parking on Militai v Road. Mary Koontz, Citizen, expressed concern with traffic flow and asked some questions. Gerry Myklebust, Tukwila Police Department, addressed issues that were raised. Officer Myklebust said the traffic flow exiting the restaurant seems to be pretty good. He said that he is in favor of a 6 feet fence on the south side of the property toward the bank because on the south side of the business, there will be two collections points and more of a barrier will prevent quick entry and escape. He said if the gap between the fence and the driveway is going to be landscaped, he recommends plantings no higher than 3 feet, and for plantings to be set- back 3 feet from the building. Officer Myklebust said the site plan does not allow for an escape route from the drive -thnu if someone in the drive -thnu line would like to get out. However, he does not think it will be an issue. He said that the walkNvay should be lighted and raised. He agrees with the comments regarding celebrating the east side of the building to make it look better. He said that adding a vvindovv so police can look directly in would be a benefit, or a faux vvindovv that could give an impression of swireillance from the inside looking out might be a possibility. He also recommended some video swireillance. He commented that the door in the northeast corner would help to look inside the business. In response to Commissioner Peterson's question, he said that a 6 feet fence would be appropriate from the sidewalk on TIB to the fifth or sixth car space back on the drive. Fowzi Mohammad, Business owner to the north of the project, said that he supports the project but expressed concern with the trash blowing onto his property. He also expressed concern with the South 152n intersection. REBUTTAL: In response to issues and concerns raised, staff made the following comments. 1) Trashing blowing having the site occupied, a fence, a trash enclosure, and landscaping buffer will help eliminate the issue. 2) The South 152"` intersection ­which is in the City of SeaTac's jurisdiction is an existing condition and SeaTac did not comment on this issue. Since this is in the SeaTac jurisdiction, the City of Tuk vila does not have the authority to address this issue. 3) Drive -thnr between TIB and Militai Road -the applicant's design makes it more difficult to cut through from TIB to Militaiy Road. 4) Police Department involvement all applications for TIB are routed to the Police Department for their review and comments, and comments were received on this project. 5) South facade the layout on the south facade of the building is not binding, there will also be tNpe 2 landscaping to make a visual barrier between various tNpes of uses. 6) Other buildings on the property line there will be three parcels but only tivo buildings on the site. 7) East elevation toward TIB if the PC determines that they would like a condition to address this issue, staff recommends that the applicant work with staff on a condition that can be approved by the Community Development Director. Howard Kimura, for the applicant, had no rebuttal. Sharon Mann expressed concern that the four -ivav stop would be impacted by the project. Linda Webb, tenant, Trudy's Bar, commented that the traffic is backed up at the four way stop constantly. She said that the Taco Time will not stop traffic cutting through because there is a drive to the north of the Taco Time where people will cut through. Mr. Myklebust said that he does not have a problem with the fence on the north elevation being 4 feet high. He stated that the proposed location for the construction of the building will eliminate problems experienced in the past. Page 3 of 4 BAR PC Hearing Minutes January 27, 2011 There were no fin ther comments. The BAR and PC public hearing were closed. Chair Bratcher called a recess at 8:20 PM. The public hearing reconvened at 8:3() PM. Deliberation Parking Variance: The PC Nvas in consensus to support the Parking Variance request. COMMISSIONER ALFORD MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE CASE NUMBER L11 -004 PARKING VARIANCE BASED ON STAFF'S FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND CONDITIONS AS LISTED IN THE 1/27/11 STAFF REPORT. COMMISSIONER MCCLEOD SECONDED THE MOTION. ALL WERE IN FAVOR. Deliberation BAR: The PC requested a visually interesting design on the east side of the building. There Nvas extensive discussion regarding possibly loNvering the height of the fence to 4 feet. on the south elevation. Staff suggested that they work with the applicant to address the Police Department's concerns regarding the height of the fence on the south elevation. COMMISSIONER PETERSON MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE CASE NUMBER L10 -077 DESIGN REVIEW BASED ON STAFF'S FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND CONDITIONS AS LISTED IN THE 1/27/11 STAFF REPORT, WITH THE ADDITION OF THE FOLLOWING TWO CONDITIONS. COMMISSIONER STRANDER SECONDED THE MOTION. ALL WERE IN FAVOR. Conditions: 1) Staff works with the applicant to determine if the fence approaching TIB, Military Road, the full span of the north elevation, and the south elevation can be lowered to 4 feet without safety and crime concerns, in order to provide a more pedestrian scale. 2) Staff works with the applicant to add more visual interest to the east and south elevation of the building to be approved by the Community Development Director. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Administration is working on filling the vacant PC position and anticipates filling it by February 24th. The PC was informed that the PC agenda and packets will be available to them and the public on laserfiche. They will be retrievable electronically by the beginning of the second quarter. A grant was awarded by KC to help teach people how to be good stewards of the sensitive areas on their property. Staff will be providing classroom hands on training at Cottage Creek. Commissioner Arthur mentioned that the members of the PC purchased a plaque to present to George Malina who has resigned from the PC. Adjourned: 9:05 PM Submitted By: Wynetta Bivens Planning Commission Secretary Adopted: 04/28/2011 Page 4 of 4