HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-04-04 Regular MinutesApril 4, 1994
7:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
OFFICIALS
APPOINTMENTS
TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
Mayor Rants called the Regular Meeting to order and led the
audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Tukwila City Hall
Council Chambers
JOE DUFFIE; JOAN HERNANDEZ; STEVE MULLET, Council President;
DENNIS ROBERTSON; ALLAN EKBERG; JOYCE CRAFT; DOROTHY
DeRODAS.
JOHN McFARLAND, City Administrator; LINDA COHEN, City
Attorney; ROSS EARNST, Public Works Director; JACK PACE,
Senior Planner; DIANA PAINTER, Associate Planner; ANN
SIEGENTHALER, Associate Planner, LUCY LAUTERBACH,
Council Analyst.
Mayor Rants requested Council's concurrence of his appointments
to boards and commissions as follows:
Planning Commission:
Position 1: Vern Meryhew, term expires March 31, 1998
MOVED BY HERNANDEZ, SECONDED BY EKBERG, TO
REAPPOINT VERN MERYHEW TO POSITION #1 ON THE
PLANNING COMMISSION. MOTION CARRIED.
Position 2: Kathryn Stetson; term expires March 31, 1998
MOVED BY EKBERG, SECONDED BY DUFFIE, TO
APPOINT KATHRYN STETSON TO POSITION #2 ON THE
PLANNING COMMISSION. MOTION CARRIED
Position 5: George Malina; term expires March 31, 1998
MOVED BY HERNANDEZ, SECONDED BY CRAFT TO
REAPPOINT GEORGE MALINA TO POSITION #5 ON THE
PLANNING COMMISSION.. MOTION CARRIED.
Park Commission:
Position 2: Linda Stanley; term expires December 31, 1997
MOVED BY MULLET, SECONDED BY DUFFLE, TO
APPOINT LINDA STANLEY TO POSITION #2 ON THE PARK
COMMISSION. MOTION CARRIED
Position 4: Hubert Crawley, term expires March 31, 1998
MOVED BY DUFFIE, SECONDED BY MULLET, TO
REAPPOINT HERBERT CRAWLEY TO POSITION #4 ON
THE PARKS COMMISSION. MOTION CARRIED
Tukwila City Council Regular Meeting
April 4, 1994
Page 2
Annointments (con't)
CITIZEN COMMENTS
CONSENT AGENDA
Res. #1293
Human Services Advisory Board:
Position 6: Sarah Skoglund; term expires April 30, 1997
MOVED BY HERNANDEZ, SECONDED BY DUFFIE, TO
REAPPOINT SARAH SKOGLUND TO POSITION #6 ON THE
HUMAN SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD. MOTION
CARRIED.
Position 7: Katy Lynch, term expires April 30, 1997
MOVED BY DUFFIE, SECONDED BY ROBERTSON, TO
REAPPOINT KATY LYNCH TO POSITION #7 ON THE HUMAN
SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD. MOTION CARRIED.
Jackie Dempiere, 4033 So. 128th St., informed Council of the
difficulties she is experiencing with the installation and positioning
of a fire hydrant on her property. Ms. Dempiere said she was told
that in order to have the hydrant installed where she wants it on the
property rather than across the street, she will also have to have a
back flow check valve installed which is very costly. In response,
Mayor Rants asked that the fire chief look into the situation and
report back to him.
Charlie Frame, manager at Baker Commodities, 5795 So. 130th St.,
announced a community hotline to address occasional odor
emissions. The number is 242 -2828
a. Approval of Minutes: 3/7/94; 3/14/94 (Sp. Mtg.); 3/21/94
b. Approval of Vouchers: Nos. 70345 through 70565 in the
amount of $284,779.74
c. Authorize Mayor to sign ACC Interlocal Agreement
d. Authorize Mayor to accept river lot trade proposal
e. A resolution ratifying the SCA's representation on various
Metropolitan King County Regional Subcommittees
MOVED BY DUFFIE, SECONDED BY HERNANDEZ TO
APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS SUBMITTED.*
Councilmember Robertson requested the minutes of March 7,
1994, be removed from the Consent Agenda and discussed under
New Business.
*MOTION CARRIED AS AMENDED.
Tukwila City Council Regular Meeting
April 4, 1994
Page 3
HEARINGS Quasi-judicial: Continuation of limited public hearing on
Clarification of Conditions- clarification of conditions of approval Foster View Estates
Foster View PRD /Subdivision. Jack Pace, Senior Planner, explained that DCD
was requesting the hearing be continued to April 25, 1994. The
applicant has agreed to the continuance.
Request for Waiver
Blue Star Motel
MOVED BY ROBERTSON, SECONDED BY DUFFLE, TO
CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO APRIL 25, 1994.
MOTION CARRIED
Quasijudicial: Deliberations: Request for waiver to Ordinance
No. 1685 (moratorium) Blue Star Motel. (See verbatim minutes
attached 16 pages)
Action taken by Council: Approved the request for waiver with
the following conditions:
1. Ensure grounds and public areas are clean and well
maintained;
2. Install adequate building exterior and site lighting;
3. Install a surveillance camera in the lobby;
4. Require the manager to live on premises, identify the current
manager and provide their work schedule to the Tukwila
Police Department if applicable;
5. Install a sign in the lobby stating that management
cooperates with City of Tukwila Police in any investigation
of the property;
6. Require positive identification of all occupants of a room at
time of registration;
7. Photocopy identification at registration and make this
available to the Tukwila Police Department at their request;
8. Incorporate exterior open stairwells into the design;
9. Any or all of these conditions may be removed upon written
request of the Chief of Police, concurrence of the Mayor,
and notification to the Council.
Quasijudicial: Deliberations: Consideration of the Planning
Commission's recommendation of conditional approval of the
Southgate Trailer Park Comprehensive Plan Amendment and
Rezone. (See verbatim minutes attached 13 pages)
Tukwila City Council Regular Meeting
April 4, 1994
Page 4
Hearings (con't)
Request for Rezone
Southgate Park
OLD BUSINESS
Accept Utility Easements
McLeod Exhibition Cntr.
NEW BUSINESS
Res. #1294 Setting Hearing
Hearing for Street
Vacation Request for
Maule Ave /S.141 St/
S. 141st Place
Res. #1295 Declaring
Emergency Riverbank
Repairs
Action taken by Council: Denied the comprehensive plan
designation. Denied the rezone due to criteria for rezone not being
met..
MOVED BY DUFFIE, SECONDED BY MULLET, TO
AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO ACCEPT THE UTILITY
EASEMENTS AND RIGHTS -OF -WAY FOR McLEOD
EXHIBITION CENTER DEVELOPMENT. MOTION
CARRIED
MOVED BY ROBERTSON, SECONDED BY DUFFIE, THAT
THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION BE READ BY TITLE ONLY.
MOTION CARRIED.
City attorney Linda Cohen read A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON,
FIXING THE TIME FOR A PUBLIC HEARING FOR
VACATION OF PORTIONS OF MAULE AVENUE BETWEEN
S. 141ST PLACE AND S. 141ST STREET, S. 141ST STREET
BETWEEN INTERURBAN AND MAULE AVENUE, AND FOR
S. 141ST PLACE BETWEEN INTERURBAN AND THE LEFT
BANK OF THE DUWAMISH RIVER.
MOVED BY DUFFIE, SECONDED BY HERNANDEZ, TO
APPROVE RESOLUTION NO.1294 AS READ. MOTION
CARRIED.
MOVED BY DUFFIE, SECONDED BY ROBERTSON, THAT
THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION BE READ BY TITLE ONLY.
MOTION CARRIED.
Linda Cohen read A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, DECLARING
AN EMERGENCY EXISTS THAT REQUIRES RIVER BANK
EROSION REPAIRS AND AUTHORIZING EMERGENCY
EXPENDITURES.
MOVED BY ROBERTSON, SECONDED BY HERNANDEZ,
TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NO. 1295 AS READ.*
Tukwila City Council Regular Meeting
April 4, 1994
Page 5
New Business (con't)
Emergency Repairs to
Riverbank
Minutes of 3/7/94 Amended
REPORTS
Council
MISCELLANEOUS
ADJOURNMENT
MOVED BY ROBERTSON, SECONDED BY EKBERG, TO
AMEND THE RESOLUTION BY DELETING THE WORDS
MUCH OF IN THE SECOND LINE OF THE 4TH "WHEREAS"
CLAUSE. MOTION CARRIED
*MOTION CARRIED AS AMENDED.
Councilmember Hernandez reported she attended the Human
Services Roundtable retreat. The organization is considering
restructuring in order to gain more local input.
MOVED BY ROBERTSON, SECONDED BY HERNANDEZ,
TO AMEND THE MINUTES OF 3/7/94 AS FOLLOWS:
UNDER CITIZEN COMMENTS ON THE DVNPC ISSUE,
DELETE THE SENTENCE THAT READS "THE MAJORITY
OF THE COUNCIL FELT THE DVNPC HAD NOT
FOLLOWED PROPER DISCUSSIONAND PRESENTATION
PROCEDURES IN THIS MATTER." AND REPLACE IT WITH
THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE: "THERE WAS CONCERN
ON THE COUNCIL'S PART THAT THE DVNPC HAD NOT
FOLLOWED PROPER DISCUSSIONAND PRESENTATION
PROCEDURES IN THIS MATTER': MOTION CARRIED.
Mayor Rants asked what direction Council wanted to go with the
PRD. Following discussion it was the consensus of the Council to
move forward with a review of the entire PRD process rather than
to implement an interim zoning ordinance that would be changed at
a later date.
MOVED BY DUFFLE, SECONDED BY MULLET, THAT THE
MEETING BE ADJOURNED. MOTION CARRIED.
W. Rants, Mayor
(a)in E. Cantu, City Clerk
Tukwila City Council Regular Meeting
April 4, 1994
Verbatim Transcript Deliberations: Consideration of the Planning Commission's recommendation of
conditional approval of the Southgate Trailer Park Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Rezone.
Mayor Rants: Dennis, why don't you give us a process.
Councilmember Dennis Robertson: I would suggest a process very similar to the one we just followed
where we look at the criteria that was shown to us as the start of the public hearing. O.K., I'd like to
suggest a process where we look at the three -we go through and discuss in order the three criteria that
were shown us for the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and the five criteria, the first five, that were
appropriate for changes to the rezone. And after we've discussed the issues amongst ourselves -since
there was a Planning Commission recommendation, I would also suggest that we briefly discuss that after
we go through all other criteria or we could discuss it beforehand, and then put a motion on the table. I
would suggest, actually, we start with the Planning Commission's recommendation.
Councilmember Joan Hernandez: You want to refer us to a certain page number, Dennis?
Robertson: Yea, the Planning Commission's recommendation....
Hernandez: O.K., here it is. It's on page 2 of Attachment A.
Robertson: Attachment A?
Hernandez: Maybe not, maybe not.
Rants: Attachment A. Yes, it is second page of Attachment A. The Planning Commission
recommendation was based on....
Robertson: The adjacent land uses, public testimony, annexation zoning. Their recommendation is
Tukwila Tommorow Committee. In reviewing it -also I'd like to point to Section D and point out, I
believe that when the Planning Commission made their recommendation and did the review -if you look
at Page 12 of Section D, which is the Planning Commission's recommendation, the only discussion I
could find in their minutes that dealt with the criteria that we told that we were to use as the basis, and
that is the basis for this decision, is in the second paragraph here. It says that Mr. Clark said that the
rezone criteria numbers 2 and 6 were not germane to the discussion. It said the commission reviewed
comp plan criteria number one and discussed the semantics of unforeseen changes. And the majority of
the commission members considered it's down zone in `89 to be a mistake. The reason I'm referencing
this is I think in reviewing this to make a recommendation to us, that the Planning Commission erred.
They didn't follow the decision criteria, all the way through, and point by point, and their minutes, I
believe, uphold what I just said. So I have difficulty in placing a great deal of emphasis on their
recommendation at this point in time since it wasn't based on a point by point analysis of the decision
criteria and the data that was provided them. Then...
Councilmember Joyce Craft: Could I just intermit, I'm sorry, I wanted to and I forgot, I wanted to
declare that I got a letter at my house maybe everybody else did
Hernandez: Um -huh, I think we all did.
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L (f)
Craft: OK.
Mullet: As soon as I read the part that said- -one part- -I threw it aside. And then Dorothy was so
nice to see that all of us got another copy of it.
Rants: Staff has received that letter also, from a man and a woman from the Sumara Apartments.
Robertson: And also, trying to come up with the process and decision criteria if you look at the
verbatim transcripts- -now I'm going to go to the old copy that we were given because that's the one I
have my notes written on. My review of the changes didn't show them to be significant to what I'm going
to discuss. Anyway, on page three at the bottom, there's a couple of quotes I want to reference. This is
from Planning Department, Ann Siegenthaler. At the very bottom, the second to the last line
Hernandez: Dennis excuse me, are you referring to the Planning Commission minutes of December
8th?
Mullet: No, he's referring to our verbatim minutes on the
Robertson: On the bottom, the verbatim? OK everybody on the verbatim? On page three? She says
one is there are two separate sets of criteria. You're really looking at two separate proposals. And I
believe that's correct. I believe we have to analyze the proposed changes to the comprehensive land use
plan as shown on that decision criteria first and then we look at again we go through the review of the
five decision criteria's that are relevant for the zoning changes. In the last point- -well, not the last, on
page four the top of the -the first paragraph, the first sentence, the next point that she makes I think is
very important to our decision making. She says the second thing to recall about these criteria is that the
burden is on the applicant to demonstrate the proposal meets the criteria. It's not our responsibility to
show where things don't meet the criteria. We equally have to review what the applicant presented.
That's basically all I wanted to say about decision making until we start going through the items one by
one.
Councilmember Allen Ekbere: I would just like to add to that that it's my distinct understanding to
how Dennis has portrayed this situation should proceed as well. I also concur with how the Planning
Commission did not purse review the three criteria as required for the criteria for zoning and rezoning as
well.
Rants: You wish to move to the comp plan amendments then?
Robertson: I think so, the criteria
Rants: "Unforeseen changes and circumstances have occurred in community conditions that
justify a comp plan redesignation of the subject property or existing plan policies." Any one wishes to
address this one?
Robertson: Yea, just a second after I get started here.
Mullet: I'll start out while Dennis is finding his stuff there.
Rants: All right Steve.
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Mullet: I don't have the page numbers and what not as I read through the testimony but the jest of
it that I dug out was that they perceived these changes that are occurring in the community as being
manifested through the growth management plan and several other efforts which are going on in that area
to kind of redirect the activity on Hwy. 99. However, all of these plans are in transition especially -and
are quite vague and elusive especially the growth management plan. And I would also like to through in
that the existing County zoning at the time of the purchase would not have allowed this current proposal
either. The fact that the property was changed zoning at the time of annexation I did not consider to be
very pertinent to this discussion. So I gave this a maybe on this criteria on whether they convinced me on
this or not.
Rants: Dennis.
Robertson: On section I, attachment I which is the Staff report to the Planning Commission, dated
October 20, 1993. On page four of section I I'd like to- -under point 1 it says again, "unforeseen changes
in circumstance have occurred in community conditions that justify a comp plan redesignation of the
subject property or existing plan policies." Basically what the applicants response was, the Growth
Management Act has been enacted. Well I-- Growth Management Act is something new and is a
legislative process, however the City is responding to that with a City wide comprehensive land use plan
and zoning process, we're partially through. But those are not unexpected unforeseen circumstances. All
jurisdictions go through these kinds of things periodically to list the fact that we're going through a new
comprehensive planning and zoning exercise as an unexpected, unforeseen occurrence just doesn't make
sense. It is an expected thing and it does occur periodically. I have a very hard time believing that the
applicant has shown that there's a unforeseen change or circumstance.
Hernandez: Dennis, could I make a comment there? I had that highlighted too because the comment
made here was that the comprehensive plan was to provide for anticipated growth over the next 20 years.
Well that growth also includes housing, so that's relevant here because were asking- -we're being asked to
reconsider a rezoning of something that is zoned partially zoned for housing. So I think that -I thought
that was significant.
Rants: Any one else? Allen?
Ekberg: On that same note the applicant does state that the Growth Management Act has been
enacted and ifs the City's responsibility of that act to review a comprehensive plan and zoning map. Until
that is done the existing plan and policies are in effect, are those that remain in effect until changes have
occurred and legislation policies have been set by ordinance and amend what we currently have on the
books. So even though there is a Growth Management Act that portrays the outline for plan for future
change, future change is not upon us at this point.
Rants: Dennis?
Robertson: To add to that, on page 19 on the verbatim transcripts, Ann Siegenthaler said in her
summation, "regarding the pre annexation zoning process..", this is on the bottom of the page, "there
were two public information meetings during the time of the proposed annexation zoning and there were
three public hearings. Citizens task force, the Planning Commission and Council all were involved in the
process of establishing the pre annexation zoning. And notices of meetings and hearings were sent out to
the property owners. So I want to point out that the zoning that occurred during the annexation process
was difficult to say that that was unexpected either. The City couldn't have gone through a more
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elaborate process at that time. I sat on the Council and I remember we went through, at the time of the
annexations a great deal of conversation with everybody.
Rants: Does anyone else have anything they want to say about Unforeseen Changes in
Circumstances? If not we'll move to "Factual Evidence, supports in
additional or change public need for the designated property."
Hernandez: This is the one that I had a hard time with. I don't really see that much evidence that
supports a need for a change in the property designation.
Rants: Steve?
Mullet: Well I think there is definitely need for a change on that property. Whether it needs to be
rezoned is what the question is really about. And I found no factual evidence supporting a rezone to
effect that change. I could find no evidence of financial hardship to effect that change or anything else. It
wasn't in any of the transcripts that I read. In fact there was very little evidence introduced about
financial hardships or that related to this property at all. So basically we have a piece of property that's
zoned residential and with a little commercial strip on the highway, and while we have a great deal of
public blight going on in that property, for lack of better word, I don't see where that indicates that its not
suitable property for residential property. And that's what were being asked to do here, to change it from
a residential designation to a commercial designation.
Rants: Dennis?
Robertson: I agree strongly -if you remember that what's really in question is not a chunk of land
that's on Hwy. 99, it's the private property that it borders, on 42nd Avenue. If you go to page 10 of the
verbatim transcript, at that point -I'm trying to remember who was speaking- -Roger Blaylock,
representing the applicant. On page 18 I'm going to quote some points. Here I believe he was talking
about criteria number two as near I can tell.
Mullet: Which page are you on, 10?
Robertson: 10. It says on the start of the second paragraph there, the long one, it says, "the factual
evidence supports the needs evidence supports an addition or change of public need for the property
designation." While I've looked at the property very closely and thought you know this is the end of a
transitional use and the record shows that this was probably put in in the 1950's. Actually it was probably
put in the 1940's when one was going strong. It's old it's tired. If you drop down about three lines, he
goes on to say, "while Tukwila is no longer just linked to the State of Washington with its international
airport nearby, it's linked farther." Drop down another line and he says, "so a new style was envisioned
by Mr. Kim that's actually happening in Asia now....", he goes on to talk about his plans. Drop down
even further- -what I'm doing in reading through this is looking for some factual evidence. He goes on to
say, "it's a gateway coming in on Pacific Highway south into Tukwila. And this is going to be your new
community focus with the center here, with the school, new library, higher density commercial uses
around it. You have the new Larry's Market, you have Bartell's, the whole are is going through a
dramatic new evolved transition. It's becoming a heart again for the community which is really nice. But
we believe that this is the northern focus of that." The point that I'm trying to make is, except for the last
little bit there's nothing factual saying that it's old and it's tired is hardly factual evidence supporting
additional or public need. That sounds tome more like an opinion than factual evidence. The last part
about it becoming a gateway is true, but that's talking about the property on Hwy. 99 not the property
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bordering 42nd. I failed -in reviewing this material I couldn't find anything that approached factual
evidence to convince me that additional change public need was needed. That this met that.
Rants: Any one else wishes to address factual evidence? We'll move then to number three.
Robertson: Wally, can I go back to one point? On page five of the Staff report, attachment I, dealing
with this again it is the Staffs report to the Planning Commission but in this document the Staff is
detailing the applicants response to questions. In the third paragraph where they talk about office
designation the second sentence says, "as a result there are no nearby office uses in Tukwila to serve the
residential neighborhood and businesses on Hwy. 99." Then it goes on to say, "based on these
observations it's likely then an office would be an economical viable use that it could serve the public
need in the area." I fail to see how office areas on 42nd Avenue, and again looking for factual proof that
this would support the public needs, I fail to see how office area on 42nd Avenue would support the
residential need there. The residential area
Hernandez: I'd like to add something to that on that particular page that I had highlighted too. Under
commercial designation it says that it's one of the few large parcels remaining and along Hwy. 99 the site
has the potential to attract significant high quality redevelopment. However Tukwila already has many
areas designated as commercial development.
Rants: All right, we'll move on then. "Proposal has been analyzed for effects on existing
comprehensive plan policies."
Robertson: If we look at again the Staff report to the Planning Commission, dated October 20th on
page six. It shows the applicants response to that question, to this criteria as being, "the policies are
under review for amendment consistent with GMA. It's our position to rezone to see to it's consistent
with GMA." Again, we've been told that GMA is not the relevant issue. What we're dealing with in this
request for a comprehensive land use plan change is to the existing comprehensive land use plan, not
GMA. So the applicants response again has nothing to do with the issue of the current comprehensive
land use plan. Not with what GMA may come out with.
Rants: Any further comments on this proposal number three? Steve?
Mullet: I have -well by the applicants own statement in the transcript, they admit that they do not
know the use because they do not have a client. And they refer to a chicken and egg kind of thing. So in
effect they haven't analyzed what this use would be. That's on page 11 incidentally, the bottom
paragraph. And they're actually requesting the zoning change -I don't know whether they're calling it the
chicken or the egg but they want one of them first and so the only the only effects that have been
analyzed on this property have been from a negative nature and that whatever they do the trailer park will
no longer be there so the problems that it brings will no longer be there. Kind of a back door analysis of-
-but it doesn't provide an analysis of the future use that they're asking for the rezoning for.
Rants: All right.
Robertson: Wally, further elaborating on that point that Steve just made, again on page 11 on the
verbatim transcripts the applicant himself says, "the request is not an agreement. When the request is not
in agreement with the comprehensive plan the applicant shall provide -I think that's, yea this is still
Mr. Blaylock, so I'll go back, "the request is not in agreement. When the request is not in agreement with
the comprehensive plan, the applicant shall provide evidence to City Council's satisfaction that there is
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additional need for the request land use classification." Here we run into a little bit of a problem because
we don't know what the use will be. I will state that very clearly, we don't know what the use will be and
that's what Steve was just saying. It's hard to show that -if we don't know what the use is going to be
whether or not it meets the criteria.
Rants: We'll move to the rezone. "User changing of zoning requested will be in conformity with
the adopted comprehensive land use policy and the public interest."
Robertson: Well if we go to page nine, again of the Staff report section I. The applicant there under
applicant's response says, "a request for rezone is also consistent with goals and objectives Growth
Management Act" as we said that's not the issue on the table. The Staffs response is, "proposed new C -2
zoning is not in conformance with the comprehensive plan designation." Unless they requested a change
but I think clearly its not -since they have requested a comprehensive land use plan change that would
enable the zoning code change- -it's easy to say that the zoning code change is not in conformity with the
adopted comprehensive plan use policy plan.
Rants: Any one else? Move to item two. "The use or change of zoning requested in the zoning
map for the establishment of commercial industrial residential use shall be supported by an architectural
site plan showing a proposed development and its relationship to surrounding areas as set forth in the
application form." This is where you came with the chicken and the egg. Do you have a form, do you
have a use, do you have a plan?
Mullet: We had a site plan but all it showed was a buffer and a big blank square empty spot.
Rants: You had the site plan here.
Mullet: We had this one here which is not
Rants: That was listed as an exhibit.
Mullet: But was not listed as just an example as what was referred to I believe.
Hernandez: I would like to refer to the Staff report to answer that on page 10. And I agree that the
applicants request does not include sufficient information to evaluate the relationship of a specific
development project in the surrounding area.
Robertson: I agree, and referring back to the verbatim transcripts on page 11 when Mr. Blaylock said,
"hey we ran into a little bit of a problem because we don't know what the use will be, I will state that very
clearly, we don't know what the use will be." How can you without a drawing and an architectural plan
for instance, how can you tell where the entrances and exits will be, how big buildings will be, where they
fit in. There's no way to even begin to evaluate the impact on surrounding uses. And in this case,
surrounding uses are residential at least on three sides.
Rants: Further comments? Number three. "When a request is not in agreement with a comp plan
the applicants shall provide evidence to City Council satisfaction there is an additional need for the
requested land classification." Comments?
Hernandez: I just don't see anywhere where we've seen where there is this justification that the criteria
asks to be provided. There appears to be ample commercial property on Hwy. 99 that's vacant, some of
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it. I haven't seen any evidence that there's a shortage of commercial property, or that we really have a
demand to create more additional commercial property.
Rants: All right.
Robertson: OK, again....
Mullet: I would back Joan up on that. Again this -we do have a request for a rezone. It's
basically while we do have a particular use at this property which is not attractive in any way shape or
form at this point in time, it still does not -it's not enough in itself to say that this should move from
residential property to commercial property.
Robertson: I agree again. Looking at page 11 at the verbatim transcripts where the applicant
themselves say that they don't know what the use will be. How can you build a case that there's initial
need for the classification and the use when you don't know exactly what the use is going to be? Back
again on page 10 of the Staff report to the Planning Commission, applicants response, "GMA requires
cities to plan or provide for expansion within the urban growth areas." Well that doesn't have anything to
do with this case. But it goes on to say, "the act has been implemented since the City adopted its current
comp plan. It is this applicants understanding that the plan is now under review for modification
consistent with legislative mandates of the act." I'm not sure what that means but it says, "the Hwy. 99
corridor is a prime candidate for designation for commercial expansion required by the act. Well first off
I don't think the act requires commercial expansion anywhere, not in specific terms. If the act did matter.
But even more importantly, the property we're dealing with is no on Hwy. 99, it's on 42nd Avenue, it
borders 42nd. So I don't think the applicant demonstrated any additional need for request of land
classification.
Rants: Item four.
Mullet: In my opinion the only changes that have occurred in the neighborhood surrounding this
piece of property have been for the betterment of a residential area. We have a brand new high school,
we have a brand new library going on, these are all things that benefit residential areas primarily. So
again I see no evidence presented that would justify changes the zoning on this piece of property. And
it's a different issue than getting rid of the trailers that are there and putting up some decent residential
housing.
Rants: OK, item
Robertson: I also agree and would like to point to page 10 of the Staff report again on the bottom.
The applicants response again was the Growth Management Act has been enacted. "The increased
demand for city social services e.g. places evidence of a deteriorating neighborhood. This property in its
present condition is a major contributing factor to that deterioration. The request of rezone will make it
economically feasible to renew the site." Well, I don't think anybody questions the fact that there's
demand on services by the current use of that property. But the issue isn't the current use. The issue is
the zoning and I agree totally with what Steve said. The Councilmember Mullet, that it's possible to
rebuild something other and reuse that current zoning for something other than the trailer park that's
there now.
Rants: All right.
7
1,40
Craft: Actually I think there were many citizens that spoke out in favor of the rezone. On the
Staff report on page 13 under rezone recommendations, actually the Staff had earlier recommended that
it be denied, however here on rezone recommendations the Staff did say that if sufficient justification for
rezone at a public hearing could be heard that Staff would recommend that the Planning Commission
consider alternatives. Part of those alternatives are for office designation along 42nd, C -2 regional
commercial designation, the remainder of the site and so on and so forth. It said that if the applicant
could justify a commercial designation, Staff recommended further evaluation prior to approval as
follows. And there it's recommended as C -2. There were a lot of citizens that actually spoke out in favor
of a rezone.
Robertson: I think yes, but the basis for the citizens speaking in almost every case was that the current
use is onerous and a heavy user of police services and causes fair amount of difficulty of surrounding
properties. That's not the zoning's fault, that's the fault of the current use and the way that it's perhaps
managed. If you look -again Staff said, if the applicant could provide sufficient justification at the public
hearing. On page 12 of the verbatim transcripts again what I'm doing now is looking for justification for
a rezone. And on right at the top there where it says 7 -27. "Significant changes have occurred in
character conditions in surrounding neighborhood that justify or otherwise sustain the proposed rezone.
This one I can get myself into trouble with the client because I think the use has come to its end, it's age
end, it's like a building." He goes on but there's nothing there that factually says anything. It mearly says
an opinion that the use has come to its age end like a building. It doesn't say why or what has to occur.
There's no argument there there's some opinions. If a -look at the next paragraph. Again it talks about
public health and interest. I think some of the discussion is around the issues that we're really not here to
discuss which is correct, the concern over policing and everything else. So the applicant himself even
says that concern over policing, that those aren't the issues before us. That's not a basis for a decision.
Rants: You're moving into criteria number five, where that becomes part of that criteria. "The
proposed rezone is in the best interest of public health and safety."
Mullet: Actually I felt number five was like number six and really didn't belong in there. It's more
like what we would consider if we were downzoning a piece of property where we would cause a- -where
we would change the property value and impose some hardship on an individual property owner. By
actions we took as opposed to by actions he took. Which is what we're dealing with here.
Robertson: Again, if you look at page 11 of the Staff report under the applicants response, "a
proposed rezone would enable a redevelopment of the site reducing if not entirely eliminating the burden
presently imposed in the City's public health and safety services." Well that could still be done under
current zoning. It doesn't require- -there are as stated elsewhere here there are two other trailer parks in
the City that are successful and are not problems to their neighbors. Do not cause substantial police
problems or public safety or health. So if there is a problem there it's with how this one is managed or
used or the history of it. But it's not a problem with the zoning.
Rants: Any further comments?
Hernandez: I agree, it's just not indicated anywhere how C -2 zoning is going to improve the
neighborhood- -how it's going to serve the neighborhood. Or how ifs going to be in the best interest of
public health and safety.
Robertson: I would like to add one summation that we are in the process of going through a very
elaborate comprehensive planning land use process and with the zoning process and the applicant
8
)176)
certainly can participate in that, there would be plenty of opportunities in the near future for zoning
changes. What I didn't see demonstrated in the public record anywhere here either in the material
presented to the Planning Commission or material presented to us at the public hearing. Anything that
would meet the decision criteria presented for us to -that would enable this comprehensive land use plan
change or the zoning change. I have a hard time with the hardship question because I believe there is
plenty of opportunity for both of those to occur, in fact we have a process underway right now to do
comprehensive planning and zoning. That should terminate by State law within the next year or so.
Those changes will be considered anyway as a due process.
Rants: The issue before the Council at this point is to either uphold the Planning Commission
recommendation, or to grant a rezone and continue with that recommendation. Council's pleasure?
Robertson: I think we have a third choice, don't we?
Rants: You have a third choice? Let's hear it.
Robertson: I don't believe we have -the Planning Commission actually proposed a zoning
comprehensive land use plan change. Could I ask the City attorney to reiterate the choices that we have
tonight?
Linda Cohen: The Planning Commission made a recommendation. It would be helpful to vote on their
recommendation but also to go through and have a motion with respect to the comprehensive plan
amendment and then a separate motion as to whether or not the rezone criteria were met. So to be safe
you can address all three.
Robertson: OK, then I would make a motion that we disregard the Planning Commission's
recommendation for a comprehensive plan and zoning changes to this site.
Mullet: I'll second that for discussion.
Robertson: The reason for that is that there is nothing in their record to show that they went through
the decision criteria the same way we did and arriving at their recommendation. And without that as a
basis I can't find enough -I'm not sure if it's legal or proper to approve of their recommendation.
Rants: The motion then is to overturn the Planning Commission recommendation and leave the
property
Robertson: I don't think we have to overturn, I think it's just disregarded. It's just a recommendation
to us, nothing else.
Rants: Disregard that recommendation.
Mullet: I would like to add one other thing to that and not making -I'm not belittling our Planning
Commission in any way shape or form. They labored very hard over this from what we can tell from the
minutes, from the decision to do this. In the process of coming up with their decision from the testimony
we got they came up with the decision that nobody else seemed to like either. It was not a win situation
for any of the parties. At that point that's like the final straw for me to disregard that.
Rants: I'm trying to state the motion so that everyone understands what were voting on here.
9
Robertson: OK, can I speak, I guess to the motion? The motion is to disregard the Planning
Commission's recommendation. I guess I want to be real clear, I'm not faulting the Planning Commission.
We had one real advantage they didn't have, we had their record and their material to review, they didn't
have anything before it. It's very easy to sit here and build upon someone else -what someone else has
done and critique it. It's a lot of harder when you're doing it the first time through so I'm not faulting
them or saying in anyway, we had an advantage that they didn't have. But that still -the issue is that the
decision criteria that we have to follow there is no evidence that they followed it as rigorously as we did.
Rants: OK. All right, any further comments, discussion?
Ekberg: I'll just add to that that Staff members briefed the Planning Commission on what their
requirements were for reviewing this comprehensive plan amendment for rezone request. And it's stated
on page two of the Planning Commission minutes dated December 8th by Ann Siegenthaler. As we were
briefed earlier last week when we heard it a few weeks ago, they were also briefed to what the criteria is.
Rants: Joan?
Hernandez: Well I would just like to say that I'm not opposed to this site being redeveloped and I
think that the exuberance of the Planning Commission probably leaned that way too. They were probably
anxious, as anxious as anyone to have to see this site redevelop and thinking that it would be an
improvement. But I really don't feel like they followed the criteria and I- -we're told that the criteria must
be really met and it fails the test. I agree with
Rants: Joe?
Councilmember Joe Duffie: Well I kind of go along with the Planning Department and what they
had to say on this. You think that this site really needs to be cleaned up. I don't know how we're going
to do it unless we rezone it. If the situation we got here now is going to continue to stay in the shape that
it in and unless we rezone it for C -2 this site will continue to do this I don't think there's nothing in our
ordinance to make us, mandate us to make him clean up this site and we've heard from the neighbors and
this site is very unaccepted into the neighbors.
Ekberg: Can I have a point of clarification? Is there a motion on the table?
Rants: There is.
Ekberg: So we should be talking to the motion?
Rants: Should be talking to the motion, that is disregarding the Planning Commission's
recommendations.
Duffie: OK now what is the Planning Commission recommendation then, tell me that.
Robertson: To rezone or to do a comprehensive land use plan change and to rezone such that there is
a line drawn basically through the center of the property north to south approximately that would change
that would add to the commercial designation, the commercial area the area designated commercial. And
detract some from the area designated residential on 42nd.
10
Rants: That has a little bit of flavor of the way you feel about it, as opposed to what it says.
Mullet: Basically Joe, maintained R -2 on 42nd which is duplex and allowed C -2 on 99 for 270
feet.
Ekberg: Just to ensure that point's clarified, it's on page 11 of the December 8th Planning
Commission minutes. It states, "Mr. Haggerton moved to amend the comprehensive land use plan for the
area under discussion L92 -0022 and L92 -0023 to divide the property approximately in half with the
commercial designation adjoining Pacific Highway South and residential along 42nd Avenue South. The
first 270 feet adjoining Pac Hwy., Pacific Hwy. South be zoned C -2 and approximately half fronting 42nd
Avenue south remain R -2." Mr. Flescher seconded the motion and the motion was unanimously
approved.
Rants: The motion on the table though is to disregard the Planning Commission's
recommendation. Any further
Craft: I'd like to speak against the motion. I think that we do have the minutes from the Planning
Commission but we don't have verbatim transcripts. When we look at our minutes there's a lot that's lost
and I think there's something that happened at the Planning Commission that isn't part of the written
public record. I would really like to uphold the Planning Commission's ruling because I think we would
all like to see this area redeveloped. Just wanted to say that.
Rants: Any further comments?
Ekberg: This proceeding for ourselves, and I'd like the attorney to assist me on this, is this called a
de novo proceeding?
Cohen: Yes.
Ekberg: Yes, and can you explain that once again for us?
Cohen: Rather than operating just from the record itself, you also took testimony from the
applicant and Staff, you received new evidence, that makes it de novo.
Ekberg: All right. The point being that we had our own public hearing on this process and both
sides of the party spoke to us about this matter.
Mullet: I would just briefly like to address Joyce's concern. In that I specifically asked the
applicant if they would be able to respond to that type of a split and they said no. And specifically asked
all the residents that testified at the meeting if they could respond to that and they said no. And that's
why I said it seemed to be a decision, even though it would move forward towards some kind of
redevelopment, maybe it wouldn't because it might not be a workable solution.
Rants: All right. All in favor of the motion say aye? (Hernandez, Mullet, Robertson, Ekberg,
Craft, DeRodas) Those opposed? (Duffle) Well, where do we proceed from here.
Robertson: We deal with the comp plan proposed changes and the zoning.
Rants: OK.
11
Robertson: OK, well then I'll
Rants: Steve you have the microphone there.
Mullet: I would make the motion that we disallow the proposal because it does not fit the comp
plan criteria.
Rants: You're speaking of the comprehensive plan designation?
Mullet: Comprehensive plan designation. Under the decision criteria in my opinion possibly the
first one might fit but two and three don't and it's my understanding that they have to fit all three.
Robertson: I'll second.
Rants: Moved and seconded to -I almost hate to try and repeat that.
Robertson: To deny
Rants: To deny the comp plan designation.
Hernandez: I would just like to say that we've been told that the burden of proof is on the applicant
and I don't feel like that the applicant has demonstrated that the proposal meets the criteria.
Rants: All right.
Robertson: I share Joan's view.
Rants: All in favor say aye? (unanimous) Those opposed? (none). OK, that brings us to the
zoning designation.
2887 (could not hear comments)
Rants: I wouldn't think so. Is there anything else
Cohen: You just need to decide whether or not it meets the rezone criteria. That's the last motion.
Robertson: We do have to do it.
Rants: We do have to vote on it I guess.
Ekberg: I'll make a motion to deny the rezone based on criteria of the clients not being met for the
comprehensive plan.
Rants: Is there a second?
Mullet: I'll second.
Rants: Moved and seconded, discussion.
12
Robertson: I'd like to make a friendly amendment that it not only be based upon criteria one, that the
denial also based on criteria's two, three, four and five since again, the burden of proof rests on the
applicants parts and they did not prove the criteria format.
Rants: Is there a second to that amendment?
Robertson: The amendment was to add criteria two, three, four and five.
Ekberg: I'll second.
Rants: Moved and seconded. All in favor say aye? (Hernandez, Mullet, Robertson, Ekberg,
Craft, DeRodas) Those opposed? (Duffle) We are back to the original motion, refusal of the zoning
designation.
Ekberg: I'd like to have the motion read please.
Hernandez: Based on the fact that criteria is not being met for a rezone.
Ekberg: What the ..(unclear).. says is denial on the rezone based on the comprehensive plan not
being met. So when I mean rezone, I mean one through six, one through five.
Rants: All in favor say aye? (Hernandez, Mullet, Robertson, Ekberg, DeRodas) Those opposed?
(Duffle, Craft).
Robertson: Wally, I would like to add that I am not opposed -and I think in general the Planning
Commission and much of the City would like something being done there. We have a process underway
right now and we would add that -I hope that you participate in the comprehensive -in the process we
have underway for changing the comprehensive land use plan and the zoning map and that much of the
City would like to see a change. This just wasn't appropriate.
3027 (comments from audience unclear)
Rants: Mr. Kim, I'm sorry but I don't think it would be in your best interest to do that right now.
Old business.
END OF VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT FOR SOUTHGATE PARK REQUEST FOR REZONE,
APRIL 4, 1994.
13
Southgate Comp Plan /Rezone: Attachments
A. Memo to Mayor from Rick Beeler (3/21/94).
B. Tukwila decision criteria for Comprehensive
Plan amendments and rezones.
C. Diagram of applicant and Planning Commission
recommendations.
D. Planning Commission hearing minutes (12/8/93).
E. Applicant exhibits submitted at Planning
Commission hearing (12/8/93).
F. Letter from resident (12/2/93) submitted
at Planning Commission hearing.
G. Tukwila Tomorrow minutes (11/4/93) submitted
at Planning Commission hearing.
H. Supplement to Staff Report to Planning
Commission (12/2/93), with letters from 2 residents.
I. Staff Report to Planning Commission 10/20/93, with
Revised Comprehensive Plan Amendment
and Rezone applications (7/1/93).
Letter of comments from citizens in
response to original applications
(3/20/92);
J. Original Comprehensive Plan Amendment and
Rezone applications (1/92) (attached for
reference only).
K. Citizen involvement opportunities.
L. Mitigated Determination of Non Significance
(10/20/93).
(ft
Verbatim Transcript Quasijudicial
Request for waiver to Ordinance #1679
(Moratorium) Blue Star Motel
April 4, 1994
Rants: Public hearing has been closed on this, it is time for Council deliberation. Council may
approve the waiver, may approve the waiver with conditions, or may deny the waiver, those are the
three issues that we are speaking to this evening.
Robertson: Could I suggest a process? There are really four rules that we are given to aid us in
deciding this matter. If we were to discuss all four rules in order to the Council before we put a motion
on the table, our deliberations might be clearer. Basically the four are 1) intent of the moratorium, 2)
interest of the City, 3) circumstances and hardship, 4) caused by and damages from strict adherence to.
Duffle: You need to speak up Dennis, I can't hear you.
Robertson: I hear me just fine.
Mullet: Are those are listed in the pamphlet somewhere Dennis?
Hernandez: Yes, page three. It starts on page three.
Robertson: I think if we followed that discussion we dealt with the intent of the moratorium and
discussed that point on it, we discussed the next one the interest of the City and the third one,
circumstances and hardship and the fourth one is damages resulting from strict adherence to the
moratorium prior to putting a motion, on the table we'd Have a clear understanding of the Council what
we were deciding.
Hernandez: I like that approach.
Rants: All right, intent of the moratorium.
Robertson: Since it was my idea, I'll lead off by saying that the intent of the moratorium itself-
well first off the moratorium was to stop the -it was the moratorium on the acceptance of applications
for and issuance of new business licenses and building permits for certain uses on Hwy. 99 in this area.
And specifically, the next whereas deals with "specific experiences of Tukwila with the motels, hotels,
taverns, pool rooms, liquor stores and night clubs located along Hwy. 99 have been counter to
neighborhood livability and public health and safety." it seems to me that clearly with the application
before us fails the first test which is the intent of the moratorium, it clearly violates the intent of the
moratorium. Specifically it is an application for a motel. For building permit for a motel on in the
subject area. I don't know what else can be said about that.
Rants: Other discussion?
Mullet: There is some discussion of whether it a new application. If you want to go on -I'm
not sure it's a clear violation, I think it falls within the categories. Whether it's a clear violation or not
I'm not so sure that's an issue that gets into vesting and some other things which are still a little
uncertain in my mind as to how this particular one was handled.
1
Robertson: Yes, I think that comes up later on in the -this one just says, hey does this come under-
in my mind of the moratorium? If we were talking
Mullet: Yes, I would agree it comes under the preview of this moratorium.
Robertson: It's a motel and it's in the subject area, there's absolutely no question in my mind there.
Rants: Joan?
Hernandez: Well, the motel, hotel, taverns, pool rooms, liquor stores and night clubs are all
included in this moratorium because of the fact that they attract the criminal element that we would like
to eliminate. There seems to be a high concentration of these types of businesses on Hwy. 99. The
intent of the moratorium was to prevent further proliferation of businesses that create more criminal
activity which we don't need. This does fall in that category and in that criteria.
Rants: Any one else wish to speak on this Allen?
Ekberg: I'll concur with (unclear) the reason we're looking at this moratorium waiver tonight is
because this sort of application for business does involve a use which would be prohibited by the
moratorium. According to our waiver process we've allowed an opportunity to waive that. As Dennis
mentioned, as been concurred what's before us does fall under the guidelines of the moratorium and the
waiver process to that moratorium.
Rants: Anyone else wish to speak to this? Intent of the moratorium. Should we continue then
with the interest of the City?
Robertson: Well the Staff report on page five which is item attachment A, Staff report prepared
March 21st 1994, lists a couple of points when it talks about the interests of the City. It balances the
idea that the proposed motel contributes to the neighborhood, it adds a well designed project of
appropriate scale where there is nothing but a vacant lot now. That would be a plus. One the other
hand it says, "conversely the use is inconsistent with the City's vision to redevelop this area with
neighborhood rather than with a regional orientation." That's the only basic input there. I looked
through the rest of the material and couldn't find a whole lot myself different then what the Staff report
said there.
Rants: Any other discussion on City Interest here?
Mullet: I'm not so sure Dennis that the last sentence -I agree with what is said there but I'm not
so sure that the last sentence of sticking something with the city's future vision is appropriate. I was
trying to refer to the moratorium to see that -I thought the moratorium was because of the crime and
what not that went on up there on this type of an activity. Was there something in the moratorium that
specifically applied to the City's future vision to redevelop this neighborhood?
Robertson: Well in the second "whereas" response to that on the Ordinance 1679 it says, "whereas
the previous experience of this City with these land uses the potential enactment with State regulatory
legislation and the pending development with the new comprehensive plan and certain implementing
zoning regulations by the City require the City thoroughly consider all aspects of zoning and business
regulations." It seems to me that that relates to the fact that we are indeed working on a new
comprehensive land use plan and zoning map.
2
L
Mullet: Right, I'm just not sure that the City's vision has been developed yet.
Robertson: It's certainly not complete.
Mullet: Right and that's what I was trying to get to. So whether this is a- -we've talked a lot
about certain kinds of things going up there, it's always been my feeling that the crime that comes out of
certain types of these places was by far more important issue than the type of activity that was -all of
that is important to our current vision but the current problem, the thing that made the moratorium an
emergency was the criminal type activities that were going on up there.
Robertson: That's correct, but also the fourth "whereas it says, "whereas a new comprehensive
plan at this time envisions a neighborhood activity area which is substantially different than the current
regional retail focus of Hwy. 99 and substantial detriment to this vision would be caused by allowing
contrary land uses." I think there's a tie there although I don't think that's as clear a strong point as the
other one.
Rants: Is there anyone- -Joan?
Hernandez: We certainly don't want to discourage economic vitality and development. If this
would be something new and it would encourage redevelopment of this particular area so that's a
positive. Whether it fits in with the recommended vision with this particular corridor that's the
dilemma. So you have to weigh that I guess against what it's going to add. If it's going to add criminal
activity or whether it's going to add revitalization or development and it's going to contribute to the tax
structure you have to just weigh all these things and decide. It's a tough decision as to the best interests
of the City.
Rants: Dorothy?
DeRodas: I'd like to point out along with your line of thought that this is a business which attracts
transients, people who are passing through. But we must consider the welfare of our neighborhoods.
The people who live here everyday.
Rants: Joyce?
Craft: Yes, I would just like to bring up that I kind of was involved when the moratorium was
enacted and I would just like to call on the other City Council members why we had a moratorium
rather than something else. That was maybe before my time and I don't remember why we used a
moratorium as opposed to some other method but we did use the moratorium as a way to kind of stop
development while we have a chance to take another look.
Rants: The moratorium issue was to do exactly that, to slow things down so you had a chance
to look at it carefully. That's why there was a waiver process put in though so that you could look
through the issues of each one as they come to you and make a decision that based on the criteria that
we looked at this for this week. As I look on page four at policy one it says, "to allow for a diverse mix
of uses. Create through public and private recognizable compact pedestrian oriented neighborhoods to
redevelop in the area. Change of land use designation from general commercial to mixed use category."
It seems to me that by using those, not using the moratorium wording as such that it seems to fit in
there. But that's just an opinion that I have right now. Are we ready to move to the next issue,
circumstances and hardship? Do you want to go first on this one?
3
Robertson: I want to go back to the last point for just a second. It seems to me that part of the
intent of the moratorium was to change an image, the character of a neighborhood. The character of
that strip along there is anything but desirable. That part of the City. Everything from rather infamous
history of murders, of young prostitutes through a significant drug activity and prostitution and that still
continues. By far the largest number of our calls are in that area. The overall intent and long range is to
change that whole neighborhood from one with that image, one that yes -and I'm not sure how to say it
other than that. So I think we have -when we balance this whole thing we have to remember that the
purpose of the moratorium and the reason the Council decided to do a moratorium for that part of the
City is that we felt that the appearance, just the overall amount of crime in that area was so great, so
much more of a problem anywhere else that we wanted to ensure as we went forward with our
comprehensive land use planning effort that indeed we were able when this was all done to substantially
change the neighborhood activity -I guess that's the right word in the cynical sense -of that area. That's
a difficult thing to exactly say how to do, in the social engineering sense, but we did feel when we wrote
the moratorium that having everything from the pool halls, more taverns, and the motels that were
regional in nature and that brought in the transients detracted from a positive neighborhood influence.
Rants: All right. Circumstances and Hardship. Any one wishes to speak to this?
Hernandez: Well obviously we heard testimony last week about the expense that this particular
owner has incurred in his development process that's been going on over the last several years. I think
that testimony reflected at least between 40,000 and possibly as high as $100,000 with redesign efforts.
So that certainly does pose a financial hardship for the developer and for the property owner.
Rants: Did we come on down this way then? Is there -Steve did you want to speak to this?
Mullet: One of the problems with this whole thing revolving around hardship I guess it's all
relative to some degree but this whole process has been a hardship on this group attempting this
development. And I don't go back four years because I think they blew their first two chances with this
because they basically tried to do what the Staff told them wouldn't work. Even going back two years,
they put considerable time and effort into this, the Staff put considerable time and effort into it
developing what they thought would be a viable product on this property. And the Staff knowing full
well what's going on up there also even without our moratorium was working to develop a viable
product. And then it happens that just as everything is coming together for these people, the
moratorium slips in there in the interim between their approval and their official approval. Apparently
one they could apply for. And these types of things don't seem to be addressable anywhere, this
somewhat falling- through- the cracks type of thing has been bothering me greatly on this particular
project. I just feel that if there is a hardship possibly it falls within this category but I'm still quite
uncertain in some of the other categories that they don't have -that they haven't overcome the obstacles.
We can rezone a piece of property, we can put a moratorium on a piece of property, we can not force
anybody to buy that piece of property and build what we want there. You can lead the horse to water
but you can't make him drink. So we also have a balance point here when we deal with these things.
Part of the waiver process is to give us a chance to look strongly at a project, it's not a building that
brings in problems to the neighborhood, it's how the building is managed, what is done there. I agree
that there are certain places up there that are drawing in a crowd that we don't want to see on 99. I'm
not sure that this one would not draw in a crowd, it would depend on how it is run. it is very difficult to
separate a physical piece of property from how it is used. And I'm not sure that no matter how much we
legislate we're going to be able to do that. But I think this definitely falls under a circumstance hardship
situation for this waiver that would allow them to at leasc apply in that area.
4
Rants: All right, Dennis?
Robertson: I'd like to reference two things, one again the Staff report dated March 21, 1994 on
page two which is attachment A. The very first part talks about the history of it and it breaks it down
into five parts. Project was first submitted to the City in September of 1990. Staff basically advised the
applicant it probably would not be approved. In the spring of 93 the owner dismissed the original
project architect and hired Shawn Park of GoldCo Development Inc. to manage the project. GoldCo
submitted a new proposal in June of 93. The board reviewed the project that's the Board of
Architectural Review -at a public hearing on June 24, 1993 and concurred with Staff that the proposal
should be revised again per Staff recommendations. In addition they recommended redesign of the
storm water system and the applicant hire a registered architect or engineer to prepare the new proposal.
So then there's a new proposal that comes forth after June of 93, that's less than a year ago. Then
GoldCo goes on to say they hired a new architect and civil engineer and revised the project. The
architect met with City staff on a number of occasions, changes were made they responded to all
concerns voiced by City Staff and the BAR. The project was heard again by the BAR on November 18,
1993. OK, the Board approved the project as submitted with one minor condition, so that that point
they had a Board of Architectural Review approved project. Then approximately one month and three
days later, on December 21st, they were sent a notice on the moratorium that had been adopted on
December 6th. So it seems to me that the time period we're dealing with is that time period between the
BAR. If I'm going to be real cold and hard and factual about it, the time period is between when the
BAR review the proposal November 8th and December 6th when we approved the moratorium. In fact
on page eight of the verbatim transcript Mr. Beeler, the Director of DCD said the same thing. Part way
through he says, "I'd like to make one point here that's very important to this application. And that is
there are two distinct phases of this project of development of the Blue Star Motel. The first phase went
on in the Board of Architectural Review process. The process netted a decision by the BAR. As
Councilwoman Craft indicated by her question, that review process took several turns and some
revisions and that is not altogether uncommon for a BA project redesign." He goes on -and I want to
skip a couple sentences to read the next part that says, "the bottom line is that the moratorium is the
second phase of development and the hardships, circumstances, etc. the moratorium waiver criteria all
relate to that process." So we are really talking about several weeks from the time that the BAR passed
it November 18th to the moratorium being enacted in December 6th. He goes on to say, "does not relate
to what went on in the BAR process, the hardship associated with this application is that of proceeding
past that, past the BAR." Now, after I said all that, I'm going to point out that while I think that's the
cold hard facts, I'm not terribly comfortable with that point because the applicant had been going
through a process of many years that you pointed out. Now the $40,000 plus that was described here I
think basically deals with the time prior to the November 18th. I have a very hard -I don't think there's
much at all spent from November 18, 1993 until December 6th of 93 when the moratorium was passed.
So I don't think there's a great deal of financial hardship again looking at it from a cold hard fact
standpoint. If you say that everything went on before hand doesn't really matter, that's just part of the
normal process and that you don't have a project until the BAR approves it. I'm going to shut up at this
point.
Rants: Allen did you wish to speak to this?
Ekberg: I kind of went through some of the same stages as you guys. I looked at our
attachments G that had an outline of time line. Specifically on page 6 it talks about November 18th 93
BAR and public hearing was held and concluded with approval of design which the next sentence says
he is ready to submit a building permit. The building permit could have been requested or submitted. It
goes on to say that the City Council passed our ordinance 1679, it doesn't provide a date, but the
ordinance was passed by the Council on December 6, 1993. There was a window of opportunity to
5
submit the application. January 24, 1994 there was a request of waiver ordinance. Although we talked
about the November 18th date for the BAR and the December 6th date for the Council passing the
ordinance, it's the December 21st date 1993 from another document in here states that a noticed of
decision was mailed to the applicant that they could proceed with the next stage of their project
development. That notice stated on November 21st was mailed after the waiver, or after the moratorium
was put into effect. So Staff actually sent a mixed message. Along that statement of notice of decision
to proceed with the next stage of the project for development it would also say hey, by the way, on
December 6th the waiver the moratorium was passed which now effects you. That notice of the
decision to proceed should have occurred or been processed between the BAR review of November 18th
and the Council passing of the ordinance moratorium on December 6th. I'm not sure what the
approximately one month delay was. I feel this is relevant to the consideration of the hardship and
specifically the circumstances surrounding the hardship.
Rants: Any one else?
Craft: I went through this same process and I just wanted to speak to the fact that in Tukwila I
think there are a lot of buildings that people have great pride in and I think the planning staff feels very
good about the process that applicants go through and the kind of design that comes out of that that's a
very normal thing. I think the speed at which the applicant goes through the BAR process has to do
with how flexible they are to work within the guidelines of the City of Tukwila and the design standards
that the city has. So in my mind at least it's very clear to me that the length of time during the BAR
process really is not part of our consideration tonight and that the part that we're concerned with would
be that part after they got approval to go ahead and they were notified of the moratorium I guess that in
the moratorium we do talk about vested rights. "The moratorium created by this ordinance does not
apply to properties with vested rights on the date of enactment of this ordinance. Vested rights shall be
defined in accordance Anyway it's a fully completed building permit application. I don't know
myself clearly if we have that with this applicant. I don t know about that. We don't have a fully
completed building permit. That's all I have.
DeRodas: I believe as indicated by several Council members before that we have to consider this
period between November 21st when final approval came through and when the moratorium came.
Now I've got to speak more -or -less from the heart and talk about the people of Tukwila. We had a -I
don't recall what it was called but it was a call for businesses and people living on Hwy. 99 to come and
the meet and to discuss the future of developments on Hwy. 99. Those people and those businesses as I
read the report are looking for developments that are not going to give rise to the continuing of crime
police reports. I think our Tukwila neighborhoods are very concerned about anything which could give
rise to more problems of community scale. That's my personal feeling.
Rants:
Moratorium.
That brings us then to the fourth issue, Damage Resulting to Strict Adherence To The
Robertson: Wally, there seems to be three tests to that proposed by the Staff. One is you look at
the damages to the applicant, the damages to the neighborhood, and damages to the City. In a way of
thinking of that. Unfortunately I didn't write my reference. If I went back those damages to the
applicant clearly if we strictly adhered to the moratorium and we do not allow an exception the
applicant cannot file for a building permit for at least six months until the moratorium wares off and a
new comp plan things are finished. So the applicant loses at a minimum that amount of time. It is
possible that during the time of finishing the comprehensive land use plan and zoning map
Rants: Are these microphones working? Mine is working.
6
Robertson: Can you hear me? Can you hear me now? Can you hear me now? I could tell you all
to move closer -ah, no. Anyway, to the applicant I think that there's several issues there. One
possibility is that if we strictly adhere to the moratorium the damage is one, at a minimum of delay of
filing for a building permit and building something until we complete the comprehensive land use plan.
Second part of that is there is the possibility that the new comp plan zoning map will in some way
change or prevent the building of this motel. If it changes it to some type of different building, then I
assume that there is architectural costs and other costs to the applicant. I think a strict adherence to it
will cost the applicant money and time and may possibility prevent the proposed development altogether
and require something different. There's just not way of knowing that at this point. Second, damage to
the neighborhood is a little bit harder to deal with. As I said earlier it seems to me there's a -and I kind
of echo what Dorothy was saying, there's an intention of the part of that neighborhood to change its
image from what is a fairly rough retail area, regional retail area to one that is a neighborhood. And a
friendly neighborhood for people to walk up and down the streets. But it's really difficult to say that
one more motel, especially one that is well designed like this one will actually hurt that. The third part,
is to the City. And the motel does contribute to the crime problem. There is a possibility to try and
mitigate some of that with conditions although I'm a little bit less of a fan of creating more
administrative conditions. That's just more laws that we have to comply but again I think that ones a
hard one to define to. Clearly the motels that we have there now and this type of activity have definitely
contributed to the crime activity in the area.
Rants: Anyone else wish to -Joe?
Duffie: OK I would like excuse me -we had public meetings on the moratorium on 99 and the
people came out and they spoke and they told us what kind of motel -what they want to see up there.
They did not want to see any more motels that anything would bring more problem in that they have up
there today. They want to make 99 and they have told us to make 99 a place where they can go, walk
the street at night, walk the street period without being harassed, without being propositioned. The
situation we have up there things should have gone, the police we have there now that have straightened
up a lot of that activity on 99 what they are hoping we can continue and continue to bring decent
organization or motels or whatever we're going to put up there to make sure that we don't bring any
more the things that we have going on there now that we've tried to get rid of. So I know it's been a
hardship on the owners, I know they've been going through a lot to try and get this hotel built or what
else they want to put up there, but we as Council have to do, we have to sit here make suggestions that
what is the benefit to our City. I think that's what we have to look at. Is this motel that's coming in
here, is it going to add to our problem or is it going to defeat our problem? I think we really have to do-
-we have to take on the circumstance that what all the Council have said, is this what we want there?
Once we put that motel there there is no law -I mean there is no way we can get rid of it. We have to
make sure what ever we put there is going to be something there to uphold the City of Tukwila and not
to bring shame to what we have up there or what we've had there in the past to the present. So I think
it's very important that the Council have deliberate on all these facts. Now what we've decide here to do
is I know that they gave us criteria that we would need to put on if this waiver is granted. I just want
you'all to understand that what we're doing here today is that moratorium was strictly put there for the
purpose of not having people go over there and start building things that we do not want there, that was
not going to bring class to 99. That's what we're here for. To make sure we put class on 99 and not just
an overnight thing.
Rants: Thank you Joe. Joan?
7
Hernandez: Well, back to what we're considering this criteria, Damage Resulting from Strict G( 1)
Adherence to the Moratorium, the damage that could result could be that we could continue to have a
vacant lot there, that also attracts the criminal element or we could take a gamble that something else
might be developed there more envision with what we think would be more infitting with the vision.
But we don't know for sure what that would be. It could be another 7 -11, I'm not sure that would be any
better than a motel. There seems to be plenty of motels along this particular avenue of Hwy. 99. But
it's all very subjective. We don't know. WE don't know whether this motel will be an incentive for
some of the other hotels to redevelop and improve themselves. I drove down Hwy. 99 today and
noticed several vacancy signs on some of the less desirable motels. Maybe if this brand new motel is
built and filled it will provide an incentive for some of the less desirable buildings to revitalize and
improve themselves. We don't know. It's all very subjective and we don't know. We can speculate and
we can guess but we don't really know. It's all very subjective.
Rants: Steve?
Mullet: This is a summation that we're doing now?
Hernandez: We're on the third criteria.
Rants: Now we're on Damage Resulting from the Strict Adherence, we'll come to opinions or
options pretty quick.
Mullet: I don't know, I just feel that this particular project falls into a lot of cracks and there's a
lot of speculation as Joan said it could go this way it could go that way. It could improve the
neighborhood, it could be another one that detracts frorr the neighborhood. I think they put a lot of
work into this, I don't expect to see much damage from the neighborhood but then I could be wrong too.
Rants:
Joyce?
OK, anyone else wish to speak to this, Dorothy? OK, we'll go down the row then,
Craft: I just want to talk about damage. It's really hard to say about damage to the applicant
because there is a possibility that this motel could be built and the whole area could be redeveloped into
another classification. That is always a possibility that an overall zoning change would happen. So
there's always a certain amount of risk as a developer that you take and its quite possible, it is possible,
maybe not likely but possible that a change in the zoning would actually make the value of the land
worth more. The different type of development so there is the opportunity for rise either way for the
developer. As far as risk or damage to the applicant or to the neighborhood or to the City, I have to say
that to me the moratorium for whatever reason we put a moratorium in place what we have is a legal
instrument and for whatever reason we had that's irrelevant now, we have something in writing that says
certain things. I think it's kind of hard for politicians to say yes or no, it's much easier to say well
maybe and put a lot of conditions on things. And there's a lot of discussion in 1994 about being
politically correct but I think that I would just encourage all of us to remember that even though we are
politicians we are sitting here as quasi judicial hearing and we are acting as judges. We really have to
go on what is written rather than what we thought or what we remember. So it seems to me that using
those guidelines really I don't think we're talking about damage to the applicant, there's the potential of
damage to the neighborhood also it might improve. Damage to the City, if we're really trying to
redevelop this area a vacant lot is a plus rather than a negative. That's all I have to say. Oh, I do want
to say one other thing about the criteria. If I went to a motel that I'd never been to before and I saw all
those signs posted I would leave. I wouldn't spend the night there. You face those notices in the lobby
wouldn't you be somewhat suspicious? Aren't we kind of encouraging something?
Rants: Dorothy?
DeRodas: Well briefly I just want to point out one thing that we haven't considered. And that is
is there the need for this business? Do we have a need in Tukwila? Obviously our neighborhood hasn't
felt that way. I'm trying to speak for the people, that's all I have to say.
Rants: All right. Allen?
Ekberg: In the overall scheme of things we currently -do you have to have established what our
future policy direction is for that highway? I can't see us applying future policy direction to the
situation that we have before us, this one particular situation we have before us because of the
circumstances surrounding the application, the BAR and things of that nature -I'll talk more about that
later. I do feel on a visionary purpose that what we want to do with that area of the Hwy. is not this
industry or this potential is not compatible with that. So I'm not going to allow that to get in my way.
The facts that we have before us and what's occurred previously to this point of time. I'd like to see it
develop into a neighborhood residential area as well. I don't feel an overwhelming compulsion that
damage will result with this specific business being placed at this site. If we have a quality hotel going
into that location, would that not be a positive feeling on the surrounding neighbors? And that type of
businesses that are there. Could there be a leader in the crowd versus one of the followers of the
existing establishments? With the design plans that we have before us, it looks like we have a leader in
the crowd which could offset the potential concern we have about damages based on future policy that
we may set.
Rants: I believe the options now for the Council are to approve the waiver, approve the waiver with
conditions, or deny the waiver. How do you wish to proceed.
Ekberg: I'll make a motion to approve the waiver, pass the amendment with no additional
requirements.
Rants: There can be no second, I would entertain another motion.
Hernandez: All right. I would. I don't feel like this is compatible with the vision of what I would say
that the neighborhood wants, but we did establish this moratorium to prevent future development that
we thought was incompatible. I do feel like when we did the moratorium we established a waiver
process and in that process we tried to be as fair as possxole and to give an opportunity for people to
come before us if they felt it was a hardship. This particular applicant did come before us at the time
we enacted the moratorium and told us that this would be a hardship. I believe that this might be one of
those cases that we could approve with conditions and set the conditions such that would guide the
future development of that property so that it would be something acceptable, more acceptable in the
neighborhood. And therefore, I would like to move that we do approve it with conditions conditions 1
thru 7 as published in this March 29 memo would be acceptable to me. I would be also willing to
consider other conditions in addition to one that I would like to suggest that we add it to this particular
list, and I can read it if you'd like -if you think that's necessary.
Ekberg: Joan, just for a second could I interject here.
Hernandez: Sure, Okay. Thank you.
Ekberg: I would suggest possibly approving the waiver with conditions.
Hernandez: Okay.
9
c (o(a
Ekberg: And get a yes or no vote on that and decide the conditions afterwards.
Hernandez: Right. I'll be quiet for now.
Rants: There's a motion made to approve the waiver w:.th conditions and is seconded?
Ekberg: Yes.
Rants: But the conditions are not stated at this point.
Ekberg: Yeah.
Rants: Alright. Discussion. Question. Dennis?
Robertson: In going through the four criteria intent of the moratorium the proposed use clearly
violates the intent of the moratorium There's no question about that. We talk about the interests of the
city; that's a less clear argument. Circumstances and hardships, again being clearly objective and
looking at the fact and taking the input both in writing from the Administration, from the staff, and the
verbatim transcript from the public hearing; if the actual hardship only begins after the November 18
date in 1993, then there is in fact a very minor hardship in money and effort invested in this on the part
of the applicant. If I go on the fourth point, damages from strict adherence to the moratorium; there's a
clear potential...There's a clear damage to the applicant in that if nothing else he gets delayed with other
ones possible. I understand what the other council members have said about the impact to the
neighborhood and I also understand the city's crime problem. So with that point, I'm speaking against
the motion because I think that there has been no... Again, if I take the clear objective look and say that
the actual date that the hardship began is November 18, 1993, then I cannot in good conscience think
that that's -from November 18, 1993, to December 6 is much of a hardship. That's the problem I have.
I can't balance that against it. If I was to go back 2 years or 4 years, then I would have a different view
of the hardship. But I think the hardship in that short period of time is not substantial. In the testimony,
both in writing and in transcripts is fairly clear that the hardship begins at the November 18 date. So
I'm speaking against the motion and that's the basis.
Rants: Alright. Is there any further discussion.
Mullet: Well, I'd like to speak for the motion because I disagree with Dennis's statement about where
the hardship begins. And I don't find any interpretation that says it begins at November 18. Their real
work on this process began in the spring of '93 where it went to the BAR with the new outfit; they
redesigned it per BAR specifications and it moved forward at that point.
Rants: Joan.
Hernandez: Okay. I think that not only do we have to think of the hardship that is maybe on the
applicant; I think we have to think of the time that our staff has devoted to this. It's gone through our
Planning staff; it's gone through our Planning Commission; we've put a great deal of time and effort into
this. And I would, since my motion was seconded, Allan with your permission, could I read the
conditions because I think they are very important to the vote on this particular issue -which way it
goes. Would you agree to that?
Ekberg: I don't think so.
Hernandez: Well, okay. In speaking in favor of the motion then I would have to say that by putting
conditions on this particular development that would require things like the manager to live on -site,
surveillance cameras in the lobby, installing proper lighting, and I would like to recommend exterior
stairwells things like that that are visible that detract from the criminal element and help it to be
monitored by our Police Department.. I think that by imposing conditions like that we have the
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2 t 6-Cgq;
opportunity to do that through this waiver process, and I think that this would improve the likelihood,
the less likelihood of a criminal element being established on these premises. I think that is important.
Rants: Did you wish to speak, Joyce?
Craft: I do wish to speak against the motion. Primarily, I'd just like to say that I think that any
ordinance that the City Council passes has quite an effect on many people, and I think ifs very
important that a lot of thought and planning go into any ordinance that we pass. And personally I would
like to see us pass an ordinance that might stand or not bother passing the ordinance. And I think it's
very important to be specific when we word an ordinance and say what we mean. If we didn't mean
what we said, then we should have said something else. If we meant to say most motels, not all, ones
that meet certain criteria, we should have said those things. I, personally I think it's a waste of our time
and taxpayers dollars to write an ordinance and then not stick to it. And as far as I'm concerned we
came out with an ordinance that was very specific about a moratorium; then we thought about it and we
thought we needed, in fairness, to have a waiver process. And the waiver is actually very specific; it
doesn't talk about the type of motel; it talks about who can have a waiver, it talks specifically about
vested rights and I'm just questioning -you know- -are we writing an ordinance that we're going to
discount in the future. I'm speaking against the motion.
Rants: Anyone else? Allan.
Ekberg: My concern for the redevelopment of that highway corridor is really important. And I think
what we need to do there in the future is to have a vision that we're trying to set forth now through
Tukwila Tomorrow through the Highway 99 Committee.. This specific application, or this specific
consideration of this property development is something that we knew about while we were looking at
developing the moratorium It was on lists of projected developments for the City that we have access
to, public information. It's not a surprise that we all of the sudden realize that there's a hotel being
developed. That's not a surprise; it shouldn't be a surprise. When we were considering the moratorium,
that hotel was taken into consideration. It was our belief that they may have had an opportunity to move
forward. That's my recollection; I don't have that as knowledge before me. What I do have as
knowledge before me is the BAR date on November 18 and the public hearing that was held that says it
was okay to move forward. What I also have in front of me is the December 6 tape where we passed an
ordinance, the moratorium on that highway. And what happened after that on December 21 a month
after the BAR review, the Planning Department notified the applicant which is found in..(unclear)..of
notice of decision to proceed with the next stage of the..(unclear)..development -a month after BAR
approval to go forward. So the applicant received that notice and in concert with that notice, the
Planning Department notified them of a waiver moratorium was put in place on that highway as well.
Therefore, you can't really apply for an application to build. So the Christmas holidays kick in after
December 21 and letter goes out and the first part of January develops, and the applicant says now what
do I do. Let's talk to staff. The staff says well we have no waiver requirement in our current
moratorium. What can we do? Well lets bring to Council a request for a waiver..(unclear)..to the
moratorium. We say good and we deliberated that on January 24, and we approved it on January 24.
No excuse me, we talked about it on January 24 and on February 7 we passed a moratorium, or the
waiver to the moratorium. But also the night that we technically approved the waiver to the ordinance
which was the night of January 24, the following day or that same day we received as Attachment C the
waiver to our existing moratorium. We received a request for a waiver to our moratorium before we
passed the moratorium into the law on February 7. I think these dates lend themselves to the credibility
issue with the City and the Council establishing a moratorium without allowing the waiver process to be
in place. Creating a waiver process after we found an applicant was caught in the middle, not having a
final solution to that. I think the dates lend themselves to the circumstances that surround this type of
hardship before us. That's the thing I'm concentrating now on.
Cohen: The moratorium was actually in affect at an earlier date. It was later amended to include the
waiver, but it was valid as originally passed on Tuesday, it was a January date, then it was a January
date.
Ekberg: Well I'm looking at Attachment I and help me clarify this please, but it says it's passed by the
City Council on February 7, 1994. I quote, Passed by the City Council, the City of Tukwila,
Washington at the Regular Meeting on the 7th day of February, 1994. It's my contention that on the
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It26)
24th of January we talked about it at a COW and gave it approval to go forth to a regular meeting for
passage. That's what Attachment I declares. Now, help me out if I'm incorrect on this. So I think we
have an applicant caught in the middle of a hardship situation where the intent of the moratorium was
not to exclude them. When the moratorium was passed and we found out it did, a waiver process was
brought forth to the council for approval for this specific applicant to move forward. By denying this
waiver or the request for a waiver, I think we are not following our previous commitments to move
forth on this development.
Mullet: I agree with you entirely, Allan. The whole circumstances as this has developed, and I've been
on the Council since the day one on this from informal comments to the time we actually put something
in writing. This particular project was basically vested; +hen suddenly when the moratorium comes in
we have a new definition of vesting which was never mentioned before. Then we get a waiver process
which was, should have allowed them to continue and now we're finding ways to kill it within the
waiver process. And I cannot in conscience vote to disallow this project in any way shape or form.
Rants: Joe.
Duffie: Okay. I'm sitting here listening to Steve and the rest of the Council. I agree with Steve. We
did put this in, the building in..(unclear)..here. The simple reason because we voted to put a
moratorium on this and they were caught in the middle here. Other than that I'd like to go along with
the citizens say to deny them of this waiver, but if you really look at it, I think we did do one thing of
which I'm very sorry we did, we caught them in the middle and so now we need to approve this waiver.
And I will go along with the approval of this waiver with the 7 conditions as we stated here. It's not that
I want to do it, it's just the idea that we created a problem here on our own and I think we need to try to
work our way out of it. And this as far as I'm concerned is that we approve the waiver with the 7
conditions.
Robertson: Wally, call for the question.
Rants: I call for the question. But I really don't want to cut off discussion if.
DeRodas: I'd like to ask for a clarification. I take exception with Mr. Mullet's definition of vested
rights, and I'd like to have Ms. Cohen address that.
Cohen: Ms. Craft read the definition of vested rights. Spelled out...Attachment I.
DeRodas: Well, vested rights shall be defined in accordance with Washington State case law as those
properties which have been submitted to the City, a fully completed building permit application which
is in compliance with the zoning and land use codes in effect on the effective date of this ordinance. I'm
quoting from the ordinance dated 7th of February.
Cohen: That's correct. The date of the moratorium. That is the definition of vested rights. It's
contained in the ordinance. The moratorium was effective as of, I believe its dated December 6. That's
ordinance number 1679 which is attachment H. It was later amended in February to include the waiver
provisions.
DeRodas: My question then is, are vested rights applicable in this instance?
Cohen: No, they are not vested.
DeRodas: Okay.
Rants: Motion has been called for.
Robertson: Wait, Wally I'd like to make a couple statements. One, I disagree strongly with Council
Member Ekberg's and Mullet's remembrance of what occurred. The fact that this motel was in the
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21 to (.21,
process of being worked is no different than many other things. At no time when I considered the
moratorium and voted on it did I in any way intend it to reflect any application for a particular piece of
property. And, where exactly this particular application was in the process at that time we voted on the
moratorium, I did not know and I did not care. Call for the question.
Rants: Call for the question. I was going to remind you of that... Joan.
Hernandez: Well I would just like to say that this is the second moratorium I've been involved in on
the Council, and I really don't like moratoriums either. But whenever you have a moratorium, I think
it's only fair that you have a waiver process, and we did that. We did that with the sensitive area
ordinance when we had a moratorium, and we did it now. And I just think it's only fair. This isn't...I
don't like doing this, but I think it's the only fair thing to do. That's why I'm voting for it.
Rants: A yes vote. Will approve the waiver with conditions. I would like to do it by roll call please.
Clerk.
Duffle: Yes.
Hernandez: Yes.
Mullet: Yes.
Robertson: Yes.
Ekberg: Yes.
Craft: No.
DeRodas: No.
Rants: Thank you. We have the matter of conditions. Does the Council wish to take that up this
evening. Do you wish to put something on the table.
Hernandez: I'd like to include the 7 conditions. I'd like to read them if I may.
Rants: Fine.
Hernandez: And then if you approve those, I'd like to add 1, suggest 1. Number 1, ensure that grounds
and public areas are clean and well maintained. Two, install adequate building exterior and site
lighting. Three, install a surveillance camera in the lobby. Four, require the manager to live on
premises, identify the current manager and provide their work schedule to the Tukwila Police
Department if applicable. Five, install a sign in the lobby stating that management cooperates with City
of Tukwila Police in any investigation on the property. Six, require positive identification of all
occupants of a room at time of registration. Seven, photocopy identification at registration and make
this available to the Tukwila Police Department at their request.
Rants: And you wish to add eight?
Hernandez: And I would like to add eight. That the design incorporate exterior open stairwells.
Duffle: Second.
Craft: I'd like to remove one item from that.
13
Rants: I have a motion on the table for 8 items at this point. Now do wish to amend that? You may do
that.
Craft: I'd like to amend it.
Rants: And your amendment is what.
Craft: I would like to take out the number five, install the sign in the lobby stating...
Rants: Item five, you wish to have removed. Is there a second to her, to Joyce's amendment?
Ekberg: Second.
Rants: It's been moved and seconded. The amendment comes first. Is there any discussion on the
amendment of removing the sign from the lobby, item five.
Duffie: Well, okay, I would like some information on why do you want item five removed.
Craft: Because I believe that...Again, this is just my own experience; if I go into a motel lobby to get a
room, and I see a sign like this, then I'm going to think that this is an unsafe place. If I don't care about
a sign like that I don't care if it's an unsafe place. To me it just sets the tone for an unsafe place.
Rants: Joan.
Hernandez: Speaking against the motion, if I was a criminal and I went into a motel and I saw a sign
in the lobby that the management cooperates with the Tukwila Police Department, I would run right out
the door, so I'm not in favor of removing that myself.
Rants: Any further discussion on the amendment? Amendment states to remove item five from the list
of conditions. All in favor say aye (Craft); Those oppos:,d (Duffie, Hernandez, Mullet, Robertson,
Ekberg, DeRodas)
Rants: Alright, we're back to the original eight conditions.
Ekberg: I'd like to add a motion..(unclear)..to remove item six and item seven from the conditions.
Rants: There is a motion to amend to remove items six and seven. I have not heard a second yet.
Duffie: I'll second to hear what he wants to say.
Rants: You may speak to the motion.
Ekberg: I'm speaking regarding items six and seven. Item six says requires positive identification of
all occupants of the room at time of registration. From someone who's done business traveling and
social traveling, I think if I ever went to a hotel or motel where I had to show them my picture I.D. in
order to get a room, I might consider not staying there. The real clincher is item 7 where they take my
photo I.D. and they make a photocopy of it, I would definitely not stay there. I think, if we enact six
and seven, we'll be turning customers away. Who will they have stay there. Even respectable business
people won't stay in a place where their I.D. is required. It's my thought on it.
Rants: Any further discussion on item six or seven. Joan.
Hernandez: Allan, would you consider separating those. Because I would agree to removing item
number seven, but I don't think number six is unreasonable when people might be cashing a check, you
have to ask for identification, some type of identification.
Ekberg: I'll submit to separating them. Joe, you seconded it...111 retract that motion.
Duffie: Yeah, that's fine.
Ekberg: Okay, so the motion's been retracted. I'll make a motion to amend the conditions to not
include item 7, photocopying identification at registration and making this available to the Tukwila
Police Department at their request.
Rants: Is there a second on the withdrawal of item 7.
Duffie: I'll second it for discussion.
Hernandez: I would agree to that.
Duffie: The only thing I would say is when these seven were read last week, the owners didn't have any
question about it, and if he thinks it's good then why should we different any of it cause he thought it
was a good idea. So if that what he likes, then I suggest we leave it in there. That's all I have to say.
Ekberg: I appreciate you seconding the motion for discussion. And the discussion I have regarding
that, we are setting a precedent here for potential future hotels, and even though this one applicant may
be okay with it, is this the policy we want to set for all future hotels on the highway or the central
business district or anywhere else in the City. And on that note, I think not.
Craft: It seems to me that if we're going to approve this motel, we should...There are many motels that
operate on 99 and I don't think it's fair that if we approve this motel we set them apart with all these
rules and regulations. I feel that if we're going to approve them, we should just approve them and
assume that everything we'll be fine. If the operation does not run well, we always have the opportunity
to strengthen controls. I think this is a real hamper; this would hamper the owner from having a good
establishment.
Rants: The motion is to remove item 7. Dennis.
Robertson: I guess I'd like to speak against the motion, and in doing that, I would suggest that we add
another amendment and that we allow these conditions to be removed at the...basically by the
administration after a reasonable period of time if the administration feels...
Rants: Why don't we entertain that as a motion after we've gotten through and not confuse the
chairman here.
Robertson: No, I wasn't making a motion, I was making an argument saying there's another way to
handle this.
Rants: Alright. The motion on the table is to amend, by the removal of number 7. All in favor say
aye. (no response); Those opposed (unanimous)
Rants: Your eight conditions are still in tact.
Robertson: Okay, I would make a ninth motion or amendment, not a condition, an amendment to these
conditions saying that upon the written request of the chief of police and the concurrence of the mayor,
any or all of these conditions can be removed if felt not to be necessary by the city council at a later
date. What I'm...
Craft: I'll second.
Rants: You are...We understand your amendment here, number 9. All conditions, any or all conditions
can be removed at a later date with whose approval?
Robertson: With yours and the police chief, presented to the city council.
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Rants: Administratively.
Robertson: Administratively, yes administratively. With notification to the Council.
Rants: Is that satisfactory...We have an amendment so it's no addition of number 9 to your motion.
Did you have a second to your amendment?
Craft: Yes, I'll second.
Rants: Moved and seconded. All in favor say aye. (unanimous respomse); Those opposed (no
response)
Rants: We now have nine issues on the conditions and the motion is on the table to approve these nine
conditions. All in favor say aye (Duffie, Hernandez, Mullet, Robertson, Ekberg, DeRodas); Those
opposed (Craft).
Rants: Alright, the conditions have been approved.
END OF VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT
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