HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 2017-08-24 Item 4 - PUBLIC HEARING - COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT UPDATE - STAFF REPORT41
City Allan Ekberg, Mayor
Department of Community Development -Jack Pace, Director
STAFF REPORT
TO THE
PLANNING COMMISSION
HEARING DATE: August 24, 2017
NOTIFICATION: Notice published in the Seattle Times, 8/10/2017
FILE NUMBER: L17-0046 (Comprehensive Plan Amendment)
APPLICANT: City of Tukwila
REQUEST: Amend the Transportation Element of the Comprehensive Plan to address
revised growth projections
LOCATION: Citywide
SEPA DETERMINATION: On August 1, 2017, the City of Tukwila issued an addendum to the Tukwila
Comprehensive Plan EIS, pursuant to the State Environmental Policy Act rules
(Chapter 197-11 WAC) (File # E17-0009). The EIS was previously issued on
October 9, 1995 (File #L92-0053).
STAFF: Robin Tischmak, City Engineer
ATTACHMENTS: A. Fehr & Peers Memo
B. Transportation Element Revisions
Tukwila City Half • 6200 Southcenter Boulevard • Tukwila, WA 98188 W 296-4.33-1800 • Website: TukwilaWA.gov
FINDINGS
In 2010 the Public Works Department began updating the Transportation element of Tukwila's
Comprehensive Plan as part of a phased review and update mandated by the State. The update included a
traffic modeling effort based on projected household and employment growth throughout the City until the
year 2030. These growth numbers were determined at a regional level and provided to each jurisdiction for
use in long range planning efforts. After Tukwila's updated element was adopted the Puget Sound Regional
Council (PSRC) developed revised growth projections that reflected the reduced economic activity due to the
2008-2009 recession. These numbers showed a small reduction in projected household growth and a
significant reduction in projected employment growth (nearly 50%).
The other elements of the Tukwila Comprehensive Plan were updated in later phases using the revised PSRC
numbers and a 2031 time horizon, leading to an internal discrepancy in the Plan. Tukwila received conditional
approval for its Plan update in 2016 with the requirement that the discrepancy be addressed through
adoption of an updated Transportation Element by December of 2017. Attachment B contains the proposed
revisions to meet the PSRC requirements for certification.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was briefed on August 14, 2017 and they forwarded the
issue to the Planning Commission for review.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REVIEW CRITERIA
Planning Commission review is required for Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code amendments. The
Planning Commission may recommend approval, recommend approval with conditions or recommend denial
of the amendment based on a clear compliance with the criteria that follow. The Planning Commission's
recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council, which will make the final decision. (TMC 18.80 and
18.84)
1) Describe how the issue is addressed in the Comprehensive Plan. If the issue is not adequately
addressed, is there a need for it?
The proposed update is a technical correction to the growth projections used in the Transportation Element
needed to bring internal consistency to the Comprehensive Plan and meet PSRC conditions for certification.
The lower employment projections resulted in estimates of lower vehicle miles traveled and no lowering of
levels of service (LOS). As a result of this change no goals, policies or capital improvement project changes are
proposed as part of this action. The changes involve text edits to the narrative and updated maps.
2) If the issue is not adequately addressed in the Comprehensive Plan, is there a need for the proposed
change?
Under the original, higher projections we received from PSRC Tukwila had planned to accommodate
higher household and employment growth than currently projected. Much of this growth was anticipated
in the Tukwila South area, which remains largely undeveloped. The timeline for development is unclear,
though at least some is likely to occur within the 2031 time horizon of the current Comprehensive Plan.
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3) Is the proposed change the best means for meeting the identified public need? What other options
are there for meeting the identified public need?
As part of the conditional certification process the City of Tukwila agreed to the following conditions:
1. Tukwila City Council adoption of a plan of work that addresses the condition identified in the certification
report by May 31, 2016. Adopted 5/2/2016
2. Submission of a draft amended comprehensive plan and supporting documents that address the
condition to PSRC for review and comment in advance of adoption. Sent August 14, 2017, PSRC has
confirmed that these changes are adequate to meet the condition.
3. Once the condition is adequately addressed, submission of adopted amended comprehensive plan and
supporting documents by December 31, 2017 for review and certification by PSRC.
4) Will the proposed change result in a net benefit to the community?
Gaining full certification forTukwila's Comprehensive Plan will maintain our eligibility for PSRC and
Regional Transportation Improvement Program funding.
CONCLUSIONS
In reviewing Comprehensive Plan criteria, staff concludes that the proposed update is a technical correction to
the growth projections used in the Transportation Element needed to bring internal consistency to the
Comprehensive Plan and meet PSRC conditions for certification. The projected traffic levels are lower under the
revised employment levels and therefore no impacts are expected that were not already addressed under the
original Element. As a result of this change no goals, policies or capital improvement project changes are needed
or proposed as part of this action.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission forward the proposed edits and updates to the
Transportation Element shown in Attachment B to the City Council with a recommendation of adoption.
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