HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 2011-12-15 Minutes - Book 1 of Draft Southcenter PlanCity of Tukwila
Planning Commission
Planning Commission (PC) Minutes
Date: December 15, 2011
Time: 6:')0 PM
Location: City Hall Council Chambers
Present: Brooke Alford, Chair, Thomas McLeod, Vice Chair, Commissioners, Louise Strander, David
Shumate, Aaron Hundtofte, and Mike Hansen
Absent: Commissioner, Jeri Frangello- Anderson
Staff: Nora Gierloff, Deputy DCD Director, Lynn Miranda, Senior Planner, Cyndv Knighton, Senior
Transportation Engineer, Public Works Department, and Wynetta Bivens, Planning Commission
Secretaiy
Chair Alford opened the Nvorksession at 6: PM.
Minutes: Commissioner Hanson made a motion to adopt the November 11, 2011 minutes. Commissioner
Shumate seconded the motion. The motion Nvas unanimously approved.
Cyndy Knighton, Senior Transportation Engineer, Public Works Department, gave an oveii ievv of the kinds
of transportation infrastructure going on in the Urban Center, and some background of what the Citv is
currently doing. She explained that Public Works is responsible for maintaining the public infrastructure,
such as the roads, the signals, water, sewer, and stornnivater for the public to use. The Public Works
Department operates under requirements that are defined by state law and the RCW. The fast Transportation
Element ivas adopted in 1995, in accordance with the Grovah Management Act. In 2005, the Transportation
Element Nvas updated, and established the current level of seiirice standards Public Works is operating under
today. In 2(_)12, Public Works will take to the Planning Commission another update to the Transportation
Element. Public Works has been working on projects in support of the Southcenter Plan, and working toward
iniplementing the vision, and bringing foixvard a more urban dense pedestrian friendly type of urban center.
Lynn Miranda, Senior Planner, Department of Community Development provided some background on
the revised Book 1 Draft. Then a general overview Nvas given of the revised Book 1 Draft, which originally
had seven districts and Nvas revised to five districts. Review of the revised Book 1 Draft followed.
Revisions /Action Item Orientation
Addition: Planning Principles for Great Cities, GMA and KCPP establish certain criteria for cities to
accomplish as an urban center, but not how to go about it. These planning principles will help:
(1) Make great streets, (2) Break up the super blocks, (3) Create a memorable built environment, (=4) Make
great public spaces, (5) live near transit and where you work, shop play, (6) Get the mix of uses right, (7)
Get the retail right, (8) Get the parking right.
Moved: 1.3. Starting Point, Existing Conditions Summai expanded this section by discussion
from the appendix. Added photos illustrating existing conditions and opportunities.
Revisions /Action Item Districts
Chance: Regional Center area, Focusing on the bus transit center amenity in the area.
Need: form a better connection from the Regional Center to the Pond District, a hidden amenity.
Merged: The TOD Urban neighborhood, the TOD river neighborhood, and the TOD station into one district
TOD Neighborhood.
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PL Minutes
November 10, 2011
Change: Commercial Corridor; No significant changes proposed. Nev, regulations will require minimal
pedestrian amenities through parking lots and landscaping.
Chance: The Workplace; No significant changes proposed, except for allo-,ving housing along the river.
Change: Throughout the Vision, substituted "mays" for many State that change will happen because
of city investment, developer incentives, and market forces.
Revisions: Streets and Blocks:
Chance: In the North section, break up the superblocks to smaller block sizes; create more East/West streets;
adds capacity- to street network. Smaller blocks make it easier and more enjoyable to walk to destinations.
Revisions: Transit: bnsf burlington northern railway railroad bnsf
Change: Updated the descriptions of the bus Transit Center and the Sounder Commuter Rail /Amtrak Station.
Revisions: Natural and Recreational Amenities Integrated with the Emerging Urban Center:
No significant changes.
Revisions: Building, Site, and Infrastructure Design- Create a great Space:
Nev, Section. Added to implement the planning principle about creating a "sense of place Added language
about architectural, site, and street /corridor design.
Revisions: Redevelopment Strategy the most change occurred in this section
Chance: Changes respond to many stakeholders' continents that the City needs to consider more of a phased
approach, both spatially and time -wise, and that public investments, developer incentives, and market forces
should lead redevelopment. This section now is called "Putting the Plan into Action
Section Restructured: for each redevelopment objective, Phase I implementation measures are identified, and
then regulatoiv measures in Book II that will support the objective /implementation measure. Objectives
include: Future Investment; Transit Oriented development; Mall to Station; Circulation; Open Space; Design.
(Details See Revised Book I Draft)
Commissioner McLeod suggested that staff come up with a way to brand the whole Urban Center
regionally, with an image, as a destination that is a unique part of Tukwila.
Submitted By: Wynetta Bivens
Planning Commission Secretaiy
Adjourned: 9:00 PM
Adopted: 1/26/2012
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