HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 2021-04-22 Minutes - Tukwila South Overlay District: Residential Development Design Standards and GuidelinesCity of Tukwila
Allan Ekberg, Mayor
Department of Community Development - Jack Pace, Director
CITY OF TUKWILA
PLANNING COMMISSION (PC)
PUBLIC HEARING
MINUTES
Date: April 22, 2021
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Virtual meeting via Microsoft Teams
Present: Chair Louise Strander; Vice Chair Karen Simmons; Commissioners Dennis Martinez, Sharon
Mann, Dixie Stark, and Andrea Reay
Staff: Department of Community Development (DCD) Director Nora Gierloff; Acting Planning
Supervisor Nancy Eklund; Senior Planner Max Baker; Business Relations Manager Brandon
Miles; and Planning Commission Secretary Wynetta Bivens
Protocols: Nancy Eklund, Acting Planning Supervisor, DCD, went over the virtual meeting protocols.
Adopt Commissioner Mann moved to adopt the 3/25/21 minutes as written.
Minutes: Commissioner Martinez seconded the motion. Motion passed. Commissioner Stark abstained
due to absence.
Chair Strander opened the continuance from the March 18, 2021, public hearing for:
CASE NUMBERS: L19-0115
PURPOSE: Adoption of design standards and guidelines
for residential development in the Tukwila
South Overlay District.
LOCATION: Tukwila South Overlay District; north of
S 204th St, west of Duwamish River, south
of S 180th, east of Orillia Rd/I-5
Staff noted that a letter was received from the applicant's Attorney Nicole DeLeon. The letter was
received on 4/22/21 and forwarded to the PC on 4/22/21, prior to the public hearing.
Max Baker, Senior Planner, Department of Community Development, gave the presentation for staff.
He said he has been the project manager on the project since the application was submitted in 2019.
This was the third meeting to discuss this project. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss design
guidelines and revisions previously discussed at the 2/25/21 and 3/18/21 meetings, as well as the
development standards and next steps. A recap was given on the two previous meetings, as well as an
overview on the previously suggested revisions, and the draft design guideline revisions that were
incorporated into the draft being reviewed at the hearing. Max noted that one of the images wasn't
included in his presentation as well as some clarifying language. He also gave an overview of the
development standards proposed to date.
Tukwila City Hall • 6200 Southcenter Boulevard = Tukwila, WA 98188 • 206-433-1800 • Website: TukwilaWA.gov
PC Meeting
4/22/21
Page 2
Staff provided explanation regarding the letter received from the applicant's Attorney. Staff said when
the packet was sent to the PC, having coordinated with the applicant, they believed it included all
comments, revisions, and recommendations intended for PC review. However, staff noted they
received the applicant's letter requesting revisions after the PC packet was sent out. Staff said they did
not have time to fully review the letter and the requested revisions prior to the public hearing, and that
their recommendations were made prior to receiving the letter. Staff noted options for potential next
steps.
Nicole DeLeon, Attorney, for the applicant, provided some context for the letter that was circulated to
the PC. She said the applicant has had several meetings with staff, and that hopefully the issues and
concerns they still need to resolve can be worked out.
Mike Pruett, for the applicant, walked through the requests in the letter submitted by Ms. DeLeon, and
provided some clarification.
The PC were in consensus that staff should have the opportunity to review the requests in the
applicant's letter and provide their recommendations to the Commission; the recreation area should be
on-site, and the project should come back to the PC as soon as possible.
Following are some of the PC other comments, concerns, and questions pertaining to the requests in the
applicant's letter:
Commissioner Mann
- She said she is not in favor of removing the highlighted section on page five of the applicant's
letter, related to larger off-site recreational areas.
- She suggested the following language for the definition for the offsite recreation area — "it shall
be no further than a half mile from the nearest residential unit/building of the project".
- She said she agrees with the request on page eight, related to establishing a maximum block
perimeter.
- She requested that staff provide input on how the other requests from the applicant will affect
the development standards, particularly the recreational area.
Commissioner Martinez
- He expressed concern with the dead-end street on the site and asked the applicant if they would
provide security.
- He stated that he wanted the DCD Director's input on the applicant's requests.
Commissioner Simmons
- Concurred with both Commissioner Mann and Martinez.
- She requested that staff review the applicant's requests and provide their recommendations to
the Commission.
Commissioner Stark
- Concurred with the comments made by the other Commissioners.
- She expressed concern on how to denote the perimeter block area.
- She said she agrees with the maximum block perimeter definition.
Phone: 206-433-1800 • Email: Mayor@TukwilaWA.gov • Website: TukwilaWA.gov
PC Meeting
4/22/21
Page 3
- She said she is in favor of the requested revision to allow flexibility for a dead-end street.
Commissioner Reay
- She said she echoes pretty much everything the other Commissioners said.
- She said the requests in the letter seemed reasonable to her and that it is standard in other
development projects throughout Puget Sound.
- She said it would be premature to decide on the project without staff having the opportunity to
review the applicant's requests.
Commissioner Strander
- Concurred with the comments from the other Commissioners.
- She suggested continuing the public hearing so all the questions could be answered and to give
staff and the applicant time to work out the issues.
- She said she was curious why off-site recreation space is required and whether it was required
for other projects in the city.
- She requested clarification regarding the definition for determining the recreational area.
- She inquired why the project is not funded as part of the open space and trails for the City's
capital projects. She asked when, or if the rest of the TSO trails will be funded. DCD staff and
Brandon Miles, from the Mayor's Office, responded to her inquires.
Mike Pruett, for the applicant, provided clarification regarding Commissioner Mann's comments
related to the highlighted area on page 5 of the applicant's letter.
Staff provided additional information concerning the connectivity section that was discussed during the
PowerPoint presentation. This included clarification of how block perimeter would be calculated, what
standards would apply to street and pedestrian path design, etc.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
There were no public comments.
Deliberations were postponed allowing staff the opportunity to review the requests in the applicant's letter,
resolve remaining issues, and for staff to provide recommendations for the PC consideration. Another public
hearing will be scheduled, to a date to be determined, to hold deliberations. There will be a 14 -day notice period
for the new public hearing.
Chair Strander closed the public hearing.
Nora Gierloff, Director, DCD stated she looks forward to spending more time with the Commissioners.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT: None
Adjourned: 8:20 p.m.
Submitted by: Wynetta Bivens
Planning Commission Secretary
Adopted: 5/27/21
Phone: 206-433-1800 • Email: Mayor@TukwilaWA.gov • Website: TukwilaWA.gov