HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 2024-01-25 Minutes - Land Use Element / Status of Elements Briefings
CITY OF TUKWILA
PLANNING COMMISSION (PC)
MINUTES
Date: January 25, 2024
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Hybrid Meeting - via Microsoft Teams / Public, In-Person Attendance, Council Chambers, 6200
Southcenter Blvd., Tukwila, WA 98188
Call to Order
Chair Sidhu called the Tukwila PC meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Roll Call
The PC Secretary took roll call.
Present: Chair Apneet Sidhu; Vice Chair Sharon Mann; Commissioners Louise Strander,
Alexandria Teague, Martin Probst, and Ann Durant
Staff: Director Nora Gierloff, American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), Department of
Community Development (DCD); Long Range Planning Manager Nancy Eklund, AICP,
DCD; Senior Planner Neil Tabor, AICP, DCD; and PC Secretary Wynetta Bivens, DCD
Amendment of the Agenda
No changes to the agenda were requested.
Approval of Minutes
Commissioner Probst moved to adopt the 12/14/23 Minutes. Commissioner Strander seconded the motion.
Motion carried. Commissioner Durant abstained; she was absent on 12/14/23.
Written General Public Comments
A public general comment letter was received from Alan Kato on 1/24/24 after 5:00 pm, which was
distributed to the PC on 1/25/24.
Commissioner Strander noted receipt of the comment letter and said she understood it would not be presented
at the meeting and requested that Mr. Kato be given the opportunity to speak to the PC. She inquired on the
protocol. Director Gierloff stated the PC may allow spoken comment, but it is not required. However, if the
PC majority opted to give Mr. Kato a few minutes, it was within their power to do that. Commissioner
Strander asked if there was discussion at the meeting, would it be included on a future meeting agenda. Chair
Sidhu stated that was correct and asked Mr. Kato to speak for five minutes. The PC Secretary noted that,
although Mr. Kato was being allowed to speak, his comments would not be part of the legal record because
the item was not on the approved agenda. The PC were also informed if they wanted to include the general
public comment submittal on a future PC agenda, they needed to inform staff.
Old Business - None.
Planning Commission Minutes
1/25/24
Page 2
New Business
1. Elements
a. Introduction Chapter/Element
Nancy Eklund, AICP, DCD, Long Range Planning Manager, summarized the content in the
Introduction/Foundation: why a Comprehensive Plan (comp plan) is written; how it is developed; what the
motivators for the comp plan’s content are (e.g., policy guidance); and a summary of the community vision
that guides the comp plan. She noted that it begins with the City’s Land Acknowledgment that recognizes
that the city is located on the ancestral lands of the Coast Salish people. She also addressed questions from
the PC, and they made the following recommendations:
Recommendations
- Page 11, bullet 2, add the word ‘mandates’ after the word ‘policies’
- Page 16, identify ‘safety’ as a change to make and address in the Strategic Plan
- Page 17, first sentence, remove the word ‘all’
- Page 21, second sentence, after the word ‘opportunities’, add language ‘such as Tukwila South’
- Page 22, note the City Plans are adopted by reference
- Page 23, the ‘External Agency Plans’ should include utilities such as Valley View and King County
Water District 125
b. Land Use Element
Neil Tabor, AICP, DCD, Senior Planner, gave an overview of some of the goals for the Land Use
document. He noted that the previous plan did not have a “Land Use element”, as such, and that it was a
mandatory element for Comprehensive Plans according to the Growth Management Act and is expected
in King County and regional guidance. A future Commission meeting will include more information
about this element.
The land use element addresses the key components of land use for the city. He walked through the
proposed goals and policies, which included regional roles and obligations. This section pertains to the
city’s target for jobs and housing growth. (It was noted that the comp plan would no longer have a
Roles and Responsibilities element, and that content would be included in Community Character.
Commissioner Sidhu was opposed to the language on page 57 under “A Healthy and Equitable
Community,” policies, bullet two. He said he does not feel it is equitable. Further, he said he is
concerned with public safety and said safety is number one for the residents. There was extensive
discussion around policies under this section on bullets 2, 3, and 4. The PC were not in consensus;
Commissioners Mann, Strander and Sidhu were in favor of striking all three; Commissioners Probst,
Teague, and Durant were opposed. There was consensus to retain bullet 4.
Recommendations
- Page 57, bullets 2, 3 will be forwarded to the City Council (CC) for their recommendation per a 3:3 vote
- Page 58, make language less specific to noise
- Page 62, policy bullet 3, make language less prescriptive
- Page 63, bullet 3, make public transportation more appealing, clean, safe, and inviting
- Page 65, add a bullet to read, ‘promote investment possibility in Tukwila nationally and internationally’
(potentially combine with bullet 3).
o Three additional policy options were created for discussion as follows:
Planning Commission Minutes
1/25/24
Page 3
Parking requirements reflect the availability of public transportation options in areas
close to major transit facilities.
Development standards encourage denser development close to major transit facilities
through prioritization of usable commercial and residential space over parking.
Parking requirements encourage dense development supported by major transit facilities,
while accommodating the needs of residents, workers and visitors frequenting the area.
- Page 76, policy 90, rewrite or additional policy requested
o Staff suggests amending goal language in final Land Use Element Goal as follows:
Public investment has catalyzed greater private investment in the TIB District which has
created additional development and business success and increased the overall pace of
redevelopment.
2. Status of Elements
Nancy Eklund updated the PC on how previously requested text changes were resolved in the various
elements previously discussed. The PC revisited several sections that they had asked to discuss further.
- Page 70, Policy 1.1 - staff will return with some information on the characterization pertaining to a
question regarding including Valley View and Highline Water District. Staff to address.
Director’s Report
PC will meet twice in February and March, as follows:
- 2/8
- 2/22
- 3/14 – Public Hearing – The PC will take any public comment on the draft comp plan, with the intent
of formulating a recommendation on the comp plan for the CC.
- 3/28 - if necessary - PC will finalize its recommendation on the draft Plan to be forwarded to the CC.
Staff offered the PC members present flyers about the open house scheduled for February 1st, 4:30 pm –
8:00 pm. at the Sullivan Center.
Commissioner Mann requested that information on HB 1337 and HB 1110 be provided to the community to
let them know about the state mandates and what may be going on in their neighborhoods. Commissioner
Durant suggested getting information out there, including possibly in the Hazelnut. Staff will consider
options for informing the public.
Adjourn
Chair Sidhu asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Probst moved to adjourn.
Commissioner Durant seconded the motion. All were in favor.
Adjourned: 9:21 p.m.
Submitted By: Wynetta Bivens
Planning Commission Secretary
Adopted: 2/22/24