HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 2024-06-27 Minutes - Tiny Home Village / Permitting Process and Compliance with Recent LegislationDepartment of Community Development - Nora Gierloff, AICP, Director
CITY OF TUKWILA
PLANNING COMMISSION (PC)
MINUTES
Thomas McLeod, Mayor
Meeting Date: June 27, 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 Probst called the Tukwila PC meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Roll Call
The PC Secretary took roll call.
Present: Chair Martin Probst; Commissioners Louise Strander, Ann Durant, Jane Ho, Richard
McLeland Wieser, Alex Kaehler, and Jacob Halverson
Staff:
Director Nora Gierloff, American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), Department of
Community Development (DCD); Development Supervisor Max Baker, AICP, DCD;
Associate Planner Issaac Gloor, DCD; and PC Secretary Wynetta Bivens, DCD
Amendment of the Agenda
None.
Approve Minutes
Commissioner Strander moved to approve the 3/14/24 minutes. Commissioner Durant seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
Commissioner McLeland Wieser moved to approve the 5/23/24 minutes. Commissioner Kaehler seconded the
motion. Commissioner Strander and Durant abstained as they were absent. Motion carried.
Written General Public Comments
No submittals.
New PC Member Introduced
Jacob Halverson
Old Business
None.
Tukwila City Hall = 6200 Southcenter Boulevard = Tukwila, WA 98188 • 206-433-1800 • Website: TukwilaWA.gov
Planning Commission Minutes
6/27/24
Page 2
Public Hearing
Chair Probst opened the public hearing for:
File Number L24-0026 - Tiny Home Village (THV) — Zoning Code Amendment
Purpose: Consider amendments to enact specific regulations for THVs and make recommendations to
the City Council (CC) for their review and adoption.
Location: Citywide
Chair Probst asked staff to give the presentation.
Director Gierloff, DCD, gave the presentation for staff. She noted that a work session was held on this topic at the
last PC meeting. She said that the proposed ordinance language would adopt regulations for THVs. She explained
that THVs are individual small sleeping structures with shared hygiene and kitchen facilities, which are usually
run by organizations that provide social services. This is one of the many types of housing options that provide
shelter and support for people to exit homelessness. Currently, there are two THVs in existence in Tukwila, which
were approved under the general umbrella of emergency housing. The city would like to adopt specific
regulations to make it clear that THVs is an approved use in Tukwila, so people understand the requirements for a
new THV or for expanding an existing one. THVs are allowed specifically for religious organizations under RCW
35A.21.360. The city is proposing using local control to require a residential model where individuals need to be
vetted prior to admission. THVs are designed as temporary housing to help individuals get on their feet, then
move on to peiivanent housing within approximately six months. This is different from drop -in shelters with a
daily turnover in population.
In addition to stating the essential services, the city is requesting that organizations hosting or operating a THV,
and the city enter into a three-way Memorandum of Agreement to set out expectations, procedures, and to create a
process for dispute resolution. The city did this with the existing THVs and found it to be helpful for working out
operating procedures and giving the neighbors an opportunity to have a voice. Director Gierloff explained the
maximum number of units on a site is 45 as a starting point. Staff discussed the topic with the Planning and
Community Development (PCD) Council Committee to arrive at this number. However, not every site will be
able to accommodate that number of units. The role of facility operator was also discussed. This is often a non-
profit agency. Staff recommend extending this role to other government agencies as was discussed at the work
session.
Director Gierloff addressed several clarifying questions from the PC.
Public Comment Letter
There was one public comment letter received from Jan Bolerjak, prior to 5:00 pm 6/27, which was emailed
to the PC upon receipt.
Phone: 206-433-1800 • Email: Mayor@TukwilaWA.gov • Website: TukwilaWA.gov
Planning Commission Minutes
6/27/24
Page 3
Public Testimony
Marta Kidane, Community Engagement Manager, Low Income Housing Institute, a community outreach non-
profit organization that provides resources and intentional shared safe spaces spoke. She said her organization is
going to host a community meeting and provide infoiivation on what a THV is and what their organization does
for both the community and those in the THV. She said they provide 24-hour security with on -site cameras, a
fence that blends in and on -site case management, which is very important. She said it is not just about the home
itself but regaining connectivity and continued support for individuals to get peiivanent housing, an ID, a license,
a social security card, and health services. A THV also provides resources if someone has a dependency issue, etc.
There is a code of conduct and there are boundaries. She also offered to provide tours of the THV.
Jon Grant, Chief Strategy Officer, Low Income Housing Institute, said he was there when the first THV
development was proposed. And he helped advocate for funding that was established for the Miracle Tiny Home
Village and Riverton Park Village in Tukwila. He said they have been working very hard to make sure the
programs are responsive to community needs. He provided some history and addressed a question raised by PC
on the number of units at Riverton Park Church. He noted that the Low -Income Housing Institute operates 18
THVs around Puget Sound. It's an opportunity for more affordable housing and shelter. He requested that the cap
for a THV is no less than 45 units. The THV is the opposite of an encampment and adding homes to the Riverton
Park Church site will mean not having tent encampments.
Recommendation
Staff recommended PC move forward the zoning regulation for the THV to CC as proposed by staff.
Public Testimony
There was no further public testimony.
Chair Probst closed the public hearing.
Motion and Deliberation
Commissioner Strander moved to forward the THV regulations to CC for their approval as amended to strike
language in 18.50.240 allowing THV on properties owned or controlled by a government agency. Commissioner
McLeland Wieser seconded the motion.
Commissioner Halverson made a friendly amendment to amend 18.50.240 to prohibit THV on government owned
property and areas zoned as public recreation overlay (PRO) in the zoning code Table 18.6. Director Gierloff said
that per the use table, PRO is not a zone where THVs are proposed to be allowed. There was no second to the
amendment.
Motion to strike the government agency language failed.
Commissioner Halverson moved to amend the staffs recommendation in Table 18.6 to prohibit THV in the Low
Density Residential (LDR) zone. Commissioner Durant seconded the motion.
Phone: 206-433-1800 • Email: Mayor@TukwilaWA.gov • Website: TukwilaWA.gov
Planning Commission Minutes
6/27/24
Page 4
The PC had an extensive discussion including what would qualify as a genuine religious organization. Director
Gierloff pointed out that many of the City's religious organizations are in the LDR zone so the amendment could
create a conflict with the rights of these organizations under RCW 35A.21.360. Motion carried. Four in favor.
Chair Probst opened the second public hearing for:
File Number: L24-0051
Purpose: Consideration of Zoning Code Amendments relating to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
Location: Citywide
Chair Probst asked staff to give the presentation.
Associate Planner Isaac Gloor, DCD, gave the presentation for staff. This item is pertaining to changes to Title
18, the City's Zoning Code, for peiinit processing and the application for design review. He provided some
background infoiivation on how pennies are processed and how design review is done.
He said that this is a legislative action that requires public notice and a hearing. There are rules for each step of
the peiiuit process, and they are written and governed by the Tukwila Municipal Code (TMC). One of the most
important issues for people applying for a peiiuit is the "shot clock". The TMC allows for a peiiuit to be
reviewed for up to 120 days, which is the amount of time when someone has applied for a peiinit, and it has been
deteiiuined by the peiiuit department that they have submitted everything that is required to be reviewed for
compliance. Currently, a final review deteiiuination must be issued within 120 days. The "shot clock" stops if the
applicant is required to resubmit requested infoiivation or it has been deteiiuined a peiinit is not in compliance per
the TMC and needs to be corrected. The "shot clock" starts again once there are submittals.
Staff noted that the Tukwila Zoning Code is several decades old and has been amended multiple times, which has
caused the peiinit types and processes to become cluttered and repetitive. The goal is to simplify and clarify the
code. Design review is one type of peiiuit that is required for certain larger commercial projects and almost all
multi -family projects. There are two different kinds of design reviews: administrative or public hearing design
review. Design review governs the aesthetic standards for buildings. Administrative design review pennies are
reviewed by staff. The standards for public hearing design review are the same, but the review procedures are
different. For these projects staff and the applicant create a presentation and present it to the Board of
Architectural Review (BAR), which is the PC who also sits as the BAR body. The BAR applications are
infrequent and take a lot longer to schedule and are more legally binding with potential consequences.
Background was also provided on two major new bills, SB 5290 and HB 1293, which changed everything about
how pennies are reviewed. SB 5290 broke out the review timelines based on the depth of review for new peiiuit
timelines. For projects that do not require public notice the "shot clock" changed from 120 days to 65 calendar
days including weekends. For projects that do require public notice but do not require public hearing the "shot
clock" is now 100 calendar days. For projects that require both public notice and public hearing the "shot clock"
is 170 calendar days. HB 1293 severely limits the BAR to either approve or deny a peiiuit since only one public
hearing can be held. The city is required to adopt the new peiiuitting timelines to comply fully with SB 5290. The
PC would no longer sit as a BAR body if approved. Other standards for HB 1293 will be addressed in the future.
Staff also addressed clarifying questions for the PC. Some PC were in opposition of the BAR no longer reviewing
design review peiiuits.
Phone: 206-433-1800 • Email: Mayor@TukwilaWA.gov • Website: TukwilaWA.gov
Planning Commission Minutes
6/27/24
Page 5
Recommendation
Staff requests that the PC forward a recommendation for adoption of the amendments to Title 18 — Zoning to the
CC for their review and approval.
Public Testimony
There was no public testimony.
Chair Prost closed the public hearing.
Deliberation
Two PC expressed an interest in conducting administrative design review hearings in addition to staff. The PC
does not have the ability to hold administrative design review hearings.
A request was made for PC to receive a briefing on submitted administrative design review projects.
Motion
Commissioner Probst moved that the Zoning Code amendments pertaining to pelf it processing and other code
clarifications as provided in the Commission packet are approved and forwarded to the CC for their approval.
Commissioner Kaehler seconded the motion. There was one vote against. Motion carried.
Director's Report
There will not be a PC meeting in July.
Regulations around middle housing to add new housing types to the low -density residential zones for
townhouses, courtyard apartments, small apartment buildings, as well as design review regulations will
come to the PC in the fall for their review.
PC were infoiiued about a Sound Transit meeting regarding a deferred light rail station at Boeing Access
Road from the first package of Sound Transit improvements, as well as the deferred Graham Street
Station on July 17, from 4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Adjourn
Commissioner Durant moved to adjourn. Commissioner Ho seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Adjourned: 8:32 p.m.
Submitted By: Wynetta Bivens
PC Secretary
Adopted: 12/12/24
Phone: 206-433-1800 • Email: Mayor@TukwilaWA.gov • Website: TukwilaWA.gov