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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 2025-01-23 Minutes - Public Hearings: Code Amendments CITY OF TUKWILA PLANNING COMMISSION (PC) MINUTES Date: January 23, 2025 Time: 6:30 p.m. Location: Hybrid Meeting - via Microsoft Teams / Public, In-Person Attendance, Council Chambers, 6200 Southcenter Blvd., Tukwila, WA 98188 I. Call to Order Chair Probst called the Tukwila PC meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. II. Roll Call The PC Secretary took roll call. Present: Chair Martin Probst; Vice Chair Ann Durant; Commissioners Louise Strander, Alex Kaehler, Richard McLeland Wieser, and Jacob Halverson Excused Absence: Commissioner Jane Ho Staff: Director Nora Gierloff, American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), Department of Community Development (DCD); Long Range Planning Manager Nancy Eklund, AICP, DCD; Development Supervisor Max Baker, AICP, DCD; Senior Planner Neil Tabor, AICP, DCD; and PC Secretary Wynetta Bivens, DCD III. Amendment of the Agenda No changes to the agenda were requested. IV. Approval of Minutes Commissioner Halverson moved to adopt the 12/12/24 Minutes. Commissioner Durant seconded the motion. Commissioner Kaehler recused himself due to absence. Motion carried. V. Written General Public Comments No submittals. VI. Old Business None Planning Commission Minutes 1/23/25 Page 2 VII. New Business PUBLIC HEARING 1. Shelter, Transitional, Emergency, Permanent (STEP) Housing Changes FILE NUMBER: L24-0026, E25-0001 PURPOSE: Code amendment to comply with state law. LOCATION: Non-Project Action/Citywide Senior Planner Neil Tabor gave the presentation for staff. He provided background on STEP Housing and the purpose of the public hearing. He said that legislature narrowed restrictions for the STEP Housing types, which resulted in the allocation of certain housing targets. The City of Tukwila previously adopted code amendments to recognize the STEP Housing types. In 2021, the State legislature passed HB 1220 which sets requirements for STEP Housing. The following housing types are not included: • Temporary Encampments • Tiny Home Villages • Group Homes • Oxford Homes/Recovery Residence • Assisted Living Facility • Adult Family Homes • Senior Living • Traditional Income-Restricted Housing Staff noted that the State, Puget Sound Regional Council, and Countywide King County each commented that the city’s current development regulations do not meet requirements. Staff went over the proposed standards and walked through the STEP housing requirements in which the City of Tukwila is not in compliance. To meet state law requirements and provide capacity to site the city’s allotted amount of STEP Housing, while maintaining reasonable occupancy and spacing requirements, staff propose to amend TMC 18.50.250, 18.50.260 and Table 18-2 Tukwila Urban Center (TUC) Land Uses Allowed by District Staff addressed clarifying questions from the PC. Recommendation Staff are requesting that the Planning Commission forward a recommendation for adoption of the draft code amendments to the City Council (CC) for their review. Public Hearing Chair Probst opened the public hearing. Staff noted that there were no public hearing comments letters received. There was no public testimony. Chair Probst closed the public hearing. Planning Commission Minutes 1/23/25 Page 3 Deliberations/Motion There was no deliberation. Commissioner Halverson moved to adopt the staff’s recommendation and forward them to the CC for their review. Commissioner Durant seconded the motion. Motion carried. PUBLIC HEARING 2. Phased Binding Site Improvement Plans (BSIP) FILE NUMBER: L25-0001, E25-0002 PURPOSE: Code amendment to remove development agreement requirement. LOCATION: Non-Project Action/Citywide Senior Planner Neil Tabor gave the presentation for staff. He provided background on the proposed. BSIPs are plans used to provide flexibility for sale of property within a larger development. These developments often rely on shared features within the larger site, such as: Parking; access points; landscaping; utilities; refuse collection areas; etc. Phased BSIPs improvement plans and proposals to develop in phases are required to enter into a development agreement in addition to completing the BSIP. The requirement for phased BSIPs to execute a development agreement is listed in the Tukwila Municipal Code (TMC) 17.16.030(C) Preliminary Binding Site Improvement Plan (BSIP) approval, approval Criteria. Staff proposed removing the sole provision requiring the execution of a development agreement with phased BSIPs. References requiring consistency with approvals and options to apply conditions and limitations for phased BSIPs are already present in other sections of TMC 17.16 and throughout the TMC. Staff addressed clarifying questions from the PC. Recommendation Staff are requesting that the Planning Commission forward a recommendation for the adoption of the draft code amendments to the CC for their review. Public Hearing A public hearing comment letter was received from Sam Pace, Housing Specialist. Seattle King County REALTORS, on January 22, 2025, which was distributed to the PC on January 22, 2025. Chair Probst opened the public hearing. There was no public testimony. Chair Probst closed the public hearing. Deliberations/Motion There was no deliberation. Planning Commission Minutes 1/23/25 Page 4 Commissioner Durant moved to adopt the staff’s recommendations and forward it to the CC for their review. Commissioner McLeland Wieser seconded the motion. Motion carried. PUBLIC HEARING 3. Townhouses in the TUC FILE NUMBER: L25-0003, E25-0004 PURPOSE: Code amendment to update residential allowances. LOCATION: Non-Project Action/Citywide Senior Planner Neil Tabor gave the presentation for staff. He provided background on the proposed. He stated this item is on townhouse allowances in the TUC, which is a regional center designated with the Puget Sound Regional Council for future growth, capitalizing on transit infrastructure to reduce car dependency. This center designation under the Regional Growth Strategy makes this area eligible for additional funding that helps them transition into denser, transit-oriented development over time. It covers Pierce, Snohomish, King, and Kitsap Counties. Within these counties, centers can be designated where high capacity transit exists, encouraging the greater use of public transportation. Part of the requirement for a center is that it plans for a minimum of 45 “activity units” per acre. Staff proposes removing townhouses from the list of allowed dwelling types in table 18-2, affecting the TUC Regional Center, Transit Oriented Development, Pond and portions of the Work Place Zoning Districts. Staff are requesting that the PC forward a recommendation for the adoption of the proposed redlined language to the CC for their further review and adoption. Staff addressed clarifying questions from the PC. Commissioner Halverson stated that he would propose an amendment, stating he is against removing townhomes from the use in the TUC. Commissioner Durant stated it was mentioned in the staff background report that regional growth strategy designation makes the area eligible for additional funding. She asked if townhomes are not stricken and allow zoning that wouldn’t meet the 45 activity units whether the City of Tukwila would be ineligible for the funding or would it be less accessible to the city. She said the change makes sense to her. Mr. Tabor stated individual use allowances would be unlikely to eliminate funding eligibility, but regulations should be consistent with goals for the center. Commissioner Halverson inquired whether there is any concept to build small townhouse-style residential. Staff said they identified this as something that is inconsistent with the overall goals, which is why they are proposing it. Planning Commission Minutes 1/23/25 Page 5 Staff proposes removing townhouses from the list of allowed dwelling types in table 18-2, affecting the Tukwila Urban Center (TUC) Regional Center, Transit Oriented Development, Pond and portions of the Work Place Zoning Districts. There was extensive discussion around this subject. Recommendation Staff are requesting that the Planning Commission forward a recommendation for the adoption of the draft code amendments to the CC for their review. Public Hearing Chair Probst opened the public hearing Staff noted that there were no public hearing comments letters received. There was no public testimony Chair Probst closed the public hearing Deliberations/Motion There was no deliberation. Commissioner Halverson moved to amend staff’s recommendation, to change townhomes to an accessory use in the Tukwila Urban Center instead of striking them. Commissioner Strander seconded the motion. There was a split decision. Commissioner Halverson moved to forward the split recommendation to the CC for their review. Commissioner Stander seconded the motion. Motion carried. Staff asked for clarification on how the PC would like to format the suggested amendment to change Townhouses to an accessory use. The PC deferred the decision to staff. PUBLIC HEARING 4. Residential Conversions FILE NUMBER: L25-0002, E25-0003 PURPOSE: Code amendment to comply with changes in state law. LOCATION: Non-Project Action Senior Planner Neil Tabor gave the presentation for staff. He provided background on the proposed amendment. He stated that in the 2023 legislative session, HB 1042 passed and broadened allowances for conversions of non-residential to residential spaces. Per the Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) he went over several of the key provisions of the requirements. He said the intent with this code amendment is to provide consistency with the state law. Also, to provide future allowances that the city can still maintain ground floor commercial space that is required in new use development and identified areas. Planning Commission Minutes 1/23/25 Page 6 In the interest in preserving the ability to maintain ground floor commercial space staff propose to adopt a major pedestrian corridor along Tukwila International Boulevard (TIB). Staff proposed adopting a new code section within the Tukwila Municipal Code (TMC). TMC 18.50.230 for Residential Conversion. Staff addressed clarifying questions from the PC. Recommendation Staff are requesting that the Planning Commission forward a recommendation for the adoption of the draft code amendments to the CC for their review. Public Hearing Chair Probst opened the public hearing. Staff noted that there were no public hearing comments letters received. There was no public testimony. Chair Probst closed the public hearing. Deliberations/Motion There was no deliberation. Commissioner McLeland Wieser moved to adopt staff’s recommendations to adopt the draft code amendments and forward them to the PC for their review. Commissioner Durant seconded the motion. Commissioner Halverson abstained. Motion carried. VIII. Director’s Report Coming up: (may meet more than once a month some months) - February - Additional Middle Housing (MH) presentation and discussion. Review of mapping and density standards. Intro to design and road standards. - March - Public Hearing #1 on MH, focusing on general development regulations and consistency. - April - Public Hearing #2 on MH focusing on objective design standards and road standards. - Move the full package to the City Council, aiming for adoption by the end of June. - Quick Quack Carwash has received design review approval. Now they are working on some other issues. IX. Adjournment Commissioner McLeland Wieser moved to adjourn. Commissioner. Durant seconded the motion. Adjourned at: 7:59 p.m. Submitted by: Wynetta Bivens PC Secretary Adopted: 2/27/25