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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 2012-08-23 COMPLETE AGENDA PACKETCity of Tukwila Jiln Hui crton, H(11,or Department Of COmmIInily Development I(Ickl'(1ce, Director CHAIR, BROOKE ALFORD, VICE CHAIR, THOMAS MCLEOD, COMMISSIONERS, LOUISE STRANDER, DAVID SHUMATE, AND MIKE HANSEN PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING AUGUST 23, 2012 6:30 PM TUKWILA CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS L Call to Order IL Attendance III. Adoption of 06/2 Minutes IV. Case Number: L09 -008 Applicant: Citv of Tukv ila Request: Proposed Comprehensive Plan Revisions, Draft Southcenter Subarea Plan, Proposed Code Revisions, and Draft Southcenter Design Manual Location: Tukwila Urban Center V. Director's Report VL Adjourn 03(1(1 Southcenter Botilcvcard S'uitc —100 Tillorilca, ff'ashinuton 98188 Phone 200-431-30'0 Fax _'(Ih -431 -3665 p City of Tukwila Planning Commission Planning Commission Worksession (PC) Minutes Date: June 28, 2012 Time: 6:')0 PM Location: City Hall Council Chambers Present: Vice Chair, Thomas McLeod, Commissioners, Louise Strander, Mike Hansen, and David Shumate Absent: Brooke Alford, Chair, Commissioners, Aaron Hundtofte, and Jeri Frangello- Anderson Staff: Nora Gierloff, Deputy DCD Director, Lynn Miranda, Senior Planner, and Wy_ netta Bivens, Planning Commission Secretaiy Chair McLeod called the worksession to order at 6:30 PM. Minutes: Commissioner Hansen made a motion to adopt the May 24, 2(_)12 Planning Commission minutes. Commissioner Strander seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Nora Gierloff, Deputy Director, Department of Community Development provided an update on the document review. A copy of The Draft Southcenter Plan background document and the implementation actions, which were combined into one background report, and are on the Nvebsite for public review. The public hearing is scheduled for July 19 at which time public comments will be accepted on all of the documents. A matrix will be compiled of all of the public hearing comments received at the public hearing and provided to the PC for detailed review in August. Staff addressed several clarifi iug questions for the commission on the proposed TMC Chapter 18.28, wluch was initially reviewed by the Commission at the Mav worksession. Lynn Miranda, Senior Planner, Department of Community Development provided information on the Design Review process. She explained why we have design guidelines, and she went over a comparison between the proposed guidelines and the ones currently place. She also discussed how the new design guidelines are organized. The purpose of the Southcenter Design Manual is to provide policy guidance for site and building design. It provides staff, the BAR, and the public a common basis for evaluation of design and development issues. It's intended to be a flexible tool to allow for the kind of quality development wanted in the Urban Center, as well as allow for innovative design. Also, to supplement and expand upon what regulations are in place in TMC Chapter 18.28. The Manual provides examples of measures a developer can use to meet the design criteria. Review Design Manual Staff walked through each of the design topics and explained what they are tiring to achieve. Following are the Planning Commissioners recommended changes to the following topics in the proposed draft Design Manual. Recommendation: Lighting Conmussloner McLeod recommended emphasizing lighting to enhance the attractiveness of the Urban Center. Revision: Blank Wall Commissioner McLeod suggested revising the language "foursides of the building" to something more understandable. Page 1 of 3 PC Worksession Minutes l\lac 24, 2012 Recommendation: Weather Protection Commissioner McLeod recommended emphasizing the shopping experience. Revision: Weather Protection Commissioner Shumate asked if translucent awnings could be permitted if quality material that is less translucent is used. Staff said they would revise the language to clarify the allowance of quality material. Commissioner Hansen inquired about the public hearing notification process, saying that the notice is critical, because there is a lot of information to digest. Staff stated that a notice was published in the newspaper, which stated that the public hearing will be held one week prior to the normally scheduled meeting. The notice informed the public that there will be an informational open house on the Southcenter plan materials on July 17 t A public notice was also mailed to property owners and residents in the Urban Center. In addition to the mailing, there have been email updates to a database of "interested parties and there is a website where the drafts can be reviewed. Following some discussion staff said, they will look into having the notice placed on channel 2 Commissioner Hansen also inquired whether there was an intersection between the Strategic Plan and the Southcenter Plan. He suggested making sure the ideas are being intersected because some of the same things are being discussed in both plans. He also said that he is in agreement with Commissioner McLeod's recommendation requesting to revise the language, "four sides of the building'. Commissioner Shumate said that the plan is good, and will help developers, but expressed concern with the possibility of it looking monotonous and stifling innovation if the plan is followed to the letter. Commissioner McLeod said that he is concerned with the district name, "Work Place District," He said the name does not designate where it is located in the Urban Center, and suggested staff considers changing the name. Commissioner McLeod asked if on -line shopping will change anNihing. He also said there needs to be more destinations. He said the map on page seven shows a road right next to the pond, which he thinks in order to make a destination in the area that Tukwila Pond Park needs expanding. He suggested making the pond a place where people will want to hang out and also suggested using the pond to entice people to come into the Urban Center. He said that the pond could be one of the crowning jewels to the Urban Center, and that it should be part of the vision. He also said that the Commission needs to be provided with some histoiv of past City Council decisions on the Urban Center, wluch will help the Planning Commission to make decisions and recommendations. He asked if there is a way to better understand the lustoiy or decisions that have been made, or the tone that has been set regarding the Urban Center and the vision. He also asked how the PC ties into some of the work that has already occurred; in order to be more harmonious with what's currently happening with the plan. Commissioner Strander said that she agrees with Commissioner McLeod's comments, and that it would be vein helpful to receive background of intent, where the plan is now, and the history of the plan. She said that she would be very open to receiving background documents. Staff said that they provide the Commission with links to the laserflche records of past City Council meetings pertaining to the Urban Center so they can retrieve and review copies of the minutes. The minutes will reflect discussions from status briefings, and joint City Council and Planning Commission ivorksess ions. Staff also noted that the City Council has not formally reviewed any version of the draft plan. Staff also said Page 2 of 3 2 PC Worksession Minutes l\Iac 24, 2012 that the Commission can access a matrix of past public comments on the ivebsite, and see how the comments were dealt with in the re- write. Commissioner McLeod offered those in attendance at the ivorksession the opportunity to speak and share thoughts that they would like for the Commission to hear and consider. Jamie Durkin, Landuse Consultant /Lobbyist, said that getting people to live in the core starts with a vibrant community and also a work force. He said the key for it to work is to have residents in and amongst the commercial development. He said, therefore, the manuals, particularly the proposed code needs to be favorable to developing residential development within the Urban Center. Mr. Durkin suggested that the following sections in the proposed code are reconsidered, 1) 18.28.620.B.5.a. Pedestrian Walking distance, the proximity to the Transit Station at Longacres site. He said that in the current draft there is no parking requirement within 600 ft. of the site, which is not veiv big; 2) 18.28.020C. the number of units that can be built before Design Review is triggered. Mr. Durkin said up to 28 -30 units should be allowed before Design Review is triggered. He suggested encouraging developers to build 25 -30 unit condos with retail below them, and malting it as easy as possible for developers to create residential facilities within the area Chuck Parrish, citizen/past Planning Commission Member shared some of his recollections on the Urban Center and the Citv Council and stakeholder's positions in the past. He said that some of the triggers and thresholds were perhaps a bit too strict in the past. He suggested that the triggers and thresholds may be something to take a look at during review. Commissioner Strander said that she is interested in the 600 ft. walkable distant, and said if walking and living in the Urban Center is being encouraged, it makes sense to expand some of the regulations. Staff said that the Commission could certainly choose to recommend extending the pedestrian walkable distance. Commissioner McLeod said that is valid and that it should be givens some finther thought Addition to Matrix: The decision was made to add the comment to increase the pedestrian walking distance in the matrix and bring it back to the Commission after the public hearing. Commissioner Strander also raised the issue regarding the threshold for the number of units allowed before Design Review is triggered. Discussion followed. Commissioner Shumate asked how much of a financial burden it would be for a developer to go through Design Review. Staff said that time is the main issue. Commissioner Shumate reported that he and Commissioner Hansen are on the TukNvila Strategic Plan Steering Committee and described the purpose of the plan. He said there is a sur ev on the Citv ivebsite that everyone, including City employees and individuals that do not live in Tukwila can complete, and encouraged spreading the word. Director's Report Volunteers are needed for the Tree and Environment Advisor Committee. They will meet 6 8 months to make policy recommendations. Next, the PC will review the new standards for the Tree Ordinance and Landscape Code. The PC was informed that Commissioner Frangello- Anderson has resigned from the board. Adjourned: 8:30 PM Submitted Bv_ Wvnetta Bivens Planning Commission Secretaiy Page 3 of 3 3 El