HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 2012-06-28 Minutes - Work Session - Book 2 of Draft Southcenter Plan / Southcenter Design ManualCity of Tukwila
Planning Commission
Planning Commission Worksession (PC) Minutes
Date: June 28, 2012
Time: 6:30 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 Wynetta Bivens,
Planning Commission Secretary
Chair McLeod called the worksession to order at 6:30 PM.
Minutes: Commissioner Hansen made a motion to adopt the May 24, 2012 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 website 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 clarifying questions for the commission on the proposed TMC Chapter 18.28, which
was initially reviewed by the Commission at the May worksession.
Commissioner Strander raised questions on the following issues :(I) Regulations on the maximum block
size; (2) Neighborhood corridors, street designation; and (3) Regulations for public frontage.
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 in 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 trying to achieve. Following are
the Planning Commissioners recommended changes to the following topics in the proposed draft Design
Manual.
Recommendation: Lighting Commissioner McLeod recommended emphasizing lighting to enhance the
attractiveness of the Urban Center.
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PC Worksession Minutes
June 28, 2012
Revision: Blank Wall Commissioner McLeod suggested revising the language "foursides of the
building" to "not limited specifically to four sided buildings
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 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 21.
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 anything. 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 history of past City Council decisions on
the Urban Center, which will help the Planning Commission to make decisions and recommendations. He
asked if there is a way to better understand the history 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
very 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.
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June 28, 2012
Staff said that they will provide the Commission with links to the laserfiche 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 worksessions.
Staff also noted that the City Council has not formally reviewed any version of the draft plan. Staff also said
that the Commission can access a matrix of past public comments on the website, and see how the comments
were dealt with in the re- write.
Commissioner McLeod offered those in attendance at the worksession 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 very big; 2) 18.28.020.C. 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 making 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 City 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 further 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 Tukwila Strategic Plan
Steering Committee and described the purpose of the plan. He said there is a survey on the City website 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 Advisory 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
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PC Worksession Minutes
June 28, 2012
Submitted By: Wynetta Bivens
Planning Commission Secretary
Adopted: August 23, 2012
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