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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-06-26 Community Affairs and Parks Minutes City of Tukwila Q o Community Affairs Parks Committee isoa COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND PARKS COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes June 26, 2007- 5: 00 p.m. PRESENT Councilmembers: Pam Linder, Chair; Pam Carter and Dennis Robertson Staff: Jack Pace, Nora Gierloff and Kimberly Matej Guest: Chuck Parrish CALL TO ORDER: Committee Chair Linder called the meeting to order at 4:57 p.m. I. PRESENTATIONS No presentations. II. BUSINESS AGENDA A. Sensitive Areas Ordinance The Sensitive Areas Ordinance (SAO) amendment is returning to the Community Affairs and Parks Committee since it was first heard on April 24, 2007. On April 24 the Committee suggested some minor language changes, and chose to forward it to the COW for discussion. The COW, in turn, chose to forward the amendment to the Planning Commission for review. After the Planning Commission held a public hearing, they recommended approval of the SAO amendment as written. With the exception of minor language changes, this is the same amendment that the Committee reviewed previously. In summary, the amendment addresses off -site mitigation and the amount of mitigation built into the value of a credit in a mitigation bank. The current ordinance, as written, does not address the issue of mitigation banks and is not straightforward on mitigation ratios. The proposed changes will allow the DCD Director to establish a ratio for mitigation acreage in comparison to wetland bank credits for off -site mitigation. The process will allow a certain number of mitigation bank credits to be required for impact at a specific mitigation bank in comparison to the impact made by development of the sensitive area in question. The Committee expressed their concern with mitigations occurring outside of the City when there are some sensitive areas within the City that will require funding in the upcoming years. Staff is aware of these concerns and understands the priority of on and off -site mitigation. Staff reminded the Committee that river areas cannot be utilized for wetland mitigation. The Committee is in favor of forwarding the SAO amendment to the COW for discussion. Additionally, the Committee feels that it would be in the best interest of the full Council for DCD to include a brief summary of the status of Type 2, 3 and 4 projects resulting in administrative decisions in their quarterly report. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO JULY 9 COW. B. Code Amendment SEPA The amendment in question for SEPA was previously heard by the Committee on April 10, 2007. At that time, the Committee was not in consensus of the portion of the proposal which would raise the residential construction from Tukwila's current threshold of four dwelling units to nine dwelling units. The proposal was sent to the COW for discussion. The COW chose to forward the amendment to the Planning Commission for review on the residential as well as commercial Communitv Affairs & Parks Committee Minutes June 26. 2007 - Paae 2 thresholds and an optional DNS process. After the Planning Commission held a public hearing, they recommended approval of the proposed amendment of increasing the residential construction threshold to nine dwelling units from four dwelling units; increasing the commercial/industrial threshold to 12,000 square feet and 40 parking spaces from 4,000 square feet and 20 parking spaces; and exercising the optional determination of non-significance (DNS) process to run concurrent comment periods for the project and SEP A. Staff commented that when the City originally implemented SEP A, we did not yet have an SAO in place. The Committee supports the Planning Commission recommendation. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO JULY 9 COW. C. Zoning Code Amendments Staff brought forth four proposed Zoning Code amendments. 1. Limitation on single family expansions with non-conforming setbacks 2. Retaining wall setback changes 3. Administrative variance for single family lot size 4. Update to Permit Application Table at TMC 18.104.010 These amendments were originally introduced at the April 10, 2007, Community Affairs and Parks Committee meeting. They were then forwarded to COW for discussion, and from there to the Planning Commission for a public hearing and subsequent recommendation. After a lengthy discussion, the Committee agreed to forward Amendments 1 and 4 to the COW for discussion, and they are in support of the Planning Commission's recommendations for those amendments. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL FOR AMENDMENTS 1 and 4. FORWARD TO JULY 9 COW. In regards to Amendment 2, Retaining Wall Setback Changes, Dennis expressed concern with the wording of number four of the setback waiver. His concern is that number four will nullify the parameters set forth in numbers one through three if the applicant can attribute their need for a retaining wall to fire access requirements. Dennis would like to draft a proposed wording change for number four that staff can submit for consideration along with the Planning Commission recommendation when the amendment moves forward to the COW for further discussion. FORWARD TO JULY 9 COW. The Committee is not in consensus with Amendment 3, Administrative Variance for Single Family Lot Size. Both Pam Linder and Pam Carter feel that the changes proposed by the amendment do not create provisions that would substantially affect the quality of life for Tukwila's single family home residents; and that the 500 square foot variance will allow for flexibility assisting interested property owners who are minimally under the threshold for subdivision. In contrast, Dennis shared his concern for property owners who bought in a particular location as a result of spatial housing and lot sizes. He does not support this amendment because he feels implementation of such variances for lot subdivisions has the potential to disturb the well-being of neighborhoods with the consideration that the majority of homeowners purchased their home because of the lot size layout and prefer for the lot sizes to be maintained as such. COMMITTEE IS NOT IN CONSENSUS. FORWARD TO JULY 9 COW. Community Affairs & Parks Committee Minutes June 26. 2007 - Paae 3 III. ANNOUNCEMENTS - No announcements. IV.NUSCELLANEODS- Jack informed the Committee that he would like to schedule a van tour this Fall so that Committee members can get a strong sense of what is happening in the Tukwila community from a residential standard standpoint. During the tour, staff can suggest strategies on dealing with competing issues and how to move ahead appropriately. Explanation of these opportunities will assist the Council in making policy decisions. Dennis added that at the time of the tour, he would like to discuss sidewalk and undergrounding issues as well as future requirements for such. Meeting adjourned at 6: 15 p.m. Next meeting: Tuesday, July 10,2007 - 5:00 p.m. - Conference Room 3 ?~ L- Committee Chair Approval Minutes by KAM. Review by JP and NL.