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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Land Use and Planning Board - 03/26/2001 • PLANNING SERVICES Fred N Satterstrom, AICP, Manager Phone 253-856-5454 K E N T Fax 253-856-6454 w A s H'N G T G N Address 220 Fourth Avenue S Kent, WA 98032-5895 LAND USE & PLANNING BOARD MINUTES Public Hearing March 26, 2001 The meeting of the Kent Land Use and Planning Board was called to order by Chair, Terry Zimmerman at 7 00 p in on Monday, March 26, 2001 in Council Chambers of Kent City Hall LAND USE & PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT PRESENT Terry Zimmerman, Chair Fred N Satterstrom, AICP,Planning Mgr Brad Bell Charlene Anderson, AICP, Senior Planner Steve Dowell William D Osborne, Planner Ron Harmon Pamela Mottram, Administrative Secretary Malik Steve Mullen, Transp Engr Mgr ,David LAND USE & PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT Sharon Woodford, Vice Chair(Excused) Jon Johnson(Excused) APPROVAL OF MINUTES Ron Harmon MOVED and David Malik SECONDED to approve the minutes of January 22, 2001 Motion carried ADDED ITEMS TO THE AGENDA None COMMUNICATIONS None NOTICE OF UPCOMING MEETINGS Planning Manager Fred Satterstrom stated that City Council passed Ordinance #3551, adopting the #CPA-2000-1 Urban Separator Framework Policy Amendment on March 20 Mr Satterstrom stated that an agricultural land open house would be held Wednesday, March 28, 6 30 PM at the Kent Senior Center. Mr Satterstrom stated that a 60 percent petition was submitted for the Demarco Annexation area, which will lead Wtoand annexation zoning proceedings Mr Satterstrom stated that this item would be the topic of discussion at the Use and Planning Board's April 9 workshop Chair Zimmerman declared the public hearing open. Land Use and Planning Board Minutes March 26, 2001 Page 2 •#SCA-2001-1 SUBDIVISION CODE AMENDMENT PHASE II,RESIDENTIAL STREET STANDARDS Planner Bill Osborne, spoke on staff s recommendations for revisions to the residential street standards portion of the subdivision code(Chapter 12 04 of the Kent City Code). Mr Osborne stated that in February 1992 the City of Kent conducted a community forum on growth management and visioning, where a clear community preference for grid system streets over cul-de-sac and arterial street systems emerged Mr Osborne stated that this preference was more evident when referenced for bicycle and pedestrian use Mr Osborne stated that a visual preference survey was conducted as part of the forum's visioning exercise He stated that results indicated a slightly negative "average" response score toward a cul-de-sac pattern of development, with grid pattern development showing a significantly higher favorable average response score Mr Osborne stated that the vision, which emerged from the forum is embodied in many of the proposed subdivision code revisions Mr Osborne stated that City Council has identified several target issues for 1999 and 2000 He stated that City Council determined that creating a neighborhood design strategy was one of the top priorities Mr Osborne stated that an interdepartmental committee comprised of representatives from Administration, Fire, Parks, Planning, Police and Public Works developed a set of preliminary recommendations presented at the February 15, 2000 City Council workshop Mr Osborne stated that one implementation component of the Neighborhood Design Strategy was to amend residential streets standards He stated that the goal of this component was to revise the Subdivision Code and Construction Standards that implemented the goals and policies of Kent's Comprehensive Plan, and to respond to •the Council's goal of providing better connectivity within and between neighborhoods Mr Osborne stated that by February 2000, a task force consisting of members of the development community, engineers, a school district representative interested citizens and city staff began developing recommendations for revising residential subdivision street standards Mr Osborne stated that at the January 16, 2001 City Council workshop, staff presented task force recommendations for amending the Kent City Code, including enforceable residential street standards He stated that at the March 12 Land Use and Planning Board Workshop, staff discussed proposed subdivision code revisions Mr Osborne referred to his staff report in outlining the four connectivity options under consideration. He stated that staff s recommendations regarding residential street standards attempt to align the subdivision code and Kent's development regulations for residential development with the goals and policies of Kent's Comprehensive Plan Mr Osborne stated that both the proposed revisions to the subdivision code and Public Works update to Kent's Construction Standards will implement the Task Force's recommendations Mr. Osborne stated that the Task Force and staff have differed in their opinion on whether planting strip requirements should apply to cul-de-sac streets He stated that the Task Force recommended excluding cul-de- sacs from planting strip requirements, as rolled curbs must rest against a sidewalk, thereby excluding a planting strip adjacent to the curb Mr Osborne stated that cul-de-sac developments presently feature extensive use of rolled curbs He stated that the use of a rolled curb by subdivision developers reduces the impact of driveway placement revisions requested by builders, consumers or purchasers of improved lots Mr Osborne stated that staff preferred that cul-de-sac streets provide vertical curbing and planting strips for all �but the end-bulb of the cul-de-sac He stated that pursuant to the Task Force's recommendation for exempting cul-de-sac streets entirely, a new revision to subsection 235(C)(7)(h)(2) would amend language to read [P)lantrng strips [are required] in residential subdivisions and shall[ (2) be located between (curbs] and sidewalks[, except on cul-de-sac streets, " Land Use and Planning Board Minutes March 26, 2001 *Mre3 Osborne stated that the Task Force recommended lower level, pedestrian-scale illumination systems He stated that the 1998 model subdivision code provisions provided by the Washington State Department of Community, Trade & Economic Development recommend lowering street light mounting heights in residential subdivisions to 18 feet, providing a more pedestrian scaled environment Mr Osborne defined traffic calming as an effort to reduce traffic speeds and promote safe pedestrian access across road surfaces He stated that staff recommends changes in language for subsections 120 and 180 emphasizing safety considerations for students walking to and from school and removing the term "workplaces', which creates an ambiguous destination reference. Mr Osborne stated that curb bulb-outs provide for traffic calming as they aspire to reduce vehicular speed accessing residential streets from collector arterials, which typically handle over three times as much traffic as residential streets He stated that in some cases, curb bulb-outs establish one-way traffic which signage acknowledges Mr Osborne stated that mid-block chokers provide for traffic calming as they narrow a road surface, increase visibility of crossing pedestrians, and may provide opportunities for additional streetscapmg, including planting strips, signage,benches and surface treatments to delineate neighborhood identity Mr Osborne stated that some remedial traffic calming measures considered by the Task Force are the use of "traffic circles", suitable for slowing traffic and providing additional landscaping in neighborhoods without a high volume of truck or bus traffic He stated that "chicanes" or curb extensions form S shaped curves appropriate to mid-block areas only Mr Osborne stated that regulating on-street parking to alternating intervals on opposite street sides is considered a form of"chicane". •Mr Osborne stated that"speed humps"are appropriate for mid-block areas, streets without bus service but not on primary emergency response routes He stated that the last of the remedial options is to reduce the mmmum curb return radius at intersections where a busier street meets a residential street Mr Osborne stated that at the present time these intersections follow a wider curb return radius and traffic speeds entering the residential street might exceed the design speed for the residential street by as much as 10 miles per hour. Mr Osborne stated that interest has been generated in the neighborhood traffic control program administered by the Public Works Department He stated that this program offers citizens opportunity to initiate traffic volume studies and identify potential traffic calming measures Mr Osborne stated that remedial measures deemed necessary through completion of these studies are available under the proposed changes to the subdivision code although this program is not part of the subdivision code. Mr Osborne stated that staff recommends amending the code to include street standard provisions for private streets as well as for subdivisions with existing street standards for public streets per Task Force recommendations Mr Osborne said that staff is recommending removal of language from Subsection 235 (C)(9) pertaining to the separate provisions of curbing and guest parking for all subdivision types with the exception of zero lot line subdivisions Mr Osborne stated that under certain conditions where private streets previously were limited to serving four lots or less, staff recommends allowing private streets to serve up to nine lots. He stated that a pedestrian path is not required for subdivisions serving four or less lots Osborne stated that any subdivision serving five to nine lots on a pnvate street would be required to provide ,Mr sidewalks with a minimum width of five feet Mr. Osborne stated that staff is recommending adding definitions to clarify the meaning of connectivity and circulation The definitions for connectivity and circulation draw from traffic engineering and urban design literature and offer a basis for discussing appropriate measures that allow comparative enforceability Land Use and Planning Board Minutes March 26, 2001 �e 4 Mr Osborne outlined the following options proposed by staff • Option 1 offers a criteria-based approach for discussing a definition of connectivity and its details are open to revision or simplification The intent of this option is to illustrate that connectivity relates to more than the automobile or pedestrians This option incorporates some amenities or elements featured in a pedestrian environment such as street benches, transit stop shelters, and other landscape features • Option 2 measures connectivity of roads or other types of paths by a score that divides the number of street segments or links by the number of intersections, including cul-de-sac ends • Option 3 maintains that residential streets should connect through to other streets. Where this connectivity is not practicable,nonmotorized paths are to be provided connecting through the end of the cul-de-sac streets or through other points where appropriate. • Option 4 applies an approach with a goals and criteria checklist providing the framework for what connectivity is attempting to achieve Mr Osborne stated that Planning Staff prefers this option as it offers a checklist and goals for developers to strive for Mr. Satterstrom stated that many of the goals that formed the direction for this revision in standards were formulated in the Task Forces visioning exercise and the those who served on the committee were fairly consistent in their recommendations. Bill Osborne responded to the concern of whose responsibility it was to maintain landscaping and trees between curb and sidewalk He stated that proposed revisions to the Subdivision Code, Subsection 235(C)(7)(h) #4, state that planting strips are required in residential subdivisions and shall be the maintenance responsibility of the abutting property owners or homeowners association He stated that there has been an amendment to this subsection per a requested revision by Lori Flemm, Superintendent with Parks Planning Development as follows " be the maintenance responsibility of the abutting property owners or homeowners association Maintenance includes water, removal of fallen leaves, fallen branches and fruit debris" Maintenance does not include fertilizing, trimming, root control, removal of dead or dying trees or insect& disease control " Mr Osborne stated that those things not the maintenance responsibility of the property owners or homeowners association will be maintained by the City if deemed appropriate Transportation Engineer, Steve Mullen stated that the Parks Department is staffed and budgeted to take on the responsibility of maintaining the trees in respect to limbing, pruning,trimming roots and chemical spraying Steve Dowell voiced concern that the new street standard proposals stemmed from the Task Force's recommendations of 1992 Mr Satterstrom stated that much of the visioning occurred through a series of forums held in 1992 He stated that the Task Force met in 1999 and that specific recommendations on street standards emanated from the Task Force's efforts during 1999 and 2000 In response to Mr Harmon's concerns, Mr Mullen stated that it is the responsibility of the City to replace trees and repair sidewalks damaged by trees Mr Harmon voiced concern that a developer might abuse the system by developing only four lots at a given time in order to abscond from being required to add sidewalks within a development Mr Harmon stated that when the City considers which `traffic calming devices" should be employed within residential areas, they should consider •that emergency personnel will need to be able to respond to medical emergencies in a residential development in an expedient time frame. Mr Mullen stated that the Fire Department sat on the Task Force and actively reviews all development projects to detennme when and where traffic calming devices should be used Land Use and Planning Board Minutes March 26, 2001 Page 5 40 Steve Dowell voiced concern that construction of five-foot wide sidewalks, along with five feet of land abutting up to both sides of the walkways for landscaping, is excessive use of valuable land and decreases affordable housing Mr Satterstrom stated that five feet sidewalk widths has been the city's minimum public standard for a long time, which allows two people to walk abreast Mr Satterstrom stated that within the city townhouse/condominium developments private walkways are typically three feet in width Mr Osborne stated that Lon Flemm, Parks Planning & Development Superintendent submitted a recommendation to add additional verbiage (indicated with underlining) to the existing revised proposal to Subsection 205(A)(2) of the Street Standards to read "installation of curbs, gutters, sidewalks, [traffic calming features and devices,] monuments, sanitary and storm sewers, street lights, water mains and street name signs, street trees and planting strip landscaping, together with all appurtenances thereto " Terry Zimmerman declared the Public Hearing open Ryan Zulauf, 24502 98th Avenue, Kent, WA 98031 stated that reducing pavement widths in residential areas is excellent He stated that this would promote reduction of storm water run off He encouraged future application of this standard to residential collector streets and other lower classification streets Mr Zulauf stated that it might be beneficial to add a column for curb radius at intersections to the Street Design Standards Table in Subsection 235(C)(7)(h)&(I) He stated that it could benefit the city to reduce curb radiuses at intersections as the wider the radius, the faster a vehicle moves around those curves and pedestrian crossings are lengthened *Mr Zulauf stated that installation of pedestrian scale lighting is excellent and that the proposed traffic calming devices are reasonable and will allow for adequate fire response time Mr Zulauf stated that he was concerned with the use of rolled curbs, as they promote vehicular parking on the adjoining sidewalks Mr Zulauf encouraged the city to develop a detailed design standard manual with graphic illustrations, which would clearly lay out the intent of how these policies are being implemented. Mr. Zulauf said that he supports Option 4. Michael Manderville, 11415 SE 196th Street, Renton, WA 98055 stated that he drives an Access bus, funded by American with Disabilities Act (ADA) He stated that he provides a door to door transporting service for disabled citizens Mr Manderville stated that he does not favor the use of speed humps in residential areas as they pose safety issues connected to transporting disabled clients to and from the neighborhoods Mr Manderville voiced his concern with the use of a circular turn around in the middle of the intersections,which can inhibit the driver's ability to turn left without driving up over the curb This can pose safety risks Mr Manderville stated that as a bicyclist, he suggested adding cut-aways on the side of serpentine style sidewalks for bicycles to pass through in order to alleviate the danger from motor vehicles. Ron Harmon MOVED and David Malik SECONDED to close the Public Hearing Motion carried. Mr Mullen responded to Mr Harmon's concern over the potential for developers to repetitively apply for four-lot •subdivisions in order to avoid constructing sidewalks Mr Mullen stated that when the fifth lot is developed, and served by the same private road as the first four lots, this triggers the need for a sidewalk He stated that the administration of who pays for these sidewalks has not been clearly defined Mr Mullen stated that as the sidewalk would be built on a private road, it would not be appropriate to use a public financing mechanism such as a LID to make those types of improvements on private property. Land Use and Planning Board Minutes March 26, 2001 �e 6 Mr Satterstrom said that if a developer were to apply for a five lot short plat, the standard would require a connecting sidewalk in the short plat He stated that it was his understanding that the developer would pay for the sidewalk initially and then the cost would be shared between the buyers of all of the lots Board members Bell, Dowell, Harmon, Malik and Zimmerman voiced their support of Option 4 with inclusion of the Parks and Public Works Department proposed amendments Brad Bell MOVED and David Malik SECONDED to approve #SCA-2001-1 Subdivision Code Amendment Phase HIResidential Street Standards, Option 4 as recommended by staff, with the following modifications • That the suggested alternative language for Option 3 by the Public Works Department be stricken as the Board supports Option 4 • That we accept the changes as outlined in the communication from Lori Flemm, Superintendent of Parks Planning and Development in her correspondence to the Board dated March 26, 2001 as follows Add additional verbiage (indicated by underlining) to the existing revised proposal to Subsection 205(A)(2) of the Street Standards to read "installation of curbs, gutters, sidewalks, [traffic calming features and devices,) monuments, sanitary and storm sewers, street lights, water mains and street name signs, street trees and planting strip landscaping, together with all appurtenances thereto." Motion CARRIED unanimously. *OTHER BUSINESS Terry Zimmerman asked which Board member would cover the March 29 short plat hearing. Mr Malik stated that he was covering the month of March with Terry Zimmerman as backup. AJOURNMENT Terry Zimmerman adjourned the meeting at 8.20 p in Respectfully Submitted, Fred N Satterstrom, AICP, Planning Manager Secretary S\Pemut\Plan\LUPB120011wnutes\010326mn.doc •