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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Land Use and Planning Board - 02/23/2009 LAND USE & PLANNING BOARD MINUTES February 23, 2009 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT/ABSENT: Chair Jon Johnson, Vice Chair Dana Ralph, Barbara Phillips Absent/Excused, Steve Dowell, Alan Gray, Aleanna Kondelis, Jack Ottini STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Mike Gillespie, Molly Bartlemay APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Gray MOVED and Dowell SECONDED a motion to APPROVE the January 12, 2009 Minutes. Motion PASSED 6-0. Added Items, Communications, Notice of Upcoming Meetings None ZCA-2008-3 Design and Construction Standards Development Engineering Manager Mike Gillespie presented the Design and Construction Standards. Gillespie stated that these standards have undergone minor edits since their adoption in 1993. The first draft of the new document was presented in November 2007, followed by a second draft in October 2008. Three focus group reviews were completed in October and November 2008. Gillespie stated that in the scope section 6.02.04, it indicated that the permit value has increased from $20,000 to $50,000 for these standards. He stated that permits meeting the $50,000 threshold would be required to comply with the Design and Construction Standards. An annual increase will be included based on the Washington State Department of Transportation Construction Cost Index. Gillespie stated that based on feedback received, the standards were revised and updated to incorporate current best practices. Revisions were made to site grading, retaining wall heights, private streets, and street lights. Gillespie added that best practices included incorporating latest engineering principles, adding standard plans, and adding additional detail. Gillespie stated that site grading changes preserve connectivity between developments and protect neighborhoods. These changes include a restriction of eight foot net change allowed from the existing topography. This sets limits to a six foot maximum cut and a four foot maximum fill. Gillespie stated that it was difficult to come up with a fair and reasonable restriction and that there could be future revisions based on how this restriction is applied. Gillespie stated that retaining wall restrictions include reducing wall heights within the structure setbacks to three (3) feet with a maximum height of six (6) feet. The restriction between lots would be four feet. Gillespie stated that properties Land Use and Planning Board Minutes February 23, 2009 Page 1 of 3 adjacent to City rights-of- way would not fall under these restrictions, unless in a setback area. Gillespie stated that changes to private streets include widening them from 20 to 26 feet, requiring curbs and gutters on both sides of the street, with a sidewalk on one side. Gillespie added that there have been problems with parking on 20 foot streets and it is challenging to enforce no parking on these streets. Private streets will be required to be in a separate access tract. This revision maintains the minimum lot size at 3,000 square feet by not allowing a street easement to count towards minimum lot size requirement. Gillespie stated that street light designs have been simplified. The most controversial part of this change is discontinuing the option to use Puget Sound Energy owned Into Light. Approximately 400 streets have these lights which are paid by the homeowners. The City feels that it is not appropriate to make homeowners pay for lights on City streets. Gillespie stated that the Parks Department had some additional comments and some minor revisions will be submitted that will include verifying the trail section is in compliance with King County and the Corp of Engineers. Gillespie also noted that Parks is asking for additional conduits for future irrigation. Gillespie noted that provisions would be added to allow hook up of drip irrigation, with additional detail added to the root barrier plan and street tree planter before going to the Public Works Committee in March. In response to Kondelis, Gillespie stated that a $50,000 permit threshold would be applied to all permits that include exterior work. Gillespie also noted that if there is no exterior work being done the new standards would not apply. In response to Ralph, Gillespie stated that the cost of the entire permit will be taken into consideration when determining if a project will meet the $50,000 threshold. Chair Johnson declared the hearing open. Wade Archer, 22305 SE 305th Way, Black Diamond stated that the four-foot fill seems light and limits building sites. Archer stated that developers will find a way to put houses in, and an increase in daylight basements and houses on slopes would be likely. Archer stated that it sounds as if the City might be using a double standard if they are using different standards for their street use fills, than for private work. Gillespie clarified that both the developers and City can put in a higher retaining wall against a right-of-way. Gillespie added that the City is not as concerned with aesthetics on streets and that standards were meant to soften impacts in neighborhoods. Gillespie added that they are hoping to have more houses built utilizing the topography. Land Use and Planning Board Minutes February 23, 2009 Page 2 of 3 Seeing no further speakers, Ottini Moved and Gray Seconded a Motion to close the Public Hearing. Motion CARRIED 6-0. Ralph Moved to adopt ZCA-2008-3 Design and Construction Standards as proposed by staff. Ottini Seconded the Motion. Kondelis stated that she appreciated that the Standards were being cleaned up and aligned with current marketplace conditions. She added that it will require more land area to produce the same number of lots and is somewhat counterproductive to the zoning code. Motion CARRIED 6-0. ADJOURNMENT Ottini Moved and Gray Seconded a Motion to adjourn. Motion CARRIED. Johnson adjourned the meeting at 7:35 p.m. Charlene Anderson, AICP, Planning Manager Secretary of the Board S:\Permit\Plan\LUPB\2009\MINUTES\022309_LUPB_Minures.doc Land Use and Planning Board Minutes February 23, 2009 Page 3 of 3