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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Land Use and Planning Board - 06/27/2016 LAND USE AND PLANNING BOARD MINUTES KENT JUNE 27, 2016 W A 5 H I N G T O N I. Call to Order Chair Cornelius called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm 2. Roll Call ® LUPB Members: Frank Cornelius Chair; Katherine Jones Vice Chair; Jack Ottini, Barbara Phillips and Randall Smith were in attendance. ® City Staff: Charlene Anderson, AICP, Long Range Planning Manager; Jason Garnham, Planner; and David Galazin, Assistant City Attorney were in attendance. 3. Approval of Minutes Board Member Jones MOVED and Board Member Smith SECONDED a Motion to Approve the Minutes of June 13, 2016. MOTION PASSED 4-0. 4. Added Items None S. Communications None 6. Notice of Upcoming Meetings None 7. Public Hearing TREE PRESERVATION ORDINANCE rZCA-2016-61 Cornelius stated that the purpose for tonight's meeting is to consider the tree preservation ordinance; that amends Title 15 of Kent City Code to modify the requirements for planting and retention of trees during residential development. Garnham presented staff's proposal to amend Kent City Code Section 15.08.240, Preservation of Trees. Garnham stated that options were presented at a Land Use and Planning Board (LUPB) workshop in April 2015 for updating tree requirements. After the Board members selected an option, a draft of the current proposal was discussed at the May 9,, 2016 LUPB workshop. The proposal was reviewed under SEPA and a Determination of Nonsignificance was issued June 17, 2016. Expedited review was granted by the State Department of Commerce on May 23rd Trees perform a number of vital ecological functions and add esthetic value to development in urban areas. Revising development regulations to encourage preservingand planting trees supports several city council and comprehensive rehensive plan d regulations that protect trees affective and well established p III oats. The city has some ff 9 9 Y in critical areas and provide for them in various types of development. Critical areas regulations protect trees and other vegetation in wetlands, shorelines, stream banks, steep slopes, and other fragile areas. Landscaping requirements for projects in commercial, industrial and multifamily districts have proven to be successful in providing tree coverage suitable to these types of development. Staff's experience has shown that the city's current tree requirements are not achieving the intended results to improve the function and value of residential neighborhoods, specifically in single family residential neighborhood developments. Current code (adopted in 2007) requires preservation of a minimum of 15% of the diameter inches of existing trees that are greater than 6 inches in diameter. Some problems encountered with this approach are that it is inflexible. The configuration of lots and roads is often prescribed by other codes such as fire and engineering codes; and may conflict with the location of current stands of trees. The code is inconsistent and only applies to lots that have trees. With what is more often becoming infill development on previously developed lots, the city is missing the opportunity to have trees that were compatible with that development provided for. Staff is finding when trees that are incompatible with development, are required to be saved, they are often eventually removed by city residents because they are unattractive or have the potential to represent a hazard. Staff proposes to adopt a tree credit density system borrowed from the City of Kirkland that staff hopes will provide consistency and flexibility while achieving better results. With extensive input from city staff and stakeholders, staff fine-tuned a point system that targets the retention or planting of two or three trees per residential lot in a typical single family neighborhood. Developers may use existing trees and new plantings to meet the requirement and may discount unbuildable areas such as roads and wetlands from their calculation. Placement of trees in areas best suited for adding value for development, such as yards and street edges are prioritized in the code. Newly planted saplings may not immediately provide the desired esthetic, value or ecological function intended, though experience has shown trees planted in suitable locations are more likely to be valued by residents and retained to grow to maturity, thus performing the many vital functions and improved quality of life for residents. Staff used the South Ridge neighborhood for guidance. The developer in the process of constructing roads other improvements removed trees required for retention. As a result, a tree planting plan was developed to replace what was supposed to be there. Staff found that the result of the plan was primarily the esthetic and ecological function they wanted to achieve with shading and visual quality of the neighborhood. This ordinance intends to codify what developers of high quality residential neighborhoods are already doing and to achieve the city's goals while simultaneously increasing flexibility for infill development. Garnham admitted an email letter for the record (defined as Exhibit A) from David Hoffman, Master Builders Association, containing proposed changes and edits to the draft amendment. Staff reviewed the letter and believes the code as it is currently proposed addresses most of the comments. Garnham proposed adding the word 'of' to Section D.1 of the draft code, where it reads tree density credits may be achieved by preservation of existing trees..." Land Use & Planning Board Minutes June 27, 2016 Page 2 of 3 Board Member Jones MOVED and Board Member Smith Seconded a Motion to enter the comment letter from David Hoffman into the record. Motion Passed 4-0. Concluding deliberations, Chair Cornelius opened the Public Hearing. David Hoffman Master Builders Association, 335 116 Ave SE Bellevue, WA stated that over the last few weeks staff has discussed various aspects of the draft ordinance. He stated that the feedback he has received from builders are the comments in Exhibit A. Staff has addressed many of MBA's concerns. The MBA would like opportunity to test run this ordinance through an actual plat and see what the outcome would be; then discussion could continue through the Board or before City Council. Hoffman stated that it has been his pleasure to work with the city of Kent; expressing that he worked with the city of Sammamish on their new tree ordinance adopted October 2015; although all plats being developed today are vested to the old ordinance so the new ordinance does not apply. Seeing no further speakers, Chair Cornelius closed the Public Hearing and called for a motion. Board Member Jones MOVED and Board Member Ottini SECONDED a Motion to recommend to the City Council approval of the proposed code amendments to Title 15 of the (Cent City Code including amendments to use tables and development conditions in ICCC 15.04 as presented by staff. Motion Passed Unanimously 4-0. Adjournment Chair Cornelius adjourned the meeting at 7:20 p.m. Charlene Anderson, AICP, Long Range Planning Manager, LUPB Board Secretary Land Use & Planning Board Minutes June 27, 2016 Page 3 of 3