City of Burien
BURIEN PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
October 26, 2004
7:00 p.m.
City Council Chambers
MINUTES
Planning Commission Members Present: Robert Simpson-Clark, chair; Jim Clingan, Rebecca McInteer, Jon Newton, Michael Sumner and Barbara Williams
Absent: Janet Shull
Others Present: David Johanson, senior planner; Gerry Lindsay, minutes taker
Chair Simpson-Clark called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m. Upon the call of the roll, all commissioners were present with the exception of Commissioner Shull.
Agenda Confirmation
Motion to approve the agenda as printed was made by Commissioner Williams. Second was by Commissioner Sumner and the motion carried unanimously.
Public Comment – None
Approval of Minutes
A. August 24, 2004
Motion to approve the minutes as submitted was made by Commissioner Williams. Second was by Commissioner Clingan and the motion carried unanimously.
Old Business – None
New Business
A. NERA/Comprehensive Plan Item 2004-06 Update
David Johanson, senior planner, said the Northeast Redevelopment Area (NERA) is a project that has been in the works for some time, and progress is being made. The first Comprehensive Plan in 1997 designated the area and recognized that it is impacted by SeaTac International Airport operations. The NERA studies that followed resulted in amendments to the Comprehensive Plan creating a new Comp Plan designation of SPA-4. Recent amendments to the Zoning Code were made focusing on the development standards. Construction of the third runway is underway; the NEST study, which is an economic analysis of the airport-related properties in various jurisdictions around the airport, has been completed; and the Airport Communities Coalition lawsuits against the Port of Seattle have been withdrawn.
Commissioner Sumner asked if the Port intends to be accommodating and to work willingly with the local jurisdictions to address and solve the issues. Mr. Johanson answered that the local communities, including Burien, and the Port have the common goal of seeing the area redeveloped. To that end, all parties intend to work together cooperatively.
Commissioner Clingan asked if the NERA area was part of the NEST study and if the study is available for review. Mr. Johanson allowed that the area was included in the study. He said the resulting document is quite comprehensive, but anyone who wants to see it can; he added that there is an executive summary available.
Chair Simpson-Clark asked if the study includes the settlement prices for the properties acquired by the Port. Mr. Johanson said he did not know.
Answering a question asked by Commissioner Williams, Mr. Johanson indicated on the map the area covered by the NEST study, including the areas outside of Burien.
Mr. Johanson informed the commissioners that regular updates will be provided as the process moves forward given that there could be an impact on the Comprehensive Plan.
B. Bike and Pedestrian Comprehensive Plan Amendment
– Docket Item No. 2004-9
Mr. Johanson noted that development of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities Plan took more than a year, beginning in January 2003 and concluding with council adoption of the plan in June 2004. The plan is a direct response to policies in the vision for the city, the Comprehensive Plan, and the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan. All that is left is to incorporate the recommendations of the plan into the Comprehensive Plan.
Mr. Johanson provided the commissioners with copies of Figure 6, which is the plan in visual form showing the different components and projects. He observed that each project is listed in the plan in priority order.
When the Transportation Element of the Comprehensive Plan was updated recently, the multimodal portions were specifically left unchanged because development of the pedestrian and bicycle plan was under way. Now that the plan is done, the work of updating the Transportation Element needs to be completed by folding in the policies and projects. Within the overall Comprehensive Plan there are 76 goals and policies dealing with pedestrian and bicycle facilities and trails. Of those, 27 need amendment as a result of the pedestrian and bicycle plan: five will be kept unchanged; nine will be removed because they are no longer needed; and 13 need to be modified.
Chair Simpson-Clark commented that a hodge-podge of sidewalks and bicycle paths has resulted from the requirement for such facilities to be constructed as part of redevelopment. While the sidewalks are useful to pedestrians even if there is only a section here and there, bicycle paths that are not connected to anything are not very useful. Mr. Johanson said with the plan adopted into the Comprehensive Plan all development and redevelopment will have to pay attention to the projects in the plan and construct their portion.
Chair Simpson-Clark asked if development of the pedestrian and bicycle plan could be funded with in-lieu fees rather than requiring each new development to construct a portion. He suggested that by using in-lieu fees, entire segments could be constructed and put into use all at once. Mr. Johanson said the city does not have such a program in place. Special care would have to be taken in applying fees to development to fund a project that does not have a nexus with the development project. Development can only be required to pay for projects needed as a direct result of the development. Chair Simpson-Clark suggested that fees in-lieu could be offered as a voluntary option, which could solve some of the legal problems. Mr. Johanson allowed that to some extent development with concomitant agreements can serve that function.
Commissioner McInteer asked if the plan can be changed in any way as it is incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Johanson answered that if there is a better way to say or do something, staff will listen and consider it. The plan, however, in its current format has been adopted by the City Council and the primary purpose for the Comprehensive Plan amendment is to incorporate it as an appendix of the Comprehensive Plan.
Commissioner McInteer called attention to Goal MM.3 and suggested that as written the underlying principle does not come across. Chair Simpson-Clark concurred, saying he would prefer to see the word “environment” used less when facilities are really the topic. Mr. Johanson said staff will not oppose making the document read better.
Commissioner Williams called attention to Policy SC-1.8 in the Comprehensive Plan which says safe, convenient walkways and bike lanes should be required on both sides of all streets abutting multifamily and commercial development. She asked if that policy is reflected in the pedestrian and bicycle plan. Mr. Johanson said the issue is on the master list and is not proposed for change. Commissioner McInteer pointed out that Policy MM-3.13 addresses the same issue in a more specific way.
Chair Simpson-Clark asked why the city does not pay for the construction of sidewalks for new construction when it does pay for sidewalks associated with rebuilding a street. Mr. Johanson said the reason is funding. The view is that those who will benefit from the improvements should share in the cost.
Commissioner McInteer called attention to Policy PRO-3.6 and asked what the distinction is between a neighborhood trail and a community path. Mr. Johanson answered that paths are more formalized in that they link to destination points and serve a multimodal function. Trails are often within parks and along undeveloped public rights-of-way and are less formal.
Commissioner Williams asked if many people attended plan hearings before approval of the pedestrian and bicycle plan. Mr. Johanson said there were a lot of people involved, and there were public hearings in front of the City Council. There is no anticipation that incorporating the plan into the Comprehensive Plan will involve much change to the plan, and to that end the action is not anticipated to generate additional public interest.
Chair Simpson-Clark suggested that in advertising the public hearing for the Comprehensive Plan amendment, it should be made clear that the focus will not be on making changes to the pedestrian and bicycle plan itself given that that has already been adopted.
The Commission reviewed its schedule and concluded that an additional study session should be held on November 9, and that the public hearing should be slated for December 14.
Town Square Public Space Report – None
Director’s Report – None
Adjournment
Motion to adjourn was made by Commissioner Sumner. Second was by Commissioner Williams and the motion carried unanimously.
Chair Simpson-Clark adjourned the meeting at 8:17 p.m.
Approved:
/s/ Robert Simpson-Clark, chair
Planning Commission
/s/ Scott Greenberg, director
Community Development Department