P.O. Box 320 22017 SE Wax Road Maple Valley, WA 98038 Phone: 425-413-8800 Fax: 425-413-4282 PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA Lake Wilderness Lodge – Rainier Room March 25, 2015 22500 SE 248th Street 6:30 p.m. Special Meeting Maple Valley, WA 1. Call to Order Chair 2. Roll Call Clerk 3. Public Comment (not related to a public hearing) Chair 4. Approval of Agenda Chair 5. Approval of Minutes – March 4, 2015 6. Public Hearings: None Chair 7. Continued Business: Comprehensive Plan Update Discussion Chair/Staff (a) Utilities Element (Draft) (b) Environmental Quality Element (Draft) 8. New Business: None Chair/Staff 9. Public Comment (not related to a public hearing) Chair *Public Comment submitted via the City’s website will be included as part of the agenda packet and approved meeting minutes, but not read aloud at the meeting. (a) Public Comment Received via the City’s Website (b) Lake Forest Estates Homeowners Association Letter 10. Commission/Staff Reports/Work Plan Items Chair/Staff 11. Announcements of upcoming meetings: Chair/Staff • Next Regular Meeting - Wednesday, April 1, 2015, 6:30 p.m. Tahoma School District Board Room 12. Adjourn Chair Agenda items may be added or removed at the Commission’s discretion. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) reasonable accommodations provided upon request. Please call Jennifer Cusmir, Deputy City Clerk, at 425-413-8800. Date: March 25, 2015 To: Planning Commissioners From: Matt Torpey, Senior Planner Subject: March 25, 2015 Planning Commission Meeting _____________________________________________________________________ Enclosed you will find the Planning Commission Meeting agenda, minutes from the March 4th meeting, and the agenda packet materials. Public Hearing None Continued Business Comprehensive Plan Update At this meeting staff will introduce drafts of the Utilities Element and Environmental Quality Element. This is quite a bit of information for the Commission to process at one meeting. While much of the information has not changed over the years regarding both utilities and environmental quality, it is important for the Commission to review the information prior to providing a recommendation to Council. It is not anticipated that staff will provide a line by line, or policy by policy review of the materials. Rather, as a group, the Commission will provide comments or questions regarding specific aspects of the elements. It is anticipated that the City will provide a draft of the Housing Element for review at the upcoming April 1st Planning Commission meeting. New Business None Announcements of upcoming meetings The next regular meeting is scheduled for April 1st at the Tahoma School District Board Room. You may contact Matt Torpey at 425-413-8800 or by email at [email protected]. Agenda Page - 1 This page is intentionally left blank. Agenda Page - 2 PRELIMINARY CITY OF MAPLE VALLEY, WASHINGTON PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OF MEETING March 4, 2015 Tahoma School District #409 Central Services Board Room 25720 Maple Valley-Black Diamond Road SE 1. Call to Order Chair Bob Rohrbach called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 2. Roll Call Commissioners present: Chair Bob Rohrbach, Vice Chair Leslie Burberry, Commissioners Doug Fortner, Ken Rice, and Megan Sheridan, Cathy Hilde and Robert Palmer. Staff present: Senior Planner Matt Torpey and Deputy City Clerk Jennifer Cusmir. 3. Public Comment (not related to a public hearing) Lois Brandt, 12727 SE 63rd Street, Bellevue, WA, Mrs. Brandt explained that her husband, Hal Brandt, was responsible for a lot of the development in Maple Valley and in the surrounding areas. She expressed that she was thankful that the Planning Commission is going to recommend that the Brandt Property be designated as Residential. She feels that it is a step forward for development in the north end of Maple Valley. Mrs. Brandt spoke favorably about Curtis Lang’s developments and stated that she feels the Planning Commission will be pleased with the future development on the Brandt Property. Mrs. Brandt spoke about the history of the acquisition and zoning of the Brandt Property. Bob Castagna, 22731 SE 244th Avenue, Maple Valley, WA, Mr. Castagna thanked the Commission for their recommendation regarding the Brandt Property. He stated that he does believe the residential development on the Brandt property will jump start growth at the north end of town and will be a catalyst for commercial development, which will greatly benefit the City. Mr. Castagna stated that there are three major issues that have come up during the Comprehensive Plan Update: 1) traffic, 2) school overcrowding, and 3) having a day-time population in town. Mr. Castagna said that senior housing is the solution. Seniors will be in the City during the day, senior housing has half of the impact on traffic as multi-family housing and seniors do not impact schools. Mr. Castagna recommended the Commission consider incentives for development of senior housing. Darren Peugh, Representing J.R. Hayes & Sons, Inc. and RH Mining, 22430 SE 231st Street, Maple Valley, WA, Mr. Peugh read manufacturing and employment statistics for King County from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and spoke about the viability of high-tech manufacturing and employment center zoning in Maple Valley. Mr. Peugh spoke about the letter from Panattoni, which Mr. Castagna presented at the February 4th meeting. He stated that he agrees with the letter, that Maple Valley is a secondary market when it comes to industrial development. Mr. Peugh discussed some of the concepts recommended by the consultant, such as three to five story high-tech manufacturing developments. Mr. Peugh stated based on the decline of manufacturing in the U.S. and only marginal growth in the northwest region, there are no statistics to support expansion of facilities. He said the amount of land being Agenda Page - 3 PRELIMINARY recommended to be designated Regional Employment Center does not make sense to him. Mr. Peugh stated that the area is currently designated Service Commercial and that is what is working because it allows for a lot of viable uses. Jeff McCann, 24826 247th Place SE, Maple Valley, WA, Mr. McCann suggested LU-7.3.1 be changed to read, “…current uses as conforming permitted uses…” He stated that this would respect the existing businesses. Curtis Lang, Curtis Lang Custom Homes, 27203 216th Avenue SE, Suite 5, Maple Valley, WA, Mr. Lang thanked the Commission for their support of the Brandt Property and support given for mixed-use residential. He stated everyone is interested in highest and best use for property. He said that residential use will attract business and he is getting interest from local businesses. Mr. Lang said that growth is difficult, but as the City gets more growth the City will get the types of development it needs. He said he wants to do what he can to help in the process. Mary Davis-Wittman, 22143 SE 277th Street, Maple Valley, WA, Mrs. Davis-Wittman reported that she had the opportunity to walk the Elk Run Golf Course property with a couple of the Commissioners. She stated that following that walk she has concerns about developing certain areas of the golf course property. Mrs. Davis-Wittman said that in order to bring sewer service to area 2 of the property, 12 feet of fill would be required. She said that bringing that much fill to the area near Cranmar Creek could possibly cause irreversible damage. Referencing the Environmental Quality Element of the Comprehensive Plan, Mrs. Davis-Wittman noted that the City not only wants to stimulate economic growth, the City also wants to protect the environment and City resources. Mrs. Davis-Wittman read from the Environmental Quality Element. She noted that the element speaks to many of the issues the people who are against residential development at the golf course are concerned about. Mrs. Davis-Wittman urged the Planning Commission and the City to do their due diligence before doing a blanket rezoning of the golf course property. She stated the residents are asking that there be a new Comprehensive Environmental Quality Impact Study be conducted and reviewed prior to rezoning the Elk Run Property for residential development. Mrs. Davis-Wittman concluded by suggesting if the Commission does rezone the property to residential, that they not allow filling the property, but rather require a sewer lift system. Chris Pallis, Pallis Properties, 9600 SE 33rd Street, Mercer Island, WA, Mr. Pallis noted that the Planning Commission has made a lot of progress. He asked that the Commission keep in mind is the retail required as part of an apartment development. He stated as they work on their design, one thing that is presenting a challenge is the need for additional parking. This is affecting the project’s design and layout. He encouraged the Commission to keep the retail requirement minimal, possibly zero. He noted that they are still working to include some retail. Mr. Pallis stated that the development site, behind the Safeway, is also not an ideal site for retail. Jihan Saday, 27346 227th Place SE, Maple Valley, WA, representing the Elk Run Home Owners’ Association, Mr. Saday stated the HOA Board, and many of the residents, feel rezoning the golf course a hard hit. He stated, personally, he feels the City could use more green space and parks. Mr. Saday noted that the golf course already has walking trails. He stated more housing would cause more traffic congestion. He suggested more road improvements instead of adding residents. Mr. Saday suggested an off-leash dog area and reiterated his desire for more park area. Mr. Saday asked that the Planning Commission consider the suggestions of the HOA prior to making their final decision. Agenda Page - 4 PRELIMINARY Cheryl Castagna, 22731 SE 244th Avenue, Maple Valley, WA, Mrs.