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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/05/2011- MinutesRENTON PLANNING COMMISSION Meeting Minutes January 5, 2011 6:00 p.m. Renton City Hall Council Chambers Planning Commissioners Present: Michael Chen, Michael Drollinger, Ray Giometti, Gwendolyn High, Michael O'Halloran, Nancy Osborn, Kevin Poole, Ed Prince Planning Commissioner Absent: Martin Regge City Staff Present: Alex Pietsch, CED Administrator; Chip Vincent, Planning Director; Erika Conkling, Senior Planner; Judith Subia, Administrative Secretary 1. CALL TO ORDER: Commission Chair Prince called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL: Commission Vice Chair Drollinger called roll. Commissioner Regge was absent and excused. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Minutes of November 3, December 1, and December 8, 2010 were approved as written. 4. CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED: None 5. AUDIENCE COMMENTS: None 6. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS: None 7. DIRECTOR'S REPORT: • The Cluendall Terminals DEIS comment meeting was held last night. As a result of numerous requests, the comment period has been extended. The DEIS will be presented to the Commission in the near future. • CED and Council are working on the 2011 Planning Work Program. We are looking to schedule a Joint Planning & Development Committee and Planning Commission meeting. Possible dates include February 2, 16, March 2, and 16. • Chip shared a letter from Mayor Law to Rich Wagner, a former Planning Commission member of 14 years, who recently received a lifetime achievement award from AIA. 8. SUNSET AREA PLANNED ACTION/ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS) BRIEFING: Alex gave a short introduction regarding the work done so far on this project. Erika and Lisa Grueter, consultant from ICF International, gave a presentation regarding this item. Audience Comment Linda Perrine (Renton, WA): Ms. Perrine owns a duplex near Glenwood and Edmonds. She has a question about new jobs that is referenced in the presentation. She also has a question regarding buildings being built, but no storm improvements being made. Erika answered that these new jobs would be permanent Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 of 2 January 5, 2011 jobs, not relating to the construction or development of the project. When new buildings are built, the developer needs to comply with the necessary improvements. Howard McOmber, Highlands Community Association President (Renton, WA): Mr. McOmber has a question regarding greenway drainage. Erika explained that this drainage includes rain gardens or swales that are in the right of way, requiring an 8 -foot planting strip, where a low impact development style stormwater vault can be installed. Mr. McOmber asked if more width for rights of way will be needed. Erika explained that in many cases, the rights of way are very large. There are areas along Sunset Blvd that may need additional right of way. He also asked that the City not use eminent domain, be flexibilie so a developer can be creative with development, and keep the costs (such as impact fees) low for developers. Sandel DeMastus, Highlands Community Association Vice President (Renton, WA): Ms. DeMastus is concerned about the elderly and wants to make sure the seniors and disabled are taken care of. Angie Pretty (Renton, WA): Ms. Pretty had a question regarding housing affordability and its impacts to the School District. Erika answered that the City has been working with RSD to ensure that growth can be accommodated by RSD. 9. SUNSET AREA PLANNED ACTION/ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS) PUBLIC HEARING: Audience Comment Kathleen Ossenkop (Renton, WA): Ms. Ossenkop has been a property owner in the Highlands for over 40 years. She has seen a great deal of new investment and revitalization in the last 15 years. She's concerned that the City does not understand what the long term residents have seen. Adding 500 properties into the Highlands will impact the residents that already live there. She is in favor of the Evergreen Terrace type of housing for seniors. Karen Williams, Housing Development Consortium of King County (Seattle, WA): Ms. Williams thanked City staff 'for the work that has been done so far, especially partnering with the Renton Housing Authority to ensure that there are benefits for the low income residents. Lori McFarland (Renton, WA): Ms. McFarland is grateful for the work that the City is doing. As a long time resident and a design engineer, she talked about interconnection of traffic signals. Pedestrians end up 20 to 25 feet away from heavy traffic. This greatly improves traffic congestion and pedestrian safety. Ms. McFarland is in favor of Alternative #3. Jim Houghton (Bellevue, WA): Mr. Houghton owns property in the Highlands. He is currently working with the Planning staff to build a 10 -unit condominium project for senior housing with affordable housing. The ARCH (A Regional Coalition for Housing) program greatly facilitates the sales of affordable housing and encouraged the City to become a part of this program. 10. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS: Written comments on the Sunset Area Planned Action/EIS will be accepted through January 31, 2011. The next Commiss 11. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7: Michael O'Halloran, Secretary