HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/15/2012 - Minutes
RENTON PLANNING COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes
February 15, 2012 Renton City Hall
6:00 p.m. Council Chambers
Planning Commissioners Present: Michael Drollinger, Ray Giometti, Michael O’Halloran, Nancy Osborn, Kevin
Poole, Martin Regge
Planning Commissioners Absent: Michael Chen, Gwendolyn High
City Staff Present: Chip Vincent, Planning Director; Jennifer Henning, Current Planning Manager; Erika Conkling,
Senior Planner; Judith Subia, Administrative Secretary
1. CALL TO ORDER: Commission Chair Drollinger called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL: Commission Secretary O’Halloran called roll. Commissioners Chen and High were absent and
excused.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Minutes of February 1, 2012 were approved as written.
4. CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED: None
5. AUDIENCE COMMENTS: None
6. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS: None
7. DIRECTOR’S REPORT:
Staff is continuing to work on addressing concerns expressed during the public outreach for the
development of the impact fees program. This item is advancing to Council in the near future. All
current information is on the City’s website.
Staff spent time last year discussing changes to the PUD guidelines, specifically McCormick Plat. A public
hearing by the Hearing Examiner was held and approved last week. There were good comments from
public regarding the proposal.
Staff has forwarded a recommendation regarding the City Center Community Planning Advisory Board
to the Mayor.
Chip, Angie, and Michael met to discuss the Planning Commission candidates. They have forwarded
their recommendation to the Mayor.
8. BENSON HILL COMMUNITY PLAN:
Erika discussed the development of the Benson Hill Community Plan. This Plan included outreach at the
neighborhood picnics over the summer where they interviewed citizens. Staff has also met with
stakeholders. Staff has created an interactive website, BensonPlan.org. Erika discussed the different tabs
on the website and what type of information can be found. A Facebook page has also been created at
www.facebook.com/BensonPlan. A community open house will be held on February 29, 2012 at Renton
Park Elementary.
Planning Commission Minutes
Page 2 of 2
February 15, 2012
9. URBAN FORESTRY PROGRAM:
Terry Flatley, Urban Forestry & Natural Resources Manager and Leslie Betlach, Parks Planning & Natural
Resources Director was in attendance and Terry discussed the Urban Forestry Program. He shared
information regarding the public education and outreach and educational information that is available.
Renton has been awarded the Tree City USA Growth Award for multiple years. He also discussed how tree
removal requests are processed and showed pictures of the Downtown Sidewalk and Tree Project where 26
trees were removed, 29 were planted, 12 were retained, and 15 additional trees were planted.
Terry shared information about the tree inventory and management software, how urban forestry grants
are utilized, and the benefits of tree canopies. He is working on an urban forestry ordinance that will permit
planting, removal, and pruning, tree commission designation, tree protection for public and private trees,
tree replacement requirements for removals, tree bank, construction near trees, and the prohibition of tree
topping.
10. 2012 PLANNING DIVISION WORK PROGRAM DISCUSSION:
Chip discussed items on the 2012 Work Program, including items that are being carried over for previous
docket groups, housekeeping items that staff has code drafted for, and the initial staff recommendation for
Docket #8. Three items that are not highlighted but have been discussed are: alley access, TDRs and ILAs,
and tree conservation and management.
The Planning Commission recommended that the items highlighted light green (draft completed),
highlighted beige (initial staff recommendation for Docket #8), and the addition of TDRs and the review of
ADU guidelines be added to Docket #8.
10. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS: None
11. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
Michael Drollinger, Chair
Michael O’Halloran, Secretary