Land Use & Environment Committee

City Hall Meeting Minutes 601 4th Avenue E Olympia, WA 98501 Land Use & Environment Committee Information: 360.753.8447 Thursday, September 25, 2014 5:30 PM Council Chambers 1. ROLL CALL Present: 3 - Chair Steve Langer, Committee Member Jeannine Roe and Committee Member Julie Hankins OTHERS PRESENT Community Planning and Development (CP&D) Director Keith Stahley CP&D Downtown Liaison Brian Wilson Public Works City Engineer Fran Eide Public Works City Surveyor Ladd Cluff Public Works Assistant City Engineer Steve Sperr City Manager Steve Hall 2. CALL TO ORDER Chair Langer called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3.A 14-0893 Approval of August 28, 2014 Land Use & Environment Committee Meeting Minutes The minutes were approved. 4. COMMITTEE BUSINESS 4.A 14-0921 Downtown Project III Update Mr. Wilson briefed the Committee on the latest progress of several projects including the Alcohol Impact Area, Artesian Commons, alleyway lighting, Clean Team update, Downtown Ambassadors, and other projects. Discussion: - Placing the Artesian Commons mural on the Consent Calendar. - Obsidian Club, a performance space restaurant and coffee shop, due to open in October. The report was completed. 4.B 14-0887 Community Planning and Development (CPD) Work Program Update City of Olympia Page 1 Land Use & Environment Meeting Minutes September 25, 2014 Committee This item was postponed to the next meeting due to staff illness and unavailability. The report was postponed and referred back to the Land Use & Environment Committee. 4.C 14-0733 Vacating Street and Alley Right-of-Way Ms. Eide gave a presentation entitled "Vacating Streets and Alleyways" which outlined the application process, criteria for approval, process for staff review and evaluation, and fee structure. Mr. Cluff explained right-of-way, dedication, and public interest/rights. He discussed the intention behind the Municipal Code to ensure that vacating City streets and alleys, or portions thereof, will not have negative effects on private properties or the general public, and how the process is intended to assure the City's long range transportation and land use goals are met. He described how City streets and alleys are considered community resources and how their abandonment through this process should uphold the public's interest. He described an example of vacating right-of-way to extend a park. Discussion: - Notification process of adjacent property owners. - 1890 statute of unused alleyways vacation. - Pathway programs and reluctance to give up any public right-of-way. - Looking at all alternatives before giving up any public access. Mr. Walt Jorgenson inquired about the process of petitioning abutting property owners and determination of whether vested rights are affected. Mr. Sperr explained how a Site Plan Review Committee is selected. The report was completed. 4.D 14-0907 Briefing on Engineering Design and Development Standards Mr. Sperr discussed the proposed Engineering Design and Development Standards (EDDS) updates and reviewed how proposed changes will affect bicycle facility requirements, requirements for LED light standards to replace high pressure sodium (HPS), and solid waste receptacle placement standards. Ms. Karen Messmer, a representative of Olympia City Streets Campaign, discussed the letter sent from this organization. She expressed concern about the citizen participation process and the difficulty when comments get integrated the following year, rather than the year in which they are submitted. Discussion: - Lighting and the effects of color temperature on wildlife corridors. City of Olympia Page 2 Land Use & Environment Meeting Minutes September 25, 2014 Committee - Problems of current lighting color and temperature which does not meet quality of life standards. - Speed bumps and neighborhood street limits. - EDDS and action plan coordination. - Concern about feedback timeframe allowed on Oly Speaks and the problems with inadequate processing by the City, and insufficient archiving which would allow for continuity, reference, and appropriate integration. Chair Langer thanked Ms. Messmer for her active participation and the excellent level of detailed advice in the letter. He suggested changes to the Oly Speaks tracking system based on her comments and staff agreed to address Ms. Messmer's concerns confirming the goal of the City website to support public engagement. Mr. Daniel Einstein from Olympia Coalition for Ecosystems Preservation spoke about the organization's efforts to conserve the West Bay woods and Schneider Creek basin. He read a prepared letter and will submit the letter by email to Councilmembers. Chair Langer thanked Mr. Einstein and explained the Committee's role and who makes decisions regarding development. He recommended Mr. Einstein meet with Mr. Hall to discuss effective strategies for further City involvement. Committee Member Roe moved, seconded by Committee Member Hankins, to recommend the proposed updates move to a public hearing before City Council on October 28, 2014. The motion passed unanimously. 5. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 7:18 p.m. City of Olympia Page 3