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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-30-1998 - MinutesMEDINA CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION JOINT SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES March 30, 1998 Medina City Hall 7:00 PM 501 Evergreen Point Rd. CALL TO ORDER A special joint meeting of the Medina City Council and Planning Commission was called to order at 7:05 PM by Mayor Becker. The meeting was recorded on audio tape. ATTENDANCE Councilmembers Present: Councilmembers Suzanne Cohen, Tom Morgan, Steve Preston, and Mayor Dan Becker. Commission Members Present: Members Gari Andreini, Ed LaBelle, Mark Lostrom, and Paul Saad. Staff Present: City Manager Doug Schulze, City Attorney Kirk Wines, Asst. City Mgr./City Clerk Woody Edvalson, Chief Building Official Lowell Erickson, City Planning Consultant Bob Burke, Architectural Consultant- Patricia Brennan DISCUSSION The City Council and Planning Commission held a joint special meeting to discuss Ordinance No. 614, which was proposed to increase side yard setbacks in the R-20 and R-30 zones. Mayor Becker and City Planning Consultant Bob Burke provided background to the development of the proposed ordinance which had included detailed discussion at the Planning Commission level, as well as at the Council level, both at the committee and full council levels. Mr. Burke displayed several three dimensional models to help illustrate the differences between the City Council and Planning Commission approaches to the housing bulk, side wall height and sloped roof issues. The Council and Commission also discussed the theory behind the Commission proposal to measure building height from the ridge line down as opposed to the existing method of measuring up to the ridge line from original grade. The primary difference between the two approaches was in the impact on contiguous floor space in a home Medina City Council Minutes March 30, 1998 Page 2 built on sloped property. The current ordinance forces a house to stair -step down the slope, thus decreasing contiguous floor space. PUBLIC HEARING Mayor Becker opened the public hearing. He added that the Council/Commission understood the emotion of the proposed ordinance and hoped to gather sound impressions and advice from those assembled. The following members of the audience spoke: Les Houle, Kensington Development, building own home at 3233 Evergreen Point Road, appreciated the Council for listening to those concerned about the issue. He felt that Medina is already restrictive. More restrictions will lead to horrible architecture. He was concerned that property values would be diminished. If the ordinance were in place, he would not have bought in Medina. He was concerned that there was not enough advanced notice and discussion of the issue. Art Whittlesy, John L. Scott Real Estate, Resident of Yarrow Pt., also expressed concern about impacts on property values. He said that one of the major impacts on property values was in the uncertainty over this long period of time as to what the outcome of proposed ordinances would be. He encouraged that narrow lots be made less restrictive in building standards to allow more liberty in architecture. He asked that the ordinance be more helpful, less confusing and simpler to implement. John Nelson, Triad Associates, 1184 115 Ave. NE, Kirkland, said that a house will sell for 3-4 times the value of the lot development costs. Less square footage available in the home will reduce the value of the construction. City property taxes would be reduced. He suggested a grace period for adoption of any ordinance, that lot coverage increases be allowed and that side yard setbacks be a percentage of lot width. He asked that home reconstruction be addressed. Greg Whitten, 8335 Overlake Dr. W, commented that the 45 degree slope on the setback would create limitations on architectural style. He felt the current ordinance was satisfactory and required no change. Anna Riley, 8429 NE 7th St., felt that the Medina Code drives the home design. She felt that something should be done to preserve the character of homes in Medina. Rick Leavitt, Leavitt Construction, 9252 Points Drive, Yarrow Point, felt that the size of the audience was an indication that the majority of residents were not concerned enough to support an ordinance change. He said that the current ordinance was adequate for Medina's needs. Dick Hansen, 443 86th Ave. NE, said that he had personal experience with new homes and high walls in his neighborhood He urged restriction of houses that are too big. Medina City Council Minutes March 30, 1998 Page 3 Earl Johnson, 8711 Ridge Road, Councilmember from 190-1964, felt that the past actions of city councils in delaying action over a period of years might have discouraged residents from thinking that any action would be taken currently. He encouraged residents to persevere, be involved and see proposed ordinances to a conclusion. John Runkel, 8810 NE 2nd PL., said that the Council must recognize that people will build to the edge of the allowable envelope no matter where it's set. Ruth Whitten, said that an economic reality is that land values are rising. It would be difficult to role back the value of property. Gretchen Dawson, 1849 Evergreen Point Road, explained that she was concerned about bulk, too, but found the current code very restrictive for second story buildings. She felt that greater heights were needed in the R-16 zone She said that Bellevue differentiates between flat roofs and pitched ones, giving greater height to pitched roofs. Geoff Whitten, expressed that the best proposal he'd heard was to allow variation of height based on the setback. He added that some of the construction in Medina has cheapened because of the property costs. He felt that the current proposal would take house construction out of the typical Medina character. Patrician Brennan, the City's architectural consultant, spoke briefly to try and clarify issues relevant to her scope of work. Seeing no further members of the audience wishing to speak, Mayor Becker closed the public hearing. In further discussion between the Council and Planning Commission it became apparent that the two bodies had been approaching the issues from two different perspectives. The City Council had been trying to reduce the impact of large homes on adjacent neighbors by increasing the separation between houses at the ground level. The Planning Commission had been trying to treat the impact of bulk in new homes at the second story and higher. The discussion was concluded by asking Ms. Brennan to apply her expertise to help the Council understand the impacts of the proposals and different perspectives. Mayor Becker asked that the two legislative bodies hold a joint hearing again at the end of May in order to consider the consultant's recommendations. NEW BUSINESS As an item of new business, Councilmember Morgan introduced the issue of the City's existing definition of reconstruction. He was concerned that the percentage threshold triggering reconstruction verses remodeling was set so low that almost any reasonable alteration to a home could now be classified as a reconstruction. He added that the culprit seemed to be the tax assessors practice of assigning most of the value of a property to the land. Building Official Lowell Erickson urged that the whole section of the Medina Code be reconsidered. Mayor Becker assigned the topic to the Planning Commission for review. Medina City Council Minutes March 30, 1998 Page 4 ADJOURNMENT At 9:20 PM, Mayor Becker asked for a motion to adjourn. Councilmember Preston provided the motion. By common consent the joint special meeting was adjourned. Attest: 7 1 H rwood T. Edvalson, City Clerk aani6lbecker, Mayor