HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-28-2001 - MinutesMEDINA CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION
JOINT STUDY SESSION
MINUTES
August 28, 2001
7:00 PM
Medina City Hall
501 Evergreen Point Rd
Mayor Becker called the Study Session of the Medina City Council to order at 7:03 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Council Members Paul Demitriades, Jim Lawrence, Thomas E. Morgan, Mary Odermat, Steve Preston,
and Mayor Dan Becker
Absent: Council Member Suzanne Cohen
P.C. Present: Planning Commissioners Mark Nelson, Todd Nunn, Miles Adam, Gary Andreini and Chair Mark Lostrom
Absent: Commissioner Brog
Staff Present: City Manager Doug Schulze, Planning Manager Jenny Schultz, City Attorney Kirk Wines, Police Chief
Michael Knapp and Deputy City Clerk Craig Fischer
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Council Member Demitriades announced the fact that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) had been
published for review and comment concerning expansion and improvements to the Interstate 405 corridor. He suggested
that the Planning Commission make an effort to review the document and comment to City Council.
OTHER BUSINESS
Discussion of R-16 Recommendations - Mayor Becker stated that the recommendations for amendments to R-16
zoning provisions would be discussed and commented upon during a public hearing before the Planning Commission.
Formal recommendations from the Planning Commission will then come before the City Council for further consideration.
Discussion of Ordinance No. 714, Establishing a Construction Code of Conduct — Mayor Becker suggested that the
Construction Code of Conduct, Nuisance and Construction Mitigation Plan ordinances all be consolidated into one
location within the Medina Municipal Code (MMC). There was considerable discussion between the Council and Planning
Commission over how to make the Code of Conduct enforceable and whether it could be worded to accomplish such.
Commissioner Nelson suggested the addition of certain language within the proposed Ordinance No. 714 into the current
Code of Conduct form contained within the standard building permit application packet. Further discussion took place with
the topic being whether homeowners, contractors and architects could all be educated on Code of Conduct regulations by
method of an annual business license program. Lastly, combining the Code of Conduct language with language of
Construction Mitigation for Smaller Projects was briefly mentioned. Mayor Becker finished by saying that the Planning
Commission would review any of the possible combinations mentioned above and report back to the City Council with
recommendations.
Nuisances — City Attorney Wines stated that this proposed ordinance established a mechanism for dealing with
nuisances and/or violations of both land use regulations and the Construction Code of Conduct.
Discussion of Ordinance No. 688, Amending the Construction Mitigation Plan — Revisions were made to this
ordinance in March of 2001. An effort was made to combine the provisions of the mitigation plan with the Medina Code of
Conduct but was unsuccessful. City Attorney Wines suggested that the two ordinances be treated separately. After further
discussion, Mayor Becker stated that the proposed ordinance would go back to the Planning Commission for review. The
Council would then review recommendations from the Commission and public hearings would be held to receive
comment.
Large Home Policy (Additional agenda item F) - Planning Commissioner Adam along with Vice -Chair Nelson explained
the research and graph they had completed with regard to large home construction. Discussion took place on whether or
not these sizes of homes are inline with the provisions of the Medina Comprehensive Plan. There was a consensus that
certain principles needed to be considered while reviewing policy on large home construction:
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1. Because of the wide variation of lot size in all zones and especially in R-16, regulations for all zones should be
generally compatible.
2. Homes on lots smaller than 16000 square feet should conform to neighborhood character and that overly large
and imposing homes on such lots in any zone should not be permitted.
3. The 25-foot height limit should not be exceeded in the R-16 zone.
4. Experience indicates that many variances are requested for renovation of older homes built to the lot setbacks of
King County before Medina's incorporation or in the early years of the City (i.e. 5 foot side and 20 foot front
setbacks). The Council favors reducing the number of variances needed by adopting a sliding decrease in the
side setbacks from those adopted for larger lots in the R-20 and R-30 zones (i.e. 10 feet or 15% of lot width).
5. When side setbacks are less than 10 feet, a roof cut should be mandated.
6. A property owner should be allowed to build a contemporary home on any buildable lot in Medina. To meet this
objective, the joint committee that greater lot coverage should be allowed on the smaller lots. The Council agreed
with the joint committee.
Large Home Policy will go back to Planning Commission for their review and consideration. They will then submit
recommendations to the Council.
Communication (Additional agenda item G) — The Council and Commission discussed various methods for improving
communication between the two bodies. Staff was directed to provide City Council meeting minutes to Planning
Commission and also, to look at the feasibility of moving the meeting date of Planning Commission in order to allow
needed time for the preparation, forwarding and review of Planning Commission recommendations to the City Council.
ADJOURNMENT
Council Members agreed by consensus to adjourn the study session at 9:05 p.m.
Z,//Z-
Da'niel'F.' Becker, Mayor -
Attest: Z.7.x--.
Craig rischer, putt' City Clerk
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