Planning Commission OKs Nine Proposed Amendments to Comprehensive Plan

Nine proposed amendments to the city of Enumclaw's Comprehensive Plan were reviewed and approved by the city's Planning Commission during its meeting Thursday; those amendments now go to the City Council to set the final docket.

According to Community Development Director Erika Shook, the city accepts requests for amendments to the plan once a year -- the deadline typically being the fourth Monday in January.

The Comprehensive Plan is an extensive document that outlines everything from land use to water to sewer, City Administrator Mike Thomas had explained .

Many residents -- particularly those who are eyeing projects related to land use and zoning -- are interested in ensuring the Comprehensive Plan reads in their favor. During the year, this policy document is referred to often for a variety of purposes. "It's the basis for what goes to the Planning Commission and to the City Council," Thomas said.

This year, the city received four private amendment requests -- the city of Enumclaw also had five amendments of their own, Shook said.

• A map amendment for a specific site to change from current Single Family Residential to Multi Family Residential in an area bound by State Route 410 on the south and Farman Street to the west. This was requested by Eric Corliss, Canyon Creek Company/Rob Stewart, American Engineering Corporation for Fiske Apartments. (Map ID: CPA 01 - see corresponding map pdf)
• A map amendment for a specific site to change from Single Family Residential to Mixed Density Residential in an area bound by State Route 410 on the south and Farman Street to the west. This was requested by JE Work/Guidant, Derek Sinclair. (Map ID: CPA 02)
• A map amendment for a specific site to change from Commercial to Multi Family Residential in the area behind the . The request also included a code amendment to reduce the maximum unit count for retirement homes and assisted care living facilities. This was requested by Dave Treat, Finn Investments/Guidant, Derek Sinclair. (Map ID: CPA 03)
• An amendment from the city to include land use, zoning, transportation, capital facilities, parks/open space/trails for the Big West Subarea Plan. (Map ID: CPA 04)
• An amendment from the city to provide several general Comprehensive Plan updates including incorporating all previous amendments into one document, a minor update to Capital Facilities and Transportation Elements and Land Use designations/zoning clarification and policies.
• An amendment from the city to update the 2006 Park and Recreation Plan which includes updating the park, recreation and open space elements of the Comprehensive Plan. A was put together to gather input from the public. The city is keeping the survey open through the month of April, Shook said.
• Several code amendments from the city planning department regarding elements including subdivision code revisions, enforcement changes, site plan review processes, street improvement standards and instituting a family home for adults definition to comply with state law.
• A code amendment from the Olympic Kennel Club to change the dangerous animal code and leave out specific breeds. There was concern that pit bulls were being singled out, Shook said. Note: Section 7.08 of Enumclaw Municipal Code bans pit bulls in city limits.
• An amendment with regards to the Shoreline Master Program which is currently pending further discussion with the Department of Ecology, Shook said.

City staff had reviewed all nine amendments and judged there would be time for review and to add them to the final 2011 docket of amendments, with the exception of the Park and Recreation Plan, Shook said. Staff have placed that on the 2012 docket.

Similarly, requested code amendments can be completed at any time and are processed separately from the docket as staff resources allow, she said.

Thursday's meeting also afforded a public hearing on these proposed amendments, but no one came to speak about this preliminary docket. It now heads to City Council while staff conduct their analysis of each amendment. The docket will later come back to the Planning Commission and will also involve the office of the Hearing Examiner, Shook said, though all permanent amendments would have to be approved by the City Council.

The timeline for the final docket to be approved will likely occur in the August to October time frame, she said.

The Comprehensive Plan would then not be up for more amendment proposals until January 2012. 

In other news:

• The Commission further reviewed elements of the Big West Subarea Plan land use and open space, located mostly west of 244th Avenue S.E., south of State Route 164 and north of the Enumclaw Airport. Shook presented the commission with two possibilities as they pertain to levels of service the city would like to be able to provide in this area, ahead of potential future developments that would bring in more residents:
  • Two new trails adjacent to existing roads that extend cumulatively for about two miles. 
  • One or more neighborhood parks within walking distance (a quarter of a mile). The area has 8.6 acres that could be set aside for one or more parks.
• The Planning Commission welcomed new commissioner Fred Sears.
• The next Design Review Board meeting will be on April 7 at 6 p.m. A meeting of the Hearing Examiner is also scheduled for April 20.