OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Shoreline Planning Commission Study Session on Subdivision Vacation Code and Housing Plan Update - May 20, 2021

Planning Commission — Thursday, May 20, 2021
BodyShoreline, Washington
SessionPlanning Commission
DateThursday, May 20, 2021
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
⇩ GET FROM SOURCE

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

The roll call.

0:01

Ms.

0:01

Oklahoma, can you help us with that?

0:08

Thank you.

0:09

Commissioner Callahan.

0:13

Commissioner Beliska.

0:15

Present.

0:16

Commissioner N.

0:21

Commissioner Mallet.

0:25

Chair Mark.

0:28

Yeah.

0:29

Commissioner Manner Sandheim.

0:32

Present.

0:33

That's my second.

0:37

Yeah.

0:38

Thank you.

0:40

Thank you.

0:41

And then are there any changes to the agenda?

0:47

Hearing none, we will in new business hear a report from Andrew Bauer again.

0:55

And on the approval of the minutes, are there any concerns drop a minutes?

1:00

Hearing none.

1:02

Is there any buddy signed up for general public comment?

1:07

I have none on this evening.

1:09

Thank you.

1:12

Then we're moving on to the study item.

1:15

Subdivision vacation development code amendments.

1:22

Great.

1:22

Thank you.

1:23

I'll go ahead and share my channel screen here.

1:27

I'm Kate Lee.

1:28

I am an associate planner with the city, and the item I'm here to present to you tonight is subdivision vacation regulations that we're proposing.

1:41

So a little background, these plot alteration regulations that were adopted in 2019, those have allowed the city to really implement our NER zoning and the station areas.

1:53

And what a what a PLAT alteration is, it allows an aspect of the PLAT to be changed.

2:00

And a PAT is the document when you're taking one piece of land and you're subdividing it into multiple pieces of land, it's the document that gets recorded with the county.

2:11

So we've been allowing these PLAT alterations since 2019.

2:18

And tonight, talking to you about the need for subdivision vacation regulations.

2:34

There could be instances where a developer owns all the lots in a subdivision, and the subdivision contains numerous easements or restrictions that would no longer serve any function under a lot of similarity and redevelopment scenario.

2:48

Like if you know the current use of all those parcels are single family homes, and a developer has bought them in the in your 70 zone and they plan to assemble those in order to redevelop the site as a large multifamily building.

3:22

And this is this would be where you can simultaneously extinguish both the restrictions and the easements, and it's the most streamlined process.

3:31

We don't currently have this process in our code on the alteration.

3:35

So the example on the screen here is from a two-watch short flat from 2007.

3:41

So it was you know when the city of Shoreline hadn't been around for 12 years, so it was approved by the City of Shortline.

3:58

Um want for that development, you know, back in 2007 for a single family home.

4:04

But all of these aspects don't make sense in a redevelopment scenario as part of the larger assemblies and in your 70s for example.

4:17

There are state regulations and procedures on vacation of a subdivision, and we're proposing amendments in our code that are consistent with the state regulations.

4:30

And it would be a type C action, so that would be a hearing examiner decision.

4:35

This is this is what's being proposed.

4:37

Um the application meeting and a neighborhood meeting are required prior to an application, and then once an application has been received by the city, there's procedures for notice of application, which goes out to property owners within 500 feet of the subdivision.

4:56

There's a public hearing before the hearing examiner, and then a decision is provided on that by the hearing examiner.

5:02

If the hearing examiner decision is appealed, then it would go to the superior court.

5:11

Next steps would be a public hearing back here at the planning commission on June 17th, and then it would go on to City Council with this commission's recommendation in July and August.

5:36

Thank you, Miss Lee, for the presentation.

5:39

Does anyone have any questions?

5:45

I have a question.

5:49

Hi Kate.

5:50

Thanks for presenting.

5:52

I'm just curious.

5:55

Let's say there's an MUR 70 uh partial assemblage, and you've got a majority of 51% plus that's owned by two developers, you know, half by one, half by another, something like that.

6:12

But there's still other parcels that are still owned by single family owners.

6:16

Can those folks automatically just kind of execute, you know, based on what we're talking about, or do they have to own all of it for it to become you know uh uh executable?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Use Planning█████████████████████████████████████████████63%
Procedural█████████13%
Public Transportation██████9%
Housing Affordability██████8%
Public Engagement█████7%
Summary of Proceedings

Shoreline Planning Commission Study Session – May 20, 2021

The Shoreline Planning Commission met on May 20, 2021, to discuss proposed subdivision vacation regulations as a study item and received an update on the Missing Middle Housing Choice plan presented to the City Council. The meeting included roll call, agenda approval, and commissioner announcements.

Consent Calendar

  • Agenda approved without changes.
  • Minutes approved without discussion.
  • No general public comments were submitted.

Discussion Items

  • Subdivision Vacation Development Code Amendments: Associate Planner Kate Lee presented proposed amendments to create a subdivision vacation process in the city code. The process would allow a developer who owns all lots in a subdivision to extinguish easements and restrictions that no longer serve a function, particularly in redevelopment scenarios (e.g., assembling single-family parcels in an MUR-70 zone for multifamily). The proposal follows state RCW requirements, requiring all property owners' permission to apply. It would be a Type C action decided by the Hearing Examiner, with pre-application and neighborhood meetings, notice to property owners within 500 feet, a public hearing, and possible appeal to Superior Court.

    • Commissioner questions focused on: whether the process requires unanimous ownership (yes), treatment of unrecorded subdivisions (staff to clarify with city attorney), how permanent easements are handled (extinguished unless they benefit a non-subdivision entity or serve a public benefit, as determined by the Hearing Examiner), and the possibility of partial vacation (staff indicated early consultation would determine the best tool—plat alteration vs. vacation). The example given was a 2-lot plat from 2007 with only drainage and access easements that would no longer be needed after redevelopment.
    • Next steps: A public hearing before the Planning Commission on June 17, 2021, followed by a recommendation to City Council in July/August.

  • Missing Middle Housing Choice Plan Update: Andrew Bauer reported that the City Council discussed the Housing Action Plan at their March 22 meeting. Council members appreciated the work and clarified that adopting the plan does not commit the city to any specific housing strategy but will inform future housing element updates and work plan items. Council showed interest in advancing a cottage housing ordinance. Staff made minor preamble revisions, and the plan is on the consent calendar for council adoption on May 24, 2021 (the following Monday).

Key Outcomes

  • No formal votes were taken at this meeting.
  • The subdivision vacation code amendments will be brought back for a public hearing on June 17, 2021.
  • The Missing Middle Housing Choice Plan is expected to be adopted by City Council on May 24, 2021.
  • Commissioner Malik reported no updates on the King County appeal and noted the process is lengthy.
  • The next Planning Commission meeting (date not specified) will feature a presentation from the UW School on mobility hubs.
  • Commissioner Beliska noted Seattle's planning for 130th and 145th light rail stations and inquired about collaboration; staff responded they are following Seattle's work and waiting for Sound Transit Board decisions on advancing the 130th station.

Meeting Transcript

The roll call. Ms. Oklahoma, can you help us with that? Thank you. Commissioner Callahan. Commissioner Beliska. Present. Commissioner N. Commissioner Mallet. Chair Mark. Yeah. Commissioner Manner Sandheim. Present. That's my second. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. And then are there any changes to the agenda? Hearing none, we will in new business hear a report from Andrew Bauer again. And on the approval of the minutes, are there any concerns drop a minutes? Hearing none. Is there any buddy signed up for general public comment? I have none on this evening. Thank you. Then we're moving on to the study item. Subdivision vacation development code amendments. Great. Thank you. I'll go ahead and share my channel screen here. I'm Kate Lee. I am an associate planner with the city, and the item I'm here to present to you tonight is subdivision vacation regulations that we're proposing. So a little background, these plot alteration regulations that were adopted in 2019, those have allowed the city to really implement our NER zoning and the station areas. And what a what a PLAT alteration is, it allows an aspect of the PLAT to be changed. And a PAT is the document when you're taking one piece of land and you're subdividing it into multiple pieces of land, it's the document that gets recorded with the county. So we've been allowing these PLAT alterations since 2019. And tonight, talking to you about the need for subdivision vacation regulations. There could be instances where a developer owns all the lots in a subdivision, and the subdivision contains numerous easements or restrictions that would no longer serve any function under a lot of similarity and redevelopment scenario. Like if you know the current use of all those parcels are single family homes, and a developer has bought them in the in your 70 zone and they plan to assemble those in order to redevelop the site as a large multifamily building. And this is this would be where you can simultaneously extinguish both the restrictions and the easements, and it's the most streamlined process. We don't currently have this process in our code on the alteration. So the example on the screen here is from a two-watch short flat from 2007. So it was you know when the city of Shoreline hadn't been around for 12 years, so it was approved by the City of Shortline. Um want for that development, you know, back in 2007 for a single family home. But all of these aspects don't make sense in a redevelopment scenario as part of the larger assemblies and in your 70s for example. There are state regulations and procedures on vacation of a subdivision, and we're proposing amendments in our code that are consistent with the state regulations. And it would be a type C action, so that would be a hearing examiner decision. This is this is what's being proposed. Um the application meeting and a neighborhood meeting are required prior to an application, and then once an application has been received by the city, there's procedures for notice of application, which goes out to property owners within 500 feet of the subdivision. There's a public hearing before the hearing examiner, and then a decision is provided on that by the hearing examiner. If the hearing examiner decision is appealed, then it would go to the superior court.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com