NORTH ROSE HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MINUTES of GENERAL MEETING, March 17, 1997

March meeting, at the Kirkland Boys and Girls Club, was opened at 7:30 pm. Attendance numbered approximately 50.

Minutes of last general meeting, of January 20, 1997, were handed out and approved.

Treasurer's report: $63 is our account balance. ($46.00 of donations were received at this meeting.)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Welcome Folders: A supply of updated welcome folders was provided, and members encouraged to take some and give to new move-ins. These inlcude latest bus schedules and 1997 Citizens Directory of Elected Officials (extra copies set out for all).

2. Traffic Circle: New installation (our first) is proposed at 126 NE and NE 90th. For 30-day trial period it will just be "posts," but converted to curb and landscaping if successful.

3. Stop Light at 124th NE and NE 90th: Not scheduled for activation until May (need dry weather for paving).

4. Agenda: Main program (Agenda Item V) was moved up ahead of Items III and IV, to accommodate Eric Shield's getting back to special session of Planning Commission.

PROGRAM - Planned Unit Developments (PUD's) and Development Densities

Speakers: Eric Shields, City's Director of Planning and Community Relations Department, and staff member Lori Anderson.

A. Mr. Shields explained the PUD process and distributed copies of City Code Chapter 125, Planned Unit Developments, and provided extract copies of Wetlands portion of Code and chart of Permits for Process IIB Permits.

B. Ms Anderson discussed three different examples of PUDs and the benefits provided by each: -- Aspen Creek -- Heather Glen -- The small "Chateau Village" development vic 92d and 128th.

C. During questions and discussion, audience expressed strong feelings and recommendations on following topics:

1) PUD densities. PUDs with densities way above what the zoning otherwise allows are being requested and granted. Where properties include unbuildable wetlands (even lake waters), developers are allowed to take credit, acre for acre, for the portions that are unbuildable. This can greatly increase the number of units on the remaining, buildable, acreage. On top of that, in some instances the ordinances say densities can be increased another 10 percent. For one pending North Rose Hill PUD plan, the density of the portion to be built on is about 30 units per acre. These kinds of densities are inconsistent with that area's zoning (12 units per acre that case), to say nothing of the fact that most of this neighborhood is single family residential.

2) Cumulative impacts of densities, traffic, etc., on entire neighborhood need to be taken into consideration

3) Codes need revision so that calculations of densities do not include wetlands, or lakes, or other undevelopable property.

4) There ought to be a ceiling on the density of PUD's overall, such as a maximum number per square mile.

5) City should require developers to define PUD public benefits in terms of dollar amounts, not just vague words.

6) Too many of the new developments are unattractive, even ugly. To help NRHNA have an impact on our neighborhood character there should be a design review committee for the neighborhood.

7) Density criteria should be in the Sensitive Areas Ord, not tucked away in the PUD Ord.

8) Density criteria in general

The Association will study and prepare a strategy for urging City to take action on the above kinds of items.

The Boys & Girls Club was closing, and the meeting had to be adjourned, without getting to other agenda items, at 9:05 pm.