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District 2 Neighborhood Meeting Report 11/6/2014 6:30pm Puyallup Public Library Citizens attending: Approximately 70 Hosting Council: Councilmembers Palmer, Shadko, and Mayor Knutsen (standing in for Councilmember Vermillion) City Staff: City Manager Bill McDonald, Deputy Police Chief Dave McDonald, Public Works Director Rob Andreotti, Management Analyst Melanie Harding Public Works Items Shaw Road Future plans for Shaw Road were described by the Public Works Director at the meeting. 2013 – 2018 Transportation Improvement Plan. Beaver in Meeker Creek Public Works Director described the processes that had taken place to get the “Hydraulic Project Permit” needed to do the work to remove the beaver and the associated dam. The permit was approved by the state on the day of the meeting (11/6). He described the next steps that would be taken, including USDA wildlife management action to remove the beaver followed by deconstruction of the dam. Residents are advised to stay away from the dam through mid-December to avoid spooking the animal and improve the odds that the USDA will be able to locate and remove the beaver. Other Streets Projects The Public Works Director indicated that funding was a factor in completing various projects around the city (including sidewalks), and citizens could review those project currently proposed for funding in the “Streets Capital Improvement Project List” on page 265 of the proposed 2015 budget. Driveway Paving A citizen who lived in the 300 block of 16th ST SW reported that he and his neighbors were unable to pave the ends of their driveways due to a city right-of-way issue, and the gravel they have to use instead was messy. Research by Public Works indicates that residents can pave to the edge of asphalt within the right-of-way if they obtain a right-of-way permit and have a licensed/bonded contractor do the work. In addition, the Street division will be dressing up the gravel shoulders along 16th as time permits. Stream Team Efforts Citizens commented on the Meeker Creek Restoration project and stream side plantings, requesting contact info for the plan, maintenance information, and increased communication. The public can contact Melissa Buckingham with the Pierce Conservation District Stream Team at or [PHONE REDACTED], x. 109 to learn more about the efforts. Public Works is also looking at their communications plans for areas of improvement. ---PAGE BREAK--- Police Items Speeding/Traffic The Traffic Unit will be following up on the items listed below: 9th St. SW between 7th Ave and 15th Ave – Speeding (A citizen in attendance indicated that they had worked with neighbors to submit a traffic calming petition for this area as well) 7th St. SE between 15th Ave and 23rd Ave – Speeding Fruitland – Speeding Kalles Jr. High – congestion and illegal stopping/parking during morning and afternoon pick- up/drop-off. 11th St. SW off of Pioneer – Volume of traffic and speeding due to using the street as a bypass for construction. 23rd Ave. SE and 7th St. SE – Running the stop signs. (Traffic signal is scheduled for installation may help mitigate the issue.) Information on Neighborhood Traffic Calming can be found on the city’s website. Other Police-related Items Nuisance issues and illegal behavior at 414 Spring Street (New Hope Resource Center and Meeker Fellowship AA Hall) – Discussion of situation at meeting. Police are aware and actively involved in addressing the issues, and some follow up is being done through the Code Compliance Process on picnic table/benches in the city right-of-way. Possible drug house at 15th St. SE and 8th Ave. SE. – Information shared with the Special Investigations Unit for follow up. Miscellaneous A citizen in attendance provided information on a fundraiser for the Metro Animal Services Shelter. A citizen suggested the city collaborate with the school district and to encourage the school district to have a bigger vision for ballfields at Puyallup High School. Other citizens talked about the quality of life issues associated with more fields: noise, traffic, litter, etc. City staff have had some preliminary discussions with the School District on sports fields at Puyallup High School, but the city did not weigh in to approve/deny the fields and there has not been any recent conversation on the topic. Fruitland Ridge Subdivision Development – SEE FACT SHEET AT THE END OF THESE NOTES. Anyone who wishes to be on the email list for future public hearing(s) this item can contact Planner Chris Beale, [EMAIL REDACTED] Robbins Hollow Development – A citizen expressed regret that the planning for this development did not result in the retention of some of Fred Robbins’ Rhododendron collection: City Planning staff confirmed that, while some species were removed, others are being retained as part of the development. Another citizen remarked on the planned ingress/egress for the development and suggested that other citizens got to city hall to request the plans for the development. Noise from Kalles Junior High Intercom – Kalles Jr High Principal Guy Kovacs indicated that the school has made adjustments over the last year including: 1. Changing the announcer for the “all-call” intercom messages to someone with a voice that carries less, 2. Minimizing the number of “all-call” intercom announcements, 3. Discontinued use of the system on weekends, and 4. Adjusting the direction and volume of speakers. This is the first notice he’s had of continued noise conflicts since the adjustments, but he indicated that he will re-commit himself ---PAGE BREAK--- to the issue and work further with facilities to see if outside speakers can be reduced or shut- down. ---PAGE BREAK--- FACT SHEET – FRUITLAND RIDGE SUBDIVISION APPLICATION (7/18/14) I. PROPERTY CHARACTERISTICS This subdivision application involves a 12.82 acre, L-shaped property located in the 1300-1400 block on the east side of Fruitland Avenue (i.e. the wooded, hillside area between the “Linbo” blueberry farm and Firland Drive – see attached aerial photograph) Portions of the property have steep slopes (10-40%), some of which qualify as “erosion hazard areas” per the City’s Critical Area Code (see attached aerial photo with topo lines). Contrary to some neighborhood comments, however, there are no known creeks or major drainage courses on the property. Much of the site contains a mature tree canopy. The property (containing two parcels) is known as the “Morrison property” after the longtime owners; a single family home, with driveway to Fruitland Avenue, has existed for many years on SE portion of the site. The property also connects to Firland Drive via an unimproved right-of-way stub. While some recent public comments have referenced the property as a formal “greenbelt”, staff is not aware of any past action where this privately-owned site was designated as greenbelt or open space. This property, like the vicinity, is zoned “RS-10”, which allows single-family residential homes on 10,000 square foot lots. II. PROJECT PROPOSAL Over the past two years, City staff held multiple pre-application meetings with parties interested in subdividing this property. The current Preliminary Plat application, received in late March, 2014, is for 33 new home lots and three separate stormwater/open space tracts. A new public road would connect Fruitland to Firland. The project applicant is Kurt Wilson, a local builder with SoundBuilt Homes. Mr. Wilson is also the developer of the Stewart Crossing residential project, currently under construction on West Stewart. This Fruitland Ridge proposal is not proposed to be a Planned Development (the process which allows variation in lot sizes and clustering of units); all proposed home parcels would meet the RS-10 minimum lot size (10,000 square feet). A site plan reduction is attached. The Plat application contained a number of special studies, including a wetland/wildlife habitat report, an arborist report on significant trees and a geotechnical engineering report. Given the complexity of the site’s geologic situation, the City is using our contract geotechnical engineer to assist with the review of technical documents. III. CITY REVIEW PROCESS The Plat proposal is now undergoing City Development Review Team (DRT) review. Per standard procedure, City staff sent out a “Notice of Application” to surrounding property owners and various public agency, notifying them that this subdivision application has been received and its pending process. Following that mailing, we have received many comments from neighbors; these neighbors are being made formal “parties of record” on the project. On July 10, 2014, the City DRT issued an initial review letter (attached). Consistent with an application of this scale and complexity, staff is still requesting additional information and has several “big-picture” comments on the proposal. Key issues involve minimization of grading, ---PAGE BREAK--- geotechnic stability and tree retention. It is expected that the applicant will respond to this letter with additional information/plan submittals, triggering further staff review. The eventual Preliminary Plat decision on this project will involve a noticed public hearing before the City Hearing Examiner. Prior to that hearing, the City will have completed all project review/conditioning and issued a SEPA (environmental review) Determination. Per code, any appeal of a Hearing Examiner decision is to the City’s Appellate Hearing Examiner; further appeals are to Superior Court.