Hot Topics: Agenda for Shoreline council meeting includes Fircrest and Point Wells

Shoreline City Hall and Council Chamber
Photo by Mike Remarcke

The agenda for the October 7, 2019 Shoreline Regular Council meeting features two Action Items. 

Action Item 8(a) Public Hearing and Adoption of Ordinance No. 868 – Establishing a Citywide Moratorium on the Filing, Acceptance, Processing, and/or Approval of Applications for Master Plan Development Permits and Applications for Essential Public Facility Special Use Permits

The Department of Social and Health Services is currently developing a Fircrest Master Development Plan permit application that includes expansion of existing uses and that may include new uses and the siting of a behavioral health facility which is considered an *Essential Public Facility (EPF). The Development Code identifies both the Special Use Permit and the Master Development Plan permit as processes to be used for the siting of EPFs.

This was last discussed at the September 16, 2019 Council meeting.

The City’s Master Development Plan permit and Special Use Permit decision criteria adopted in 2008 and 2000 respectively, may be outdated and not reflective of Shoreline’s current goals and policies; the City Council has significant concerns about development in the City under the current permit regulations in the context of the visions and goals of the City’s Comprehensive Plan; allowing the submittal of applications for these permits before the City can conduct a comprehensive analysis, may result in applications being approved that could not only violate the goals and policies of the City’s Comprehensive Plan but also result in adverse impacts to the character of the City and its citizens.

This Moratorium will provide the City Council time to review these regulations and policies.

*RCW 36.70A.200

(1) Essential public facilities include those facilities that are typically difficult to site, such as airports, state education facilities and state or regional transportation facilities as defined in RCW 47.06.140, regional transit authority facilities as defined in RCW 81.112.020, state and local correctional facilities, solid waste handling facilities, and inpatient facilities including substance abuse facilities, mental health facilities, group homes, and secure community transition facilities as defined in RCW 71.09.020.

(5) No local comprehensive plan or development regulation may preclude the siting of essential public facilities.

Action Item 8(b)Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Settlement and Interlocal Agreement Between the City of Shoreline and Town of Woodway

The Council discussed the draft Settlement and Interlocal Agreement, regarding Point Wells at its September 23, 2019 meeting. After discussing the proposed agreement, the City Council gave staff direction to talk with Woodway regarding potential edits to the Agreement to clarify SEPA responsibilities, required second access through Woodway when 25 or more housing units are proposed for development, and traffic levels of service. Staff have concluded these discussions and the proposed Settlement and Interlocal Agreement provides for clarification of SEPA responsibilities for the two cities and clarification related to Shoreline’s and Woodway’s roles in the provision of sewer services. Woodway is opposed to making changes to the agreement regarding the access road which would give any third parties an implied or perceived right to require that Woodway approve an access road. Woodway is also opposed to any change related to their traffic level of service.

Council is scheduled to either continue to discuss or adopt the proposed Settlement and Interlocal Agreement with the Town of Woodway.

--Pam Cross