Vashon-Maury Island Land Use Committee Meeting Minutes
January 30, 2008
Land Trust Building

Attendees: Steve Abel, Bill Ameling, Emma Amiad, Tom Bangasser, Karen & Don Barringer, Pam Bredouw, Beth DeGroen, Hilary Emmer, Darren Fox, John Gerstle, Eric Horsting, Martin and Ravenna Koenig, Yvonne Kuperberg, Julia Larsen (KC), Maeve Lambert, Gar and Emily MacRae, Truman O’Brian, Keith Putnam, Barbara Roberts, Dick Sontgerath, Barbara Wells, Greg Wessel, Susan White, Melodie Woods, Mark Vornbrock, (and there were eight additional people in attendance who did not sign in)
 Susan White convened the meeting at 7 pm and said the purpose was to refine the motion presented at the December 2007 VMICC meeting by the Land Use Committee regarding the K2 building.  The VMICC board asked for a refinement of the language to more specific zoning language.

 Emma Amiad then facilitated the discussion.  
 She noted that about 70% of the planned uses, based on what the community asked for in the many meetings held in 2007, are already allowed in the current industrial zoning. . She then quickly reviewed the chronology of past meetings with the VMICC, King County, public meetings held, meeting with public entities on the Island and the non-profits a well as several business people.
She asked the meeting attendees how many thought it was inappropriate for the VMICC and the Land Use Committee (LUC) to consider a motion to support a rezone at all.  Ten people voted that it was inappropriate and Emma Amiad lead a discussion on that topic.
 Bill Ameling commented that this Committee does not usually do zoning and that we should not consider this motion. Keith Putnam disagreed and said that when he chaired the LUC it always dealt with zoning issues. Tom Bangasser questioned whether this issue was assigned to the LUC. Emma Amiad then explained that both the VMICC assigned this task to the LUC at its meeting in April of last year and that the County also assigned it to the LUC through its executive summary of the Comp Plan. Greg Wessel said that it was very unusual for there to be a public discussion about a re-zone before someone has actually asked for one. Julia Larsen said that Councilman Dow Constantine had requested research as to what could be included in a sub-area plan for this property (consistency with the Vashon Town Plan) and had requested a docket item be put into the Comp Plan in order to give the community time to discuss what they would like to see happen to the K2 property. Julia said that this made sense as part of the public process and was consistent with the KC Comp Plan.


Hilary Emmer asked who pays for a re-zone and Julia answered that it would be the current owner or a potential buyer of a property.  Emma Amiad noted that the LUC was not asking for a re-zone but only recommending or supporting a re-zone.  Steve Abel said this meeting was about as representative as any and that the LUC was as good as any source for this issue to be considered. Barbara Roberts commented that the people who are hesitant about a re-zone want to protect the town plan. Pam Bredouw said that KC Council is waiting for the VMICC’s recommendations and that we have flexibility to put forward a sub-area plan. Melodie Woods commented that the K2 facility could be a white elephant or a huge opportunity. Comments were made that under industrial zoning the property could be used for a jail, among other undesirable things, and that we are at peril if we do not have some control over the zoning. A comment was made by someone saying that he has lived here for 46 years and that he believed that the intent of the community was to have something worthwhile at K2.


 Tom Bangasser said we have to distinguish between what the community wants and what it needs implying there is an issue of affordability. Emma Amiad noted that we cannot have housing, e.g. living lofts, in industrial zoning which was one of the needs expressed by the community. Susan White referred to posters she had made that showed what was allowed in each type of zoning and commented that there was a lot of overlap between industrial zoning and community business zoning, which was the most logical change of zoning.
 
In response to Greg Wessel’s question as to whether we are being asked to comment on a sub-area plan, Julia Larsen said that all we are doing is determining that if the developer wants a zoning change, the community will be favorable to it. Keith Putnam said that when Paul Reitenbach spoke at the VMICC he said he had been assigned to study the K2 issue as a part of his Comp Plan work, but then found out that the VMICC was studying it so he was waiting for the VMICC response. Julia Larsen said that if the LUC passes the motion then we are telling Dow Constantine and the KC Council that we are in favor of allowing housing, and the other things not allowed in industrial zoning but this would only be a recommendation at this point. She also noted that potential property owners have the right to file for zoning changes anytime and the KC has the right to implement a zoning change. 
 
Tom Bangasser said we have an opportunity to advise the KC Council to accommodate a Community Center but “community center “is not defined in the Comp Plan. He recommends that we define a [Vashon] community center. Emma Amiad said that from the beginning the intent was to have a mixed use building and that the term “community center” was never used. 
 
 Questions were asked about grandfathering and water rights. Any change of use would require meeting current codes. An expansion of the building’s footprint would not be grandfathered. New bathrooms would have to meet ADA standards. The three commercial water shares that the K2 building has are equivalent to approximately 20 private home water shares.  Keith Putnam stated that there is ample water and electrical service for any of the potential uses suggested by the community or the K2 Commons team (Heritage Group).
 
A business owner commented that the retail business community is concerned about adding retail space. Dick Sontgerath responded that virtually no retail space was planned. Someone said that if we want a vibrant community we need some businesses here beyond just retail.  Emma Amiad added that to her knowledge, the business people interested in K2 are professional businesses and small manufacturing, not retail.
 
The discussion concluded and Emma Amiad called for a vote as to whether it is appropriate for this group to make a rezone recommendation concerning the K2 property.  The group voted almost unanimously that they felt that it was inappropriate. 
 
Dick Songerath said his group is doing a needs assessment and by May or June they should know what will be in the building, for example doctors’ offices, daycare, a YMCA like facility, commercial kitchen, etc. 
 
Emma Amiad suggested, and the group agreed, that the LUC recommend to the board of the VMICC that an ad hoc committee be appointed to study the sub area plan and the town plan to get a better idea of the role of the community in the K2 site.
 
The meeting adjourned at 8:45 pm.