00416stripped. Ms. Charleson explained the tree cutting restrictions.
Tom Archie of.9311 S.E. 36th St., Mercer Island the developer, stated
that the previous proposal at this location had been for approximately
30 units, and he was proposing only 13. He said it was not economically
feasible to run a sewer line from the available line to the property,
and that it also was not feasible to hook up to Lynnwood. He said they
had consulted with Warren Williams, a King County soils engineer, who had
percolated the land and found it satisfactory for septic tanks. Mr.
Archie said he could put in 23-30 units if he cut down a lot of trees,
and the question was whether they had a good development or destroy
trees and topography. Mr. Archie stated that Mr. Allen had never
said sewers would be required, and if they were required he would not
stay down to 13 one -acre lots. He said there was no way to retain the
character of the land and have sewers. He asked that the proposal be
considered with septic tanks instead of sewers. City Attorney Wayne
Tanaka read Section 12.10.050 of the Edmonds City Code which requires
connection within 800' of a sewer, and Mr. Allen commented that this
.is within 20'-30' of the Lynnwood sewer line. Donald Coffin of 6727
163rd P1. S.W. said the ground at the site slopes tremendously and to
put in a drain field would appear impossible. He said he could not
believe they would consider septic tanks in that area. Commissioner
Dickson commented on the places.all around the City where the ground had
percolated well and as development progressed the percolation deteriorated.
Warren Williams, stating he is a registered sanitarian in the State
of Washington, said he had been doing perc tests in King County for 10
years. He described the soil on this property and said it percolates
well, and that if the property were developed with the minimum number of
houses and were not cut and terraced there would be no problem of percola-
tion failure. He said the soil would perc according to Snohomish County
requirements. Rick McArdle-said he helped to design this project and that
the houses will be on a hilltop surrounded by a greenbelt. He said the
other 50% of'the land will absorb the effluent. Commissioner Dickson said
he, was concerned for the people on the other side of the road from this
site. Mr. Williams said that when water travels underground, after it
travels 100' the organic matter in it is nil. The public portion of the
.hearing was.closed.
COMP1ISSIONER SITTAUER MOVED -THAT PRD-3-77 BE APPROVED,,WITH THE•:RECOMMENDA-
TIONS4F'THE CITY ENGINEER, AS THE CONCEPT OF THE PRD,WAS VERY,GOOD AS-,,`
COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS PROPOSAL FOR THE SITE,,AND AS HE DID NOT_BELIEVE
THE PLANNING~'COMMISSION COULD RESOLVE THE SEWER PROBLEM. COMMISSIONER
McGIBBON SECONDED THE MOTION. Commissioner McGibbon said he would like
to see the Planning and Engineering Departments get together and prepare
an analysis of recommendations made by the developers, taking into con-
sideration what is best for the City, the large number of units or the
sewers. He requested a position paper in the packets for the next
hearing on this application. City Attorney Wayne Tanaka added that if
they come in with a 25-lot subdivision, they will still have to meet the
requirements of the subdivision code. THE MOTION 1HEN CARRIED.
ZO-7-77 Amendment to the Zoning Code, Sections 12.12.050 and 12.13.110, to allow
detached dwelling units in a multi -family complex.
Ms. Charleson said this proposal was to update the Code so that when a
multi -family complex is being constructed where a single family residence
already exists the builder will not be required to attach the two struc-
tures. This had been the requirement, sometimes resulting in an aesthetically
unpleasing complex. Ms. Charleson indicated this change would create no
significant environmental impacts. The public portion of the hearing was
opened, no one wished to speak, and the public portion was closed. Ms.
Charleson added that all apartment buildings go before the Amenities
EDMONDS PLA14NING COMMISSION
Page 3 - July 27, 1977
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