Loading...
Woodway Fields Phase 1 Council Findings, Conclusions and Decision.pdf1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 JIn RE the Application of: Woodway High School Field Improvements - Phase 1 For Design Review, a Conditional Use Permit, and a Variance No.: PLN -2014-0065, PLN -2014- 0066, PLN -2014-0067 (portion) Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of the Edmonds City Council on Phase 1 of the Woodway High School Field Improvements This consolidated application came before the Edmonds City Council on April 21, 2015 for a closed -record pre -decision hearing pursuant to ECDC 17.00.030.C. The Hearing Examiner conducted an open -record hearing on March 26, 2015 after the Architectural Design Board reviewed the project and made a recommendation to the Hearing Examiner on March 4, 2015. The City Council was presented with an agenda memo on April'', 21, 2015, which included the following eight exhibits: 1. March 19, 2015 Report & Recommendation to the Hearing Examiner from Mike Clugston, Associate Planner, and attachments thereto; Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 2. Powerpoint presentation used at the public hearing before the Hearing Examiner on March 26, 2015; 3. Poster from parties of record Davis and Markiel submitted at the March 26, 2015 public hearing before the Hearing Examiner; 4. Photo from party of record Cain -Lewis submitted at the March 26, 2015 public hearing before the Hearing Examiner; 5. Materials from party of record Wall submitted at the March 26, 2015 public hearing before the Hearing Examiner; 6. Public testimony sign -in sheet from the March 26, 2015 public hearing before the Hearing Examiner; 7. April 10, 2015 Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Recommendation to the City Council by the Hearing Examiner; 8. April 15, 2015 letter from Edmonds School District withdrawing the applications related to field lighting (PLN -2015-0009, PLN -2015-0013, and that portion of PLN - 2014 -0067 relating to field lighting). The review of this application was continued to April 28, 2015 to allow for the inclusion of the hearing examiner's summary of testimony in the record before the council which had not been included in the April 21 agenda and to allow for objections to argument provided at the April 21 meeting that was outside of the record established by the Hearing Examiner on Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 March 26, 2015. The City Council was presented with a supplemental agenda memo for April 28 which included the following two exhibits: 1. Summary of testimony compiled by the Hearing Examiner at the March 26, 2015 public hearing which was not originally included with his decision nor in the April 21 agenda memo; 2. Edmonds School District No. 15's Objections to Testimony Offered During Closed Record Hearing (PLN20140065, PLN20140066, PLN20140067) dated April 24, 2015. Based upon the record developed before the hearing examiner (see summary of testimony and exhibits), and based upon the withdrawal of the field lighting applications subsequent to the hearing examiner's recommendation, the City Council hereby adopts the following findings of fact and conclusions of law, which are largely based on the Hearing Examiner's recommendation dated March 26, 2015 but modified as necessary to account for the withdrawal of the application for field lighting: was]04Z[ej • 1. Applicant. Edmonds School District Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 2. Hearing. The Hearing Examiner conducted an open record hearing on the subject application on March 26, 2015 at 3:00 pm in the Council Chambers of the Edmonds Public Safety Complex. The City Council conducted a closed record review of the Hearing Examiner's recommendation on April 21, 2015, which was continued to April 28, 2015. The City Council conducted an appearance of fairness doctrine inquiry on both dates, disclosed ex parte communications that are attached hereto as Exhibit A, and inquired as to whether there were any objections to participation based upon the appearance of fairness doctrine. No objections were raised. Substantive: 3. Site and Proposal Description. The applicant has applied for one conditional use permit, one variance and design review to install ball control fencing and bleachers as part of a playfield improvement project at the former Woodway High School site at 23200 100th Ave West. The project site is located in two zoning districts, specifically the Open Space (OS) and Single -Family 8 (SR -8) zones. The conditional use permit is requested for bleachers and a 30 -foot high ball control fence in the OS zone. A variance is requested to exceed the height limit for the proposed thirty-foot ball control fence in the RS -8 zone. All applications for field lighting were withdrawn prior to the City Council's closed record review. Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Proposed improvements to the ball fields are divided into three phases, with the permits subject to this decision addressing Phase I. Phase I involves installing two new synthetic turf fields together with 30 -foot tall ball control fencing, backstops, bleachers, and dugouts. The project site is split -zoned between Open Space (OS) and Single -Family Residential (RS -8), with most of Phase I in the OS zone and a small portion in the southeastern corner in the RS -8 zone. See Ex. 1, att. 13. The existing school buildings, parking areas and vehicular circulation patterns will remain unchanged. Phases 2 and 3 may be constructed at a future date depending upon funding availability. Phases 2 and 3 may include an identical multipurpose synthetic turf field to the North which would connect the pedestrian pathway system to the southern field constructed in Phase 1. Phase 3 may include a one story restroom and concession building. It is not known at this time whether the abandoned field lighting application would be resubmitted in conjunction with Phase 2, Phase 3, or not at all. No portion of Phase 2 or Phase 3 is approved as part of this decision. The record is somewhat unclear as to how much ball field use will change as a result of the proposal. The testimony, which was given at the time the District was still proposing Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 field lighting, suggests that the change in use will be substantial. Numerous people testified of the strong need for additional fields. Many Edmonds residents have to travel to fields outside of Edmonds because Edmonds doesn't have enough ball fields available. A detailed summary of all the public testimony on the proposal is appended to this report as Attachment 1. 4. Characteristics of the Area. The surrounding area is primarily developed single-family residential, with some BN zoned property to the north. Adjoining uses are buffered by an existing forested area which varies between about 50 feet and 200 feet in width (Attachment 3, cover sheet). 5. Adverse Impacts of Proposed Use. The administrative record, created at the time that the District was proposing field lighting, revealed the potential for unmitigated significant adverse traffic impacts. Had the District not abandoned the lighting application, further information would have been necessary to determine whether traffic impacts needed to be mitigated. Excluding traffic impacts associated with the abandoned field lighting applications, the proposal will not create any other significant adverse impacts or be significantly detrimental to other properties. Impacts are more specifically addressed below: Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 A. Traffic. Approval of the bleachers and ball control fencing Ilcould result in increased use of the fields without the field (Tights, but the record does not suggest that this increase would be significant. The fields are already used for daytime sports activities. The conditions of approval limit the fields to lischool use during school hours. There is nothing about the addition of ball control fencing and bleachers that inherently suggests a major new draw for sports leagues during off -school hours. The reconfiguration of the ball fields, with or without artificial turf, should not generate a significant amount of new traffic because there will be no increase in the total number of fields. In any case, it is only the bleachers and fencing permits that are before the city council for consideration. The field reconfiguration is not the subject of these applications. Consequently, the impacts of the bleachers and fencing has to be considered in terms of how much traffic they would generate in addition to the traffic generated by ball field reconfiguration. That amount of traffic is more likely than not negligible. The applicant represented that it would keep the emergency access gate closed to motorized vehicular traffic to 102nd Place West. So, there should be no change from the status quo in that respect. As to internal circulation, there is nothing to suggest that any mitigation or design changes are necessary. The staff report concludes that internal circulation is adequate because no changes to internal circulation are proposed. In the absence Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 j 21 22 23 24 25 26 11of any evidence to the contrary, the staff's conclusions on this (tissue are determinative. B. Lighting. The proposed findings on this subject have been withdrawn as a result of the lighting applications being IIwithdrawn. C. Noise. As conditioned, the project does not create significant noise impacts. The City Council has adopted what it deems to be acceptable noise levels in Chapter 5.30 ECC. ECC 5.30.100(G) currently exempts noise from school or league sponsored athletic events from the noise level restrictions of Chapter 5.30 ECC. This should be construed as a legislative determination that high noise levels from athletic events should not be construed as significantly detrimental to neighboring properties. Although the City Council has comprehensively regulated noise levels in Chapter 5.30 ECC, there is nothing to suggest that the Council intended these regulations to prevent the imposition of reasonable noise control measures in the conditional use review process. Simply because the Council Minds high noise levels from athletic events to be tolerable doesn't mean that it would have found it acceptable for these noise levels to go on for 24 hours a day. The conditions of approval reasonably limit the noise of the athletic events by requiring the events to end at 10:00 p.m. Coupled with the forested buffer around the athletic fields, the project has been Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 reasonably designed and conditioned to limit noise impacts to adjoining property owners to reasonable levels. In any case, land use applicants cannot vest to standards expressed in a noise ordinance. If it becomes necessary to further regulate noise from the ball fields in the future, the City Council reserves the right to do so. Mr. Wall's exhibits, Ex. 5(c), contains a memorandum from the Greenbusch Group, a consultant with some apparent expertise in noise impacts. The memorandum notes that the bleachers will raise the noise level source. It states further that upon construction of all three phases the long-term use of the fields includes the potential for four games rather than the existing two. But it would be speculative and premature to condition these permits based upon the impacts associated with the future phases of the long-term project. While noise will increase as a result of the proposal, higher noise levels are deemed legislatively acceptable for league and school sponsored athletic events. The relevant inquiry for noise impacts is whether all reasonable mitigation measures have been imposed. The Greenbusch Group memorandum does not identify any additional reasonable noise conditions that could be imposed upon the project. As noted above, however, the City Council could further regulate such noise in the future if necessary. Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 D. Parking. Parking is adequate as defined by the City's legislatively adopted parking standards. Parking for different uses is regulated by ECDC 17.50.030(C), which provides that the (number of parking stalls must be the sum of the requirements for Indifferent uses. As shown on Attachment 9, there are currently 307 parking stalls on the site. For the school use, 102 parking stalls are required (1 stall per daytime employee per ECDC 17.50.020(C)(6)). For the playfield use, the requirement for outdoor places of public assembly in ECDC 17.50.020(C)(1) applies. This parking requirement indicates: "Outdoor places of public of assembly, including stadiums and arenas require one parking space per eight fixed seats or per 100 square feet of assembly area, whichever is greater." Using the fixed seat method, 42 parking stalls would be required for the playfields. However, using the assembly area method, 137 stalls would be required based on an estimate of where spectators would most likely congregate around the fields. Summing the 137 stalls for playfield use and the 102 stalls for school use equals 239 stalls, 68 less than the 307 existing stalls on the site. The proposal is also conditioned to provide that fields will not be scheduled for non -school activities during regular school hours to reduce conflicts between school and non -school use. Mr. Wall submitted Ex. 5(D), a statement from Ryan Hague, along with photographs, identifying that on warm days and during swim meets, vehicles used by visitors to the Klahaya Swim and Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Tennis Club regularly fill both sides of 238th St SW and 104th Ave W. The vehicles block driveways and sidewalks and obstruct sight distance at intersections. Mr. Wall submitted these documents as an example of why a traffic study is necessary. There is no information in the record to suggest that the parking standards applied to Klahaya are those that are being applied to the present proposal. In the absence of any evidence that the City's parking standards will prove inadequate for the ball field proposal or that Klahaya was subject to the same parking standards, the parking deficiencies of the Klahaya complex have no relevance to the proposal under consideration. E. Wildlife. The proposed bleachers will not create any significant impacts to wildlife. The City Council has adopted standards deemed adequate to protect wildlife in its critical area regulations, which includes fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas. Information in the record suggests that at least portions of the forested buffer surrounding the project qualify as fish and wildlife buffers under the critical areas regulations. The Pilchuck Audubon Society submitted a letter, Ex. 5(B), suggesting that noise from the field use could adversely affect bird species in the fish and wildlife habitat conservation area. The author of the Audubon letter is not identified and it is unknown if the author has any expertise on wildlife impacts. In the absence of any expert testimony that the City's critical area regulations were not designed to Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 address the type of wildlife impacts created by the proposal, the critical areas ordinances are found to adequately protect (wildlife from adverse impacts. F. Compatibility. Beyond the issues already addressed, the proposal is compatible with surrounding uses. The 50 to 200 foot -wide buffer surrounding the ball fields is taller than the proposed 30 foot fencing and bleachers. The proposed ball control fencing and bleachers in the OS zone will be set back between 100 and 200 feet from the nearest property line and will be screened by the forest buffer. Through withdrawal of the field lighting application, off-site traffic impacts are mitigated to conform to the City's level of service and street standards. Therefore, traffic impacts are deemed compatible with surrounding uses as well. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW Procedural: 1. Decision-making Authority. ECDC 20.01.003 provides that the Hearing Examiner would ordinarily hold a hearing and issue a final decision on conditional use permit and variance applications. ECDC 20.01.002(C) requires consolidation of design review permits with the hearing examiner review of the conditional use and variance permits. ECDC 17.00.030(C) Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 requires that the hearing examiner's authority on variances be limited to recommendations to the City Council for public structures and uses. The conditional use and design review decisions are consolidated along with the variance recommendations to the City Council per ECDC 20.01.002(C) so that they are also recommendations to the City Council with the final decision being made by the City Council on the consolidated applications. Substantive: 2. Zoning Designations. Most of the project is located in the OS zone. The southeastern portion of the project is located in the RS -8 zone. Bleachers and ball control fencing are located in both zoning districts. 3. Scope. The applications under review are for bleachers and ball control fencing. The applications do not involve the artificial turf contemplated by the applicant to replace the existing grass fields. The proposed artificial turf, and particular type of artificial turf, was not a part of the consolidated application considered by the examiner and its impacts are beyond the scope of this decision. 4. SEPA Issues. Mr. Wall's exhibits (Ex. 5) assert deficiencies in the environmental checklist and environmental Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 review of the proposal under the Washington State Environmental Policy Act ("SEPA"). SEPA issues are beyond the scope of the hearing examiner's recommendation and this decision. The examiner and City Council only have jurisdiction to consider a timely appeal of a SEPA threshold determination or adequacy of an environmental impact statement. See WAC 197-11- 680(3)(a)(iii). Even that jurisdiction is somewhat questionable since the applicant as opposed to the City was the SEPA lead agency in this matter and issued the SEPA threshold determination. When an agency initiates a proposal, it is the lead agency for that proposal. See WAC 197-11-926(1). Lead agency status can be disputed by another agency such as the City, but only during the fourteen -day period after issuance of a threshold determination. See WAC 197-11-340(2)(e). Here, the District issued a DNS on February 27, 2015. The DNS is final and binding on all agencies, subject to certain exceptions stated in WAC 197-11-390 that are not applicable here. See also ECDC 20.15A.050.C. The District provides no administrative appeal of the SEPA determination, and the City did not assume lead agency status, so the adequacy of SEPA review is not an issue subject to consideration by the City Council. Further, the City's exercise of SEPA substantive authority as it takes governmental action on the District's proposal must be consistent with the existing environmental documents (SEPA checklist and threshold determination) on the proposal and the limitations stated under SEPA, SEPA rules, and the City's SEPA authorities. Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Mr. Wall cites to WAC 197-11-340(3)(a), which authorizes the lead agency to withdraw a SEPA determination of nonsignificance ("DNS") if there is significant new information or the determination was procured by misrepresentation or material nondisclosure. In this case the lead agency is the applicant. The City has no authority to withdraw or overturn the DNS. S. Permit Review Criteria. A conditional use permit is required for the portion of the project in the OS zone for the bleachers and ball control fencing over 25 feet in height pursuant to ECDC 16.80.010(C)(3) and ECDC 16.80.010(C)(4). ECDC 16.20.050(B) imposes a maximum height of 15 feet for accessory structures in the RS -8 zone. Consequently, a variance is needed) for the 30 -foot ball control fence in the RS -8 zone. Conditional use permit criteria are governed by ECDC 20.05.010. Variance criteria are governed by ECDC 20.85.010. All applicable criteria are quoted in italics below and applied through corresponding conclusions of law. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT ECDC 20.050.010: No conditional use permit may be approved unless all of the findings in this section can be made. A. That the proposal is consistent with the comprehensive plan.1 Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 L 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 6. Having now withdrawn the lighting application, the proposal is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. As noted in the staff report to the Architectural Design Board, the playfield upgrade project was included in the Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan adopted by City Council in February 2014 (Attachment 10, page 3). This Plan is adopted by reference in the Comprehensive Plan and specifically includes Objective 2.E which describes the project: "Implement previous community process to work with the Edmonds School District to redevelop the Former Woodway High School site into a regional sports and recreation asset with adult soccer/multi-sports turf fields, providing for year-round recreation options and serving a growing community. Involve the community in design development." [Chapter 4: Action Plan, page In addition, staff feels that the proposal is consistent with the design guidance found in the Community Culture and Urban Design Element. Refer to Section G of Attachment 10 (pages 3 - 7) for further discussion on how this proposal is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 ECDC 20.05.010(B): Zoning Ordinance. That the proposed use, and its location, is consistent with the purposes of the zoning ordinance and the purposes of the zone district in which the use is to be located, and that the proposed use will meet all applicable requirements of the zoning ordinance. 7. The staff report analysis of Zoning Ordinance compliance, located at pages 10-12 of the staff report, is adopted and incorporated by this reference as if set forth in full. ECDC 20.05.010(C): Not Detrimental. That the use, as approved or conditionally approved, will not be significantly detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare, and to nearby private property or improvements unless the use is a public necessity. 8. While the lights may have resulted in a significant increase in traffic during nighttime hours, that portion of the proposal has now been withdrawn. Note that the hearing examiner found this criterion to be not met solely because of the traffic impacts associated with the lighting. Because the lighting application has been withdrawn, the City Council determines that traffic impacts are adequately addressed and that the criterion quoted above is satisfied and all permits under the review of this decision should be approved. As determined in Finding of Fact No. 5, the proposal will not Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 17 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 create any significant adverse impacts now that the lighting application has been withdrawn. As to the bleachers and ball control fencing, there are no impacts associated with those structures that would be significantly detrimental to public safety and welfare. There is nothing in the record to reasonably suggest that those structures, limited to daylight use (without the field lights), would generate a significant increase in traffic over existing use. As determined in Finding of Fact No. 5, there are no other significant impacts associated with the proposal as proposed and conditioned. The criterion quoted above is met as to the bleachers and ball control fencing. ECDC 20.05.010(D): Transferability. The hearing examiner shall determine whether the conditional use permit shall run with the land or shall be personal. If it runs with the land and the hearing examiner finds it in the public interest, the hearing examiner may require that it be recorded in the form of a covenant with the Snohomish County auditor. The hearing examiner may also determine whether the conditional use permit may or may not be used by a subsequent user of the same property. 9. The conditional use permit shall be personal as requested by the applicant. Given the nature of the impacts Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 18 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 generated by the proposal, it is in the public interest to maintain ownership of the use in the hands of a public agency that is accountable to the public. The personal nature of this conditional use permit, however, shall not prohibit the District from entering into scheduling agreements for shared use with the City of Edmonds and youth sports organizations. VARIANCES ECDC 20.85.010: No variance may be approved unless all of the findings in this section can be made. ECDC 20.85.010.A(1) - Special Circumstances: That, because of special circumstances relating to the property, the strict enforcement of the zoning ordinance would deprive the owner of use rights and privileges permitted to other properties in the vicinity with the same zoning. a. Special circumstances include the size, shape, topography, location or surroundings of the property, public necessity as of public structures and uses as set forth in ECDC 17.00.030 and environmental factors such as vegetation, streams, ponds and wildlife habitats. b. Special circumstances should not be predicated upon any factor personal to the owner such as age or disability, Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 extra expense which may be necessary to comply with the zoning ordinance, the ability to secure a scenic view, the ability to make more profitable use of the property, nor any factor resulting from the action of the owner or any past owner of the same property; 10. The criterion is met for the variance because the ball control fencing is a public necessity, as recognized in the Edmonds Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan. Specifically, Objective 2.E states: "Implement previous community process to work with the Edmonds School District to redevelop the Former Woodway High School site into a regional sports and recreation asset with adult soccer/multi-sports turf fields, providing for year-round recreation options and serving a growing community. Involve the community in design development." [Chapter 4: Action Plan, page ECDC 20.85.010(B) - Special Privilege: That the approval of the variance would not be a grant of special privilege to the property in comparison with the limitations upon other properties in the vicinity with the same zoning; 11. A height variance for ball control fencing in the RS -8 zone based on public necessity would not constitute special Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 privilege. Ball control fencing of a similar height shown on Sheets F-2.5 and F-2.6 of Attachment 3 is proposed for the OS - zoned portion of the site (through permit PLN20140067) and exists at athletic fields on the Edmonds-Woodway High School campus as well as Meadowdale High School, the new Lynnwood High School, and other sports field installations throughout the Puget Sound (Attachment 17 - fence letter). ECDC 20.85.101€ - Comprehensive Plan: That the approval of the variance will be consistent with the comprehensive plan; 12. The proposal is consistent with the comprehensive plan for the reasons identified in Conclusion of Law No. 6. ECDC 20.85.010(D) - Zoning Ordinance: That the approval of the variance will be consistent with the purposes of the zoning ordinance and the zone district in which the property is located; 13. The proposal is consistent with the purposes of the RS -8 and OS zones. One of the primary purposes of the residential zones, as expressed in ECDC 16.10.000, is to protect residential uses from hazards and nuisances, expressly including noise. The purpose of the OS zone, as expressed in ECDC 16.65.000, is to designate land acquired by public agencies for Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 21 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 open space uses and to regulate these open space lands recognizing that they cannot be developed without severe environmental impacts. The project design and conditions of approval are designed to provide for compatibility with residential use as contemplated by ECC 16.10.000. The retention of the 50 to 200 foot forested buffer surrounding the ball fields is consistent with the purpose of the OS zone. ECDC 20.85.010.E - Not Detrimental: That the variance as approved or conditionally approved will not be significantly detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare or injurious to the property or improvements in the vicinity and same zone; 14. The criterion is met for the proposed 30 -foot ball control fence variance. Installation of the ball control fencing is not a pre -requisite to nighttime use and there is nothing in the record to suggest that the fencing will directly increase traffic generated by the proposal if it is limited in a practical sense to daytime use in the absence of field lights. With the ball field lighting application being withdrawn, the ball fields will not create any other significant impacts as determined in Finding of Fact No. 5. ECDC 20.85.010(F) - Minimum Variance: That the approved variance is the minimum necessary to allow the owner the rights Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 22 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 lienjoyed by other properties in the vicinity with the same 1) zoning. 15. The proposed heights for the ball control fencing are the minimum necessary to provide for safe and effective ball field use. The criterion quoted above is met. As to the ball fields, as detailed in Ex. 1, att. 17, the 30 -foot ball field fence height is necessary to protect adjoining school property users and spectators from errant balls. As further discussed in Ex. 1, att. 17, the fence height is consistent with the heights of fencing for ball fields in numerous other jurisdictions. Design Review The findings and conclusions of the planning division on design review, Ex. 1, att. 10, were adopted by the Architectural Design Board, the Hearing Examiner, and are adopted by this decision as well. In addition, this decision adopts the conditions of approval recommended by the Architectural Design Board. Having withdrawn the lighting applications, the applicant has satisfied the general design criteria in ECDC 20.11.030, the conditional use permit criteria in ECDC 16.80.020 and ECDC Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 23 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 20.05.010, and the variance criteria in ECDC 20.85.010 with respect to the consolidated application at issue. The findings contained herein and adopted hereby satisfy the requirements of ECDC 16.80.020, ECDC 20.05.010, ECDC 20.10.030 and ECDC 20.85.010. The design review, conditional use permit, and variance are warranted under these circumstances. For the reasons set forth above, the City Council hereby APPROVES the applicant's design review, conditional use permit, and variance requests. More specifically: PLN20140065 (Design Review) is approved in its entirety, except to the extent that it contemplates field lighting. PLN20140066 (Height variance for ball control fencing in the RS -8 zone) is approved. PLN20140067 (Conditional use permit for bleachers, playfield lighting, and ball control fencing height in the OS zone) is approved for the bleachers and ball control fencing with the portion of the application related to field lighting having been withdrawn by the applicant prior to a final decision' being rendered. PLN20150009 (Height variance for light poles in the RS -8 zone) was withdrawn by the applicant. PLN20150013 (Height variance for light poles in the OS zone) was withdrawn by the applicant. The approved permits shall be subject to the following conditions of approval: Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 1. The ball control fencing in the OS and RS -8 zoned portions of the project site shall be a maximum of 30 feet in height as shown on Sheets F-2.5 and F-2.6 of Attachment 3. 2. Fields shall not be scheduled for non -school activities during regular school hours. 3. The Applicant shall give serious consideration to the location of the double gate so as to not need to relocate it once subsequent phases of the project are implemented. 4. The Applicant must apply for and obtain all necessary permits. This application is subject to the requirements in the Edmonds Community Development Code. It is up to the Applicant to ensure compliance with the various provisions contained in these ordinances. 5. The conditional use permit shall be personal to the Edmonds School District and is not transferable. 6. Subsequent phases of this project, including any future field lighting proposal, shall require separate land use permitting processes as necessary. 7. The applicant shall work with staff to identify an appropriate species of tree for the entry drive adjacent to the fields. 8. The applicant shall continue to keep gate closed to motorized vehicular traffic to 102nd Place West. The gate shall only be used for emergency vehicles. 9. No noise amplification devices may be used at the fields. Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 25 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 10. No field lighting is permitted under the three subject permits. 11. Fields shall be scheduled so that normal use (e.g. normal length games) will end at 9:30 p.m. with a 30 minute extension to 10 p.m. being allowed for extra innings and other tie breakers. The fields shall not be used after 10:00 p.m. under any circumstances. 12. The City of Edmonds shall continue to involve the community in design development. DONE this 5TH day of May, 2015. CITY AF EDMONDS --: " A _-, Mar David 0. Earling ATTEST AUTHENTICATED: Scott M. Passey, ,,,,,CAty Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: .. . ...... .. ... ........ ....... . ... Jeffrey B. Taraday, City Attorney Findings, Conclusions, and Decision of City Council on Land Use Applications for Woodway High School Fields - 26