Planners report: Fishers Lane shoreline update, Army Corps permit, multiple housing pre‑apps and fee schedule work

Planning staff gave a report covering a series of project updates including work on Fishers Lane shorelines mapping, an Army Corps permit tied to a treatment‑plant demolition project, several pre‑application housing proposals and administrative changes to fees and records.

On Fishers Lane, staff said they are pursuing a rezone toward an R‑4 designation and are in consultation with the Department of Ecology about updating the Shorelines Management Program (SMP). Staff explained that because the SMP governs development within 200 feet of the ordinary high‑water mark, the SMP’s map or text must be amended so that a rezone would not later block development. Staff said Ecology confirmed an out‑of‑cycle SMP update is possible and that staff will pursue either a map amendment or text changes and coordinate required consultation and comment periods.

Public Works staff (Sam) said the city obtained a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit late last year for abandonment of an old line associated with the demolition of an old treatment plant. Sam said staff will review permit requirements and finalize contract plans with the goal of putting the work out to bid near the end of the month.

Planning staff (Ira) summarized active pre‑application activity: a PUD proposal to subdivide roughly 8.26 acres into about 75 single‑family lots using zero‑lot line standards (PUDs require 20% open space and the applicant must show adequate open space and wetland buffers); another single‑family subdivision off Mount Solo Road; an upcoming pre‑app for a 46‑unit cottage/townhome project near 33rd Avenue adjacent to Browning Court; additional cottage‑housing interest near 38th Avenue and Pennsylvania Street; and the Vail Overlook subdivision (which has a construction‑contingent extension and needs stormwater/civil requirements met). In commercial work, a demolition at 3061 Ocean Beach Highway would remove an existing restaurant and replace it with a commercial redevelopment that includes a Starbucks and other office/retail uses; that project is under staff review.

Staff also previewed administrative work to present a consolidated fee resolution to City Council (first touch Jan. 23) to move disparate permit and planning fees into a single master fee schedule that can be updated more easily; staff said no major fee increases are planned but new smaller pre‑application fees would be added with credit applied when a formal application follows. Finally, staff said a digitization grant was submitted to convert address files and permit documents to a public‑facing, searchable online system; a grant award would cover estimated digitization costs and make permit records more accessible.

Commissioners welcomed the volume of housing activity and asked for periodic mapping of pre‑application projects; staff said permit‑system reporting and GIS can produce a map of active projects and agreed to provide that to the commission. No formal action or vote was taken on these updates; they were informational and set expectations for upcoming hearings and Council presentations.