HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-23-2013 Planning and Community
0Aer �' ?d�' Development
, : September 23, 2013 - 5:00 PM
\VASIIINGTON Annex Conference Room 2
MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Nancy Backus called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m. in Annex
Conference Room 2 located on the second floor of One Main Professional
Plaza, One East Main Street, Auburn, Washington.
A. Roll Call
Planning and Community Development Committee Chair Nancy
Backus, Vice-Chair John Holman and Member Largo Wells were
present. Also present were Planning and Development Director Nancy
Welch; Finance Director Shelley Coleman; Parks, Arts and Recreation
Director Daryl Faber; City Attorney Dan Heid; Economic Development
Manager Doug Lein; Planning Services Manager Elizabeth
Chamberlain; Environmental Services Protection Manager Chris
Andersen; Administration and Business Services Manager Darcie
Hanson; and Planning Secretary Tina Kriss.
Members of the audience present: Robert Whale of the Auburn
Reporter; Brett M. Jacobson of Plan A. Development LLC; John
Walker of Teutsch Partners; Thomas Souers; John Brekke;
Councilmember Partridge, Councilmember Peloza, and
Councilmember Osborne.
B. Announcements
Chair Nancy Backus opened the meeting for public comment:
John Brekke, PO Box 287, Medina, Washington.
Mr. Brekke expressed his concern that the current King County
Transfer and Waste Management Plan review underway is limited and
flawed. He believes King County is pushing for the same plan
provided earlier this year (adding three additional transfer stations,
including south King County) and stated that if King County rushes the
study without reviewing the available options the outcome may not
benefit the City of Auburn.
Mr. Brekke listed the alternatives not being included in the study, for
example, using private service providers, adding recycling, yard
waste, and emergency storage space by utilizing the King County
property adjacent to the Algona Transfer Station; using the Enumclaw
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station since it is in close proximity to Algona; and using the Cedar
Hills Transfer Station as a regional direct haul destination.
Mr. Brekke emphasized that the King County Transfer and Waste
Management Plan being considered will extend to 2040, it is important
to conduct the study correctly.
C. Agenda Modifications
There were no agenda modifications.
II. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Minutes - September 9, 2013 (Welch)
Vice-Chair Holman moved and Member Wales seconded to approve
the September 9, 2013 Planning and Community Development
Committee minutes as written.
Motion carried unanimously. 3-0
III. ACTION
A. Ordinance No. 6480 (Faber)
City Attorney Dan Heid distributed an updated Ordinance No. 6480.
The revised ordinance includes recommendations by the Municipal
Services Committee for consideration by the Planning and
Community Development Committee listed below:
• Page 2 of 8 - Include language that the documents are available
through the Auburn City Clerk and the Auburn Parks, Arts and
Recreation Department.
• Pages 4 and 8 of 8 - Change the word "City" to "City Council".
The Committee concurred with the recommendations and requested
staff update the proposed ordinance and also requested that if the
ordinance is adopted by the City that staff add the application to the
online forms. The Committee also recommended adding language to
the application requesting any available drawings at the time an
application is submitted. City Attorney Heid confirmed he would add
the additional language to the application form.
Vice-Chair Holman moved and Member Wales seconded to
recommend City Council adopt Ordinance No. 6480 as amended.
Motion carried unanimously. 3-0
IV. DISCUSSION ITEMS
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A. Theater Lease (Coleman)
Finance Director Shelley Coleman explained the Auburn Avenue
Theater financial information was first presented and discussed by the
Finance Committee and is being presented before the Planning and
Community Development Committee. Parks, Arts and Recreation
Director Daryl Faber provided a PowerPoint presentation to exhibit the
2012 revenue, expenses, and programming of the Auburn Avenue
Theater.
After discussion, the Committee asked staff to add the Auburn Avenue
Theater topic to the Planning and Community Development
Committee Matrix for future planning efforts.
B. Business Licensing 101 (Hanson)
Administrative and Business Services Manager Darcie Hanson
provided an overview of the City's Business License
program Staff discussed solicitor and home businesses license
requirements and asked if staff could provide outreach to City
residents so they understand they have an option to request proof of
an active solicitor's license from a solicitor.
Staff discussed the procedures taken if a business is operating
without a Business License. In response to the question asked from
Ms. Hanson, does the City want to allow a non-licensed business to
continue operation if they are actively pursuing a business license, the
Committee answered that it is the goal of the City to be "business
friendly" and they would prefer that a business be allowed to continue
operations as long as they are actively pursuing a City of Auburn
Business License. After discussing the benefits of having a City
Business License the Committee asked staff if they could provide a
list of benefits an owner receives by having a City Business License.
The Committee reviewed State Business Licenses requirements and
asked staff if they could provide an overlay comparing the State and
City Business Licenses when it is available.
C. City of Auburn Floodplain Management (Andersen)
Environmental Services Protection Manager Chris Andersen
presented the fifth and final staff briefing to the Committee regarding
floodplain management in the City.
Mr. Andersen explained that the principle objectives of floodplain
management activities in the City of Auburn is to protect human life,
health, and property by mitigating the level of flood risk to the people
who live and work in the City. Committee and staff discussed some of
these activities.
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Mr. Andersen explained some of the key City of Auburn policies and
plans that address or affect floodplain management in the City.
D. Proposed Code Amendment to Chapter 3.94, Multifamily Property Tax
Exemption (Chamberlain)
Planning Services Manager Elizabeth Chamberlain reviewed the
proposed code amendment related to property tax exemption
program. The City received a request from the applicants developing
within the downtown catalyst blocks asking the City to lower the
minimum investment per unit in order for the project to perform, from
$200,000.00 to $130,000.00.
Chair Backus invited audience members wishing to make a public
comment to the table:
Brett M. Jacobson of Plan A. Development LLC, 2711 West Valley
Hwy, N, #200, Auburn, Washington.
Mr. Jacobson asked the Committee to consider that the tax abatement
program allows the developer to build a better product that they might
otherwise be able to bring forward. Mr. Jacobson explained that when
Landmark developed property in the City of Lakewood using the
abatement program without a minimum investment, it allowed his
company to bring a product to the market achieving in excess of 30-
percent better rent than anything in the marketplace. The average
rents in downtown Auburn are lower. To the average tenant at the
Trek Apartment the exemption would be worth about $1 ,000.00 per
year.
John Walker of Teutsch Partners, 2001 Western Avenue, Suite 300,
Seattle, Washington.
Mr. Walker stated that Teutsch Partners would like to bring forward a
Seattle Urban type project for Auburn with quality finishes (i.e.,
amenity decks, roof decks, common space, and secure parking). He
stated the Auburn rents ($1 .80 per square foot) are not as high as the
Seattle rents ($3.00 per square foot). Mr Walker stated the
developers are collectively excited about the projects and realize that
in order to provide higher quality units without charging higher rents
they would need the tax exemption program through the City; it would
be critical in assisting the developer in accomplishing their goal within
downtown Auburn (along with the other incentives the City has
provided). Should the City lower the threshold minimum investment
Teutsch Partners would select the 8 year program.
After discussion, the Committee determined that they would like to
revise the current ordinance, updating the 8 year Multifamily Property
Tax Exemption within the DUC to a zero minimum dollar investment
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requirement and look at a minimum unit threshold. The Committee
also asked staff to change the language in the ordinance requiring the
applicant to submit the application for a multifamily property tax
exemption prior to occupancy. The Committee asked staff to bring this
ordinance back as an action item at the next meeting.
Committee would like to have a minimum investment for the 12 year
exemption option and a unit threshold. For a future discussion, the
Committee asked that staff bring back a recommendation for a unit
threshold for outside the Downtown Urban Center (DUC) zone but
within the urban center.
E. Director's Report (Welch)
Planning and Development Director Nancy Welch reported the
Marijuana Cannabis item has been added to the PCDC Matrix. The
Comprehensive and Strategic Plan update, consultant selection
interviews will be concluded September 24, 2013.
F. PCDC Matrix (Welch)
The Committee has requested that staff add the Theatre Lease to the
PCDC Matrix.
V. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Planning and
Community Development Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 7:05
p.M. /
DATED this day of ( DG�t l �� 2013.
1 c'LII�c0 0- ktl 1
Nancy Backus- Chair
Tina riss - Pla ning cretary
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