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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-27-2006Y* 4 ~~ CITY OF UBURN WASHINGTON PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE November 27, 2006 MINUTES I. CALL TO ORDER - 5:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBERS Chair Lynn Norman called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers located on the first floor of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Auburn, WA. Committee members present were: Chair Lynn Norman, Member Gene Cerino and Member Nancy Backus. Also present were Planning, Building and Development Director Michael Davolio, Community Development Administrator David Osaki, Development Services Coordinator Steve Pitcher, Senior Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain, Economic Development Planner AI Hicks, Transportation Planner Grants Manager Tiffin Goodman, Parks, Recreation and Arts Director Daryl Faber, Economic Development Manager Dave Baron, Information Service Director Lorrie Rempher, Parks Planning and Development Manager Dan Scamporlina, Cultural Arts Manager Laurie Rose, Mayor Pete Lewis and Planning Secretary Kirsten Reynolds. Audience Members included: Gwenn Escher-Derdowski, Michael Newman, Gary Venn, Gary Stamps, Urban Tree Board Members Len Elliott and Lonnie Sundal, Housing and Urban Development representative Donna Batch APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Member Cerino moved to approve the minutes from the November 13, 2006 meeting as submitted. Member Backus seconded the motion. Minutes approved unanimously 3-0. III. ACTION A. Ordinance No. 6060 School Impact Fees Community Development Administrator David Osaki summarized ordinance no. 6060 related to impact fee adjustments scheduled to go into effect January 1, 2007. Federal Way and Auburn School District impact fees are decreasing for both single and multi family units compared to the current rates. The Kent School District CFP supports an increase but the City did not receive a written request for an increase as required by code so the 2007 amount will remain the same as the 2006 amount. The Dieringer School District indicated that it would not be updating its CFP this year nor asking for Page 1 Y v. Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes November 27, 2006 any adjustment in the fee amount. As directed by the PCD Committee, staff will be sending the Dieringer School District a letter indicating that the City expects to see an updated CFP provided to the City next year. Community Development Administrator Osaki also noted that the Public Works Committee asked that it be communicated to the Dieringer School District that the quality of the CFP be on par with the CFPs the City receives from the other school districts. . Auburn School District representative Mike Newman, was present at the Committee meeting and offered to respond to questions. Motion was made by Member Cerino to forward Ord. No. 6060 to the City Council, Member Backus seconded. Motion was approved unanimously 3-0. IV. DISCUSSION A. Urban Tree Board Parks Planning and Development Manager, Dan Scamporlina, introduced two (2) Urbar Tree Board Members: Len Elliott and Lonnie Sundal; Members came to answer questions and review activities for PCD. The Board members reported on their activities and goals in 2006. Objectives and goals in 2006 involved Board members participation in community events and ensuring educational outreach for proper tree care. Educational outreach was and continues to be a major goal at community events. The Tree Board has grant monies and resources to help plant trees around neighborhoods. Board member, Lonnie Sundal, has been instrumental in the partnership with the Garden Club to support these efforts. Discussion took place about outreach happening in the schools. PCD was asked to be a sounding board to the Urban Tree Board. The Committee was in agreement that The Tree Board was doing an excellent job. B. HUD Section 108 Loan Guarantee Fund Requirements Senior Planner, AI Hicks, introduced the Cities representative from Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Dona Batch. Batch was asked here in response to a previous staff presentation to talk about the section 108 program to PCD. In review of the Section 108 program, the loan guarantees provision of HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Section 108 enables grantees to leverage their CDBG funds by borrowing up to five times their CDBG allocation. Section 108 loans provide long term, low-cost financing with flexible terms. The funds are available year-round, on a non- competitive basis and for a wide variety of uses. Page 2 Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes November 27, 2006 The City must pledge the CDBG funds in return for HUD dollars as a safe guard. Interest rates are currently at 5.5 percent and are determined by market conditions at the time of the offering. One-time fees charged on the permanent financing generally average one-half of one point. Loan terms are up to 20-years. Repayment structures are flexible with the ability to provide interest-only payments at the beginning of the loan term. The Dollars can be used for a broad range of usages, including economic development activities, the rehabilitation of publicly owned buildings, capital improvements, or sidewalks. The principal beneficiaries of projects funded with Section 108 monies must be low income people. C. Transportation modeling software service agreement Transportation Planner/Grants Manager, Tiffin Goodman, and Information Services Director, Lorrie Rempher, talked to PCD about a new traffic model, "Visum". The company offering the software and support service is PTV; they are located on Vashon Island and have a history of providing timely and thorough responses to service requests from City staff. Staff's recommendation has been presented to the Public Works =Committee. The traffic model is Windows based and will interface with the City's GIS system. The traffic model uses land use and employment projections to determine the traffic impacts of new growth. It will help inform updates to the City's Comprehensive Transportation Plan and enable the City's model to be consistent with PSRC's plan by modeling out to the year 2030. D. Buxton Report Economic Development Manager, Dave Baron, reported on the progress of the Buxton Report to PCD. Their "15 minute drive time" Market Place formula has been able to capture Auburn's true character and amenities. Buxton will be providing up to 20 recruiting reports to individual retailers. There are 21 companies targeted with Auburn's demographics in mind; 12 of the 20 reports have already been generated and are planed to be sent off in the near future. The key will be to follow up with theses businesses. The supportive material that Buxton has provided can and will be used time and time again to pursue companies. It is likely these businesses will want to locate in a shopping center, not necessarily a mall, but an area where they can co-locate in one central area; Auburn has few areas available for this type of development. The proximity to key retailers in Federal Way is a mitigating factor for companies to locate here. The City will need to prove that Federal Way traffic is a strong barrier for people to the East and that these same people must come through Auburn to get to services such as theirs. There needs to be third party proof to show these issues to be true. Baron shared some personal surprises in the Buxton Report; the identified businesses were already located in the Federal Way area, Auburn's demographics were better that Page 3 Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes November 27, 2006 believed to be initially, dollar amount citizens spent on food in-house and out-of-house were almost equal. The report gives a much better market area than previously researched, stats are going to change in the City's favor and the report material will benefit this recruiting effort. The Committee discussed the Product Category in the report; the stats showed dollar amounts people spend on simple grocery items. Also, in the City's favor will be testimonials from larger retailers who have done well in our community. The Committee would like to have an on-going update of the status for this effort. E. 2006 Zoning Map amendments Senior Planner, Elizabeth Chamberlain, reviewed next steps for the timeline process of the 2006 zoning map amendments. December 5th the Planning Commission will work to finalize all the documents. By December 11t" the Planning Commission will have a detailed review and take action. Staff will have modifications based on the next Planning Commission meting for PCD to review. F. Downtown Traffic Impact Fee Exemption Extension Senior Planner, Elizabeth Chamberlain, noted that the City Council approved an exemption for traffic impact fees in the Downtown area back in 2001. There was a sunset date for this exemption of 5-years; the 5-year time limit is now almost up. Staff is recommending a continuation of this exemption. This material was presented at the Public Works Committee; Public Works questioned what the future financial impact would be. The City covers the fees that are exempted from the businesses out of the City's General Fund. A Market Feasibility Report is available to help gain the necessary information to make the determination, i.e. did the 5-year trial period work? Currently staff reported that $110,000.00 was taken from the General Fund to cover the exemptions. There are no positive impact reports to date. Staff will gather more figures and come back to the Committee on December 11th for further review of this impact fee. G. Les Gove Community Center Update Recreation and Arts Director, Daryl Faber, gave an update from a community study done in 2001 and will be presenting a condensed report to Council in the near future. Some major items that kept arising were the need of a large banquet hall, opportunities for youth/teen programs and a gym. An analysis will also be done for the staffing patterns and daily costs. Some options will cost more to construct than to operate, and some will be less to operate than to construct. The analysis will include the overall costs and options for funding this project(s). Discussion happened around funding this project(s); some options discussed were funding it publicly, through grants and/or other funding resources. Mayor Lewis commented on the need for more direct involvement from Council and major stakeholders on what Les Gove facility should have and why. Next steps will be to compile all the information and present to PCD in February for action. The findings from Page 4 Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes November 27, 2006 the original survey to come back to the PCD, then more involvement from the citizen group will be pursued. H. West Main Street Public Art Cultural Arts Manager, Laurie Rose, revisited with the Committee the "Vertical Elements" art project for the downtown area. The materials for creating the poles and bugs were reviewed. The Committee discussed what materials would be the best choice for aesthetics, low maintenance and public safety concerns. I. Downtown Urban Center Code/Rezone Development Services Coordinator, Steve Pilcher, discussed revisions to the draft Urban Center zone. Wording was added to make it clear that all uses fronting on Main St. are to include ground floor retail or office use. Staff is also recommending a minimum Floor Area Ratio (FAR)of .75 FAR, (currently at .5 FAR). The original proposal from consultant Mark Hinshaw contained no minimum FAR. An example of a current Downtown proposal was shown to the Committee; the design only had a .13 FAR, which staff feels is suitable for suburban development, but not for downtown. This proposed code/rezone for increasing the FAR would apply to the entire urban center zone. Discussion occurred between the Committee and staff concerning businesses wanting to add on to an existing building structure, but not proposing to meet the .75 FAR requirements,. The Committee would like to see some exemptions allowed for existing building and future expansion. Two issues the Committee will need to decide on are, one -should this be mandatory for all properties and two -where the boundaries lay for this new requirement. Mr. Pilcher also discussed signs in regard to this code/rezone. Signs must be not greater than five (5) feet in height. Portable signs will not be allowed on Main Street at all. There may not be more than one monument sign per a facility per a street frontage. Some existing signs will be impacted. Also discussed was the idea to have a master signage plan for larger developments. Staff is seeking standards guidance from the Committee regarding "Pedestrian Streets" and whether there needs to be more connection. Staff will modify the map and re- present to the Committee. J. Plaza Sidewalk Design Planning, Building and Community Director, Michael Davolio put together and reviewed with the Committee a timeline to have the sidewalk design completed by the end of the first quarter in 2007. Public outreach should start in January/February and the Committee may have done a couple of optional site visits. The Public Works Committee Page 5 Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes November 27, 2006 could review the Committee's decision in March. Staff believes there doesn't need to be formalization from City Council. The PCD Committee would like to have a special review committee to look this over before action is taken. K. Electronic message boards Community Development Administrator Dave Osaki presented a preliminary inventory of the electronic message boards in the City. Osaki researched other jurisdictions and presented their code provisions to the Committee. Most jurisdictions do all allow such signs, but vary on the specific restrictions. Staff recommended looking at SeaTac's regulations for how comprehensively these signs can be regulated. The Committee discussed their desires to control these types of signs from sprawling all along Auburn Way. Staff explained that the signs can be regulated by zones or geographically. The Committee agreed that there needs to be some regulations in place. Staff will draft something for the Committee to review, using SeaTac's regulations as a model V. INFORMATION None VI. OLD BUSINESS None presented. VII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Planning and Community Development Committee, Chair Norman adjourned the meeting at 7:24 p.m. l~.Wt . APPROVED THE DAY OF ~V Kirst n Reynol ecretary Page 6