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HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM III-AC~ DRAFT PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE * ~HIG~"OI April 11, 2011 MINUTES I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Lynn Norman called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. in Annex Conference Room 2 located on the second floor of One Main Building, 1 East Main Street, Auburn, WA. Committee members present were: Chair Lynn Norman, and Member John Partridge. Committee member excused: Vice Chair Nancy Backus. Staff members present included: Mayor Pete Lewis, Director Kevin Snyder, Planning Manager Elizabeth Chamberlain, City Attorney Dan Heid, Arts, Parks and Recreation Director Daryl Faber, Economic Development Manager Doug Lein, Contract Economic Development Planner William Thomas, Support Clerk Bobby Hodgkinson, and Planning & Development Secretary Tina Kriss. Audience Members Present: Dustin Wicks; Green River Community College Students Tonia Beyer, Najea Wynn, Andrea Roh Ledeau; The Auburn Downtown Association representatives (TADA} Laura Theimer and Executive Director Kathleen Keator. II. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND AGENDA MODIFICATIONS Chair Norman welcomed Green River Community College environmental science students. Item V. B. Ordinance No. 6360 has a replacement ordinance which contains minor grammatical changes. III. CONSENT AGENDA A. March 28, 2011 Member Partridge moved and Chair Norman seconded to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 2-0 IV. PRESENTATION A. Auburn Downtown Association Update Auburn Downtown Association Executive Director Kathleen Keator was introduced; Ms. Keator provided the Committee with a packet outlining the goals and activities of The Auburn Downtown Association (TADA) which is made up of over more than 200 businesses in the downtown core. Ms. Keator also provided Committee with an overview of the TADA website. Ms. Keator has been acting as the executive director over the past year as the TADA has improved and rebuilt. Downtown businesses pay a "business improvement area" (BIA) fee as part of their business license. The Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes April 11, 2011 BIA fees are used to fund TADA, the board, downtown economic restructuring, design, and promotion committees. TADA is the administrator of the business improvement area fee. V. ACTION A. Resolution No. 4695 -Acceptance of 4Culture Grant Parks, Arts and Recreation Director Daryl Faber provided the staff report for Resolution No. 4695. Committee reviewed the resolution authorizing acceptance of the 4Culture grant in the amount of $17,000.00 for the City's sustaining art program for community activities. Director Faber stated the City received more than expected from Cultural Development Authority of King County which is great news. Member Partridge moved and Chair Norman seconded to forward Resolution No. 4695, acceptance of a 4Culture Grant to full City Council for adoption. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 2-0 B. Ordinance No. 6360 -Interim Zoning Controls for Real Estate Signs Planning & Development Director Snyderdiscussed the staff report on Ordinance No. 6360 and provided a handout of various photos taken by City code enforcement officers representing the types of signs installed by various businesses trying to improve and promote their specific residential projects. City code currently limits the larger signs to a maximum height of 42" and 5 square feet of sign face area. Developers and owners would like the City to consider providing additional flexibility allowing larger signs in various places. Ordinance No. 6360 would last one-year giving staff time to work on more permanent guidelines to City code. The Planning and Development Director would determine the number and locations of such signs in consultation with other City staff; limiting or prohibiting signage thatwould cause a traffic safety hazard or a detrimental effect on neighboring property orthe City right-of-way. If enacted by City Council a public hearing must be held within 60 days of the Council's enactment to provide for public comment opportunities. Member Partridge discussed the concerns raised by some local realtors and also stated he likes the provisions laid out on page 10 (section F), "planning and development director may grant written authorization to allow temporary off-premises signs in addition to those permitted above. The size of these signs shall be determined by the planning and development director based on factors including but not limited to surrounding land uses, sight distance and traffic safety, but in no instances shall the height of the sign exceed eight (8) feet and the total sign face area exceed sixty-four (64) square feet." Chair Norman wants to ensure this is only for cone-year period. Director Snyder confirmed this is something staff would be assertively working to complete and the resolution would not be extended. Chair Norman was concerned about the signs with more than one sign face area; Mr. Snyder stated the new Ordinance would only allow one sign face area. Committee stated they have concerns about allowing signs in the public right-of-way. Mr. Snyder sited an area in Lakeland where the right-of-way is at the edge of the Page 2 Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes April 11, 2011 road with private property across a grassy area 30' and parties would like to place signage in this area for visibility. Director Snyder stated rather than inserting a minimum set back staff will consult with other departments to ensure such allowance will not substantively impact the visual andlor aesthetic impact to the city, interfere with or impede pedestrian, bicycle or vehicle traffic. Chair Norman stated the Planning Director will make the determination. Chair Norman expressed a concern that the example location is not onerous, if signs are close to the right-of-way and have no sidewalks it would be intrusive for pedestrians or bicyclists. Chair asked if this Ordinance prohibits electronic signage, Director Snyder stated Ordinance No. 6360 does not allow for electronic signs. Director Snyder stated the ordinance is for one year and staff is ready to assertively move forward to ensure this does not extend past one year. Planning Director Snyder stated if Committee takes action this will go to Public Works Committee and City Council on April 18 for potential action. Thereafter, a public hearing would be held for public comment (tentatively June 6). Chair Norman suggested if staff has agenda item changes in the future please provide the page with highlighted changes only. Member Partridge moved and Chair Norman seconded to forward Resolution No. 6360, Interim Zoning Controls for Real Estate Signs to full City Council for introduction and adoption. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 2-0 C. Resolution No. 4701-Moratorium on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Planning & Development Director Snyder provided information for the staff report, Committee and staff discussed Resolution No. 4701. Currently the City of Auburn does not have any zoning designation permitting medical marijuana dispensaries and collective growing operations as a permitted land use for conformity to current federal and state status. Resolution No. 4701 would establish a one (1) year moratorium on the establishment, operation, and processing of applications for medical marijuana dispensaries, to act as a stop-gap measure in order to 1)to provide the City with an opportunity to study the issues concerning the siting of such dispensaries and prepare appropriate revisions to the City's codes and regulations; and 2) to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Auburn by ameliorating negative impacts of dispensaries. City Attorney Dan Heid stated under the moratorium authority, which means a public hearing would have to take place within 60 days of the date of the adoption of Resolution No. 4701. This is a proactive zoning action to prevent something from becoming effective if you can't get started doing something if you already opened the doorfor it to be done under Washington vesting laws. Under Federal laws, notwithstanding the enthusiasm or lack of enthusiasm for enforcement by certain agencies, it is still illegal under Federal law to do what might be proposed to be done under State law if in fact it passes. This puts cities in a dilemma and why the City wants to make sure that if in fact this bill (if passed in the State) that proposes to Page 3 Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes April 11, 2011 provide for these dispensaries were passed we need to make sure we know what we are doing. If this bill does not pass at the State level we would not need to go forward with Resolution No. 4701, the City is being proactive. Chair Norman encouraged staff to get started immediately. Director Snyder stated staff will begin working on this along with Ordinance No. 6360. Attorney Heid stated under moratorium law and interim zoning they are related and part and parcel the same concepts. Typically it is a six month period of time rather than a year; the City chose a year because the law allows a longer period of time if you identify a work plan strategy for addressing it. If Committee determines to move Resolution No. 4701 forward to City Council it will be presented to the Public Works Committee for discussion at its April 18, 2011 meeting and will be presented to City Council for potential action at its April 18, 2011 regular meeting. Member Partridge moved and Chair Norman seconded to forward amended Resolution No. 4701, Moratorium on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries to full City Council for introduction and adoption, if the Washington State Legislature approves the current proposed legislation. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 2-0 At 5:49 p.m., Chair Norman recessed the meeting to executive session for approximately fifteen minutes in order to discuss pendinglpotential litigation pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(1}. Staff required for the executive session included City Attorney Heid, Mayor Lewis, Planning and Development Director Snyder and Planning Manager Elizabeth Chamberlain. At 6:04 p.m. the meeting was reconvened by Chair Norman. VI. DISCUSSION and INFORMATION A. Conceptual Green Zone SummitAgenda Director Snyder and Committee discussed the draft agenda. The Committee provided the following feedback: Committee and Director Snyder agreed the word "needs" should be added to the second bullet under Summit Goals to read "Understand what the City of Auburn needs for "placemaking" the Green Zone such that green/clean technology businesses are attracted to move or start their businesses to the Zone". 1. Are the Summit Goals specified on the conceptual agenda consistent with the Committee's goals for the Summit: 2. • Member Partridge stated yes with room within the agenda with some free sharing time (brainstorming). Director Snyder stated he is hopeful that within the last hour a brainstorming session is planned for the period from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Chair Norman stated she is hopeful the summit is a Green Zone think tank and is not prescriptive leaving room for ideas. Committee also liked the four forums. Page 4 Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes April 11, 2011 • Director Snyder is hopeful to find a moderator to facilitate so City staff the opportunity to be observers and listeners to give a unique perspective. 3. Do the forums specified on conceptual agenda match the Committee's expectations for the Green Zone Summit? Committee stated yes. 4. Are there any other subject matters the Committee would like to see discussed at the summit? Committee feels this has been covered sufficiently. 5. Does the Committee have any specific recommendations for potential moderators andlor panel members: • Chair Norman suggested someone from Green River Community College with expertise that could work as both a moderator and an interested environmental. Mayor Lewis suggested someone from WSU. • Committee stated any financial resource individuals for Forum 3 would be beneficial. Mayor Lewis suggested someone from Northwest Energy Angels or clean tech venture capitalist groups. Chair also suggested other experts from areas developed in environmental conscious ways that would fit with our vision. • Committee suggested having as many local individuals doing greenlclean tech businesses as panel members. • Committee suggested the individual chosen as the keynote speaker could also speak any other project successfully developed. • Committee asked about having a representative from Waste Management and also the WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center. • Committee suggested IDeX individuals attend. Committee suggested possibly using the Auburn School District Support Service Center at their M & 0 site or the IBS, Inc. conference room off Clay Street. Director Snyder will continue to work on the green zone summit and report back to Committee. B. Auburn's proposed Performance Based Option for Regional Affordable Housing Targets Planning Manager Elizabeth Chamberlain provided the Committee with the staff report to address the City's concerns that the King County Affordable Housing Targets did not adequately address and recognize the performance of jurisdictions, such as Auburn, that had substantively provided for regional affordable housing within their municipal boundaries. Staff has prepared an alternate option which addresses the positive performance of cities that have previously provided for regional affordable housing by reducing the total number of targeted affordable housing units and holds those jurisdictions that have not to a higher standard of future performance. Page 5 Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes April 11, 2011 Director Snyder explained the regional affordable housing exchange. Mr. Snyder stated the details as far as the values need to be worked out and a cap of 50% has been set to limit the amount of total obligation to be written off. Only 50% of the jurisdiction's required affordable housing units to another jurisdiction that was willing. No jurisdiction is obligated to engage in this exchange but it allows for regional conversation to occur so parties can work together when there is an opportunity to do so. Member Partridge asked how the 84,519 number was chosen. The Exhibit 2 memo, under Recommended Update to Affordable Housing Targets (No. 1 and No. (2} memo explains how the percentages are derived. Director Snyder pointed out the methodology for allotment is the same process used nine years ago which is out of date. Committee and staff reviewed the City of Auburn's option which was also sent for review and comment to Suburban Cities Association and the Mayors of the Cities of Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, SeaTac, and Tukwila. Mayor Lewis stated he plans to work with other Mayors to make sure everyone understands we have already met and exceeded our goals and other cities have not and they seem to be very committed to ensuring that we receive most of any future affordable housing. Chair asked that staff set up a time to review the City's option with Vice-Chair Backus. C. Strategy Areas for PopulationlBusinesslEmployment Chair Norman asked that this item be postponed until the next meeting so Vice-Chair Backus can participate in the discussion. D. Director's Report Director Snyder stated he has nothing to report at this time. E. PCDC Status Matrix Chair stated the Matrix has been updated, please review and check in with staff if you have any questions. VII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Planning and Community Development Committee, Chair Norman adjourned the meeting at 6:31 p.m. APPROVED THIS DAY OF Lynn Norman, Chair Tina Kriss, Planning Secretary Page 6