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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6561ORDINANCE NO. 6 5 6 1 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON, AMENDING EXHIBIT "B" TO ORDINANCE NO. 6049 RELATING TO THE FINANCIAL PLAN ELEMENT OF TFiE COMMUNITY RENEWAL PLAN FOR DOWNTOWN AUBURN WHEREAS, on September 18, 2006, the Auburn City Council adopted Ordinance No. 6049; and WHEREAS, Exhibit "B" of Ordinance No. 6049 contained a Community Renewal Plan for powntown Auburn that was intended to provide programs and approaches for addressing conditions of urban blight in Downtown Auburn; and WHEREAS, on December 1, 2014, the Auburn City Council approved Ordinance No. 6539 authorizing the 2015-2016 Biennial Budget; and WHEREAS, the 2015-2016 Budget appropriated $200,000.00 in General Fund dollars for a Downtown Storefront Improvement Program; and WHEREAS, the goals of the Downtown Storefront Improvement Program are consistent with and supportive of the overall goals of the previously adopted Community Renewal Plan; and WHEREAS, to support the City's continued interest in addressing urban blight in Downtown Auburn in alignment with the previously adopted Community Renewal Plan, it is necessary to amend the Financial Plan component of the Community Renewal Plan to include the Downtown Storefront Improvement Program; and --------------- Ordinance No. 6561 May 12, 2015 Page 1 of 3 WHEREA8, the amendment to the Financial Plan element of the adopted Community Renewal Plan to include the Downtown Storefront Improvement Program will create a direct and transparent relationship between this Program and the Community Renewal Pian, which is in 4he interest of the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Auburn; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the proposed downtown storefront improvement program is consistent with the Washington state community renewal law (RCW Ch. 35.81) and the intentions of Ordinance No. 6049. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN as follows: Sec4ion 1. Amendment to Previouslv Adonted Communitv Renewal Plan. The Community Renewal Plan for powntown Auburn, and more specifically, its Financial Plan Element, previously adopted by City Council passage is hereby amended as evidenced in Exhibit "A" to this Ordinance. Section 2 Implementation. The Mayor is hereby au4horized to implement such administrative procedures as may be necessary to carry out the directions of this legislation. Section 3. Severabilitv. The provisions of this ordinance are declared to be separate and severable. The invalidity of any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or portion of this ordinance, or the invalidity of the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this ordinance, or the validity of its application to other persons or circumstances. --------------- Ordinance No. 6561 May 12, 2015 Page 2 of 3 Section 4. Effective date. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force five (5) calendar days from and after its passage, approval and publication as provided by law. FIRST READING: MAY 1 S 1015 SECOND READING: .Gf/�� - PassE�: MAY ] R �m5 APPROVED: � � . ■I. ... . r : . - . . ATTEST: ,c4� ���--- Danielle E. Daskam, City Clerk PUBLISHED: �� dni-�.�-��`�'`�t'��`J Ordinance No. 6561 May 12, 2015 Page 3 of 3 Exhibit "A" To Ordinance No. 6561 Amendment to Exhibit B of Ordinance No. 6049 City of Auburn Community Renewal Plan Attachments (Which, together with City of Auburn Comprehensive Plan as evidenced by the City Council's adoption of the Auburn Downtown Plan/Final EIS in May 2001, constitutes the Community Renewal Plan For the Downtown Auburn Community Renewal Area) Prepared in accordance with the Requirements of RCW 35.81 Adopted by Ordinance No: 6049, September 18, 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS TOpIC Community Renewal Area Financial Plan ..:.....:...........:.................:..::..:..:.. Downtown Project Area Residential Displacement Plan .............................. Appendix A Block by Block Analysis of Blight Paqe. COMMUNITY RENEWAL AREA FINANCIAL PLAN Backqround Auburn historically developed out from a traditional downtown focused along Main Street and the railroad. Until the latter part of the last century, Auburn was a relatively free-standing community separated from 4he Seattle and Tacoma urban c.ores by miles of farmland. As such, downtown provided a full range of goods and services to serve local needs. StaRing in the 1960's, improved highway connections made a largerregional area accessible for employment, shopping, senrices and entertainment. Concurrently, downtown Auburn, like many smaller city downtowns, began a long period of decline. Over time; fewer goods and services were available in downtown Auburn, and the larger downtown retailers including JC Penney, eventuaily closed or relocated. Property owners limited investments in maintenance and construction in property. By the 1990's, downtown had reached its nadir but at the same 4ime the seeds for its rebirth were being sown. The City experienced rapid growth ou4side ofithe downtown area, bringing thousands of new households into the area. There has also been some modest improvement downtown. Auburn Regional Medical Center has undergone several expansions making downtown a center for medical excellence. The City parthered v✓ith Sound Transit and King County Metro to develop Auburn Station. The City selected the location and partnered in the construction of the parking garage and first floor retail space in the expectation that it would serve as a catalyst for redevelopment.. The City also built the Auburn Justice Center at the eastern end of Main Street to anchor that area. At the same time, the private sector began to respond to opportunities presented by downtown. Several new buildings were built and a few others renovated. Today, downtown is on the verge of a renaissance, but the legacy of decades of decline remains. Numerous buildings are in poor condition, functionally obsolete and most are not worthy of rehabilitation. Some buildings that have been damaged by earthquakes and fre remain standing, often in poor condition. Vacant lots abound. A number of occupied buildings contain uses inconsistent with a vibrant downtown. Development density is low and not supportiye of the City's "Urban Center" designation, Pattems of property ownership (multiple narrow lots) which date back to the 1920's will not support the needs of new development compatible with Auburn's plans and policies. Site acquisition and assembly is often a critical obsfacle. P_ lan _Goals The City intends to use a variety of financial and o4her incentives to promo4e 4he redevelopment of downtown in a manner consistent with: • The Auburn Downtown Plan (May 2001) element of the City Comprehensive Plan . The City Comprehensive Plan (updated annually) . Auburn Down4own Urban Center designation (as approved by King County and the Puget Sound Regional Councii) • The City Economic Development Strategies document (2005) . Downtown Design and Code Amendments (pending at time of writing) Plan Financial Sfrateqies The City intends to use its current financial resources (including its nonvoted general obligation debt capacity) to acquire strategically located parcels. These will ultimately be offered fo� sale on a public competitive basis, sometimes in conjunction with other parcels owned by the City. Under 4he competitive process, potential developers will be required to demonstrate an ability to bring on-line development compatible with City plens, ordinances and policies including, as an example, the extent to which a project may serve as a catalyst for the revitalization and renewal of the downtown area. Development proposals will, among other items, be evaluated upon total return on the City's expenditure. In so doing, the sales price may take into account such considerations as: • Projecfed construction salestax acc�uing to the City; e Projected property tax accruing to the City; e Potential real estate excise taices earned by the City in connection with the sale of improved propeRies; . Projected sales taxes resulting from retail development and from purchases made by res.idents of the project. within Auburn; a Leasehold tax revenues; and, a Other factors as may be deemed appropriate. 2. The City will consider waivers of traffc impact and storm drainage fees. 3. Application of the City's adopted program for a 10 year waiver of property taxes for residential portions of appropriate projects. 4: The City will consider the formation of additional local improvement districts in the downtown area to help pay for infrastructure such as street, sidewalk and storm drainage improvements, and utility relocation. 5. The City will apply for State and Federal grants, as available, for economic development and for infrastructure improvements. 6. The City will work cooperatively with other governmental agencies including King County and Sound Transit, to bring financial resources to bear on improVeriments that will benefit both the City and other eritities. 7. If made possible through amendments to existing law, the City may use tax increment financing to encourage improvements within the downtown community renewal area. downtown communitv renewal area. DOWNTOWN PROJECT AREA RESIDENTIAL DISPLACEMENT PLAN Introduction The Auburn community has a substantial inventory of affordable housing. Its supply of housing fhat is accessible and affordable to low; moderate and middle-income groups is one of the largest in King Coun.ty. The City of Auburn supports the improvement of community's existing low income housing supply and during the last three decades has supported the development of its human services infrastructure as well as housing addressing the needs of disadvantaged populations. The City of Auburn does not anticipate that its actions will directly displace residents in the renewal area. It will seek to avoid displacement and explore alternative actions which will limit displacement of residents in those areas designated for revitalization. However, in the event such displacement does occur, the City will utilize its resources to mitigate the adverse effects of displacement. Plan fo Minimize Displacement In orderto avoid and/or minimize displacement, the City of Auburn will emphasize projects which: • Do not derriolish buildings housing low income residents. e Emphasiie prbjects that require no relocation or only temporary relocation. e Attempt to focus revitalization efforts on properties whose use is substantially commercial rather residential. • Encourage the redevelopment of residential properties that are voluntarily sold, not as result of the use of the power of eminent domain. Plan to Assist Displaced Residents For projects where displacement is unavoidable, the City of Auburn will work with local, state and federal agencies and organizations to assist in iiientifying housing suitable for the relocation of displaced persons. The programs, services and funding sources of the King County Housing Authority, shall be requested to assist any resident displaced as a result of the project. • The City will collaborate with area human services agencies to identify and facilitate access to existing housing opportunities for residents displaced as a result of revitalization efforts. o The City will seek to identify programs that provide down payment assistance, rerit subsidies, or access to eicisting affordable housing opportunities in the community. • The City will identify and develop a list of public and private multi-family housing complexes that offer affordable housing opportunities within the Auburn community. o The City will collaborate with area realtors to identify housing opportunities suitable for residents in revitalization areas who are being displaced.