HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-18-2006 ITEM VIII-A-1CITYOF 'ra ,M
* r
WASHINGTON
AGENDA BILL APPROVAL FORM
Agenda Subject: Community Renewal Plan - Public Hearing and
Date:
Ordinance
September 12, 2,006
Department: Planning, Building
Attachments: Ordinance No. 6049
Budget Impact:
and Development
Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Index sheet map
of photographs, (NOTE: The CRP
also consists of the Auburn
Downtown Plan and the color
_photographs for blocks 1 through 28.
Administrative Recommendation:
City Council introduce and adopt Ordinance No. 6049.
Background Summary:
RCW Chapter 35.81 is Washington State's Community Renewal law. This State law provides cities with
additional flexibility and tools to conduct land assembly and redevelopment within locally adopted
community renewal areas.
Among other items, the Community Renewal Law enables cities to undertake "Community Renewal
Projects". Community Renewal Projects, in turn, are those undertakings intended for the elimination and
for the prevention of the spread of "blight" and may involve "redevelopment" or rehabilitation in a
"Community Renewal area".
It is important to recognize that the Community Renewal Law takes on a very broad definition of "blight" or
"blighted areas". A blighted area is defined, in part, as area that "substantially impairs or arrests the
sound growth of the municipality or its environs".
Factors that may constitute "blight" include what traditionally might be associated with the term such as
unsafe or unsanitary conditions or dangerous or unhealthful conditions. However, under the Community
Renewal Law, items such as a defective or inadequate street layout, inadequate lot layout or obsolete
platting, or excessive land coverage or diversity of land ownership may also constitute blight. Such land
use factors can also contribute to impairing the sound growth of a city.
L0918-1
03.4.1.1
Reviewed by Council & Committees:
Reviewed by Departments & Divisions:
❑ Arts Commission COUNCIL COMMITTEES:
❑ Building ❑ M&O
❑ Airport ❑ Finance
❑ Cemetery ❑ Mayor
❑ Hearing Examiner ❑ Municipal Serv.
❑ Finance ❑ Parks
❑ Human Services ❑ Planning & CD
❑ Fire ❑ Planning
❑ Park Board ❑Public Works
❑ Legal ❑ Police
❑ Planning Comm. ❑ Other
❑ Public Works ❑ Human Resources
❑ Information Services
Action:
Committee Approval: ❑Yes ❑No
Council Approval: ❑Yes ❑No Call for Public Hearing
_I_I
Referred to Until
_
Tabled Until ! /
Councilmember: Norman Staff: Osaki
Meetin Date: Se tember 18, 2006 Item Number: VIII.A.1
AUBURN* MORE THAN YOU IMAGINED
* k,
CITY OF h.*
WASHINGTON
AGENDA BILL APPROVAL FORM
Agenda Subject: Community Renewal Plan - Public Hearing and
Date:
Ordinance
September 12, 2006
Department: Planning, Building
Attachments: Ordinance No. 6049
Budget Impact:
and Development
Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Index sheet map
of photographs, (NOTE: The CRP
also consists of the Auburn
Downtown Plan and the color
_photographs for blocks 1 through 28.
Administrative Recommendation:
City Council introduce and adopt Ordinance No. 6049.
Background Summary:
RCW Chapter 35.81 is Washington State's Community Renewal law. This State law provides cities with
additional flexibility and tools to conduct land assembly and redevelopment within locally adopted
community renewal areas.
Among other items, the Community Renewal Law enables cities to undertake "Community Renewal
Projects". Community Renewal Projects, in turn, are those undertakings intended for the elimination and
for the prevention of the spread of "blight" and may involve "redevelopment" or rehabilitation in a
"Community Renewal area".
It is important to recognize that the Community Renewal Law takes on a very broad definition of "blight" or
"blighted areas". A blighted area is defined, in part, as area that "substantially impairs or arrests the
sound growth of the municipality or its environs".
Factors that may constitute "blight" include what traditionally might be associated with the term such as
unsafe or unsanitary conditions or dangerous or unhealthful conditions. However, under the Community
Renewal Law, items such as a defective or inadequate street layout, inadequate lot layout or obsolete
platting, or excessive land coverage or diversity of land ownership may also constitute blight. Such land
use factors can also contribute to impairing the sound growth of a city.
L0918-1
03.4.1.1
Reviewed by Council & Committees:
Reviewed by Departments & Divisions:
❑ Arts Commission COUNCIL COMMITTEES:
❑ Building ❑ M&O
❑ Airport ❑ Finance
❑ Cemetery ❑ Mayor
❑ Hearing Examiner ❑ Municipal Serv.
❑ Finance ❑ Parks
❑ Human Services ❑ Planning & CD
❑ Fire ❑ Planning
❑ Park Board ❑Public Works
❑ Legal ❑ Police
❑ Planning Comm. ❑ Other
❑ Public Works ❑ Human Resources
❑ Information Services
Action:
Committee Approval: ❑Yes ❑No
Council Approval: ❑Yes ❑No Call for Public Hearing
Referred to Until _/_/_
Tabled Until —/—/
Councilmember: Norman Staff: Osaki
Meeting Date: September 18, 2006 1 Item Number:
AUBURN *MOPE THAN YOU IMAGINED
Agenda Subject: Community Renewal Plan - Public Hearing and Date: September 12, 2006
Ordinance
To implement the Community Renewal Law a local jurisdiction must adopt a Community Renewal Plan.
The Community Renewal Plan must do several items including:
• Define the community renewal area. (In this case, the community renewal area is the; downtown
urban center, modified slightly to also include a small area on C Street NW, just north of 3rd Street
NW.) (see Exhibit A);
• Document "Blight" (this is achieved, in part, through the presentation of photographs for the
certain blocks in the vicinity of the transit center);
• Identify preferred outcome and uses (this is achieved through the incorporation of the Downtown
Plan as part of the Community Renewal Plan);
• Include a "Financial Plan" that provides for a sound and adequate financial program to finance
community renewal projects (contained in Exhibit B); and,
• Include a "Displacement Plan" that provides a feasible plan for addressing residents who may be
displaced from community renewal projects (also contained as part of Exhibit B).
The Community Renewal Plan therefore includes a displacement plan and a financial plan. In addition,
to assist in documenting blight and the preferred outcome and uses for the proposed Community
Renewal Area, the Auburn Downtown Plan/EIS will also be adopted as a component of the Community
Renewal Plan. To better document "blight" specifically, the proposed Community Renewal Plan includes
a block by block analysis of blight (with photos) over a certain part of the Auburn Downtown near the
transit center where, for example, mixed use development is encouraged.
In accordance with State law, a public hearing on the Community Renewal Plan must be held. Notice of
the public hearing was provided in the City's official newspaper (twice) and mailed to property owners
within the proposed Community Renewal Area.
On September 11, 2006 the Public Works Committee reviewed the Community Renewal Plan and the
proposed plan was an action item on the Planning and Community Development Committee agenda.
The PCD recommended approval, except that it requested additional clarification on certain statements
within the Financial Plan with respect to how a return on investment is calculated. Staff has since
revised that section to provide more clarity as well as more flexibility.
L0918-1
03.4.1.1
Page 2 of 2
ORDINANCE NO. 6049
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON,
RELATING TO DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY RENEWAL, FINDING AND
DETERMINING THAT DOWNTOWN AUBURN IS BLIGHTED,
DESIGNATING A COMMUNITY RENEWAL AREA, AND ADOPTING A
COMMUNITY RENEWAL PLAN
WHEREAS, the Auburn downtown area has been identified as a subarea within
the City of Auburn Comprehensive Plan as evidenced by the City Council's adoption of
the Auburn Downtown Plan/Final EIS in May 2001; and
WHEREAS, the Auburn downtown, and particularly the area shown in Exhibit "A",
attached, which generally coincides the City of Auburn urban center as approved by
King County and the Puget Sound Regional Council, and as evidenced by the Block by
Block Analysis of "blight" for certain areas included as part of Exhibit "B", attached, has
experienced substantial decline in the quality of the building stock, a substantial
increase in building vacancies, and is also characterized by the presence of vacant
underutilized parcels that are difficult to develop due to their size and difficulties in
aggregating adjoining parcels under different ownership; and
WHEREAS, the Auburn downtown has also seen the decline of property
maintenance which has impaired job growth and economic development in the city,
which adversely impacts the ability to attract private sector investment, and thereby
undermines and limits the tax base; and
WHEREAS, the substantial physical dilapidation, deterioration and/or age or
obsolescence of buildings, inappropriate uses of land or buildings, unsanitary or unsafe
conditions, deterioration of sites, and the existence of conditions that endanger life or
property by fire or other causes, all of which exist within the Auburn downtown, are
Ordinance No. 6049
Page 1 of 7
collectively conducive to ill health, juvenile delinquency, crime, and substantially impair
or arrest the sound growth of the Auburn downtown and its environs, constitute an
economic and social liability, and in their present condition are detrimental to the public
health, safety, welfare, or morals; and
WHEREAS, the current Auburn downtown environment lends itself to residents
electing to conduct business elsewhere, in surroundings that are perceived to be safer
and more comfortable; and
WHEREAS, the City of Auburn Comprehensive Plan as evidenced by the City
Council's adoption of the Auburn Downtown Plan/Final EIS in May 2001 (the "Auburn
Downtown Plan") recognizes that blight conflicts with the goal of establishing a high
quality pedestrian oriented downtown; and
WHEREAS, in recognizing that blight exists in the Auburn downtown, the Auburn
Downtown Plan contains goals and policies to address such blight including„ by way of
example,
"Goal 2 To remove or diminish the impact of blighting influences throughout
downtown."
"Policy 2-1 Encouraging removal
Removal of blighting influences is encouraged."
"Policy 2-2 Public sector investment
When private sector investment is not feasible or timely, public sector
investments in catalyst projects should be considered. The City shall have the
ability to acquire properties to aggregate into larger projects."
WHEREAS, the Washington State legislature in its 2002 session amended the
State's Urban Renewal Law, renaming it the "Community Renewal Law" and providing
additional tools for cities for the revitalization of "Community Renewal Areas" which are
Ordinance No. 6049
Page 2 of 7
blighted areas designated as appropriate for "Community Renewal Projects" as set forth
in Chapter 35.81 RCW; and
WHEREAS, undertakings related to the rehabilitation, redevelopment or
combination thereof of blighted areas is necessary and in the interest of the public
health, safety, morals and welfare of the residents of the City, and
WHEREAS, the Auburn Downtown Plan, together with the "Community Renewal
Area Financial Plan" and the "Downtown Project Area Residential Displacement Plan"
attached at Exhibit "B", constitutes an appropriate Community Renewal Plan for the
Auburn downtown; and
WHEREAS, the Community Renewal Plan contains a sound and adequate
financial program for financing renewal projects; and
WHEREAS, the Community Renewal Plan contains a feasible plan for making
available adequate housing for the residents who may be displaced; and
WHEREAS the Community Renewal Plan conforms to the City's Comprehensive
Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Community Renewal Plan will afford the maximum opportunity,
consistent with the needs of the City, for the rehabilitation or redevelopment of the
community renewal area by private enterprise; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that a sound and adequate financial program
exists for financing the community renewal projects given funding programs, City
partnerships in proposed projects and anticipated private development financing; and
WHEREAS, public notice of a Community Renewal Plan public hearing was
provided by publication once each week for two consecutive weeks not less than ten
Ordinance No. 6049
Page 3 of 7
and not more than thirty days prior to the public hearing in a newspaper having general
circulation in the community renewal area of the municipality; and
WHEREAS, mailing of notice of the public hearing was given not less than ten
days prior to the date of the public hearing to the persons whose names appear on the
county treasurer's tax roll as the owner or reputed owner of the property, at the address
shown on the tax roll; and
WHEREAS, a public hearing on the proposed Downtown Community- Renewal
Plan was held by the Auburn City Council on September 18, 2006, at a regular open
public meeting, prior to which notice of the public hearing was published in the City's
official newspaper and mailed to all affected property owners within the affected area;
and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds it is in the best interest of the City to designate
downtown Auburn as a "Blighted Area", and adopt a Community Renewal Plan for the
Auburn downtown.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN,
WASHINGTON, DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Findings Adopted. The City Council hereby adopts the
"WHEREAS" clauses of this ordinance as findings of fact and evidence of blight.
Section 2. Designation of Blighted Area. Based on the materials and
testimony presented to the City Council, the Block by Block Analysis of Blight included
in Exhibit "B", and the findings set forth in the "WHEREAS" clauses of this ordinance,
the downtown area of the City of Auburn as shown on the attached map labeled as
Ordinance No. 6049
Page 4 of 7
Exhibit "A" is hereby found and determined to be and designated as a "blighted area" as
defined in RCW 35.81.015(2).
Section 3. Renewed Auburn Downtown Appropriate. It is necessary in the
public interest of public health, safety, morals and welfare of the residents of the City of
Auburn that the Auburn downtown be determined to be an area to be reclaimed and
renewed through "redevelopment" and/or "rehabilitation" as defined in RCW 35.81.015
(18) and (19).
Section 4. Declaration of Community Renewal Area. The downtown area
of the City of Auburn as shown on the attached map labeled as "Exhibit A" is declared to
be a "community renewal area" as defined in RCW 35.81.010(5) and the rehabilitation,
redevelopment or combination thereof of such area is necessary in the interest of the
public health, safety, morals or welfare of the residents of the City of Auburn.
Section 5. Adoption of Community Renewal Plan. The Auburn Downtown
Plan, together with the "Community Renewal Area Financial Plan" and the "Downtown
Project Area Residential Displacement Plan" attached at Exhibit "B", are approved and
adopted as the community renewal plan for the downtown area shown on Exhibit "A"
(the "Community Renewal Plan"). The City Council finds that: (i) a feasible plan exists
for making available adequate housing for the residents of that area who may be
displaced by the community renewal project undertaken pursuant to the Community
Renewal Plan; (ii) the Community Renewal Plan conforms to the City's Comprehensive
Plan; (iii) the Community Renewal Plan will afford maximum opportunity, consistent with
the needs of the City, for the rehabilitation or redevelopment of the community renewal
area by private enterprise; (iv) a sound and adequate financial program exists for the
financing of the community renewal project undertaken pursuant to the Community
----------------------------
Ordinance No. 6049
Page 5 of 7
Renewal Plan; and (v) the community renewal project area described in Exhibit "A" is a
blighted area as defined in RCW 35.81.015(2). Further, pursuant to RCW
35.81.050(2)(b), the City elects to have the powers of a community renewal agency
exercised by the City Council directly, and pursuant to RCW 35.81.150, the powers
described in RCW 35.81.150 shall be exercised by the City of Auburn Mayor's Office,
all for the purposes of redressing the blight in the Auburn downtown community renewal
area.
Section 6. Severability. 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.
Section 7. Ratification. All actions previously taken in accordance with this
ordinance are hereby ratified and confirmed.
Section 8. Effective Date of Ordinance. This ordinance shall take, effect and
be in force from and after its passage and five days following its publication as required
by law.
INTRODUCED:
PASSED:
APPROVED:
CITY OF AUBURN
PETER B. LEWIS, MAYOR
Ordinance No. 6049
Page 6 of 7
ATTEST:
Danielle E. Daskam, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
iel B. Heid,City Attorney
PUBLISHED:
Ordinance No. 6049
Page 7 of 7