HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM III-FCITY OF
UBu N
WASHINGTON
DRAFT
DOWNTOWN
REDEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE
April 22, 2008
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER -
Chair Lynn Norman called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. in the Council Conference Room
located on the first floor of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Auburn, WA. Committee
Members present were: Chair Lynn Norman and Member Gene Cerino. Also present were:
Mayor Pete Lewis, Planning, Building & Community Director Cindy Baker, Public Works
Director Dennis Dowdy, Principal Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain, Economic Development
Manager Dave Baron, City Attorney Dan Heid, Planning Secretary Kirsten Reynolds, Troy
Humphrey and Spencer Alpert, Brenda Heineman, Shelly Coleman, Carolyn Robertson,
Jeff Oliphant and Doug Demeries.
Committee Members absent were: Member Sue Singer (excused)
II. MINUTES
Member Cerino moved to approve the April 8, 2008 minutes as read; Chair Norman
concurred.
The minutes were approved as submitted unanimously 2-0.
III. REVIEW PROCESS QUESTIONS
The group talked about the list of questions compiled and distributed; the goal is to just review
the questions at this point not to have answers to them right now. The questions were broken
in to five categories: Phasing, Parking, Financial, Codes and Standards, Other.
Phasing and Codes & Standards - Director Baker and City Attorney Heid talked about
executive sessions and when legislative bodies can go into executive sessions. Mr. Heid
advised the Committee that having open discussions about land acquisitions would be
appropriate and could call an executive session with staff only present; however there should
not be discussions regarding price of land acquisitioning or how land gets developed at this
meeting because they are public meetings.
Goals and different phasing scenarios for development were discussed. Mr. Alpert has
spoken to a number of property owners, their reactions were good; one property owner was
more interested in developing on their own. Mr. Alpert has also talked with Williams & Dane
about starting the project with the SE quad. which the City owns inside the four block radius.
There was further discussion about ensuring development standards for the overall area; if
property owners wanted to develop on their own they should have to follow the overall design
to ensure continuity of the look and feel surrounding them.
There was discussion regarding issues with contingency such as transferring land titles. The
group agreed there will be a provision in the agreement that states when milestones are met
how to move forward with closing on the property so development can happen.
Member Cerino brought up concerns around phasing and if the streets will be closed off and
a plaza built as originally proposed; how can the City ensure this still happens. Mr. Heid
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Downtown Redevelopment Committee Minutes April 22, 2008
stated there are some tools i.e. Local Improvement District (LID) the City can use to ensure
this still happens but take caution that it is not considered a "taking" of property. Mayor Lewis
spoke about how LIDs get approved, there must be 60% of the landowners to buy in to this
concept and they would be paying for the future development amenities for the plaza. Mayor
asked Planning, Finance and Public Works staff to work on design standards and LID
information to bring back to this Committee for review. Mayor Lewis also commented the
Committee will give direction for the design and that questions should be focused around
operational issues verses policy.
Chair Norman added during the phasing development she would like to see something added
in the agreement that mixed use development would be included in each and every phase
verses developing the retail or residential portion first. Everyone in the group agreed to this.
Parking - Mayor Lewis pointed out off site parking would enable blocks to be developed in
phases that may not include on-site parking. Require all parties to share cost of parking if an
LID was formed. The group had a discussion of underground parking, a memo was
distributed that stated the underground water tables are too high and underground parking
would no longer be a possibility but other things can be done such as hiding the parking
within the building structures.
Financial - Impact fees, tax credits, available grants and Public Development Authority
questions arose. Mr. Alpert talked about tax credits and the objective to acquire all city
property. Pricing can be determined by going through process. Staff was for no leasing.
Director Coleman and Mr. Alpert discussed when and how the City will be lined up for
financing and when a proforma would be presented. Mr. Alpert explained they intend to ask
the City first for a contribution to the project then go to the bank. A preliminary performa will
need to lay out the costs for each phase. Director Colman will send further requirements the
City will need to Mr. Alpert.
Other - There further discussions about the following topics: wireless connectivity, target
viable retail demographics and possible third parties entering in to project should be kept
simple.
Jeff Oliphant commented he was very impressed with the developer's work and that they will
be the one's taking all the risk. Mr. Oliphant used the same parking engineer and agreed that
the underground parking structures were not a feasible option. The design guidelines will be
good but remember to give latitude for creativity to the architect firm.
The PDA discussion will be brought back to the next Downtown Redevelopment Committee
meeting.
IV. INFORMATION - Next meeting will be on May 6th at 3:30 p.m.
V. ADJOURNMENT at 4:30 p.m.
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