HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-24-1998I~INUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
NOVEMBER 24, 1998
The regular meeting of the Planning and Community Development Committee was held November 24, 1998 in the
Council Work Area. Those members in attendance were as follows:
MEMBERS PRESENT: Trish Borden, Sue Singer, and Pete Lewis
STAFF PRESENT: Bob Sokol, Shirley Aird, Bill Mandeville, Dick Deal, and Patti Zook
ALSO PRESENT:
Mayor Booth
The meeting was called to order by Committee Chair Borden at 6:00 p.m.
1. Ordinance for CDBG 1998 Action Plan
Councilmember Singer made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Lewis, to recommend approval.
Chairman Borden concurred.
2. Ordinance 5180 - Auburn Arts Commission Grant
Parks and Recreation Director Deal presented the staff report.
Councilmember Lewis made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Singer, to recommend approval.
Chairman Borden concurred.
::. 3. : Downtown Plan
Principal Planner Sokol provided background information on the Plan. He spoke about public involvement
in the process, and described the Task Force as being a well educated group on downtown issues. Copies
of the preliminary draft were given to the Committee and City staff, but not distributed widely yet. A draft
EIS and draft plan for public review should be available in January. It is anticipated that in February or
March, the Plan will be taken to the Planning Commission and Council for adoption. He mentioned a
"programmatic EIS" for the Plan in order to be as specific as possible so that when projects come in that
are consistent with the Plan, staff can say the impacts were reviewed earlier. It would be an inducement for
economic development.
Julia Walton, Arai Jackson, Downtown Plan consultants, mentioned the goals of the Plan and that the City
can build on the existing assets. She then discussed a foam board entitled "Figure Ground Diagram" of -
building layouts. She showed another foam board entitled "Challenges to Revitalization" and discussed.
She showed another foam board entitled "Concept" and discussed. She mentioned the different tiers of
development and the six steps of the Plan. She then showed a foam board entitled "Key Projects" and
discussed. Next, she showed foam board sketches of an artist's rendition of street scapes of revitalized
downtown area.
Councilmember Lewis believes it will hard to lure multi family develop to the area across A Street from
the transit center parking garage because it will need an inducement for a developer to proceed with such a
project. He mentioned a limited partnership between developers and property owners that might work for
this set up. He likes the idea of a special plan area for downtown. The City could be the catalyst for
getting groups together.
A discussion of various types of leveraging occurred.
Ms. Walton mentioned the possibilities of local banks being brought into the process. If the programmatic
EIS is done, then need review only for the different individual land uses. Councilmember Lewis suggested
the "Key Bank block" be a better name than the "Tavern block". Several redevelopment possibilities
were discussed.
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~MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
NOVEMBER 24, 1998
The Committee discussed renaming a portion of A Street.
Councilmember Singer expressed concern about the City being the landlord of ground-level retail at the
parking garage. Principal Planner Sokol advised that Jack Locke, Special Projects Engineer, is looking
into a "turn key" type of situation. Ms. Walton remarked that the consultant's economist has been
speaking with Mr. Locke regarding tenant improvements and the turn key program related to the parking
garage.
Principal Planner Sokol advised that the Task Force is concerned about what might happen in downtown
prior to the Plan's adoption. He mentioned an interim zoning process that might be implemented. The
Task Force likes the idea of the interim zoning and he described the advantages in doing this. Staffwould
like to prepare an ordinance for the interim zoning and bring it to the full Council at the fu'st December
meeting. The Committee agreed to proceed forward with the concept of interim zoning for the area.
Councilmember Lewis made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Singer, to bring the interim zoning
ordinance to the December Council meeting. Chairman Borden concurred.
Chairman Borden commended staff, the Task Force, and the consultant for their hard work on the Plan.
She expressed concern, however, about the implementation chapter which urges Council to expend money.
Councilmember Lewis remarked that the implementation strategies seem to take up considerable stafftime.
He is also concerned about the amount of money that it proposes the City to expend. He stressed the need
to bring up the value of the core area.
Chairman Borden asked about the schedule for design standard changes. Principal Planner Sokol said that
adoption of the Plan is first, and then design standards would be put in ordinance form. Chairman Borden
would like to discuss the Downtown Plan again in one month.
A discussions of the Public Works Department's involvement in the Plan occurred.
Liquor License for Special Occasion
The Committee consented to this request.
RFP for After School Activities
Planner I Mandeville provided background information.
Mayor and Councilmember Singer remarked that Planner I Mandeville should evaluate services on
"historic" trends versus comparing different neighborhoods. Councilmember Lewis agreed that staff
should use historical statistics of the area otherwise the information will not be accurate and might be
misleading.
Chairman Borden asked for clarification of the objectives of this grant. Planner I Mandeville spoke about
the objectives. She supports the expansion of after school programs.
With no further items to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
PCDCSMIN~ 11B-98
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