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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-26-2006 PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE June 26, 2006 MINUTES I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Lynn Norman called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers located on the first floor of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Auburn, WA. Committee members present were: Member Gene Cerino, Member Nancy Backus. Also present were Community Development Administrator David Osaki, Economic Development Planner AI Hicks, Senior Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain, Development Services Coordinator Steven Pilcher, Economic Development Manager Dave Baron, Environmental Protection Manager Aaron Nix, Mayor Pete Lewis and Planning Secretary Carolyn Brown. Planning Commissioners present were: - Chair Judi Roland, Peter Di Turi, Dave Peace, Kevin Chapman, Joan Mason, and Darci Bidman, Citizens: Bruce Alverson, owner of Sunbreak Cafe. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Minutes of the June 12, 2006 Meeting were approved as read. Member Backus moved to accept the minutes, Member Cerino seconded. Motion approved unanimously. 3-0 III. ACTION None. IV. DISCUSSION A. A joint meeting with the Planning Commission was facilitated by Community Development Administrator David Osaki. Planning Commissioners introduced themselves and provided a brief background Page 1 Plannina & Community Development Committee Minutes June 26. 2006 of their interests and length of time on the Planning Commission. Chair Norman also asked the Planning and Community Development Committee members to introduced themselves with a brief synopsis of the other committees they belong to and the length of time on the City Council. Chair Norman emphasized the importance of the committees that council members are on. Mayor Lewis also listed his memberships and meetings that he attends. Mr. Osaki emphasized the importance of the inter-relationship between City boards and commissions and elected official. All staff that were present introduced themselves, also. Mr. Osaki discussed and summarized the Economic Development Strategies document. When the document was developed the City looked at areas with potential for development and redevelopment. There are 6 strategy areas recognized in the document:- 1) The North Auburn strategy area, 2) The "Golden Triangle" which is near the Les Gove Park area; 3) the Urban Center (downtown); 4) Auburn Environmental Park (AEP) ; 5) A Street SE from 6th Street SE to Lake Tapps Parkway; and, 6) 15th Street SW and C Street SW SuperMall area. Many of the specific recommendations in the document call for comprehensive plan and zoning changes to implement the potential these areas have. Chair Norman added that these areas are crucial to the vision of the City, and not only staff but citizens helped to develop the document. Mr. Osaki stated four years ago the City Council identified priorities as part of the Council Vision. This Vision was mapped and depicted in the Council Chambers. The City Council again identified elements of its vision at their retreat earlier this year. There are now 49 items that have been included on an updated map plus other items that are goals and strategies that couldn't be mapped. Mr. Osaki identified many of the items on the map. Economic Development Strategy areas are identified. Also, the annexations of the West Hill and Lea Hill areas are part of the vision for the next 10 years. The City is looking at possible additional commercial zoning on Lea Hill. The City would also like to see commercial dollars being spent in Auburn. Mr. Osaki stated that the expansion of City's urban growth area into Pierce County is also identified. Member Cerino added that Pierce County does not have a PAA as such, but instead calls it a potential area of urbanization. The majority of the area around the end of Lake Tapps is already designated rural. Page 2 Plannina & Community Development Committee Minutes June 26. 2006 Mr. Osaki briefly spoke about the AEP and the extension of the Urban Center, as the City would like to encourage residential and commercial development in certain areas. Mr. Osaki said the vision also reflects many issues throughout the City, such as park trails and street improvements. Chair Norman said there will be a smaller version of the map that will eventually be available. Member Backus added that a lot of the ideas came out of the City Council retreat. Member Cerino stated that probably by 2016 the City will have an influx of population and ideas and direction will have to change to meet the need. Areas will have to adapt to accommodate the population. The PCD Committee and the Planning Commission discussed the choices ahead for the City and how to take the City in the direction that is envisioned, especially along the downtown core. Mr. Peace asked for an idea of the reasoning behind considering annexation near Lake Tapps. Mayor Lewis said one reason is to better manage issues related to levees along Lake Tapps. Mayor Lewis added since all most all of the people travel north, the City would like to be able to control traffic and utilities. The PCD Committee and the Planning Commission discussed responsibility for controlling growth in the south Lakeland area. They also discussed how Bonney Lake, Sumner and Auburn are working together to decide who will supply water and sewer to this area on the plateau. Ms. Bidman asked about guidelines the City uses to keep Auburn under control instead of allowing random development. Chair Norman stated the City hired a consultant to better plan and design development that supports the City vision. Mayor Lewis added that the City is looking at developing commercial zones while ensuring residential areas are buffered. Chair Norman reiterated that the AEP area is being kept as a green district with environmental friendly development in that area. The group also discussed how the City is investing money downtown, in order to see a return on the investment to the City and citizens through development of the downtown area. Mayor Lewis added that the City has been meeting with developers and taking input as to amenities and what interest the developers have. The group commented on downtown Kent and the development in that area. Dave Baron added that Kent is very different. It is twice the size of Page 3 Plannina & Community Development Committee Minutes June 26. 2006 Auburn and had a large area in the downtown area to redevelop. Also, because downtown Auburn has many small parcels and is mote fragmented, it requires more planning so the City (Auburn) needs to follow a slightly different path. Joan Mason commented on the Auburn Way South area. The group discussed how to encourage people to stop and shop along the street and not just a pass through as commuters. Judi Roland asked about the west side of A Street SE. Chair Norman said the City has a moratorium for the property on the east side of A Street. The railroad owns and controls the property on the west side of A Street and the city has limited land use authority there. Mr. Peace asked for information regarding development at Emerald Downs and what is being envisioned. Mayor Lewis answered that a hotel or business park or something of that nature could possibly be developed in that area. Also, the City is looking at different options such as RV centers and boat centers. The group briefly discussed annexations. Mayor Lewis reiterated that the City will get the Planning Commission a copy of the Vision map and the legend. He noted that a larger version will be hung in the City Council chambers. Chair Norman thanked the Planning Commission for attending and for their work and the team effort along with staff and the City Council. She added that the PCD is planning more such joint meetings as the year progresses. B. 2006 Comprehensive Plan Amendment information was presented by Mr. Osaki. Mr. Osaki displayed a map of the City that had the locations of proposed map changes identified to date. He added that the deadline for privately initiated Comprehensive Plan amendment applications was Friday, June 23 and the City received no new applications. Mr. Osaki said the City is taking a look at some of the industrial designated lands and making a proposal for heavy commercial. Mr. Osaki said he will return to the next meeting after the PCD Committee has a chance to consider amendments it would like to propose and have referred to staff. Page 4 Plannina & Community Development Committee Minutes June 26. 2006 The PCD Committee discussed the general vision of the City Council. Mr. Osaki added he will make sure the other City Council members see the map. Mayor Lewis suggested the map be put in the Council work area. C. AEP Goals and Objectives Discussion presented by Environmental Protection Manager Aaron Nix, were combined with agenda item D. D. Low Impact Development and Sustainable Community Goals was discussed by Environmental Protection Manager Aaron Nix Mr. Nix read a definition of sustainable communities. The PCD Committee discussed the definition. The PCD Committee discussed sustainability in context of the Puget Sound Regional Council's VISION 2020 update growth scenarios. One alternative is to rely on existing growth targets extended to 2040. Mr. Nix stated that in all cases the list of sustainable community goals is melded to Auburn itself. Mayor Lewis stated that he would like item number 7 to be more localized, such as environmental impacts upon Auburn. Mr. Nix asked the Committee whether it felt the list should have city-wide application or whether it should apply to the Green Zone specifically. Member Backus added that it should apply to any area within Auburn. The PCD Committee discussed city wide applications and where the policies might fit best. The PCD Committee discussed what some of the energy groups, such as Puget Sound Energy, do to be involved. Mayor Lewis instructed that the PCD Committee does not need to take action on this tonight. Mr. Nix lead a discussion on low impact development. Low impact development has less impact on natural water systems. Mr. Nix said that there are mechanisms and ways to incorporate low impact development techniques into development. For example, smaller storm retention areas might be possible if green areas are designed to promote water absorption. Vegetative strips, swales and aesthetics are all part of the idea. This is a way of thinking outside the traditional way. Mr. Nix provided an example of an area in North Seattle that implemented this thought process. The project was capable of reducing the stormwater leaving the site by 60%. The volume of water that would go towards a Page 5 Plannina & Community Development Committee Minutes June 26. 2006 traditional storm water pond was significantly reduced. The PCD Committee discussed different cities that have worked with this process. Chair Norman stated that Mr. Nix seems to be heading in the right direction and this appears to be what the Council wants to see. V. INFORMATION A. PC DC Status Matrix Mr. Osaki will revise the matrix and prioritize by department. VI. OLD BUSINESS VII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Planning and Community Development Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 6:51 p.m. APPROVED THE/(!) '6 DAY OF ~e2rJ-o b Page 6