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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-12-2007* s CITY OF -* s+~ ~- ~~ ~~~`L ~ - ,. -- - WASHINGTON PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE March 12, 2007 MINUTES I. CALL TO ORDER - 5:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBERS 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: Chair Lynn Norman, Member Backus and Member Wagner. Also present were Planning, Building and Community Director Michael Davolio, Community Development Administrator David Osaki, Development Services Coordinator Steve Pitcher, Risk Manager Rob Roscoe, Assistant City Attorney Joseph Beck, Senior Planner Jeff Dixon, Economic Development Planner AI Hicks, Environmental Protection Manager Aaron Nix, Planner Stacey Borland, Code Enforcement Officer Chuck Joiner, Code Enforcement Officer Mike Dunbar, Director of Human Resources Brenda Heineman, Traffic Engineer Laura. Philpot, Assistant City Engineer Ingrid Gaub, Mayor Pete Lewis and Planning Secretary Kirsten Reynolds. Audience Members included: Rob Terhune II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Monday, February 26, 2007 Discussion around clarifying how an "Assisted Living" facility creates more parking took place. A request to edit the wording under the Wayfinding Update, discussions: "the committee discussed cutting costs". Another edit referenced the Golf Course naming process. Member Backus moved to approve the minutes from the February 26, 2007 with the above edits, seconded by Member Wagner. Minutes approved unanimously 3-0. III. ACTION None IV. DISCUSSION A. Code Enforcement Abatement Issue Assistant City Attorney Joseph Beck presented the history on the 4 Pike Street property; this has been in disrepair for the last 10 years. Infractions and lawsuits were exchanged for a lean against the property totaling $1,000.00. The owner was supposed to bring the property up to livable standard. The owner has done nothing in the last two-years. Beck proposed a summary abatement which would clean up the property at the City's expense then obtain the property. The City may or may not regain the costs expended to clean up the property, there is no guarantee. Currently the clean up estimate cost is at $400-$500, Page 1 Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes March 12, 2007 no more than $2,000. total. After the clean up the City would go after a lean against the property then turn it around and sell it. The owner and their attorney can not be found. The Members discussed the lack of control there has been to have this property maintained. There have been so many tries with zero results. There was general support given from the PCD Committee to move forward. B. ACAP lease Agreement Risk Manager Rob Roscoe presented a renewal lease agreement between the City of Auburn and the ACAP Child & Family Service, anon-profit located at 1102 J Street SE in Auburn. The lease would be month to month and require an increase to the insurance requirements. The Committee gave support for this revised lease agreement. C. Wayfinding. Economic Development Planner AI Hicks recapped previous discussions and questions posed by the Committee. Hicks informed the Committee that the wayfinding sign consultant will be providing a sample to be reviewed by the City Council retreat date. Discussion happened around alternative samples of signs for the Council's retreat. Traffic Engineer Laura Philpot handed out a document outlining the design elements, installation and production of the wayfinding signs. The proposal was to have the design done by an outside company and the production done in-house, in efforts to save on the cost of this project. D. Wetland Mitigation Related Land Value Information Environmental Protection Manager Aaron Nix presented information on land values within Auburn, more specifically how these prices correspond to wetland mitigation projects. Aaron assembled a rough draft of property values associated with specific land types. These three types included: developable with no wetlands present, developable with wetlands, and undevelopable because of wetlands present. The numbers attached to the spreadsheet demonstrated properties values throughout Auburn. Discussion took place regarding the economics, the demand for mitigation activity and the lack of land that is still available. Council member Wagner pointed out that the spreadsheet confirms a 6:1 increase in land value when wetland encumbered property is made developable. If the city is getting less than this return, the city should seek more. The issue of demand for wetland mitigation sites was discussed. Council members asked about specific projects needing mitigation sites. Nix asked Mr. Terhune to describe his proposal. Rob Terhune, a local developer came to the Committee to discuss his experience with wetland mitigation projects throughout the valley. Mr. Terhune talked about the location of two current projects located next to the Super Mall. One project is in the City of Auburn while the other is in Algona. Current Auburn code is restrictive to allowing outside wetland impacts for being imported and mitigated ~n the City of Auburn. Mr. Terhune described his proposal for AEP phas$ 2. Nix noted that it benefits the AEP while providing funding for restoration construction. There was discussion about public benefits and the limiting the importation of mitigation to the AEP phase 2 area. The committee asked that a proposal based on limiting mitigation to AEP phase 2 be brought back. Discussion took place Page 2 Planning and Community Develoument Committee Minutes March 12. 2007 around the cost analysis of the mitigation construction work estimated at $100,000- $150,000 an acre. There was discussion about the appraised value, purchase price and need to show public benefit. Director Davolio will bring forward a document that supports a self contained, isolated use of the property along with the cost analysis showing if there is a public benefit to the City of Auburn. The Committee showed general support for this type of document being produced but clarified that it must show positive justification for doing mitigation within Phase II of AEP. Wetland Mitigation Related Land Value Information E. Auburn North Business Area Plan (ANBAP) Special Area Plan/Future Building Orientation Senior Planner Jeff Dixon reviewed the plan policies and referred to a draft of strike though and underlined changes that were requested to be prepared at the February 26th meeting. Proposed revisions to the ANBAP design policies and how they may affect future appearance and configuration of development within the sub-area were discussed. Council member Wagner inquired about Policy AN-1.6 (renumbered) related to provision of recreational facilities in multiple family developments. Members of the Committee felt there is an importance for multi-family development to require a high degree of standards. The committee also discussed pedestrian walkways. Dixon showed a map of the walkways partially completed within the Auburn Marketplace Development located within the special planning area. In response the Committee would like to see policies AN- 2.6 (existing) and AN-2.7 (renumbered) combined as one policy regarding pedestrian walkways. Council member Backus asked about the intent of Policy AN-2.12 (renumbered) related to pedestrian lighting. It was agreed the policy would be rewritten to clarify the meaning. It was noted that since the special area plan changes are amendments to the Comprehensive Plan, the changes cannot be enacted until the annual amendment process. F. Neighborhood Grant Program David Osaki gave background information regarding the neighborhood program each year there is $25,000 in general funds budgeted for the program. School PTSA organizations are an example of groups that have applied for these funds in the past. Director Davolio purposed an example how the funding could be used in the future. When the Code Enforcement Officers go to a site hit with graffiti, instead of citing the property owners they would get a release signed by the owner for the City of perform work to cover the graffiti. The City would then hire a contractor to do the work the next day, removing the unwanted graffiti. This is a short-term fix not along-term solution. The PCD Committee requested information regarding the City of Renton's neighborhood grant application to see how detailed and complex the application form is. The PCD Committee is looking to streamline the City's application form to encourage more applications. Community Development Administrator Osaki indicated that he would provide the information to the PCD Committee in their "in" boxes. Page 3 Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes March 12, 2007 V. INFORMATION A. Chair Norman brought discussed signage on Highway 18. Chair Norman wanted to know if there could be signage placed on the Highway, directing traffic towards the Downtown area. Director Davolio is planning to attend a meeting with the Chamber and the Auburn Downtown Association (ADA) regarding this topic in the near future. B. Chair Norman talked about a concerning public perception of Auburn's trails. There has been an on-going concern around the Interurban trail and the wilderness side of Game Farm Park, regarding issues of homeless encampments, trash and general safety. The City needs to maintain the trails that currently exist. Parks will be invited to discuss the topic of what is currently being done around the issues of homeless encampments, trash and general safety with the PCD Committee in late April or May. C. The Puget Sound Regional Council has stated they will be visiting recently designated (within the last couple of years) urban centers to see if they have been and/or are meeting standards. The intent is to make sure that cities that believe they have an urban center really contain the key elements for such a designation. VII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Planning and Community Development Committee, Chair Norman adjourned the meeting at 6:39 p.m. APPROVED THE ~ / DAY OF 1r'1 ~ "~_ Lynn rman, Chair it to Reynold retary .a Page 4