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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-13-2009 Special~ ~ CITY OF BURN WASHING70N PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE January 13, 2009 SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Lynn Norman called the meeting to order at 5:02 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, Vice Chair Nancy Backus and Member Wagner. Staff members present included: Assistant Planning Director Kevin Snyder, Principal Planner Jeff Dixon, Senior Planner Christopher Andersen, Assistant City Attorney Stephen King, and Planning Secretary Renee Tobias. Audience Members included: Gil Cerise. 11. DISCUSSION A. Code Update Project - Flexible Development Options Consultant Gil Cerise, Senior Planner for ICF Jones & Stokes Associates, Inc. was introduced to the Committee. Assistant Planning Director Kevin Snyder provided background information on Committee's request for information regarding flexible development techniques and policy options for consideration as part of the development code update. Chair Norman introduced the Committee members to Mr. Cerise. Staff stated that the Comprehensive Plan provides a framework for the consideration of flexible development techniques and that Goal 2 includes providing flexibility for development to occur while still protecting and enhancing natural resources and critical lands. Staff clarified that an initial project would have to meet standards and criteria (prescriptive) for consideration. Once this was met, then the flexibility matrix/toolbox would be generated or earned. Committee talked with staff about the concept of an evaluation process that could be used to identify and evaluate the public benefits of a proposal to determine whether a project qualified for development flexibility, and that such a process should be transparent from the beginning of the application process. The process could include matrix driven options, where flexibility could be based on the value of the public benefit demonstrated. Assistant Director Snyder stated that such a system should be measurable, and would allow the City to clearly demonstrate its rationale for decisions. Assistant City Attorney Stephen King stated that legal would be supportive of this type approach as it would allow the City to be able to demonstrate an objective and thoughtful process. He also stated that the more detailed the list of criteria is, that potentially the less flexible the system may be. The Committee discussed the potential advantages and disadvantages of utilizing master plans - that they can be used for phasing large projects, coordination of public improvements, and that they allow for early input from City decision makers. Mr. King Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes January 13, 2009 stated that potential issues arise when the City Council has more involvement in projects were they have a final decision-making role. When code criteria are used to make determinations, the risk is much lower. City Council does have a role in the master plan process because it is typically processed as a comprehensive plan amendment or a rezone. Committee asked if the City's DUC zone designation would be considered a master plan. Mr. King said he would need to research this and come back to the Committee with an answer. Legal responded to the Committee's question if the toolbox approach to flexibility could be considered spot zoning, stating that not if it is done in a way that is appropriate and there is a clear connection to the Comprehensive Plan. But if a rezone is approved that does not fit the neighboring lots, it could be seen as spot zoning. He stated that it is hard to make an absolute rule as it requires a balancing of factors. Staff reported that Mt. Vernon provides a handbook and checklist to developers and the public early in the process. The handbook explains the process through graphics, photos and narrative. Developers consider the handbook/checklist as they design a project, staff looks at the checklist as they review and decision makers evaluate the merits of the project against the checklist. There is a lot of benefit of using the checklist as the application moves through the process, including that it makes staff's job a lot easier to work within known parameters. The City Council can retain control and set the boundaries for staff by limiting the degree of flexibility. Assistant Director Snyder stated that utilizing a Master Plan is beneficial to areas that have not been fully developed in the City. Using a Master Plan for Auburn Way North, as an example, would address traffic issues. In answer to Committee's question, the DUC would be considered a master plan as it has design guidelines. He stated that one of the benefits of a master plan process is that it can force a wider perspective. Committee discussed Demonstration Projects and agreed that the Green Zone would be a Demonstration Project. Mr. Cerise stated that jurisdictions utilizing this often send out citizen surveys to obtain feedback on the project. Often it is an opportunity to try something on a limited basis. This allows jurisdictions to try a project, survey residents to evaluate before amending the code. Committee agreed that flexibility must be earned and based in part on a proposal's identified public benefits. Committee asked staff to draft an example public benefit criteria matrix for mixed-use development. 111. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Planning and Community Development Committee, Chair Norman adjourned the meeting at 6:40 p.m. APPROVED THIS 9T" DAY OF FEBRUARY 2009. i ~ tri rman, Chair Ren e S. Tobias, Planning Secretary Page 2