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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-13-1997 Special Council Mtg AUBURN CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 13. 1997 Mayor Booth called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM. I. Introduction Those in attendance included Mayor Charles A. Booth, and Councilmembers Jeanne Barber, Stacey Brothers, Trish Borden, Fred Poe, Gene Cerino, Fred Poe, and Rich Wagner. Staff in attendance included Planning & Community Development Director Paul Krauss, Design Engineer Jack Locke, Senior Planner Bob Sokol, Contract Project Engineer Les Brattain, Finance Director Diane Supler, Senior Engineer Dennis Selle, Traffic Engineer Steve Mullen, City Engineer Dennis Dowdy, Public Works Director Frank Currie, City Attorney Michael J. Reynolds, and City Clerk Robin Wohlhueter. Guests included some property owners and property owner representatives. II. Presentations Paul Krauss. Planning & Community Development Director Planning & Community Development Director provided a brief overview and background of the purpose of tonight's meeting. This meeting is provide the Council with a brief history, identify the project location and existing uses, and to see if there is an interest among Councilmembers in pursuing further action in putting together a multi-year process for a planned development in northeast Auburn, and to seek support for a proposed LID for street and utility improvements. The proposed site is formally known as Riverbend. It includes approximately 400 acres of property located in northeast Auburn. A portion of the property was developed and the remainder of land was split up, subdivided and sold to various property owners. Two years ago the City adopted a Comprehensive Plan, recently amended designating the area as a special planning area. Potential annexation of Lea Hill combined with development of the Riverbend area presents a unique opportunity for property owners to work with the City to put together a planned development. Property owners are seeking City support for proposed LID for street and utility improvements. During the last two years Auburn experienced significant regional development with the opening of the Casino, Emerald Downs, and the Supermall. Because of these developments there is an increasing demand for residential growth. Construction of a new bridge at South 277th will connect Lea Hill to State Highway 167 providing access to the Riverbend special planning area. Future planning for development of streets, water, sewer and storm drainage utilities, and land uses will be reviewed and approved by the Council. The Port of Seattle approached the City looking for a wetland mitigation site for the third runway. The EIS for the third runway identifies property within the Riverbend area as the site for mitigation. A regional storm water basin is required to to serve this area of Special City Council Meeting January 13, 1997 Page No. 2 the city. According to surface water design regulations, floodplain cannot be filled unless additional floodplain is relocated. If an agreement can be reached with the Port, staff will recommend, through an interlocal agreement, that the Port relocate a floodplain, pay for street and utility improvements for development of the Airport wetlands, build the retention basin, and deed the land to the City. Potential land uses for development in the Riverbend special planning area are unknown at this time. The Council will be reviewing and considering land uses through a special areas planning process. Staff is currently working on a concept of land use for this area. A Comprehensive Plan amendment will be required and will be accompanied by a programmatic environmental impact study (EIS). This will allow Council an detailed review of the development where impacts are identified. Property owners wishing to develop, once the EIS is complete, will not have to go through the SEPA process. Jesus A. Moulinet Mr. Moulinet is a Principal Planner with Landmark, a planning, engineering, and surveying firm. Mr. Moulinet introduced other property owners present this evening. They include Auburn Properties, Fairfield Development, Golden Homes, Bristol Development, Gentra, and Port of Seattle. Represent seventy-five percent of the total development. The goal is to create an opportunity, not available in a normal planning process in Auburn, to create a special planning area where flexibility is built into the process. This program will support neotraditional planning concepts that are being developed throughout the country such as a urban villages, zero lot lines, and developments that include a mix of uses. Emphasis would be to create an opportunity to create design and development guidelines that will control the quality of development in the entire area. Illustrated on map, Mr. Moulinet identified the location of the proposed Local Improvement District (LID). The LID will reconfigure I Street, and the regional storm water facility will be relocated. Mr. Moulinet discussed property exchanges and configuration of maintaining identified conceptually as wetland properties that will make up for the regional storm water facility. Agreements will be developed as the process moves forward to ensure no net loss to the developable land. Attributes to the development of the property include the Green River, South 277th, Port of Seattle, Auburn Way and the location relative to the undeveloped land within the area, There are considerations of present and future land uses and advantages of major thoroughfares both east and west. There is opportunity in the northwest corner of the development for higher densities, 10- 20 units per acre with 20-30 for congregate care and retirement housing because of the services that would be available and its location. Another area of the proposed development may include mixed use designations that will incorporate the uses Special City Council Meeting January 13, 1997 Page No. 3 permitted except low density. Commercial designation, size undetermined at this time, will serve day to day needs of the community and residents on the hill. When Riverbend split up, the Port of Seattle purchased a piece of property within the proposed area for wetland mitigation. The Port of Seattle independently approached the City in seeking wetland mitigation for the third runway. At the Airport the land is scarce and FAA regulations prevent wetland mitigation within a certain designated area of the Airport. In conclusion, concepts will be refined as the proposed LID progresses, developers will be working closely with the Planning Commission to develop the special plan area with the support implementation with respect to design, development standards, and design guidelines. Jack Locke. City of Auburn Design Engineer In December, the City Council established a special planning area. Mr. Locke reported on two public meetings that have already occurred with regard to the proposed LID for I Street N.E. It is anticipated the Planning process will take approximately one year. The proposed improvements will include participation in development of South 277th, regional trunk sewer will be brought in by Metro, I Street NE development, development of a regional storm water system, signalization, 49th Street, and an environmental impact study. Mr. Locke discussed the method of assessing property owners on the proposed Local Improvement District. Should the Council encourage staff to move forward on the proposed LID, a work program will be presented to the Public Works Committee to form the LID. Councilmember Borden questioned the interaction and coordination of the proposed LID, the planning and EIS process. Mr. Locke responded that the EIS generally is completed prior to formation of the LID. In this case, staff may recommend formation of the LID giving the property ownere the assurances the City will construct the improvements providing the EIS and planning process proceeds. III. Discussion City Attorney Reynolds limited discussion to the conceptual idea of the proposed development. Mr. Reynolds recommended Council and staff not engage in discussion that may be in violation of the planning process which will occur in due course. Councilmember Brothers questioned what the City's participation is relative to the total cost. Mr. Locke responded that the costs are significant but will be fully supported by the property owners. In summary, Mayor Booth noted this issue will come before the Planning Commission and then to the City Council. Special City Council Meeting January 13, 1997 Page No. 4 IV. Ajournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 PM. Approved on this ~ day of February, 1997. Charles A. Booth Robin Wohlhueter Mayor City Clerk f:\clerk\cou ncil\97m 1 - 13