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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-18-2001sp SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING April 18, 2001 4:30 PM COUNCIL WORK AREA DOWNTOWN PLAN MINUTES I. Call to Order The special meeting of the Aubum City Council to discuss the Auburn Downtown Plan/Draft EIS was called to order at 4:40 PM in the Council Chambers located in Auburn City Hall. Mayor Charles A. Booth and the following Councilmembers were present: Rich Wagner, Pete Lewis, Sue Singer, Trish Borden, and Stacey Brothers. Councilmembers Jeanne Barber and Fred Poe were excused. Staff members present included: Principal Planner David Osaki, City Engineer Dennis Dowdy, Public Works Director Christine Engler, Planning and Community Development Director Paul Krauss, Associate Planner Shirley Aird, Fire Training Officer Dan Bosch, Transportation Planner Joe Welsh, Storm Drainage Engineer Tim Carlaw, and Deputy City Clerk Cathy Richardson. Also present were Attorney Andrew S. Lane with Foster Pepper Shefelman and Citizens Downtown Task Force Member and Planning Commissioner Peter DiTuri. II. Downtown Plan Presentation Mayor Booth stated that the purpose of this evening's meeting is to review the Auburn Downtown Plan. Planning and Community Development Director Paul Krauss commented that many changes have occurred within the city over the last ten years including the construction of the Transit Station and funding for the FAST Corridor. Many more projects are under construction or will begin in the near future. A great deal has been accomplished by the City since the Auburn Downtown Plan began. Director Krauss reported that the Downtown Plan and the implementation of the interim C-2 zoning have been used as a guideline for development in the downtown area. One of the primary goals of the downtown revitalization plan was to not only plan for the vision of what downtown could become, but to also facilitate the plan. The development of downtown has created many challenges for the City and developers. Director Krauss cited examples pertaining to the Special City Council Meeting Minutes April 18, 2001 Page 2 storm drainage and water quality program, traffic level of service in the downtown area, allowable density, and environmental requirements. Principal Planner David Osaki distributed materials pertaining to the Downtown Plan. Mr. Osaki thanked Mr. Peter DiTuri for attending the Council meeting and noted that Mr. DiTuri was on the Citizens Downtown Task Force and is a member of the Planning Commission. Mr. Osaki explained that a portion of the materials distributed is a summary of the layout of the Downtown Plan that may be used to assist in the navigation of the Plan. The balance of the materials makes reference to those items that Council expressed a desire to review in greater detail. Mr. Osaki noted that all correspondence received by the City during the process of compiling the Plan is attached. Mr. Osaki explained that the regional transportation and land use system is based on a hierarchy of centers such as Urban Centers or Activity Centers. It is a concept of high density developed areas interconnected by a high-capacity transit system. Many jurisdictions are currently engaged in downtown planning and are trying to implement the downtown regional vision of a downtown mixed use area supported by bus transit and/or heavy or light rail. Mr. Osaki displayed an overhead of general concepts for downtown planning that included the following points: · Mixed Use Development · Increase Residential Development - More Activities Nighttime Activities · Emphasize Non-motorized Uses - Limit Auto-oriented Design · Emphasis on Physical Design - Pedestrian Oriented Facade Improvements · Gateways · Pedestrian Access Within - Linking Access From Neighborhoods · Pedestrian Amenities - Public Art Wayfinding/Signage Landscaping · Streetscape Improvement- Key Streets - Sidewalks Lighting Street Trees/Landscaping Signage · Encourage Transit/Non-motorized Transportation Special City Council Meeting Minutes April 18, 2001 Page 3 · Improve the Business Climate and Image Media Campaign/Cooperation · Off-street Parking Strategy - Shared Parking Parking Garage · Historic Preservation · Focus on Key Sites Mr. Osaki noted that a community must determine its assets and build upon them and must identify and remove its constraints. Mr. Osaki explained that the Auburn Downtown Plan is a combined. plan and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) document. The Department of Ecology encourages this format so that it is an integrated document to reduce redundancy. There are basically three parts to the plan which include the plan itself, which provides background, goals and policies, and implementation strategies. Parts two and three include the EIS summary and analysis and focuses on the impact of the Downtown Plan on the environment. The Downtown Plan also includes Appendices that include the market and transportation analysis, information on public art, and other works completed by the consultant. In response to an inquiry by Councilmember Singer, Mr. Osaki reported that the marketing analysis consultant recommended conducting a new market study rather than an update of the previous study. They further recommend that the study be postponed so that it can include impacts of the Transit Station. Discussion followed regarding the benefits and scope of information included in a market analysis and the costs of updating the existing study. Director Krauss stated that Auburn has more amenities located within the city, such as Emerald Downs Racetrack and the Transit Center and parking garage since the last analysis was completed. Director Krauss reported that there has been developer interest in the downtown area as well as other areas within the city. Mr. Osaki referred to page two of the documentation and reviewed the recommended Downtown Plan Policies and Actions titles including strengthening Main Street, diminishing blighting influences, transportation policies, street improvements, parking strategies, the expanded downtown public art program, and adopting downtown design guidelines or standards. In response to questions from Councilmember Brothers, Director Krauss stated that there are many landholders in the downtown area. The City has endeavored to bring public awareness in a variety of ways, including holding open houses, speaking at various downtown associations, and meeting individually with a number of property owners. It is hoped that the retail area in the new parking garage will encourage other property owners to improve their Special City Council Meeting Minutes April 18, 2001 Page 4 properties. A great deal of discussion has occurred with regard to the preservation of the residential neighborhoods located in the downtown area. The City has attempted to insure that development in this area is sensitive to the residential needs. Close proximity to the commuter rail station should make the downtown neighborhoods a desirable area. Commuter rail has been extremely successful in Auburn and is only constrained by the number of parking spaces available and the number of trains running at this time. III. DISCUSSION Urban Center Designation Policy: Director Krauss stated that one of the benefits of being designated as an urban center includes prime access to transit services. Discussion followed regarding the merits and disadvantages of having an urban center designation. Director Krauss stated that cities with urban center designations receive prioritization with regard to transportation, expenditure on social service funds, Metro bus routing, and other County programs. Councilmember Borden pointed out that additional density would be a concern if the anticipated funds or services were not received. Mr. Osaki reviewed the Downtown Plan districts and implementation measures. The study area is divided into ten districts based on land use patterns and defining characteristics. Each implementation strategy describes the strategy and outlines its benefits, problem solutions, and coordination and steps required. There are four implementation category types including policies and regulations, transportation street improvements, public facilities, and catalyst projects. Mr. Osaki presented an example using the Downtown Gateways project. In response to questions from Councilmembers Brothers and Wagner, Director Krauss explained that the cost of the Gateways project includes a design effort in the first year with a construction effort in the second year. The gateways could include landscaping and artwork and, in some cases, will require land acquisition. The gateways have yet to be designed. Councilmember Singer stressed the need for a gateway at the interurban trail. Director Krauss pointed out that the City is in the process of seeking funding for a bike trail connection from the interurban trail to the train station. The train station will include bike lockers. It is hoped that this will encourage those using the interurban trail to visit the downtown area. Councilmember Lewis expressed a desire for more gateways such as the landscaping used at the entrance to Game Farm Park. Councilmember Wagner referred to page 181 of the Auburn Downtown Plan/Draft EIS with regard to corrections of the funding under estimated cost. Special City Council Meeting Minutes April 18, 2001 Page 5 Mr. Osaki stated corrections, revisions, or recommendations made by the Planning and Community Development Committee or staff will be submitted to Council prior to call for a public hearing. Mr. Osaki reviewed the formal process and public comment procedures implemented with regard to the Downtown Plan. Four letters were received within the EIS comment period. One was received after the comment period closed. All letters and staff responses will be included in the draft EIS. In response to questions from Councilmember Wagner, Public Works Director Christine Engler stated that staff will review the stormwater section of the EIS to ensure it references appropriate quantity as well as quality treatment to provide regional facilities wherein redevelopment and development share in those systems in accordance with Auburn City Code. Councilmember Wagner requested that the downtown plan include downtown as a gathering place for the City's cultural celebrations. Mr. Osaki referred to page 176 of the Auburn Downtown Plan/Draft EIS regarding the urban center designation policy strategy and the excerpts regarding urban centers from King County Countywide Planning Policies included in the packet distributed. Mr. Osaki explained that urban centers are defined as areas of no more than one and one half square miles in area. The comprehensive plan should be adjusted to achieve the targets of 15,000 jobs within one half mile of the transit center, a minimum of an average of fifty employees per gross acre, and a minimum of fifteen households per gross acre. The objective of an urban center is to have dense employment and residential centers. Councilmember Borden requested that staff compile employment statistics within Auburn city limits in comparison to surrounding jurisdictions with regard to the urban center designation requirements. Making Auburn Way More Pedestrian Friendly: Mr. Osaki reported that another category of the of the Downtown Plan/EIS is the street improvements to Auburn Way on page 178, Auburn Way is a key corridor and entrance way into the City. Auburn Way presents a poor introduction with minimal landscaping, pole signs, utility lines, curb cuts that discourage pedestrian travel, and no landscape barriers between the curb and sidewalk. Suggested improvements strategies include additional landscaping, decorative lighting, utility line undergrounding, access management on curb cuts, improved signage, and downtown artwork. The goal is to improve aesthetics and provide more pedestrian amenities. In response to questions from Councilmember Wagner, Mr. Osaki stated that pole signs tend to be oriented towards the automobile and draw the eye upward. Special City Council Meeting Minutes April 18, 2001 Page 6 The are inconsistent in height, create visual clutter, and encourage competition of signage. In response to questions from Councilmember Brothers, Mr. Osaki reported that, if the proper tree is selected and flexibility is allowed with the placement of signs, landscaping would not conflict with monument signage, Minimum Height Requirement for Buildings, Historic Preservation Implementation, and Current R-4 Zoning in West Auburn and West of City Park/Auburn High: Mr. Osaki reported that a Historic Preservation Implementation Strategy will be presented as a separate staff recommendation. Some competition exists in the urban center designation which promotes multi-family facilities in the downtown area, and the preservation of those downtown historical residential areas which would fall within that area. King County suggests rezoning to encourage appropriate density increases and design standards to manage the conversion of residences to multi-family use. The Downtown Plan recommends developing design standards for these areas, but not a zoning change. Mr. Osaki stated that the Downtown Plan recommends that in addition to having no maximum height requirement, minimum densities be established to encourage density in the downtown area such as structures with a minimum of two stories in height. Councilmember Lewis commented that the area designated in the Downtown Plan with regard to structure height is too broad and should be confined to Main Street, if implemented at all. Transportation Impact Fees: Mr. Osaki reported that the Downtown Plan recommends considering waiving traffic impact fees in the downtown area. Director Krauss stated that it is beneficial to the City and to developers to develop a set process with regard to traffic impact fees, whether the City decides to waive fees or discount fees. Areas can be segregated with regard to the impact fees, but each property within that area must be treated with equality. Councilmember Singer requested that staff compile a list of developer incentives contained in the Downtown Plan. Councilmember Singer suggested that Council might consider waiving transportation impact fees for a five year period. Downtown Gateways: Mr. Osaki reviewed the locations of the proposed Gateway locations. Transit Routes: Mr. Osaki reported that a letter was received from King County Metro Transit Division during the comment pedod on the EIS. King County stated that the City Special City Council Meeting Minutes April 18, 2001 Page 7 should identify key transit routes resulting from the service anticipated in relation to the Commuter Rail Station. Metro identified those streets in downtown Auburn as follows; · 2"d Street SW · 1 st Street NW · "A" Street NW · "A" Street SW In response to Councilmember Lewis, Transportation Planner Joe Welsh stated that Metro does not intend to move routes to Auburn until the parking garage is completed. Metro typically moves routes at designated times of the year when they update schedules. Director Krauss pointed out that the City contractually bound Metro to wait until the garage is completed. City Engineer Dennis Dowdy requested that Council review Policy 21-3 on page '100 of the draft Downtown Plan/EIS. Public Works Department recommends deleting Policy 21-3 in light of recent events that indicate this policy is no longer needed. Councilmember Wagner requested that Policy 21-3 and alternatives be brought before the Public Works Committee for review. IV. Adjournment There being no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 6:12 PM. ~ej/~ day f May, 2001, Approved the gee"~ ' CathyR ha~ Charles A. Booth, Mayor Clerk 2001 rn04-18special