HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-26-2009
C(TY OF
DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT
TTEE
WASHINGTON MayA 6' 2
009
MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Lynn Norman called the meeting to order at 3:00 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 Sue Singer and Member Gene
Cerino.
Staff present included: Mayor Pete Lewis, Planning, Building & Community Director Cindy
Baker, Assistant Planning Director Kevin Snyder, Principal Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain,
Public Works Director Dennis Dowdy, Economic Development Manager Dave Baron, and
Planning Secretary Renee Tobias.
Audience Members present were: Spencer Alpert, Daniel Balmelli, Edward Hahn, Gary
Hahn, James Halverson, Troy Humphrey, Mel Maertz, Ronnie Roberts, Gail Spurrell, and
Tim Weber.
II. MINUTES
Member Singer moved and Member Cerino seconded to approve the March 17, 2009
minutes as presented in the packet.
MOTION CARRIED 3-0
III. DOWNTOWN FINANCING UPDATE
• Local Revitalization Funding Status
Staff is meeting to determine the boundary of the Revitalization Area which is the area
that delineates the funding for the program. The area will be the Urban Center and the
matter will come before the City Council on July 20, 2009 for a public hearing. Director
Cindy Baker reported that staff is meeting regularly with the City's Grant Writer, Michael
Wilson, to discuss grant funding. Additionally, Deputy Mayor Sue Singer has been
researching grants for the Environmental Park District zone.
Staff met with Auburn Regional Medical Center who may be interested in using the
historic Post Office building for health care activities. The City is looking at possibly
partnering with Auburn Regional Medical Center and Green River Community College
for joint grant applications and funding. At the Committee's request, Director Baker
stated that Lisa Torres, Facilities Manager, is researching the records to verify original
property ownership.
• Economic Development Administration Grant Status
Economic Development Manager Dave Baron reported that the grant is currently in the
pre-application phase. If the City receives approval from the Washington, DC office on
the pre-application, then a full application will be submitted. The City received notice
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Downtown Redevelopment Committee Minutes Mav 26, 2009
from the Economic Development Administration regional office that the decision on the
pre-application would be made by early next week. Staff has already begun working on
the full application in preparation of receiving approval. Mr. Baron stated that the
application will need to go through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
process.
• Auburn Junction Project
The Auburn Junction development team, working with Alpert International, introduced
themselves to the Committee. This included Spence Alpert and Troy Humphrey, Alpert
International; Mel Mertz, M2 Architects; Tim Weber, First Western Properties; and Dan
Balmelli, Barghausen Consulting Engineers.
Mr. Alpert related that the Auburn Junction team and City staff reviewed the project,
identifying phases and priorities. It was decided that the required infrastructure needed
to serve the project and the surrounding area would be placed in Division Street. Mr.
Alpert noted that the team and City staff had discussed changing the A Street traffic
pattern, but no determination has been made.
Committee asked staff on the status of traffic studies on A Street and where would traffic
go if A Street is reduced for bike lanes and pedestrians? Public Works Director Dennis
Dowdy responded that 2-way traffic on A Street and all sides of the project would be
retained. A mid-block traffic light may be placed for safe pedestrian crossing at 15t Street
SE. The biggest obstacle is on the east side of A Street SE, where driveways are close
together, with cars turning left/right; it isn't safe for pedestrians to cross. The center turn
lane may be taken out and staff would work with retailers on the east side of A Street SE
if this were to happen. Committee felt that they needed to hear more about this to
confirm that there will not be considerable impact on retailers.
The Traffic Department will work with the proposed site plan to see how east/west traffic
will be impacted. With changes to the traffic flow of A Street, Mr. Dowdy believes that
traffic will re-route itself to Auburn Way and then divert back to A Street using Cross Rd.
Committee felt that any traffic study completed now would change once A Street NW,
near Fred Meyer's, is developed. Committee asked staff to determine how traffic will be
diverted near the project so it does not cause further issues. Mr. Dowdy reported that
the City is doing traffic counts on both A Street SE/SW and looking at the model to
determine future traffic issues. Changing from three lanes to two and converting a
portion of the turn lane for safe pedestrian conveyance, will cause more congestion
southbound on A Street SE. Mr. Dowdy spoke about traffic calming measures, including
synchronizing traffic lights on Auburn Way from 272"d Street and south.
Another idea discussed would be to have a public parking structure which is proposed
on the City-owned land north of Safeway. Mr. Alpert anticipates being able to partially
fund the parking structure with private monies. Two key features - parking in the general
area and the infrastructure - are needed to have potential retailers to begin talking with
the marketing team. Mr. Alpert felt that the proposed gateways shown on the proposed
site plan that this limited amount of focus would allow the project to proceed and will be
real in the mind of retailers and the people they need to attract.
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Downtown Redevelopment Committee Minutes Mav 26, 2009
Committee asked if emphasis was being placed on 1St Street SW/SE over South Division
Street. Mr. Alpert responded that Division Street is a priority that has already been
established by the Council for the Promenade. By having the Promenade and the road
design on 1 St Street SW/SE, this sets the tone for the entire downtown. It was confirmed
that 1St Street would be a two-way road. Committee agreed that the Promenade was a
key focal point and everything fed from this.
Mr. Alpert noted that a conceptual idea not included on the site plan was the potential
demolition of buildings on the Crites/Huff block and replacing it with an arboretum or with
temporary landscaping and signage advertising the project. From a marketing
standpoint, Mr. Weber stated that landscape, signage, and focal points assist with
retailers' visualization for the area and marketing.
Bike trails are not specifically shown on the plan, but it is a relatively low cost item that
could be introduced in Phase 1. Committee stated that the Junction needs adequate
loading and delivery areas as to not impact the street by blocking traffic or cyclists. In
response to the Committee's question about inside loading zones, Mr. Maertz responded
that this is one of the key issues for the Junction. Each of the four blocks will have an
internal loading/service zone area and this was noted on the site plan. The loading
zones would accommodate a 60', short haul truck.
Mr. Alpert stated that Safeway is critical to this project and having traffic calming and
safe pedestrian walkways is important. Tim Weber reported that he has had a meeting
with Safeway's real estate branch and they are excited about the proposed plan. Mr.
Weber stated that closing A Street or making it a one-way street would be a death to
retailers.
Mr. Dowdy reported that the City is discussing future alternative bus access to the
Transit Center with Sound Transit, noting that they will need to find a way to have buses
come in from the south or north and not through the Auburn Junction project.
In response to Committee's request about next steps, Director Cindy Baker stated that
once staff hear about the grant approximately the first week of June the City will decide
whether to move forward with design of the Promenade. The grant may help to pay
some of the expense for the corners to make the project more saleable.
Chair Norman offered to hear brief comments from the audience.
Dr. Gary Hahn has an office in the Patricia Building, located at 201 S. Division. He
noted that on the site plan, it appears that a traffic circle is in their parking lot. Mr. Alpert
responded that it isn't a traffic circle, but rather paving. Dr. Hahn further stated that on
the east side of the building, there is a zero lot line. He had concern about the sidewalk
being wider on this side of the street (west side). Mr. Alpert assured Dr. Hahn that there
will be no encroachment into the private property referenced by Mr. Hahn.
Ronnie Roberts asked for clarification on the red items shown on the north side of 1 St
Street SE, just west of A Street SE. Tim Weber responded that it was nose-in parking.
Mr. Roberts opined that A Street needs the traffic to support the retailers.
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Downtown Redevelopment Committee Minutes Mav 26, 2009
Planning Director Baker stated that there was concern over the proposed number of
residential units as the intent within these four blocks is to have transit oriented
development. Director Baker pointed out that the population for the project initially was
400 units, and the Site Plan indicates 240. Mr. Alpert explained that the difference came
from replacing the condominiums with a hotel in the project. He noted that there is
flexibility to revert the project back to condominiums. However, Tim Weber reported that
both Hilton and Marriott hotels are interested.
The Downtown Urban Center zoning district limits the building height to 75 feet. In
consideration of the Committee's limit on the number of building stories for the
downtown area, Director Baker suggested that the Committee may want to think about
the number of stories in order to get all that you need in downtown for residential. Mr.
Alpert indicated that the buildings are kept to 75' height; however, the plans can be
revised if the Committee makes a different consideration.
IV. INFORMATION
• Next meeting will be on June 9, 2009 in the Council Chambers.
V. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Downtown Redevelopment Committee,
Chair Norman adjourned the meeting at 4:06 p.m.
APPROVED THIS iiN DAY OF JUNE 2009.
Ly n rman, Chair R n e S. Tobias, Planning Secretary
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