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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 Page 1 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. Page 2 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. Page 3 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 Page 4