HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM III-F
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CI.TY OF Z-1 * DRAFT r
DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT
COAAAAITTEE
)WASHINGTON
March 15, 2011
MINUTES
L -CALL TO ORDER
Chair Lynn Norman called the meeting to order at 4:06 p.m. in Conference Room 2, locafed
on the second floor of One East Main Street, Aubum, WA. Committee Members present
were: Chair Lynn Norman and Vice Chair Nancy Backus. Member Sue Singer was
excused.
Staff present included: Planning & Development Director Kevin Snyder, Planning Manager
Elizabeth Chamberlain Economic Development Manager poug Lein and Planning &
Development Secretary Tina Kriss.
Audience Members present were: Ronnie Roberts, Ed Hahn, Kathleen Keator, and Spencer
Alpert of Alpert Intemational.
10. CONSENT AGENDA A. Meeting Minutes - March 1, 2011
Vice Chair Backus moved and Chair Norman seconded to approve the consent agenda .
items as presented.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 2-0
III. DISCUSSION .
A. Request for Expression of Interest Concept for Auburn Junction.
Planning Manager Elizabeth Chamberlain and Direcfor Kevin Snyder provided details on
the potential marketing toof called Request for Expression of Interest Concept (RFEI) for
Aubum Junction. The City ofi Richland recently utilized this tool for potential developer
interest in city owned property; staff believes the RFEI approach could be an informative
and instructive method ta further expose Aubum Junction to the marketplace, highlight
the City owned parcels to this marketplace, and gauge market'interesf. Staff believes its '
use: could expose both the type of developers and development that are attracted to
Aubum Junction and help us focus future marketing efforts.
' Director Snyder stated this is a non-binding agreement. Staff confeRed with the City,
Attomey's Office regarding the potential use of the RFEI and its conformance to the
cuRent Master Developmerrt Agreement with Alpert International. The City Attorney's ,
Office has determined that t_he use of an RFEI is not inconsistent or violates the Master
Development Agreement.
. Committee and staff reviewed the agreement and Committee provided the following
feedback: _
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Downtown Redeveloament Committee Minutes March 15, 2011
1. Committee liked the concept and thought it would be a viable way to confiRn the
City's idea for development for Aubum Junction; it will also provide feedback if
the ideas don't seem to be on the right track.
2. Committee asked how this would be marketed. Director Snyder stated the City
could use some selective advertising using periodicals and discuss with Mr:
Alpert if we would like to send these to seVeral developers. Because this
process yields a non-binding agreement the City has more options in the
advertising.
3. Committee would iike to make sure the RFEI is not limited; they would like to see
more information on mixed-use with the :housing component involved and how
the designation of density.housing on the valley floor will affect planning.
4. Committee would iike to find ways of tying Aubum Junction into the existing
historic downtown.
5. Committee wants Aubum Junction to have a cohesive feel of-an activity, arts, ,
entertainment, and commercial area which will still tie other areas of the City
together (an urban center hub) while being open to the ideas that are generated
from this RFEL
6. Committee is excited to see the potential of a RFEI submittal showing something unique and exciting which could expand the current vision of Aubum Junction.
Spencer Alpert of Alper# Intemational stated this is a terrific idea, spreading the net,
getting Auburn's name out there, and getting ready fordevelopment. Mr. Spencer
suggested the potential of one single use developer to be connected with another single
use developer#o enable multi uses and a broader spectrum of ideas to get the
development going forward . The City could still determine if they wanted to accept the
variation of development from multiple developers.
- Committee stated they have limited resources of land and would be concemed about ,
squandering our possibilities if a deVeloper wanted to develop commercial with a
. promise of future housing development only to find out later they did not want to develop
housing. Committee suggested wording this in such a way to~get a mix of both.
Spencer Alpert stated he has been told it is hard to coordinate housing, apartments and
retail together. A suggestion is to look for new ideas while still promoting the quality of the overall objective. If someone comes with one use they specialize in marry them up
with someone we know is interested in developing with other uses to begin development
through a contact point.
Committee asKed birector Snyderhow successful the City of Richland has been with the concept of the RFEI. Mr. Snyder stated he will be talking with the City of Richland and
report.back. Mr. Snyder empha_sized in the past the Committee has discussed ,
development may not be full block but partial block sections due to market
considerations; having multiple experienced development parties representing different
_ aspects of the development.
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Downtown Redeveloament Committee Minutes March 15, 2011
Director Snyder stated he will. work with the City Attorney's office and the master '
developer Spencer Alpeit and others to create RFEI to bring back before Committee for
feedback. - B. Downtown Pedestrian Kiosks
Planning Manager flizabeth Chamberlain provided a new mock version of the proposed
pedestrian Kiosk, changing the height, width, and#ont size to depict the actual proposed
Kiosk. Committee,liked the new version. Ms. Chambetlain cancelled the walking tour
_ planned for today due to fhe weather. Staff will reschedule this walking tour for a later
meeting. N. INFORMATION
Chaic Norman stated she will be gone for the next finro weeks. Committee will be
meeting again April 12, 2011. Staff stated the Matrix will be updated for the next
meeting.
V. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Downtown Redevelopment
Committee, Chair Norman adjourned the meeting at 4:31 p.m.
APPROVED.THIS DAY OF
Lynn Norman, Chair Tina Kriss, Planning and Develolpment
Secretary
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