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HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM III-F * 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: _ Page 1 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. Page 2 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 ' , _ . Page 3