HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-15-2011 ' . ~
CITY OF- DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE
~►T
WASHINGTON March 15, 2011
MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Lynn Norman called the meeting.to order at 4:06 p.m. in Conference Room 2, located
on the second floor of One East M'ain Street, Aubum, WA: Committee Members present
were: Chair Lynn Norman and Vice Chair Nancy Backus. MemberSue 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 International.
11. 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 Director Kevin Snyder provided details on
the potential marketing tool called Request for Expression of Interest Concept (RFEI) for
Auburn Junction. The City of Richland recently utilized this tool for potential developer
interest in city owned property; staff believes the RFEI approach coald be an informative
and instructive method to furfher expose Aubum Junction to the marketplace, highlight
the Gity owned parcels to this marketplace, and gauge market interesf. Staff believes its
use could expose both the`type of developers and deyelopment that are attracted to
Auburn Junction and help us focus future marketing efforts.
Director Snyder stated this is a non=binding agreement. Staff conferred with the City
Attorney's Office regarding fhe potential use of the RFEI and its conformance to the
current Master Development Agreement with Alpert Intemational. The City Attomey's
Office has determined. that the use of an RFEf is not inconsistent or violates the Master
Development Agreemenf.
Committee and staff reviewed the agreement and Committee provided the following
feedback:
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Downtown Redeveloqment Committee Minutes March 15. 2011
1. Committee liked the concept and thought it would be a viable way to confirm the
City's idea for development for Auburn 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 markefed. Director Snyderstated the City
could use some selective advertising using periodicals and discuss with Mr.
Alpert ifiwewould 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 like 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 like 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, arCs,
entertainment, and commercial area which will still tie oth'er areas of the City
together (an urban center hub) while being open to the ideas that are generated
from this RFEI.
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 Alpert lnternational stated this is a terrific idea, spreading the net,
getting Auburn's name out there, and getting readyfor development. Mr. Alpert
suggested the potential of one single use developer to be eonnected with another single
use developer to enable multi uses and a.broader spectrum of ideas to get the
development going forward. The City could still determine if they wanted fo 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 deyelopment 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 wh'ile 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 Director Snyder how 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 emphasized 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 Redevelopment Committee Minutes March 15, 2011
Direcfor Snyder stated he will work with the City Attomey's office and the master
developer Spencer Alpert and others to create RFEI to bring back before Committee for
feedback.
B. Downtown Pedesfrian Kiosks
Planning Manager Elizabeth Chamberlain provided a newmock version of the proposed
pedestrian Kiosk, changing the height, width, and font size to depict the actual proposed
Kiosk. Committee liked the new version. Ms. Chamberlain cancelled the walking foar
planned for today due to the weather. Staff will reschedule this walking tour for a later
meeting.
IV. INFORMATION
Chair Norman stated she will be gone for the next fwo 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 adjoumed the meeting at 4:31 p.m.
APPROVED THIS 01 ~ DAY OF
L
Lyn rman, Chair Tina Kriss , PI ni g and Develolpment
Secretary
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