HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-11-2011
Crrx oF_-'~ PLANNING & COMMUNITY
- DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
MW;ASH[NGTON April 11, 2011
MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Lynn Norman cailed the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. in Annex Conference Room
2 located on the second floor of One Main Building, 1 East Main Street, Auburn, WA.
. Committee members present were: Chair Lynn Norman, and Member John Partridge.
Committee member excused: Vice Chair Nancy Backus.
Staff members present included: Mayor Pete Lewis, Direcfor Kevin Snyder, Planning
Manager Elizabeth Chamberlain; City Attomey Dan Heid, Arts, Parks and Recreation
Director Daryl Faber, Economic Development Manager poug Lein, Contract Economic
Development Planner William Thomas, Support Clerk Bobby Hodgkinson, and Planning
& Development Secretary Tina Kriss.
Audience Members Present: Dustin Wicks; Green River Community College Students
Tonia Beyer, Najea Wynn, Andrea Roh Ledeau; The Auburn Downtown Association
representatives (TADA) Laura Theimer and Executive Director Kathleen Keator.
II. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND AGENDA MODIFICATIONS
Chair Norman welcomed Green-River Community College environmental science
students.
Item V. B. Ordinance No. 6360 has a replacemenf ordinance which contains minor
grammatical changes.
IIL CONSENT AGENDA
A. March 28, 2011
Member Partridge moved and Chair Norman seconded to approve the Consent
Agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 2-0
IV. PRESENTATION
A. Auburn Downtown Association Update
Aubum Downtown Association Executive Director Kathleen Keator was introduced;
Ms. Keator provided the Committee with a packet outlining the goals and activities of
The Aubum Downtown Association (TADA) which is made up of over, more than 200
businesses in the downtown core. Ms. Keator also provided Committee with an
overview of the TADA website. Ms. Keator has been acting as the executive director
over the past year as the TADA has improved and rebuilt. Downtown businesses
pay a"business improvement area° (BIA) fee as part of their business license. The
, Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes April 11, 2011
BIA fees are used to fund TADA, the board, downtown economic restructuring,
design, and promofion committees. TADA is the administrator of the business
improvement area fee.
V. ACTION
A. Resolution No. 4695 - Acceptance of 4Culture Grant
Parks, Arts and Recreation Director Daryl Faber provided the staff report for
Resolution No. 4695. Committee reviewed the resolution authorizing acceptance of
the 4Culture grant in the amount of $17,000.00 for the City's sustaining art program
for community activities. Director Faber stated the City received more than expected
from Cultural Development Authority of King County which is great news.
Member Partridge moved and Chair Norman seconded to forward Resolution No.
4695, acceptance of a 4Culture Grant to full City Council for adoption.
: MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 2-0
: B. Ordinance No. 6360 - Interim Zoning Controls for Real Estate Signs
Planning & Development Director Snyder discussed the staff report on Ordinance
No. 6360 and provided a handout of various photos taken by City code enforcement
officers representing the types ofi signs installed by various businesses trying to
improve and promote their specific residential projects. City code currently limits the
larger signs to a maximum height of 42" and 5 square feet of sign face area.
Developers and owners would'like the Cityto consider providing additional flexibility
allowing larger signs in various places.
Ordinance No. 6360 would last one-year giving staff time to work on more permanent
guidelines to City code. The Planning and Development Director would determine
the number and locations of such signs in consultation with other City sfaff; limiting or
prohibiting signage that would cause a traffic safety hazard or a detrimental effect on
neighboring property or the City right-of-way.
If enacted by City Council a public hearing must be held within 60 days of the
Council's enactment to provide for public comment opportunities.
Member Partridge discussed the concems raised by some local realtors and also
stated he likes the provisions laid out on page 10 (section F), °planning and
development director may grant written authorization to allow femporary off-premises
signs in addition to those permitted above. The size of these siqns shall be
determined bv the qlannina and development director 6ased on factors includina but
not limited to surrounding land uses, sight distance and traffic safety, but in no
instances shall the height of the sign exceed eight (8) feet and the total sign face
area exceed sixty-four (64) square feet." Chair Norman wants to ensure this is only
for a one-year period. Director Snyder confirmed this is something staff would be
assertivelyworking to complete and the resolution would not be extended. Chair
Norman was concemed abouf the signs with more than one sign face area; Mr.
Snyder stated the new Ordinance would only allow one sign face area.
Committee stated they have concems about allowing signs in the public right-of-way.
Mr. Snyder sited an area in Lakeland where the right-of-way is at the edge of the
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road with private property across a grassy area 30' and parties would like to place
signage in this area for visibility. Director Snyder stated rather than inserting a
minimum set back staff will consult with other departments to ensure such allowance
, . _
will not substantively, impact the visual and/or aesthetic impact to the city, interfere
with or impede pedestrian;° bicycle or vehicle traffic. Chair Norman stated the
Planning Director will make the determination. Chair Norman expressed a concern
that the example location is not onerous; if signs are close to the right-of-way and
have no sidewalks it would be intrusive for pedestrians or bicyclists.
Chair asked if this Ordinance prohibits electronic signage, Director Snyder stated
Ordinance No. 6360 does not allow for electronic signs. Director Snyder stated the
ordinance is for one year and staff is ready to assertively move forward to ensure this
does not extend past one year.
Planning Director Snyder stated if Committee takes action this will go to Public
, Works Committee and City Council on April 18 for potential action. Thereafter, a
public hearing would be held for public comment (tentatively June 6).
Chair,Norman suggested if staff has agenda item changes in the future please
provide the page with highlighted changes only.
Member Partridge moved and Chair Norman seconded to forward Resolution No.
6360, Interim Zoning Controls for Real Estate Signs to full City Council for
introduction and adoption.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 2-0
C. Resolution Na 4701 - Moratorium on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
Planning & Developmenf Director Snyder provided information for the staff report,
Committee and staff discussed Resolution No. 4701. Currently the City of Auburn
does not have any zoning designation permitting medical marijuana dispensaries
and collective growing operations as a permitted land use for conformity to current
fiederal and state status.
Resolution No. 4701 would establish a one (1) year.moratorium on the
establishment, operation, and processing of applications for medical marijuana
dispensaries, to act as a sfop-gap measure in order to 1)to provide the City with an
opportunity to study fhe issues conceming the siting of such dispensaries and
prepare appropriate reyisions to the City's codes and regulations; and 2) to protect
the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Aubum by ameliorating negative
impacts of dispensaries.
City Attorney Dan Heid stated under the moratorium authority, which means a public
hearing would have to take place within 60 days of the date of the adoption ofi
Resolution No. 4701. This is a proactive zoning action fo prevent something from.
becoming effective if you can't get started doing something if you already opened the
door for it.to be done under Washington vesting Iaws. Under Federal laws,
notwithstanding the enthusiasm or lack of enthusiasm for enforcement by certain
agencies, it is still illegal under Federal law to do what might be proposed to be done
under State law if in fact it passes. This puts cities in a dilemma and why the City
wants to make sure that if in fact this bilf (if passed in the State) that proposes fo
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provide for these dispensaries were passed 'we need to make sure we know what we
are doing. If this bill does not pass at the State level we would not need to go
forward with Resolution No. 4701, the City is being proactive.
Chair Norman encouraged sfaff to get starfed immediately. Director Snyder stated
staff will begin working on this along with Ordinance No: 6360. Attomey Heid stated
under moratorium law and interim zoning they are related and part and parcel the
same concepts. Typically it is a six month period of time rather than a year; the City
chose a year because the Iaw allows a longer period of time if you identify a work
plan strategy for addressing it.
If Committee determines to move Resolution No; 4701 forward to City Council it will
be presented fo the Public Works Committee for discussion at its April 18, 2011
meeting and will be presented to City Council for potential action at its April 18, 2011
regular meeting.
Member Partridge moved and Chair Norman seconded to forward amended
Resolution No. 4701, Moratorium on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries to full City
Council for introduction and adoption, if the Washington State Legislature approves
the cuRent proposed legislation.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 2-0
At 5:49 p.m., Chair Norman recessed the meeting to executive session for approximately
fifteen minutes in order to discuss pending/potential li#igation pursuant to RCW
42.30.110(1)(i). Staff required for the executive session included City Attomey Heid,
Mayor Lewis, Planning and Development Director Snyder and Planning Manager
Elizabeth Chamberlain.
At 6:04 p.m. the meeting was reconvened by Chair Norman.
V.I. DISCUSSION and INFORMATION
A. Conceptual Green Zone Summit Agenda
Director Snyder and Committee discussed the draft agenda. The Committee
provided the following feedback:
Committee and Director Snyder agreed the word °needs" should be added to the
second bullet under Summit Goals to read "Understand what the City of Aubum
needs for "placemaking° the Green Zone such that green/clean technology
basinesses are attracted to move or start their businesses to the Zone°.
1. Are the Summit Goals specified on the conceptual agenda consistent with the
Committee's goals for the Summit:
2.
• Member Partcidge stated yes with room within the agenda with some free
sharing time (brainstorming). Director Snyder stated he is hopeful that wifhin
the last hour a brainstorming session is planned for the period from 4:00 to
5:00 p.m. Chair Norman stated she is hopefu( the summit is a Green Zone
think tank and is not prescriptive leaving room for ideas. Committee also
liked the four forums.
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• Director Snyder is hopeful to find a moderator to facilitate so City staff the
opportunity to be observers and listeners to give a unique perspective.
3. Do the forums specified on conceptual agenda match the Committee's
expectations for the Green Zone Summit? Committee stated yes.
4. Are there any other subject matters the Committee would like to see discussed at
the summit? Committee feels this has been covered sufficiently.
5. Does the Committee have any specific recommendations for potential
moderators and/or panel members:
e Chair Norman suggested someone from_ Green River Community College
with expertise that could work as both a moderator and an interested
environmental: Mayor Lewis suggested someone from WSU.
• Committee stated any financial resource individuals for Forum 3 would be
beneficial. Mayor Lewis suggested someone from Northwest Energy Angels
or clean tech venture capitalist groups. Chair also suggesfed other experts
from areas developed in environmental conscious ways that would fit with our
vision.
• Committee suggested having as many local individuals doing green/clean
tech businesses as panel members.
• Committee suggested the individual chosen as the keynote speaker could
also speak any other project successfully developed.
• Committee asked about having a representative from Waste Management
and also the WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center.
• Committee suggested IDeX individuals attend.
Committee suggested, possibly using the Aubum. School District Support Service
Center at their M& O site or the IBS,, Inc. conference,room off Clay Street.
Director Snyder will continue to work on the green zone summit and report back to
Committee.
B. Auburn's proposed Performance Based Option for Regional Affordable
Housing Targets
Planning Manager Elizabeth Chamberlain provided the Committee with the staff
report to address the City's concerns that the King County Affordable Housing
Targets did not adequately address and recognize the perFormance of jurisdictions,
such as Aubum, that had substantively provided for regional affordable housing
within their municipal boundaries.
Staff has prepared an altemate option which addresses the positive perFormance of
cities that have previously provided for regional affordable housing by reducing the
total number of targeted affordable housing units and holds those jurisdictions that
have not fo a higher standard of future performance.
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Director Snyder explained the regional affordable housing exchange. Mr. Snyder
sfated the details as far as the Values need to be worked out and a cap of 50% has
been set to limit the amount of total obligation to be written off. Only 50% of the
jurisdiction's required affordable housing unifs to another jurisdiction that was willing.
No jurisdiction is obligated to engage in this exchange but it allows for regional
conversation to occur so parties can work #ogether when there is an opportunity to
do so: Member Partridge asked how the 84,519 number was chosen. The Exhibit 2
memo, under Recommended Update to Affordable Housing Targets (No. 1 and No.
(2) memo explains how the percentages are derived; Director Snyder pointed out
the methodology for allotment is,the same process used nine years ago which is out
of date.
Committee and staff reviewed the City of Aubum's option which was also sent for
review and comment to Suburban Cities Association and the Mayors of the Cities of
Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, SeaTac, and Tukwila.
Mayor Lewis stated he plans to work with other Mayors to make sure everyone
understands we have already met and exceeded our goals and other cities have not
and they seem to be very committed to ensuring that we receive most of any future
affordable housing.
Chair asked that staff set up a time to review the City's option with Vice-Chair
Backus.
C. Strategy Areas for Population/Business/Employment
Chair Norman asked that this item be postponed until the next meeting so Vice-Chair
Backus can participate in the discussion.
D. Director's Report
Director Snyder stated he has nothing to report at this time.
E. PCDC Status Matrix
Chair stated the Matrix has been updated, please review and check in with staff if
you have any questions.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Planning and Community
Development Committee, Chair Norman adjoumed the meeting at 6:31 p.m.
APPROVED THIS 4''~_ Z4 DAY OF 2io •
Lynn N man, Chair Tina Kriss, Plannin ecretary
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