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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Planning and Economic Development Committee - 06/20/1995 CITY OF �ABIT CITY COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES June 20, 1995 5 : 00 PM d�q®II(C°�A Committee Members Present Other City Staff Leona Orr, Chair May Miller, Finance Judy Woods Don Wickstrom, Public Works Tim Clark Planning Staff Other Guests Jim Harris Barbara Ivanov - Kent Chamber Fred Satterstrom of Commerce NanSea Potts Josephine Tamayo Murray - Linda Phillips Housing Finance Task Force Betsy Czark Carla Okigwe - Housing Lin Ball Finance Task Force Kevin O'Neill Maureen Kostyack - , Housing Finance Task Force City Attorney' s Office Linda Johnson - Kent Downtown Partnership Roger Lubovich Ralph Fitzthum Laurie Evezich Jeff McLean AMENDMENT PROCEDURES FOR RENT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN - (K. O'Neill) Kevin O'Neill, Senior Planner, referenced the draft ordinance distributed at the last Planning Committee meeting on May 16, 1995 . He recalled the section entitled Hearing Procedures - Notice Requirement (12 . 02 . 060) , which relates specifically to the comprehensive plan land use plan map. Reiterating his memorandum dated June 20, 1995 to the Planning Committee, Mr. O'Neill further defined the intent of the term "affected area" , stating that it does not necessarily mean a specific parcel, but could also represent a larger area of several parcels . He said this makes the amendment request different from a request for rezone . Mr. O'Neill said the affected parcels may be identified by the applicant, as well as any additional parcels contiguous to the applicant' s property which the Planning Director determines should be included for the potential amendment . Councilmember Clark asked Laurie Evezich, Assistant City Attorney, if this process is in coordination with the Growth Management Act (GMA) at both the state and county level . Ms . Evezich said the Comprehensive Plan Amendments are required by the GMA, and that the planning policies of the county were a guideline to Kent' s existing comprehensive plan. Ms . Evezich said the county planning policies CITY COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES JUNE 20, 1995 PAGE 2 are already incorporated into the City' s comprehensive plan and that the City has satisfied GMA criteria. She said proposed amendments need to be reviewed by the Planning Department at one time to determine the annual comprehensive plan revisions . Jim Harris, Planning Director, said beginning in April of 1996, a new law goes into effect (17 .24) , requiring the Planning Department to maintain an on-going list of issues and problems raised by developers or individuals concerning the comprehensive plan or zoning code . He said informal requests, as well as formal applications are to be documented and considered at the time of the yearly processing of the proposed amendments . Mr. Harris said over time, he thought the GMA would be modified by the Legislature to ensure public comment is considered pertaining to revising the comprehensive plan and zoning code . Councilmember Clark MOVED to adopt the amendment procedures to the Kent Comprehensive Plan. Councilmember Woods SECONDED the motion. Discussion: The statement "and to recommend it to the full council, and add it to the consent calendar" was added to the motion. The motion carried. FITZTHUM REGULATORY REVIEW - #ZCA-95-5 (F. Satterstrom) Fred Satterstrom, Planning Manager, said this issue was carried over from the previous meeting. He explained the background of this regulatory review request, which originated as a result of an Order of Abatement by the Hearing Examiner for a code violation for operating an auto repair with body and engine work shop out of his home, which is not permitted in an M1 zone. Nor is this use allowed under the City' s Home Occupation Business License regulations . Mr. Satterstrom outlined the procedures required for initiating a zoning code change, which includes : submittal of the regulatory review request form by the applicant to the staff; staff presentation to the Planning Committee; deliberations by the Planning Committee; with a favorable vote, it is forwarded to the Planning Commission for further deliberation; and eventual adoption of the issue into the zoning code. Mr. Satterstrom said staff is not supportive of this request, due to the applicant' s incompatible use in the manufacturing zone . He stated several comprehensive plan land use policies which Mr. Fitzthum' s request is in conflict . Satterstrom named other commercial zones of CC, GC, GWC, and CM-2 where auto repair is an allowable use. Barbara Ivanov, Director of Kent' s Chamber of Commerce, spoke supporting the value of preserving the manufacturing zone on the valley floor and it' s importance not only to Kent, but to South King County. She listed several negative impacts uses such as auto CITY COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES JUNE 20, 1995 PAGE 3 repair would create if located in the M1 zoning district, as well as the value of the M1 zone as an unrenewable resource . She explained that allowing this unpermitted use would open the door for other non-complying uses locating to the zone, which would depredate the zone. However, she affirmed that support services to manufacturing uses is compatible in the district . Mr. Harris said Detroit Diesel is a prime example of a support service company which is successfully integrated in the M1 zone, opposed to Mr. Fitzthum' s personal residence which is located in the zone, but operating a prohibited use . Mr. Harris said allowance of this operation would erode the intent of the district, as well as setting a precedence for further non-complying uses . Chair Orr questioned if this issue would require a comprehensive plan review process instead of a regulatory review, based on the rules of the newly adopted Kent Comprehensive Plan and the Growth Management Act . Mr. Fitzthum asked if the Home Occupation category of the Business License regulations could be revised to allow his use in the M1 zone, admitting he would be unable to comply with several specifications of the Home Occupation Agreement . Mr. Harris said the intent of the Home Occupation is for home businesses located in residential neighborhoods and apartments, not for businesses located in left-over homes located in manufacturing zoning districts . Discussions followed. Councilmember Woods said she did not want the M1 zoning requirements to change, and that it is important to keep the integrity of that area. Mr. Harris clarified that there were a few isolated houses remaining in the district, and three houses to the South were recently destroyed for future approved development . Mr. Satterstrom added that the Hearing Examiner gave an August 1st time frame to resolve the code violation, and perhaps the Hearing Examiner would allow Mr. Fitzthum an extension to locate to another location. Mr. Satterstrom said the Hearing Examiner has put the Council in an awkward position. Chair Orr also agreed that the zone should be preserved, and a negative precedence would be set if this use was allowed for an extended period of time . She suggested this item be returned to the Hearing Examiner for a extension in time to resolve the matter. GMPC HOUSING FINANCE TASK FORCE - (B. Czark) Betsy Czark, Planner, introduced guests from the Growth Management Planning Council Housing Finance Task Force, which was formed in the fall of 1994 . Two of the guest speakers are members of the Housing Finance Task Force : Josephine Tamayo Murray, Executive CITY COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES JUNE 20, 1995 PAGE 4 Director of Catholic Community Services; and Carla Okigwe, Executive Director of the Seattle-King County Housing Development Consortium. The third guest speaker, Maureen Kostyack, is staff to the task force. Ms . Czark said the GMA required a task force be created to develop a new county-wide funding source or sources for affordable housing, and the guests are here today to discuss the task force' s preliminary funding recommendation and to receive input for an ultimate recommendation amenable to all King County jurisdictions. Ms . Okigwe began the briefing by stating her position on the task force, and the mission of the task force . It is : 1) To develop a new county-wide funding force for housing production and services . They plan to establish this funding within 3 years. 2) To work on participation by local governments, including appropriate public and private financing, such that each jurisdiction contributes on a fair share basis . 3) Objectives for housing and related services, including measurable levels of housing production and costs to provide necessary related service . Ms . Okigwe said there is a substantial amount of need throughout the County. There are about 130, 000 households in need with about half of those households paying over half of their income for housing. She said their goal is have the jurisdictions work together to help meet these needs . Josephine Tamayo Murray added that the task force is comprised of not only government officials, but also bankers and other business interests from the Chamber, which creates a multi-partisan approach to assessing financing for housing needs. She said the financing plan contains three principles for funding housing programs . They are : 1) housing programs that are focused to address the highest priority in the locality. 2) A comprehensive approach using a multiple of sources . 3) A structure for distributing funds, which uses local community input . Ms . Murray said the first step to fund affordable housing in 1996- 1997 is to establish a shared commitment from local jurisdictions . There are three parts to the task force' s recommendation: 1) Local jurisdictions contributing $1 . 00 to $2 . 00 per person into a fund; 2) creation of a dedicated revenue source through the Legislature, such as allocation of a portion of document recording fees and sales tax revenues; 3) voter approval for a regional levy in 1997-98 . She said the next step is to finalize this recommendation in July, create an action plan and steps for each element of the recommendation, and present the plan to the Growth Management Planning Council on September 20, 1995 . Maureen Kostyack emphasized the need, importance and accomplishments of the housing programs, saying now public CITY COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES JUNE 20, 1995 PAGE 5 education is necessary to start small, prioritize expenditures by using existing revenues, so as to ultimately approach the Legislature with local progress in addressing housing, and to request additional help. The task force members asked the Planning Committee members for their comments . Councilmember Clark expressed his concern regarding the lack of understanding by the voting public of South King County' s problems, and that they have no real sense of community. Ms . Okigwe said according to results of a recent county-wide survey, public approval concerning housing issues appear to be improving. Discussions followed concerning possible approaches to realizing their goal considering the recent defeat of other issues, such as the RTA. Mr. Harris raised the possibility of formation of a coalition with another group requesting regional funds . Ms . Okigwe asked if Kent would be interested in being included in an initial group of cities to agree to commit to the first phase of $1-$2 per capita. Councilmember Woods felt a request for funding at the Housing Finance Task Force presentation at the Roundtable discussion last week would have been good. Only a request for cities and the Roundtable to pass a resolution in support of the concept was discussed. Councilmember Clark said he felt citizen groups in Kent should approach the City Council as a community, rather than the City asking for support of the citizens . Carla stated that such a citizen-driven campaign is in the works . Mr. Harris asked if a resolution was in order to be adopted by the Council endorsing the preliminary finance recommendation concept and do what it can, within budget constraints, to participate without necessarily committing 1996 dollars . He said although it is not money, it was a start . Councilmember Woods MOVED to endorse the preliminary finance recommendations of the King County Housing Finance Task Force. Councilmember Clark SECONDED the motion. The motion CARRIED. Members of the task force discussed a slide presentation they wished the Councilmembers and citizens to view. Mr. Harris commented that the report submitted by the task force was very informational . CONCURRENCY DRAFT ORDINANCE - (R. Lubovich) Roger Lubovich, City Attorney, read a section from a statute from the RCW dealing with concurrency as related to the adopted Kent Comprehensive Plan. He said according to the GMA, concurrency requirements are applicable to Transportation Element . He said in CITY COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES JUNE 20, 1995 PAGE 6 Kent' s comp plan, concurrency was also adopted for water, storm water, and sewer. He discussed the draft concurrency ordinance, which basically states that the City requires transportation concurrency, or mitigate the impact to obtain concurrency, as well as for water, storm water and sewer. Mr. Lubovich said although this issue began in Planning, it is now more of a Public Works agenda, and should be considered by the Public Works Committee . Mr. Lubovich said the elements of the concurrency ordinance the Council will need to consider is the type of exemptions that will be allowed, as outlined on page 14 of the draft . Chair Orr asked how senior housing exemptions will be affected by the ordinance . She said she didn' t expect an answer now, and would wait until the Public Works Committee met . Mr. Lubovich said regardless of the exemptions stated, there would always be an impact . He said policy issues would need to discussed in a Public Works workshop as there would be no development without concurrency, and without a strategy for financing, mitigation would be necessary, which could have a major bearing on impact fees for transportation. Chair Orr suggested Mr. Lubovich take the draft concurrency ordinance directly to a City Council workshop. Councilmember Woods instructed him to call for a workshop date. SCHOOL IMPACT FEES - L. Evezich Ms . Evezich said she has contacted the City of Kent School District, who have expressed that if Kent does adopt school impact fee ordinance, that it resemble closely the King County impact fee structure. She said after review of King County' s impact fees, there are some problems, but the extent of the problems have yet to be determined. Ms. Evezich said Mr. High would be available for a meeting after July 19, along with their legal counsel . She said she hopes to have a draft ordinance ready after the meeting. Councilmember Clark said he wished he could also attend the meeting, but he will be on vacation. He requested to obtain copies of the minutes from the meeting. ADDED ITEMS - Chair Orr said she is interested in forming a committee to review Kent' s Downtown Plan, due to some recent controversies over uses and the activity with the Regional Justice Center. She said she has been working with Roger; however, she has not worked out all the details . Chair Orr said if the Planning Committee agrees, she will make a formal presentation to the City Council . The Planning Committee agreed to Chair Orr' s request .