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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Planning and Economic Development Committee - 04/14/2008 (3)PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 14, 2008 Committee Members Chair Elizabeth Albertson, Ron Harmon sat in for Bob O’Brien in his absence, and Tim Clark. Chair Albertson called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Approval of Minutes Clark MOVED and Harmon SECONDED a MOTION to approve the minutes of March 10, 2008. Motion PASSED 3-0. Recognition of Canterbury and Highland Crossing Neighborhood Councils Neighborhood Program Coordinator Toni Azzola gave a general overview of the neighborhood programs. Azzola introduced the Highland Crossing Neighborhood. She stated that this neighborhood consists of approximately 77 homes and is roughly bounded to the north by SE 242nd, to the east by 120th Avenue SE, to the south by SE 245th Place, and to the west by 117th Avenue SE. Merwin Peters, 11931 SE 245th Place, Kent, WA spoke on behalf of his Highland Crossing Neighborhood, stating that his community has raised funds for the purpose of cleaning up and landscaping their community in an effort to maintain home values, attract potential buyers and generate more involvement from the neighbors. Azzola stated that it is likely that both neighborhood councils will go forward to City Council at their May 6, 2008 meeting. Azzola introduced the Canterbury Neighborhood. She stated that this neighborhood consists of approximately 54 homes and is roughly bounded to the north by SE 244th Street, to the east by 101st Place SE, to the south by SE 248th Street, and to the west by 98th Avenue South. Rob Dempsey, 10021 SE 245th Pl, Kent, WA spoke on behalf of his Canterbury Neighborhood. He stated that his community has a neighborhood association, but believes that this new neighborhood council program will provide an opportunity for his neighborhood to get more involved within their community without having them bound by homeowner’s association covenants. Dempsey stated that their neighborhood association was successful in obtaining some street improvements by working with various departments and people throughout the City. He cited the benefit of having one contact in the city to work with to resolve neighborhood issues through this city program. Dempsey stated that his neighborhood adapted an amendment to their association by-laws to make them appropriate to the neighborhood program the city has. PEDC Minutes April 14, 2008 Page 1 of 6 1 Harmon MOVED to recommend that Council adopt the proposed resolutions which recognize the Canterbury and Highland Crossing Neighborhood Councils, support their community building efforts and confer all opportunities offered by the City’s Neighborhood Program. Clark SECONDED the Motion. Motion PASSED 3-0. Historic Preservation Nomination (Berieter House) Planner Lydia Moorehead stated that the Berieter House has been nominated for consideration as a historic landmark by the Kent Historical Society. Ms. Moorehead gave a brief history of the Berieter House built in 1908 and located at 855 East Smith Street originally consisted of 3.5 acres with a gazebo, carriage house, orchard and pastures, of which only the house and carriage house remain. She stated that the primary interest with designation of this property is the opportunity to receive grant funding to restore, most noticeably, the carriage house which has fallen into disrepair. Norm Turner, President of the Kent Historical Society, 818 Woodland Way, Kent, WA stated that the primary focus of the Historical Museum is to recognize the historical significance of the house built in 1907 and occupied in 1908. He stated that the house is preserved basically in the state as it was built and noting that this year is the homes centennial year. In celebration of the centennial year, the Historical Museum will be hosting an antique car show along with an ice cream social, hotdog stand and a band, to be held on Saturday, August 9, 2008. Turner stated that both the house and grounds are utilized for special events and group meetings with a limitation of no more then 20 people in the house due to fire code regulations. Turner stated that the museum is not completely full. However, the museum houses thousands of pictures as well as newspapers documenting Kent’s history along with a good size inventory of items from the houses era. Turner stated that the carriage barn is currently full but anticipate using the carriage barn as an expedition area in the future. Caitlyn Wright, King County Historic Preservation stated that historic preservation is a King County funded program. She stated that our goal is to provide services to as many incorporated cities around King County as possible. Wright stated that by agreeing to allow King County to operate the city program, we provide technical services, give advice on how to treat historic properties, manage a data base of historic properties within the city as well as provide grant opportunities for landmark buildings in the city. Wright stated that the Berieter House applied for a grant through the King County Landmark Brick and Mortar Program used for physical repairs and maintenance to houses. She stated King County has reviewed the grant application and are looking at granting money to restore the interior of the carriage house. Wright stated that this is a program for landmark properties only. PEDC-Minutes April 14, 2008 Page 2 of 6 2 Clark MOVED to recommend approval of the nomination of the Bereiter House as a historic landmark and authorize the King County Historic Preservation Officer to process the nomination application pursuant to the Interlocal Agreement for Landmark Services. Harmon SECONDED the Motion which PASSED 3-0. Chair Albertson stated that this will move to the Full Council at their May 6 meeting. Code Enforcement Process Improvements - Ordinance Community Development Director Fred Satterstrom stated that this item is being brought back to the PEDC with some minor housekeeping changes. Asst City Attorney, Tom Guilfoil stated that the Hearing Examiner has suggested some language changes that would follow other statutes and laws more precisely. He stated that if a violation was challenged, appealed, or went to court; judges are more comfortable if language is as consistent as possible. Guilfoil referenced staff’s memorandum in noting the proposed language changes. Guillfoil stated that the current code enforcement process is slow and cumbersome, requiring that every Notice of Violation (NOV) be reviewed by the Hearing Examiner who determines if a violation exists, even minor violations such as junk vehicles in yards. Guilfoil stated that in reviewing the current process, staff has proposed to streamline the process by making it more akin to a traffic violation whereby you have the right to contest the violation, but the city is not required to go before the Hearing Examiner on every single violation if a person chooses not to contest it. Guilfoil stated that code enforcement staff will initially work with folks to give them time to resolve suspected violations, rather than immediately issue a NOV. He stated that if those folks are not responsive, a violation is issued; requiring the violation to be corrected and the fine to be paid. Guilfoil responded to Harmon’s inquiry with respect to timelines indicating the use of calendar days versus business days by stating that the default rule in this proposed ordinance is calendar days, but a few sections specifically state business days because we are required to. In response to Harmon’s inquiry about the methods used to notify people of violations, Guilfoil stated that mailing notices out via certified mail is counterintuitive, in that a person trying to avoid receiving notice will often refuse to sign the certified mail receipt, and this can create a possible barrier when going before the Hearing Examiner or to Court, as there is no signed return receipt. Guilfoil stated that staff has removed the certified mail requirement to avoid this problem and is using US Mail. He stated staff is adding requirements to determine a best address; using the Department of Licensing or Tax Receipt addresses. PEDC-Minutes April 14, 2008 Page 3 of 6 3 In response to Harmon, Satterstrom stated that staff could complete an affidavit of mailing as a means to demonstrate to the Hearing Examiner that a notice of violation was sent. Guilfoil clarified that staff will continue to make personal contact in attempts to obtain compliance and in many cases personally hand a violation notice out. In those circumstances where they can not hand deliver the violation, they will be mailed. Swanberg explained that the intent of this new ordinance is to help speed up the process of obtaining compliance, first by attempting voluntary compliance, then by being given the authority to immediately issue a citation that the violator can appeal and if they fail to do so, code enforcement may continue to pursue compliance. Swanberg described the current process which includes the issuance of an admonishment letter, followed by personal contact, Notice of Violation letter, then on to the Hearing Examiner for determination of violation with the possibility of fines to be issued. Swanberg stated that affidavits of mailing are completed on any letter sent out; the letters are entered into our KIVA System as a tracking tool. Harmon MOVED to recommend Council adopt the proposed ordinance which repeals the existing Chapter 1.04 of the Kent City Code, and adopts a new Chapter 1.04 in its place, and makes other related housekeeping changes to the Chapters in 13.02 and 14.08 of the Kent City Code. Albertson SECONDED the Motion. Motion PASSED 3-0. Albertson stated that this item will be moved on to Council under Consent. She asked that staff bring this item back to the Committee in six months with updates. Cottage Housing Planner Katie Heinitz described Cottage Housing as an innovative housing choice typically resulting in smaller homes with clustered garages located usually close together in one area with pathways leading from those garages to the homes. Heinitz cited the characteristics of a Cottage Housing development which includes; large common open spaces, a separate community building, private residential gardens, innovative housing plans with porches and creative use of interior space. Heinitz stated that Cottage Housing is favorable for in-fill development and gives developers options to use small land parcels for development, as opposed to a Planned Unit Development (PUD) requiring a five-acre minimum area. She stated that Cottage Housing is cognizant of protecting open space, wetlands, steep slopes and forested areas as well as retaining trees on site. Heinitz stated that staff has explored the feasibility of cottage housing in Kent with other City departments and have visited Cottage Housing developments in Kirkland, Redmond and Shoreline. She stated that staff reviewed Kirkland, Redmond, PEDC-Minutes April 14, 2008 Page 4 of 6 4 Shoreline, Federal Way and Normandy Park’s cottage housing ordinances, found Kirkland’s cottage housing ordinance to be the most innovative and desirable to adopt for Kent’s code. She stated that staff would amend Kirkland’s code to develop a demonstration ordinance and a cottage housing pilot program to meet the City of Kent’s needs. Clark stated that he felt Cottage Housing was most viable for development in those areas considered for redevelopment. Planner Erin Fehringer acknowledged Clark stating that staff has not produced criteria specific to where Kent will allow Cottage Housing to be developed in the City, stating that she sees them working well in standard zoning districts as they typically fit in well within the surrounding neighborhood environment, where they are built. Fehringer stated that staff determined that Kent’s parking requirements would allow them to require two parking spaces per dwelling unit. She stated that the difference is that those parking spaces would be placed in a clustered area away from the houses. Harmon suggested amending Kent’s existing PUD ordinance to reduce lot sizes to one acre, adding a subsection to the PUD ordinance to include for Cottage Housing requirements. Fehringer stated that the City needs a separate Cottage House ordinance that will incorporate a special design review element and flexibility for storm-water systems such as vaults. Albertson and Clark concurred with the need for a specific Cottage Housing ordinance. Fehringer stated that the Cottage Company has expressed an interest in building in Kent and has done a phenomenal job with their developments in Kirkland, Redmond and Shoreline. She stated that Kent would need to Fehringer stated that if the City completes a demonstration ordinance, staff will need to develop a selection process, possibly through soliciting proposals, to determine who would build a select number of pilot projects. Residential Development Standards Planner Matt Gilbert stated that in 2006 Council directed staff to examine the City’s residential development standards with the purpose of creating better aesthetics, adding open space and character to neighborhoods, and raising the standard of development for new neighborhoods in Kent. Gilbert stated that Council adopted new standards in 2007, with a request to revisit these standards twelve months hence. He stated that the city has continued to see reasonably strong interest in development since these standards have passed, in light of a currently sagging real estate market. He stated that in this period of correction where staff has heard stories of Kent being overbuilt, the city has continued to receive applications to subdivide land under the new ordinance. PEDC-Minutes April 14, 2008 Page 5 of 6 5 Gilbert stated that approximately 25 percent of the regulatory changes apply to lot sizes, planned orientation, open space, and parameter landscaping. He stated that about 75 percent of the regulatory changes pertain to buildings design review and implementation of park developments; Whereupon, the new design review regulations have not been applied as those plats are in process. Gilbert stated that staff is not prepared to recommend changes to the ordinance at this time. Gilbert stated that when the time comes to make changes to these regulations staff will produce something that is affective in meeting the goals of the Council, is clear, and not onerous to the development community. Gilbert stated that he would like to return to the Committee with an update in September after the construction season citing that the market dictates the schedule. He stated that he is hopeful that staff can gather enough information to offer some changes to the regulations by April 2009. Gilbert stated that staff has not received active opposition to the new development standards. He stated that the city has received a proposal for a plat from a major home builder and approximately 33 smaller proposals. Gilbert stated that staff is seeing a lot of infill development. Gilbert stated that he believes, the fact that staff has seen continued interest is important to evaluating the effectiveness of the regulations. Adjournment Chair Albertson adjourned the meeting at 6:25 p.m. ___________________________ Pamela Mottram Planning Services/PEDC Secretary S:\Permit\Plan\PEDC\2008\Minutes\04-14-08_PEDCmin.doc PEDC-Minutes April 14, 2008 Page 6 of 6 6