HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Works/Planning - 08/14/1997 ` CITY OF L"LtJ2
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Jim White, Mayor
PLANNING DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM
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To: LEONA ORR, CHAIR, AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
PLANNING COMMITTEE, TIM CLARK AND JON JOHNSON
From: JAMES P. HARRIS, PLANNING DIRECTOR
Date: AUGUST 14, 1997
Subject: PROPOSED DOWNTOWN STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN AND INTEGRATED
PRELIMINARY FINAL SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENT
As discussed in a memo to the Planning Committee from Linda Phillips, dated July 15, 1997,
the Land Use and Planning Board recommended approval of the Downtown Plan to the City
Council, on June 2nd with 9 modifications.
• The Board's recommendation was presented to the Council at its Public Meeting on July 1st.
At that time the plan was referred to the Planning Committee where two meetings have been
held; July 15th and August 6th.
Following is an outline of the plan's proposals with an emphasis on the different Downtown
districts. The document that this outline comes from is dated June 13, 1997 and is titled:
CITY OF KENT
DOWNTOWN STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN
AND
INTEGRATED PRELIMINARY FINAL SUPPLEMENTAL
ENVIRONMENTAL EWPACT STATEMENT
PART I
INTRODUCTION page I-1
This is a straight forward section that explains how the plan was formulated.
PLANNING CONCEPT page H-1
This section deals with the market analysis and a redevelopment strategy. It is
• important to note here that the Downtown Strategic Plan is intended to implement
the goals and policies contained in the City's Growth Management Act
Comprehensive Plan adopted on April 18, 1995.
] 0 doh AVE.SO.. I KENT WASHINGTON 95032-4WB I TELEPHONE 206)819-3300/FAX x 8i9-i334
• One suggested addition in this section is.to add a bullet after Hotel/Convention
Center on page II-3 with the title Natural Medicine Center and which states that
the City Council has supported this concept.
The redevelopment strategy, begins on page II-3 and contains 5 parts:
1. Connect and unify important downtown features.
2. Enhance the periphery of the downtown to achieve a higher quality
development that supports its central activities.
3. Define special activity districts.
4. Select "target" areas as a basis for a phased implementation program to
accomplish redevelopment and/or infill consistent with the plan.
5. Enhance civic identity.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED ACTIONS page III-1
This section needs to have the following general recommendations added to the
plan:
A. Encourage residential development in the downtown.
B. Adopt street standards for the entire downtown area. Currently,
street standards are often determined on a case-by-case basis. The
street character could be enhanced by matching street standards to
specific areas of the downtown in order to accentuate the character of
each area.
C. Develop a street tree/vegetation plan for downtown which provides a
guide for creating an attractive pedestrian network of green spaces.
D. Continue to incorporate pubic art into the downtown design pattern
to reinforce Kent's downtown character _and unique traditions.
Provide for public art that appeals to children and that is easily
accessed by children.
E. Work with developers to ensure high-quality development on
designated building sites:
a. Signature Buildings: New buildings on highly visible gateway
sites should receive special attention. For example, commercial
development on these sites should not include parking in front
yards. The City may provide incentives, such as expediting
project review, to encourage high-quality design as specified by
the guidelines.
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• The above recommendations were in the draft that the Land Use and Planning
Board approved but were inadvertently omitted from the June 13, 1997 draft.
The map on page II-2 presents the Summary of Recommended Actions contained
in the different districts beginning on page IV-1. It should be noted here, and
will be noted again in the district discussion, that the Land Use and Planning
Board's modifications affect the summary proposals as follows:
A. The depot location, both north and south be further studied.
B. The North Park area east of Fourth Avenue South and on the north
side of James Street, remain residential.
C. The North Park area between Fourth Avenue South and Fifth Avenue
South, and lying between James Street and Cloudy become mixed use.
D. Eliminate the parking shown on the Commons playfield.
E. Create angle parking on the west side of an improved Fifth Avenue
South, adjacent to the Commons play field and create a drop-off and
pick-up area for children along this improved right-of-way.
iF. Study traffic patterns in North Park for ingress, egress and safety.
G. Study the parking for the Uplands playfield located between Meeker
Street and Smith Street adjacent to the Union Pacific Railroad.
H. Develop realistic costs for the plan.
I. Develop a gateway at the intersection of North Central Avenue and the
Valley Freeway.
This section also has an important phasing strategy of which the Transportation
part will need to be revised when the actual location for the RTA depot is
determined.
KENT DOWNTOWN DISTRICTS page IV-1
This section is the train part of the plan. The Downtown Districts are:
* North Frame District
* Central Avenue District
* East Frame District
• * West Frame District
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• * South Core District
* North Core District
* Historic Core District
A. The North Frame Area (North Park) page IV-1
Important elements of the North Frame Area are:
1). Upgrade Commons Park. Remember, the Land Use and
Planning Board recommends modifying the Commons Park as
Follows:
a). Eliminate the parking on the Commons playfield.
b). Create parking on the west side of an improved Fifth
Avenue South adjacent to the Commons playfield and
create a drop-off and pick-up area for children along
this improved right-of-way.
2). Improve James Street.
The plan states that, "ultimately, James Street will be an important
pedestrian and bicycle route connecting the Commons Park and
Interurban Trail to the Bordon site redevelopment and the
commuter rail station." Note: The Land Use and Planning
Board did not recommend a specific RTA depot site but rather
made the statement that, "The depot location, both north and
south, be further studied."
3). Provide Gateway Improvements at Fourth Avenue and James
Street.
The gateways are discussed on page IV-5. Note: The Land Use
and Planning Board recommends that a gateway improvement
be placed at the intersection of North Central Avenue and the
Valley Freeway (SR 167).
4). Encourage Office/Residential Mixed Use Development at the N.
Fourth Avenue/N. Fifth Avenue Target Area.
Note: The Land Use and Planning Board recommended that
this nixed use end at Cloudy Street; the staff recommendation
was that it extend three properties north of Cloudy Street.
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5). Encourage Office Development of Properties Within the North
James Street Corridor Target Area.
Note: The Land Use and Planning Board recommends that the
North Park area east of Fourth Avenue South and on the north
side of James Street remain residential.
B. The Central Avenue Corridor District page IV-9
The Downtown Plan targets this area for redevelopment. Important
elements of the Central Avenue Corridor are:
1). Upgrade Streetscape Along Central Avenue.
2). Establish gateways.
The plan recommends gateways at the intersections of Central
Avenue with Smith and Titus Streets.
3) Design Guidelines
The plan calls for specific standards to be added to the Downtown
. Design Guidelines - see page IV-11.
4). The map on page IV-10 indicates the RTA depot at the north
site and improvements of Smith Street at the depot: remember
the Land Use and Planning Board did not recommend a
specific depot site, but rather a study of the north site and
south site.
The following recommendation needs to be added to this section:
Conduct a corridor study to serve as a basis for improvement
of the Central Avenue corridor. Include Railroad Avenue as
related to the proposed commuter rail station. Address design
guidelines, buffers for adjacent residential neighborhoods,
zoning code enforcement, zoning use issues, and streetscape
improvements.
This recommendation was in the draft approved by the Land Use and
Planning Board but was inadvertently omitted from the June 13,1997
draft.
C. East Frame District page IV-15
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• Residents of this area emphasize the need for a more stable residential
neighborhood. Key elements of this district are:
1). Construct a Pedestrian Trail along Mill Creek.
2). Improve Meeker and Gowe Streetscapes
3). Design Guidelines to:
* Increase compatibility between commercial and
residential uses through screening and design.
* Increase security and safety in the area by providing
lighting and pathways, reducing hazardous area, and
providing visible entries.
* Provide useful open space and pedestrian-oriented
streetscapes.
West Frame District page IV-16
The plan envisions the area south of Smith Street experiencing dynamic
• redevelopment. Key elements of this district are:
1). Review Proposal for a New Access Street. This street would
extend northerly of Willis Street to Meeker Street easterly of
Naden Avenue.
2) Connect Interurban Trail to Core Districts.
The Land Use and Planning Board recommends the following:
3). Study parking for the Uplands playfield located between
Meeker Street and Smith Street adjacent to the Union Pacific
Railroad.
E. South Core District page IV-19
The Downtown Plan encourages residentially-oriented mixed use in this
district to help achieve the Comprehensive Plan's housing goals and to
provide a built-in market for downtown businesses. Important elements
of this district are:
• 1). Extend Angled Parking Along Saar Street to the Union Pacific
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Rail Road.
2). Extend Pedestrian/Bicycle Paths from the Interurban Trail to
the Core.
3). Design Guidelines page IV-21
4). Other Redevelopment Incentives page IV-23
F. North Core District page IV-24
Although this district indicates that the RTA depot would be developed in
this district, north of Smith Street, the Land Use and Planning Board
recommends that no definitive station site be identified at this time, but
that the depot location, both north and south, be further studied.
Many of the elements of this district revolve around the siting of the depot
at the northern site, but until a specific site is determined, through City
input to the RTA and the RTA's own determination as to the ultimate site,
these elements need to be placed on hold. A statement dealing with this
situation is recommended as follows:
At the time of the determination of the site for the RTA depot,
the Downtown Plan transportation elements shall be revised in
the North Frame, North Core, Historic Core South Core and
Central Avenue Corridors, to accommodate peak commuter
travel times with an emphasis on public transportation.
Elements of this district not related directly to the location of the Rta
depot are:
1). Locate a Town Square Park Near the Smith Street/Meeker
Street Spine of the Core.
2). Construct Pedestrian "All Cross" or Scramble System at the
Corner of Fourth Avenue and Smith Street.
3). Redefine Design Guidelines page IV-31
4). Establish Design Parameters and Review process for
Redevelopment of the Borden Site.
. 5). Support a Civic and Performing Arts Center Between Meeker
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• and Smith Streets. This_element is very site specific. Perhaps
one way to address this issue is to support the development of a
Civic and Performing Arts Center Downtown, but without
identifying a specific site.
6). Support the Public Market
G. Historic Core District. page IV-34
The Plan points out that the Historic Core District is the traditional and
geographic heart of downtown Kent. Several actions are recommended
for this district:
1). Enhance the historic architectural character and pedestrian
amenities.
2). Develop vacant or underutilized sites.
3). Visually and physically connect the Historic Core District to the
surrounding districts.
4). Make pedestrian Improvements
5). Enhance Gateway (Meeker and Fourth Avenue).
6). Design Guidelines and Historic Preservation Activities page IV-
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PART H page VI-1
IMPLEMENTATION
This section of the downtown Plan deals with the Preliminary Final
Environmental Impact Statement. Alternatives and mitigating factors will change
as the plan is amended. Traffic impacts, discussed on page VI-9 will change as
the Downtown Plan is amended.
The Land Use and Planning Board recommends that, Realistic costs associated
with the plan should be developed.
As discussed in PART I, C PROCESS, page I-2, the Plan was prepared to be
consistent with the requirements of State Law (ESHB 1724) which contains a
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• provision to allow cities to adopt a "Planned Action" ordinance if the city has an
adopted comprehensive plan. A city can create a subarea or neighborhood plan-
in this case the Downtown Strategic Action Plan is a subarea plan - develop a 20
year vision for the "Planned Action", and analyze the environmental impacts of
the actions with a Planned Action environmental impact statement. This is the
course of action Kent's Downtown Strategic Action Plan has followed and as
stated on page I-4, "This plan meets the requirements of the Planned Action State
Environmental Policy Act(SEPA)provision by providing public participation and
environmental analysis in advance, in conjunction with a subarea plan."
This Implementation Section contains the required elements of the Planned Action
environmental impact statement. Section A is the typical EIS fact sheet(page VI-
1). Section B is a summary of the process used to arrive at a preferred alterative
(page VI-3). Section C is a summary of the preferred alternative and the
recommendation process (page VI-5). Section D is organized by recommended
action. It contains a discussion of each action, the environmental impact
evaluation, the mitigation measures, and it identifies the entity responsible for the
action (VI-6). Section E outlines a monitoring system which would be further
refined for administration by the Planning and Public Works Department (page
VI-58).
An analysis of the current capital facilities plan for downtown in relation to the
• planned actions recommended by this plan will take place when the plan is
adopted. The phasing schedule for the actions will be revised if necessary, and
the capital facilities plan will be updated to reflect the actions proposed.
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