HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Land Use and Planning Board - 10/22/2012 ECONOMIC and COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Ben Wolters, Director
PLANNING DIVISION
Fred N. Satterstrom, AICP, Planning Director
• Charlene Anderson, AICP, Manager
� KENT Phone: 253-856-5454
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Fax: 253-856-6454
Address: 220 Fourth Avenue S
Kent, WA 98032-5895
AGENDA
LAND USE & PLANNING BOARD
WORKSHOP
OCTOBER 22, 2012
7:00 P.M.
LUPB MEMBERS:
Alan Gray, Chair; Barbara Phillips, Vice-Chair; Steve Dowell, Navdeep Gill,
Jack Ottini, Randall Smith, and Jim Sturgul
CITY STAFF:
Charlene Anderson, AICP, Planning Manager; Gloria Gould-Wessen, AICP,
Long-Range Planner; David Galazin, Assistant City Attorney
This is to notify you that the Land Use and Planning Board will hold a Workshop on
MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2012, in Kent City Hall, City Council Chambers, 220
Fourth Avenue S, at 7:00 p.m. No public testimony is taken at workshops,
although the public is welcome to attend. The workshop agenda will include the
following item(s):
1. Downtown Subarea Action Plan (DSAP)&Planned Action Ordinance (PAO)
Status report on the DSAP project.
You may access the City's website for documents pertaining to the Land Use and Planning Board at:
htto://kentwa.igm 2.com/citizens/Default.asox?DeoartmentlD=1004.
Any person requiring a disability accommodation should contact the City Clerk's Office at (253) 856-5725
in advance. For TDD relay service call the Washington Telecommunications Relay Service at
1-800-833-6388 or call the City of Kent Planning Division directly at (253) 856-5499 (TDD) or the main
line at (253) 856-5454.
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ECONOMIC and COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Ben Wolters, Director
PLANNING DIVISION
Fred N Satterstrom, AICP, Planning Director
KEN T Charlene Anderson, AICP, Planning Manager
WASH IN GTO N
Phone: 253-856-5454
Fax: 253-856-6454
Address: 220 Fourth Avenue S.
Kent, WA 98032-5895
October 15, 2012
To: Alan Gray, Chair and Land Use and Planning Board Members
From: Gloria Gould-Wessen, AICP, GIS Coordinator/Long Range Planner
Subject: Downtown Subarea Action Plan & PAO (CPA-2012-1) (KIVA-2120882)
Workshop — October 22, 2012
INTRODUCTION:
The Downtown Subarea Action Plan (DSAP) and associated Planned Action
Ordinance (PAO) for downtown Kent follows through on a strategic goal of Kent City
Council to create neighborhood urban centers. The DSAP is an update of the 2005
Downtown Strategic Action Plan (2005 Plan). The DSAP will re-structure the 2005
Plan to contain elements of the City's Comprehensive Plan, revise and add new
action items, and integrate a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
(SEIS). The completion of the Downtown Subarea Action Plan is a precursor for a
Planned Action Ordinance (PAO) to incentivize redevelopment. This is a progress
report.
BACKGROUND:
On June 251h, the Land Use & Planning Board (LU&PB) was presented an overview
of City Council strategic goals, the contents and status of the 2005 Downtown
Strategic Action Plan, and a set of planning principles intended to guide the
Downtown Subarea Action Plan project. The DSAP will amend Kent's 2004
Comprehensive Plan. The Downtown Subarea Action Plan and integrated
Supplemental EIS will become the development blueprint for a targeted Downtown
Planned Action Ordinance. When combined together, these documents will provide
a refreshed vision for downtown and direct measures and actions to facilitate
continued redevelopment and economic growth into Kent's urban center and
expanded subarea.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
Extensive public outreach is being conducted to help inform the goals and policies
for the DSAP, identify new actions to advance the vision for downtown, and collect
comments on the scope of the SEIS. To reach the broadest spectrum of the public,
a project website was developed (www.Venture Downtown Kent.com). On the first of
September, a short film and survey focusing on downtown livability was launched
on the website, and as of this writing, there have been 366 responses to the
survey. A DSAP Steering Committee (the Committee) made up of business owners
and organizations, developers, and city leadership was also established. The
Committee has convened four (4) times since July with a final meeting anticipated
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sometime before the end of the year. Staff conducted a S.W.O.T. exercise with the
Committee, identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to
furthering the vision for downtown Kent. They then identified potential solutions to
the weaknesses and threats. They also met with Community Attribute International
(CAI); a consultant working with the Economic Development Division. CAI
presented Kent's Economic Development Plan and discussed economic development
strategies and action items related to downtown Kent. The outcomes of our public
outreach efforts will result in new or revised goals and policies and actions items for
the subarea plan.
NEXT STEPS:
This project has several tasks to complete before draft products are brought before
decision makers. Public comment from the survey and input from the Committee
needs to be sorted, quantified, and evaluated to represent the results. The results
from the public outreach will be presented in a Public Open House to gain additional
feedback. A final Committee meeting will be held in November to wrap up the
results. The outcomes from our public outreach will be integrated into existing
Comprehensive Plan goals and policies related to Downtown or formed into action
items. These products will become the basis for the draft DSAP. The SEIS, being
produced by BERK & Associates, will be integrated into the draft DSAP. The draft
DSAP and integrated SEIS, along with the PAO, will be presented to the LU&PB in a
series of workshops. The adoption process for the DSAP and PAO is scheduled for
early 2013.
If there are any questions, please contact Gloria Gould-Wessen at 253.856.5441.
S:�Permit�Plan�COMP_PLAN_AMENDMENTS�2012�CPA-2012-1 Downtown�LUPB�10-23-12 Memo.door
Enc: Attch A— DSAP Steering Committee—S.W.O.T. Results
Attch B— DSAP Steering Committee—Visioning Results
cc: Ben Wolters, ECD Director
Fred Satterstrom,AICP, Planning Director
Charlene Anderson,AICP, Planning Manager
David Galazin,Assistant City Attorney
File
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Attachment A 3
Venture Downtown
Steering Committee
S.W.O.T. Exercise Results
STRENGTHS:
1. Memorable Downtown Experience
• Tradition of festivals
• Willis Street entry is an attractive gateway
• Commercial buildings establish a person's image of Downtown
2. Economic Vitality
• ShoWare Center has brought local and international events to Kent,
increasing increased revenues for Kent through hotel stays, restaurants
etc.
• Offers a great variety of both old and new architecture
• Availability of affordable commercial properties
• Close to industry nearby that can support Downtown retail commercial
uses
• An urban center that has close proximity to industrial jobs
• The Regional Justice Center provides jobs
• Free parking
• All services are available
• No B & O Tax
• Look at 3rd biggest business hub
• Cost of land is cheap
3. Urban Livability
• Affordable housing that is close to lots of activities
• Charming village with services
• Streets with trees and flowers
• Inherent charm
• Good charming restaurants
• Parents comfortable to allow kids in Downtown because of all the
activities
• Nearby neighborhoods that can shop and live in Kent
• Cost of Living
4. Transportation
• Sounder Transit Access is convenient and provides a consistent commute
for those folks who want to live in a small town but commute to Seattle
• Traffic allows for easy movement through Kent
• The 228th Street corridor helps absorb some of the traffic congestion
5. Enjoyable Outdoor Space
• Water Park provides enjoyment for families
• Good parks and trails
• Parks and Recreation programming and the arts
• River is beautiful — recreation/river walk
6. Commitment to Implement
• Leadership is committed to Downtown
• Permit Process is easy
Page 1 of 3
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7. Regional
• Centrally located
• Location — proximity to business hubs (20 minutes)
8. Safety
• Low Crime
9. Community Attitude
• Many Community Organizations are passionate about the Downtown
• Great partnerships with Community Organizations and Businesses
WEAKNESSES:
1. Perception
• Need to think differently about growing larger
• Peoples image of Downtown is not positive
• No branding
• Property Owners are not maintaining their buildings
• Lacks ordinances/regulations to ensure vacant storefronts are maintained
well
• Need more design regulations in the core of Downtown (i.e., color, style)
• Educate property owners of tax credits to finance remodeling historic
buildings
• Need more city oversight concerning remodeling of historic structures
2. Connectivity
• Poor connection from Old Town to Kent Station
• Meeker Street and Kent Station needs to be better connected
• Need better connections between East and West areas of Downtown
3. Housing
• Need more residential
4. Economy
• Industrial Jobs lunch to downtown, but go home at night
• More quality retail and restaurants are needed
• Lack of public meeting facilities
5. Streetscape
• Need more outdoor seating for people
• Lack of clear entryways into Downtown
• Ghetto gateways
• Signage to Downtown is lacking along Central Avenue and
Willis Street
• Portions of Downtown are poorly lit due to street lights
• Certain areas along Central Avenue are not walkable (i.e.,
unsafe)
• Cross walks are needed on Central Avenue north of James
Street
• Central Avenue is ugly
6. Parking
• Lack of parking for employees
• Perception of parking problem
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7. Government
• Permitting process
• Funding — How do we get improvements funded?
8. Transportation
• When Trains delays and stops traffic
• Trains are noisy
OPPORTUNITY:
• Trains
THREATS:
• Boeing Leaving
• Low Income Demographics
• Families are not attracted because student scores are low.
• Located in a Flood Plain
• Manufacturing/warehousing is not lucrative due to Streamline
Taxation.
• The industrial valley lacks fiberoptics
• Trains
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Attachment B 7
Venture Downtown
Steering Committee
Strategic Actions Exercise Results
LAND USE
ZONING:
1. Need to regulate certain uses:
• Bail bond
• Pawn shops
• Place limitations on drive-in banks
2. Need to address auto-oriented uses
3. Unify downtown zoning that incorporates the entire area — DC vs. DCE
4. Don't create too many restrictions on desirable uses/development
5. Establish a creative (special) zoning district:
• For entertainment
6. Create a closed street promenade
• On Harrison or Meeker Streets
• Place the special district on the closed street promenade
7. What incentives are there for those who wish to invest in buildings within the
historic area.
8. Enhance the primary entryways
9. Signage:
• Control the over-use of commercial posters/banners currently allowed
Control the use of window displays
• Lack of enforcement of sign regulations
TRANSITIONAL DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS:
1. Change zoning from commercial auto to DCE along Central Avenue
2. Central Avenue has a negative image as an ugly barrier
PEDESTRIAN PRIORITY
1. Walk from Downtown to Park needs to be appealing (inclusive of children).
Create a pedestrian boulevard closed to traffic.
Adopt a planter program; ie place planters along Central Avenue median
Planters need to be maintained and kept clean.
Downtown area is dark and conveys an unsafe feeling
Maintain downtown properties
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Blank walls create 'dead zones'
2. Save old Kent Station — - strength/weakness
Need to be cost neutral
Need incentives for investing in Kent
Light alleyways
Route Traffic — Easterly on Smith and Westerly on James.
ACTIONS:
1. Provide an REI Connection with 228th
2. Develop a bike path along SR 516/Willis Street East/West
3. Develop Mixed-Use with Residential within the area roughly bounded by SR-167 to
the East, SR-516 to the South, 64th Avenue S to the West, and Smith Street to the
North.
4. Within the Mixed-Use with Residential development area (West of SR-167)
• Create a people place; include a water feature, build a boys & girls club,
design a central park
GATEWAYS:
• Place decals on streets to identify the downtown gateways
• Start with Meeker and 2"d Avenue Intersection
• Use paving to identify gateway
o Use special pavement treatments along Meeker Street
o Add unique paving (e.g. Orting's cement stamping)
STREET LIGHTS:
• Add street lights to downtown along Meeker and Central Avenue
• Place street lights in alleys
TRAFFIC MOVEMENT:
• Make James Street one-way moving west
• Make Smith Street one-way moving east
• Close Streets to traffic in downtown; aka Riverside California (create a
pedestrian way)
• Expand sidewalks into the street for downtown businesses
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HISTORIC PRESERVATION
BUILDING MAINTENANCE:
1. Some buildings worth preserving
2. Certain areas are more important than others
3. Create a feeling of historic charm through new development
• Create that charm not necessarily with the building itself
4. Make it easy to allow street vendors
BEAUTIFICATION
BUILDING AND STREET MAINTENANCE:
1. No broken windows
2. Code enforcement
3. Clean up trash
4. Establish a garden club
5. Adopt an area for maintenance
6. Establish a business improvement district for maintenance and security
7. Tie business licensing to property maintenance
BOLLARDS:
1. Provide as protection at certain street corners
2. Make removable for merchants for access to businesses
PLANTERS:
1. Place sporadically — citing an example of Burien
LIGHTING:
1. Need more street lights:
• By the Railroad
• At Meeker Street from Vt Avenue to Railroad Avenue
• Plus street lights adds to feeling of security
MARKETING
1. Produce a one-page 'Welcome to Downtown' brochure with tips for maintaining
property.
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URBAN DESIGN
MAKE DOWNTOWN DISTINCTIVE:
1. Gateways: Where?
Difficult to find downtown from Central Avenue. Locations for Gateways are:
• Central Avenue and James Street
• Central Avenue and Smith Street
• West of James Street just beyond SR-167 underpass.
• Central Avenue and Willis Street
Central Avenue and Titus Street
(lack of lighting marks this location as less desirable)
• 4th Avenue North and Willis Street
4th Avenue North and James Street
• Meeker Street and SR-167
• At the bend of SR-516/Willis (due west of 167) heading towards I-5.
• Railroad Avenue — south of the SoDo Neighborhood District.
2. Gateways: What?
• Signed
• Designed attractively
• Inviting
• Clearly indicates that this is the 'way into town'
3. Need a stronger visual connection along 2 n d Avenue from Kent Station to Old Town.
4. 2 n d Avenue and Harrison Buildings shows a backdoor into old town.
Solution:
Establish a front door entry at Meeker and 2nd Avenue that signals old
town' through design.
5. Screen the prison from James
SOLUTIONS:
• Clock Tower
• Arch
• Trees
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TRANSPORTATION
TRAFFIC:
1. Relocate truck traffic off of 4th Avenue
2. Change zoning from commercial auto-oriented (GC) to DCE along Central Avenue
to obtain a different business use and urban form.
3. Slow traffic speed along Central Avenue.
PEDESTRIAN:
1. It takes too long for pedestrians to cross with the traffic light at 2nd Avenue and
Smith.
2. Traffic lights at 4th, James, Central, and Smith need to be designed for pedestrian
use.
BIKES:
1. The system works well in downtown and the valley.
PARKS & OPEN SPACE
EXISTING PARKS:
1. Activate spaces by opening them up and providing better lighting
2. Build benches that function as tables such as planters around trees
3. Connect smaller parks
4. Close the ROW adjacent to Kalbara Park and enlarge the park.
EARTHWORKS PARK:
1. Develop an east/west pedestrian connection via Gowe St. from downtown.
2. Develop an east/west pedestrian connection via Titus St. from downtown.
3. Create a 'doggy daycare park' within Earthworks Park based on a private/public
partnership.
NEW PARK:
1. Need a central park
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