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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Economic and Community Development - 11/13/2012 0 T ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING DATE: November 13, 2012 Committee Members Committee Chair Jamie Perry, Deborah Ranniger/absent-excused, Bill Boyce/absent-excused. Elizabeth Albertson attended on behalf of Deborah Ranniger. Perry called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 1. Approval of Minutes Councilmember Albertson Moved and Councilmember Perry Seconded a Motion to approve the October 8, 2012 Minutes. Motion PASSED 2-0. 2. 2012 Annual Docket Report Planning Manager Charlene Anderson reported that four docket items were submitted for consideration this year with staff recommending inclusion of these dockets as part of the 2013 Work Program. Dkt-2012-1 through Dkt-2012-4 amend the Kent Comprehensive Plan (KCP): Dkt-2012-1 includes the 2012 Comprehensive Sewer Plan; Dkt-2012-2 includes the 2011 Water System Plan; Dkt-2012-3 includes the 2009 City of Kent Fire Department's Standards of Response Coverage and Capital Facilities and Equipment Plan; and Dkt-2012-4 relates to current Fire and Life Safety Services by providing text updates reflecting the 2010 formation of the Kent Regional Fire Authority (RFA) and the Department's reaccreditation. Although the 2010 docket report could be reconsidered, Anderson recommended no changes. Kent Fire Department RFA Captain Larry Rabel reported that a growth management modeling exercise conducted in 2008 showed a regional need for 12 fire stations, which could require five additional stations throughout the region. Rabel cited potential locations of: 231" Way (serving the Riverview Development and the Midway area), moving Station 75 further west away from Kent Kangley, placement of a station in the southeast Covington area, and along the Benson Corridor around 2171h on existing RFA property. Rabel stated that the highest priority is placement of a station in the Kent Valley at 407 Washington Avenue. The RFA is looking at moving forward sometime within 3-5 years. Councilmember Albertson MOVED to accept staff's recommendation to approve the 2012 Annual docket Report as presented, with no change to the 2010 Annual Docket Report. Councilmember Perry SECONDED the Motion which PASSED 2-0. 3. Growina Transit Communities Planning Manager Charlene Anderson introduced Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) Senior Planner Michael Hubner reporting on the Growing Transit Communities Partnership (GTCP). The GTCP is looking at developing implementation strategies (to include affordable housing) for the types of stations that might be developed in the corridor that runs from Everett to Tacoma and east to Redmond. Anderson stated that the Midway Subarea Plan included a policy to create an affordable housing task force by 2012 to consider options, policies, and partnerships for resolving issues surrounding the potential displacement of affordable housing. Staff is participating in the GTCP and looking at their work for furtherance of this policy. Hubner summarized the differences between the work of Sound Transit and GTCP. He reported that Sound Transit (ST) is conducting an alternatives' analysis within the segment of the light rail corridor passing through Kent to look at different alignment possibilities and station locations. The PSRC committees and task forces including local jurisdictions and ST are looking at community development issues surrounding light rail station locations and the potential future of those locations. PSRC has selected several study areas within the Kent corridor. When a location is chosen, Kent will have available a set of recommendations and tools to help achieve its vision for Midway. ECDC Minutes November 14,2012 Page 1 of Hubner stated that the GTCP is a three-year long project funded by a five-million dollar Sustainable Communities grant from the Federal Government. The PSRC is the lead agency working in partnership with Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Transportation (DOT) along with a consortium of local governments, nonprofits, and business communities that have signed a memorandum of understanding and have exercised their work program through the PSRC. Hubner stated that the PSRC's policy framework for regional and local growth management and transportation includes Vision 2040, a Regional Transportation Plan, and a Regional Economic Development Strategy. Anticipated regional growth between now and 2040 includes 1.5 million people and over 1 million jobs with a strategy in place to accommodate that growth in a series of centers to be fully served by light rail by 2040. Transportation 2040 calls for 100 billion dollars in transit investments over the next 30 years. Hubner explained that three basics of growing transit communities are to accommodate more growth in station areas, to achieve housing, commercial and small business affordability, and to ensure social equity for those community members that have not been as engaged in the policy processes and that are disadvantaged due to income status, disabilities or age. Hubner stated that demonstration projects are moving forward within the south, north and east corridors with Tacoma in the south utilizing an affordable housing strategy in downtown Tacoma that includes tax increment financing (defined as value capture techniques) and new legislation that would enable expanded use of that kind of tool in part to pay for infrastructure and in part to provide funds for affordable housing. Hubner stated that small community-based nonprofits such as the Refugee Federation Service Center, the Somali Community Services Coalition, and One America have each received up to $15,000 for capacity building and outreach to members of Kent and adjacent communities through a small grants program now in its third round. Hubner stated that the PSRC will provide the region with goals related to transit supported densities and uses, technical assistance and guidance in the development of public and private sector parking regulations relevant to station areas and transit accessibility, financing tools, guidance for completing a transit station area housing needs assessment, and provide a model for local and state adoption of fair housing legislation. A property acquisition fund would be available to provide support for affordable housing providers. Guidance, and incentives for local adoption of incentive zoning would be tailored to be most effective in the different corridors. Hubner stated that a set of recommendations and a Corridor Action Strategy will be completed by May 2013. Public comment is welcome from Kent staff and Council members. The 3-year grant period terminates the end of 2013. PSRC will continue to work with the consortium partners and local governments on implementation agreements. Informational Only 4. East Hill Revitalization Proiect United Way of Kina County New Solutions Funding Grant Economic Development Specialist Josh Hall stated that last year Kent received a $20,000 grant from UWKC to fund Phase I of a revitalization effort for East Hill facilitated by the consulting group, Pomegranate Center. A community forum held March 3r' had 70-80 people in attendance where over 80 suggestions were received. The City has been awarded a $25,000 grant from United Way of King County's (UWKC) New Solutions Fund to proceed with Phase 2 of the Revitalization Project. Hall stated that a stakeholder committee decided to concentrate their efforts and goals on economic development, physical improvements, and ways to engage youth and families. Thought has been given to creating a distinctive cultural or international district initiated by the concept of trying to promote the diverse and ethnic communities on East Hill that Kent could use to brand the area. Hall stated that the intent of Phase 2 is to assist the revitalization effort by equipping the group with the tools to be a self sustaining entity, with a focus on organization and leadership development. Kent envisions hiring a consultant to work with the stakeholders and community to identify what type of organizational structure this group should have. The City envisions ECDC Minutes November 14,2012 Page 2 of identifying a local community member to act as an Executive Director to move this effort into the hands of the community. Staff has been working with the Seattle Foundation to develop a proposal the Foundation can support to help this group move forward. Councilmember Albertson Moved to accept a grant from United Way King County's New Solutions Fund in the amount of $25,000 and Councilmember Perry Seconded the Motion which PASSED 2-0. S. Neiahborhood Urban Centers Planning Manager Charlene Anderson presented a list of planning principles and a draft scope of work for the Committee's consideration. She presented a slide show illustrating neighborhood urban center examples within Washington and California that could further the City Council's strategic goal of creating neighborhood urban centers. Criteria considered pedestrian, bicycle and transit needs, code enforcement, realistic standards and regulations, and neighborhood compatibility.. Anderson spoke about a 5.1 acre commercial node located on West Hill that could be classified a Neighborhood Business District. She also spoke about a two-acre site on East Hill that could benefit from an improved pedestrian connectivity system for a corner store. Anderson depicted three areas in the City with gaps in half-mile radii of commercial nodes: East Hill around 256rh and 132"', the Panther Lake area, and West Hill at 2601h and 38th. Anderson stated that pedestrian connectivity and sidewalk improvements are needed to support commercial nodes. She provided an illustration from the Transportation Master Plan that depicted composite of need areas which combined walk to school routes, population, employment density, populations below poverty levels and with disabilities. Anderson stated that the staff work program will look at connectivity and intensity of land use that would support commercial as well as general streetscape characteristics in Neighborhood Commercial Districts. Staff also needs to collect data, consider demographics and infrastructure, look at funding strategies, policies and code requirements, conduct public outreach, hold workshops and public hearings. Staff is looking for concurrence with the planning principles and the scope of the work to move this project forward and guide the work of the Land Use and Planning Board (LUPB). Council members Perry and Albertson suggested changes to the draft principles and scope of work to incorporate both existing and planned pedestrian and bicycle networks and to develop strategies to increase walkability scores. Anderson stated that staff will continue to update the Committee on the status of this project. The result of the work could be a pilot project on corner stores, with some strategies for intensifying the City's neighborhood business districts. There may be policy decisions to control sprawl, with strategies for intensifying existing districts to make them more viable and successful. Councilmember Albertson Moved to approve the Planning Principles and Scope of Work for the Neighborhood Urban Centers as presented by staff and amended by the Committee to be used to guide the work of the Land Use and Planning Board. Councilmember Perry Seconded the Motion which PASSED 2-0. 6. Economic Development Report - None None Adiournment Committee Chair Perry adjourned the meeting at 7:00 p.m. Pamela Mottram, Secretary Economic & Community Development Committee PIAPlanningAECDQ2012VMinutes\11-]312_DaftMlnA doc ECDC Minutes November 14,2012 Page 3 of