HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Planning and Economic Development Committee - 11/13/2012
ECDC Minutes
November 14, 2012
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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: 231st 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 217th 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. Growing 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.
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November 14, 2012
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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 tail ored 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 Project United Way of King 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 3 rd 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
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November 14, 2012
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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.
5. Neighborhood 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 256th
and 132nd, the Panther Lake area, and West Hill at 260th 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 tha t 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, con duct 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
Adjournment
Committee Chair Perry adjourned the meeting at 7:00 p.m.
______________________________________
Pamela Mottram, Secretary
Economic & Community Development Committee
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