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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Economic and Community Development - 08/12/2013 KENT ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES August 12, 2013 Committee Members Committee Chair Jamie Perry, Deborah Ranniger, Bill Boyce. Perry called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 1. Approval of Minutes Committee Member Ranniger Moved and Committee Member Boyce Seconded a Motion to approve the Minutes of August 12, 2013. Motion PASSED 3-0. 2. Green River Community College Small Business Assistance Center (SBAC) Update Leslie Moore and Kirk Davis along with Jim Edwards (a client of the SBAC) from Green River Community College described the function of the SBAC. Ms. Moore reported that the Center began in 1999 with a $500,000 Grant awarded to them. This program offers free counseling at no cost to local businesses and holds evening classes with a nominal fee charge. This program works to help cities see the potential in their communities. Davis stated that Washington is recognized as having the most business startups and most failures. This program is part of a state and nationwide effort to help businesses move past any barriers that may hinder their growth. Edwards stated that he is a local business owner that manufactures and erects steel structures. He stated that his clientele includes Cities, Kemper Development, Boeing, Microsoft, Gates Foundation, and Auburn High School. Edwards stated that they anticipate about two million dollars in additional growth this year. The SBAC has been instrumental in helping restructure the business for that additional growth. The business employs 45 people and is looking to purchase property to expand the business. Davis stated that the SBAC has worked with 400 Kent businesses and held 200 sessions with clients in Kent since 2004 that has helped businesses move forward and accelerate their growth. Moore referenced a power point presentation to explain how the SBAC is funded. She stated SBAC has established a core funding partnership as well as requested and received a grant from the City of Kent for $33,000, which supports one counselor with a caseload of 150 clients. Davis stated that this service has been in place for 3 years in Kent and has found that those clients that have worked with the BAC have better success rates. 3. Group Living Facilities Code Amendments KCC 15.02 and 15.04 rZCA-2013-11 Planner Katie Graves reported that these proposed amendments relate to residential and group living facilities, clarify definitions and residential land uses related to residential facilities, group care, and group living facilities. Proposed code amendments include new definitions for "assisted living facility", "family", "residential facility with health care", and "transitional housing;" and deletes definitions for "congregate care facilities", "convalescent home", and "group home class IC;" and places individually defined residential living facilities in the use table rather than under one catch-all category; and adds more minor changes. Graves directed the Committee members to her report. Perry stated that the Committee would not take action on this item now. Perry asked that staff provide the committee with a list of Federal Housing Act Standards and provide some alternative definitions from other cities. Graves stated staff followed industry standards in defining the facilities. Perry proposed staff return with some additional standards for consideration, asking she be provided with a chart that would allow the committee to conceptualize standard differences, and stated she would like more information on constraints. ECDC Minutes August 12,2013 Pagel of Assistant City Attorney David Galazin stated that the intent of the proposed amendments is an attempt to clean up the code and to further classify and define types of uses. 4. Cottage Housing Demonstration Project Update Graves stated that a Cottage Housing Demonstration Project ordinance passed in 2008 and City Council chose a project defined as Blueberry Cottages located on a site at 2401h and 1161h. In September 2012 the developer (W.D. Ruth) informed the City that they were unable to obtain funding and opted to withdraw their demonstration project. In speaking with the cottage housing developer, Graves stated she found that banks are unwilling to take risks on projects with unknown outcomes. Ruth's withdrawal means that the city does not have a demonstration project at this time. S. Meeker Street Revitalization Initiative (MRI) Planning Director Fred Satterstrom stated that Auburn designated 32 parcels in their downtown area to entice developers with incentives that would encourage downtown development. Auburn reduced development fees by 72 percent, exempted traffic fees entirely, deferred and waived certain development charges. Satterstrom stated that specific areas within downtown Kent are in desperate need of redevelopment. He cited Meeker Street as the primary focus as well as encompassing a larger area around Meeker where many property owners are decentivized. Staff is studying the feasibility of implementing this type of initiative and evaluating the legal ramifications of what it would mean to waive certain fees. Economic & Community Development Director Ben Wolters stated that staff is searching for ways to jump start development in downtown. He stated that Auburn's approach has been used throughout the County. Wolters stated that Auburn's proposal was time limited and sunsets at the end of this year. He stated that Kent has some possible developments that may be interested in this approach for downtown. In response to Ranniger, Wolters stated that staff would like to implement this initiative in a controlled, focused area which would also limit revenue impacts. He stated that some development could occur on its own, citing the conception of the Platform project. Perry questioned if the city could use incentivization to update existing buildings such as the IC Penny building. Wolters stated that parking limitations and fragmented property investment were two of the considerations which lead to this proposal. 6. Economic Development Report & Permitting Update Wolters stated that staff has fallen behind on processing single family residential home permits. He stated that allowing overtime has helped to bridge the gaps in Civil Engineering's workload. More personal contact (rather than corresponding via formal comments letters) with developers has lead to a reduction in permit holds. Wolters stated Trader Joes is looking for a new south county location in Kent and are looking at the Lake Meridian Shopping Center; as well as Covington (a location where some people view retail as being saturated). The city is looking at ways to raise attention for properties along the Benson. Wolters stated that Economic Development Manager Kurt Hanson will attend a conference in Coeur D' Alene Idaho in an effort to expand our connections and later in September Hanson will attend a convention in San Diego; as Kent is taking a more active approach to market Kent. Currently, the biggest project in the Valley is the Boeing Space Center Stryker project which will consist of an 810,000 SF distribution center. The Defco property project is moving forward despite some obstacles. Staff will be working with the developer in a variety of ways to ensure that this becomes a model project. Adiournment Committee Chair Perry adjourned the meeting at 6:37 p.m. Pamela Mottram, Secretary Economic & Community Development Committee PIAPlanningAECDCA2013\MlnutesA8-12-13_Mln.doc ECDC Minutes August 12,2013 Page 2 of 2