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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Economic and Community Development - 05/13/2013 0 T ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES May 13, 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 March 11, 2013. Motion PASSED 3-0. 2. Growing Transit Communities Action Strategies Update Planning Manager Charlene Anderson briefly introduced the difference between two projects that affect the Midway area. One is the work by Sound Transit to analyze alignments and station locations for light rail. The second is the work of the Growing Transit Communities Partnership (GTCP) which is engaged in determining appropriate strategies for building communities around station locations for mass transit. Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) Planner Michael Hubner stated that the GTCP is a grant- funded effort through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Federal Department of Transportation (DOT), and Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Hubner stated that PSRC received a five-million dollar grant in 2010 to undertake a 3-year work program focusing specifically on transit-oriented development and communities around light rail stations. The opportunity here is to build those communities around the $15 billion investments being made in light rail, bus rapid transit and commuter rail investments. Hubner spoke about the Regional Equity Network (REN), an effort to elevate the profile of equity and fairness by building a regional coalition of nonprofits and governmental agencies to elevate the issues of equity regionally, identify major community needs, and empower local community groups through a small grants program. Hubner mentioned the 'Draft Growing Transit Communities Strategy' (DGTCS) report which has just been released, and encouraged comments during the public comment period which ends on June 7, 2013. The final document is targeted for completion in July, 2013 with public outreach and implementation of the strategies beginning in August, 2013. Hubner spoke about an analysis by the REN to evaluate access to opportunities and stated the Oversight Committee is making a series of recommendations to address inequities in access to opportunities throughout the region. Hubner spoke about recommendations made by the GTCP on strategies for attracting growth, providing housing choices, and access to opportunities. He described 24 strategies and their corresponding goals within the DGTCS. Hubner mentioned a Regional Compact, described as a 'statement of commitment and support for next steps within whatever form or with whatever resources are available that are appropriate to each jurisdiction'. Signatories of the compact would continue to engage in the effort and be part of an advisory group that would steer the work of the PSRC. Hubner stated Kent would be asked to consider in their work program a menu of best practices and approaches from the DGTCS report that would be the most applicable in Kent, implement those practices, and work with the GTCP to document the practices as part of regional monitoring of successes. The regional 'Transportation 2040' plan will include recommendations from the DGTCS report. The PSRC is discussing station area planned implementation grants to provide cities with some resources that could, for example, enable Kent to implement portions of the Envision Midway ECDC Minutes May 13,2013 Pagel of Plan. The regional council already provides tools and technical assistance and is fully armed for regional partnerships. Upon a request from Ranninger for clarification, Hubner stated that he would provide Kent City Council with a narrative and slide presentation applicable to Kent regarding Growing Transit Communities Action Strategies. Informational Only 3. 2012 Building & Fire Codes Adoption Building Official Bob Hutchinson stated that this item relates to the adoption and amendment of the 2012 additions of the Fire, Building and other related codes according to the State Building Code Act. The Act determines which codes will be in effect statewide, requires cities and counties to enforce those codes, empowers the State Building Code Council to enact amendments to those codes, and narrowly limits the authority of cities to amend them. Hutchinson stated that the code editions include statewide amendments incorporated in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) which takes affect July I". The WAC adopts the International Energy Conservation Code with a number of statewide amendments. Most of the other changes from the 2009 editions are relatively minor in impact as are most of the statewide amendments. The two proposed ordinances adopt the fire code with amendments and adopt new editions for the building, residential, mechanical, energy, and plumbing codes along with local amendments. The local amendments primarily provide for administration of the code and carry over provisions from previous editions. One amendment allows for an extra story of height for apartment buildings, residential condos, and hotels. The proposed ordinance does not adopt the requirement (from the 2009 editions) that allows local jurisdictions to require fire sprinklers in new single family homes. Fire Marshal Jon Napier stated that a fair amount of code amendments are administrative in nature. Napier stated that after considering how the fire codes impact the development community, the 7000 square foot fire alarm requirement was eliminated which means the base fire code would not require smoke alarm systems to be installed in all buildings but rather just in specific buildings that have life safety hazards/issues, such as apartments, daycares, or institutional occupancies. There are sprinkler systems in all buildings. Napier stated that the code was modified in order to provide flexibility for access in developments. Some of the fire lane requirements have been modified to be less prescriptive on where they are set next to a building, and allows Fire to work with the applicant to find the best route around a building. Code language has been clarified in the areas of water supply. Committee member Boyce MOVED and Committee member Ranniger SECONDED a Motion to recommend adoption of the two ordinances amending various sections of Chapters 13.01 and 14.01 of Kent City Code to adopt the 2012 editions of the International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Energy Conservation and Fire Codes, and Uniform Plumbing Code, together with the City's local amendments to those codes as depicted in these ordinances, to revise Section 14.08.020 to refer to the newly adopted codes, and to make other housekeeping amendments. Motion PASSED 3-0. 4. Neiahborhood Urban Centers Recommendation for Next Steps Planning Manager Charlene Anderson spoke about the research staff undertook related to the viability of corner stores, the analysis that staff conducted related to walkability, and the public outreach meetings that were held where input was received from the business community, the private sector, and the community residents. Staff received a mix of responses with respect to corner stores, including concerns related to congestion, trash, all night party noise, pulling unknown elements into neighborhoods and graffiti. The community said they would prefer community centers rather than corner stores in each of their neighborhoods and that perhaps those community centers could be used for a combination of uses. The community stated that they would like infrastructure improvements first, to be able to walk to existing commercial areas, and that they wanted neighborhood events and interaction. ECDC Minutes May 13,2013 Page 2 of 4 Anderson stated that the Committee adopted planning principles in November, 2012 for moving the project forward. Staff's walkability analysis indicated that Kent's walk score was 37 out of 100, meaning that Kent was auto dependent. Staff reviewed the goals and policies in the comprehensive plan, stating most are supportive of place-making, pedestrian orientation and a multimodal transportation systems approach that are required for corner stores. One policy to "limit conversion of residential to commercial" will need to be changed or reconfirmed if Kent wants to add additional commercial areas to the comprehensive plan designations. Staff created a list of potential regulations for single corner stores as well as for creating additional nodes of commercial related to the size of the lot, building size, how the uses are going to be allowed, what parking might be required, separation requirements from other commercial areas, hours of operation and design review. Anderson stated that staff's research indicates that existing commercial areas need to be intensified not necessarily enlarged, verifying what the community was saying. When Phase II of the Economic Development Strategy and Analysis is completed, strategic investments and recruitment will be performed based on that analysis. Anderson stated that the City's efforts could concentrate on a few strategic areas, such as Downtown, East or West Hills, before creating additional commercial areas or corner stores. There is an impending growth management update on the comprehensive plan due to be adopted by June 30, 2015. Anderson stated that staff recommends incorporating the analysis of the commercial area corner store issue into the comprehensive plan update (CPU), and asked for the Committee's support. Economic and Community Development Director Ben Wolters stated that his propensity is to focus on what Kent already has and make those areas more accessible. He stated that the Lake Meridian Shopping Center (at Kent Kangley and 132"') could be a great area for the City's efforts; it has many opportunities as well as challenges. Wolters stated that one of Kent's fundamental economic development goals is to attract a new investor who will turn the Lake Meridian Shopping Center around and make it everything it can be as an attractive destination providing more services and entertainment for the residential community there. Wolters stated that one of the core goals of looking at creating more convenient locations for the corner store was to provide easy accessibility. Research highlighted how auto-dependent the City's infrastructure is. There are things staff can do now with what already exists, to foster the Council's goal of improved connections. Between now and the work on the comprehensive plan, staff can focus some attention on immediate opportunities, then as part of the comprehensive plan look at whether the City should be planning for more concentrated centers within the residential community. Wolters stated Economic Development believes that building connections means attracting new investment in those areas. On the public side it is prioritizing infrastructure improvements to those areas, such as improved sidewalk connections or whatever the assessment identifies. Then, planning can begin in a more comprehensive way for potentially adding new areas. Ranniger stated that she would like to see a plan where some immediate progress could be made, than look at ideas for implementing a more substantive change through the comprehensive plan two years from now. Perry asked if staff could offer something similar to a cottage housing demonstration project, which once built could be duplicated in other areas. Boyce concurred with the concept of a pilot project. Wolters stated that his preference would be to identify a site where the City might have a reasonable chance at success. Staff could investigate possible sites, return to the Committee with this information, and assess whether the Committee wants to consider it for a pilot project. Perry asked that staff provide her with an action plan on how staff can make the city more walkable and provide gathering places for the communities. Wolters stated that given where he sees this project currently, his preference would be to pursue increasing and improving connectivity to Kent's current centers. Anderson stated that the Urban Land Institute recommends intensification of what currently exists so as not to dilute the viability of existing commercial development. Research and ECDC Minutes May 13,2013 Page 3 of 4 feedback from the private sector and developers are saying something similar by stating create connectivity first before expanding existing commercial. Wolters stated that staff would return to the Committee with an outline of what a plan or strategy would look like for making the community more walkable, with some short-, medium- and long-term timelines and recommendations. The outline may include elements from the options under discussion as well as elements that have been informed by this conversation with the Committee. S. LEAN Initiative Planning Director Fred Satterstrom stated that Economic and Community Development is the first department in Kent to go through the LEAN exercise, which refers to working leaner or more efficiently. It is an exercise gleaned from a similar exercise employed by Toyota who took people off the manufacturing floor, asking them how the process, can be improved, and how corners can be cut without sacrificing quality. LEAN is a philosophy that gives a continuous improvement and looks at efficiencies. It differs from other quality management processes in that LEAN involves the people who are directly involved in doing the work. Satterstrom stated that ECD held a 5-day workshop where they chose to look at two permits -- a new commercial building and civil construction. These permit types to some extent reach all the different divisions in the permitting process. The workshop was sponsored by the Human Resources Department Director. Permit staff was involved and the workshop was facilitated by Gordy Anderson from Impact Washington who led ECD through looking at the permit process. Satterstrom stated that the current permitting process was mapped out and the future process subsequently mapped out. Small group discussions were held with staff regarding the permitting process and consideration on possible process changes. Satterstrom stated that a significant outcome was that the timelines for new commercial building permits was reduced from 9 to 4.5 weeks. Adiournment Committee Chair Perry adjourned the meeting at 7:00 p.m. Pamela Mottram, Secretary Economic & Community Development Committee PIAPlanningAECDC\20]3AMlnutesVCO-EE-13_Mln.doc ECDC Minutes May 13,2013 Page 4 of 4