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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Economic and Community Development - 09/08/2014 (3) 4' KENT ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 08, 2014 Committee Members Committee Chair Bill Boyce, Dennis Higgins, and Jim Berrios. Boyce called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm. 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Changes to the Agenda 4. Approval of Minutes Higgins Moved and Berrios Seconded a Motion to approve the Minutes of August 11, 2014. Motion PASSED 3-0. S. Recreational Mariivana Zoning Regulations Fred Satterstrom, Planning Director, advised that a moratorium on recreational marijuana land uses in Kent was initiated in November, 2013 and extended in May, 2014. The issue was passed to the Land Use and Planning Board (LUPB) to address land use impact issues of production, processing and retail sales of recreational marijuana. The LUPB held workshops in May 2014 and a Public Hearing on June 23, 2014, where the Board voted to disallow production, processing, and retail sales of recreational marijuana. Satterstrom described Production as the growing operation of marijuana; Processing as the method used to process marijuana from raw and resourced natural materials than dispensed to retailers. The LUPB discussed the following options when making a decision regarding production and processing: A. Not allow it in any zoning district. B. Allow only in the M-3 zone, heavy industrial zone, north of downtown and away from protected land uses such as churches, schools, parks, etc. C. Allow only in any Manufacturing zone, MI-M3. CM-1, and CM-2. Some of these areas are within 1000 feet of the protected land use areas. The LUPB discussed the following options when making a decision regarding retail sales: A. Not allow it in any zone. B. Allow in only Gateway commercial zone, Gowe. C. Allow only in zone CM-2, South Central D. Allow only in zone MI-C, 1801h / West Valley, 2121h / West Valley, and 2281h / West Valley. Satterstrom stated that Auburn and Federal Way have moratoriums in place. Covington, Des Moines, Renton, and Tukwila, as well as King County, provided zoning to some extent to allow production, processing, and retail sales of recreational marijuana. SeaTac voted to not allow production, processing, or retail sales of recreational marijuana. ECDC Minutes September 08, 2014 Page 1 of 3 David Galazin, Assistant Civil Attorney, spoke about how the LUPB approached and viewed recreational marijuana. The Board was unanimous in favor of disallowing retail sales in any zoning district. Production and processing were discussed in tandem as applicants who apply for these licenses are generally applying for both. Many applicants would like to grow marijuana and process it themselves. Some Board members voiced support to allow production and processing within the M-3 Zoning District. Galazin advised that the City of Fife adopted a zoning ordinance banning recreational marijuana production, processing, and retail sales in all zoning districts. Fife was then sued by a potential applicant. The attorney general's office concluded that nothing in state law pre-empts the city from exercising their zoning authority. Zoning is an inherent authority that the legislative body possesses and zoning cannot be implemented by initiative. Galazin suggested not passing any more moratoriums for the purpose of information gathering as the time the City Attorney's staff has already expended totals about 170 hours on the medical marijuana issue and half that amount of time on recreational marijuana. Higgins spoke in favor of allowing recreational marijuana in Kent. He stated that 56% of Washington's population voted in favor of initiative 502 for recreational marijuana and feels that the 120,000 people of Kent shouldn't have to go to other cities to obtain their marijuana. Higgins advised that state legislators will not share marijuana tax revenue with cities that ban marijuana and there will be an increased enforcement cost of having a ban. Galazin confirmed that if Kent approves businesses to produce and process marijuana and there are some businesses that violate the Liquor Control Board (LCB) permit, it is illegal without a state license. Satterstrom stated that the M-3 zone allows a wide variety of manufacturing uses including; storage, steel product manufacturing, hazardous waste recycling, and trucking. Galazin advised that the state will share revenue with cities that have retail stores. Boyce and Berrios spoke in opposition to allowing production, processing, and retail sales of recreational marijuana in Kent as there are too many unknowns with the state and with potential impacts related to odor, safety, and crime issues. Higgins supported recreational marijuana in the M-3 and MI-C zoning districts. Berrios MOVED and Boyce SECONDED a motion to recommend APPROVAL of the Land Use and Planning Board decision to disallow production, processing and retail sales of recreational marijuana in all zoning districts of Kent. Motion PASSED 2-1 with Higgins Opposed. 6. Comprehensive Plan Update Guidance Principles Charlene Anderson, Planning Manager, advised she is seeking City Council approval of the Planning Principles which guides the Comprehensive Plan Update (CPA). The vision was taken from the City Council's Strategic Plan assumed to be valid until 2030. The CPA is due by June 30, 2015. Anderson described several Planning principles related to: growth patterns; vibrant neighborhoods and job centers; transportation growth; public facilities and services; housing for all income levels; urban design; investing in human services essential to growth, vitality, and health; Economic development to enrich neighborhoods, and protect natural resources; promote responsible stewardship of parks; provide open spaces and recreational opportunities, implement historic preservation; and provide a permit process that is fair, timely, efficient, and predictable, and include community involvement in developing and amending plans and regulatory actions. ECDC Minutes September 08, 2014 Page 2 of 3 Higgins MOVED and Berrios SECONDED a Motion to recommend approval of the vision and framework guidance to be used for the update of the City's Comprehensive Plan Update. Motion PASSED 3-0. 7. Sound Transit Update Charlene Anderson, Planning Manager, gave an update on the Sound Transit stating that they are currently doing an internal review of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Notifications for property owners are scheduled for an October/November timeframe with issuance of the draft EIS by the end of the year. The EIS will include an analysis of site locations. Informational Only S. Urban Land Institute Technical Panel Charlene Anderson, Planning Manager, spoke about the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Technical Panel. Anderson advised that the ULI Technical Panel was hired to look at sites related to possible Lightrail Station locations. Staff will conduct a tour of the area sites and hold a dinner with the panel on September 09, 2014. Informational Only 9. 2014 ECD Work Plan Progress Report Ben Wolters, Economic and Community Development Director, introduced the 2014 Economic and Community Development (ECD) Work Plan Progress. Fred Satterstrom, Planning Director, advised that the Work Program was originally introduced in February, 2014 (see Staff Report, pg.41). Satterstrom spoke about complete projects and about projects that are currently underway. Satterstrom estimated that 70% of Staff hours went into processing permits. From the beginning of the year through August, 2,538 permits were processed with a total building evaluation of $189,000,000. Wolters stated that there are a variety of ongoing projects which include Economic Development and improvement of the permitting system. Wolters touched on Public Disclosure fulfillment processes and advised that there will be discussions on how to make the process more efficient and cost effective by using the time and resources available. Wolters spoke about projects that weren't under the regional program that ECD took part in. These projects include; the marijuana zoning, Trader Joes recruitment, Lake Meridian Shopping Center, and the development of KIVA, the city's tracking permit software, to provide greater usability for the Code Enforcement Officers. Wolters also addressed Code Enforcement signage issues. Informational Only 10. Economic Development Report Update No Report Given Adiournment Chair Boyce adjourned the meeting at 6:32 p.m. Pamela Mottram, Secretary Economic & Community Development Committee al\P:\Planning\E DC\2014\Minutes\09-08-14 Min.docx ECDC Minutes September 08, 2014 Page 3 of 3