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HomeMy WebLinkAbout929RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION of the City Council of the City of Kent, Washington, adopting Kent's Element of the 1982-84 King County Plan for Community Development under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 WHEREAS, the United States Congress in 1974 en- acted public law 93-383, commonly called the "Housing and Development Act of 1974" and hereinafter called "the Act", and WHEREAS, the primary objective of the Act is "the development of viable urban communities, by providing de- cent housing and suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income'', and WHEREAS, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Devel- opment is authorized by the Act to make grants to units of general local government to help finance community devel- opment programs approved in accordance with the provisions of the Act, and WHEREAS, the City of Kent is a unit of general local government which is entitled to grant monies for some of its proposed programs in the areas of housing assistance and community development, and WHEREAS, the City of Kent has provided its citizens with adequate information relative to the funds available and programs fundable under the Act, and has provided citi- zens with an adequate opportunity to participate in the de- velopment of grant applications, and has held numerous pub- lic hearings to obtain the view of citizens on community development and on housing needs, and WHEREAS, it has been determined that the City of Kent is entitled to certain monies commonly referred to as 11 POPULATION money 11 and may be entitled to other monies com- manly referred to as ''NEEDS and INTERJURISDICTIONAL money", and WHEREAS, at a regular public meeting of the Kent City Council on June 15, 1981, Kent's Element of the 1982- 1984 King County Plan for Community Development was final- ized for submission to King County, NOW, THEREFORE THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENT, WASHINGTON, DO HEREBY RESOLVE: Section 1. That Kent's Element of the 1982-1984 King County Plan for Community Development, attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and incorporated herein by reference be and the same is hereby adopted. PASSED at a Regular Meeting of the Kent City Council this 15th day of June, 1981. I} _ . //;~fiee .;/~, '.:::::>"' t ISABEL HOGAN, YOR ATTEST: ROVED AS TO FORM: I hereby certify that this is a true copy of Reso- lution No. 0/9?9 , passed by the City Council of the City of Kent, Washington, the 15th day of June, 1981. ~~~ (SEAL) B~TTY GRAY, PUTY CITY CLERK - 2 - EXHIBIT "A 11 CITY OF KENT Kent's Element of the 1982-1984 King County Plan for Community Development General Description of Land Usage Existirg predo!Tlinantly as an agricultural area for many years, the City of Kent, incorporated in 1890, today is an industrial city, rapidly acquiring the urban character of many other communities in the Puget Sound Region. Located in the upper Green River Valley, south of Renton and north of Auburn, the city is approximately seventeen square miles (1 0,900 acres) in size. From 1960 until recently, the City's residential growth has been oriented exclusively to the hills that flank the Valley Floor and the Central Business District. Over 1,400 acres are utilized for residential purposes with single-family units dominating West Hill. The majority of Kent's multi-family units are located on the Valley Floor and on the East HilL . Industrial use covers some 1, 729 acres and is centered primarily on the Valley Floor. Much of the industrial activity has been warehousing, attracted by the flat valley area traversed by three trans-continental railroads. However, manufacturing is also an important facet of Kent's industrial activity. Commercial use currently covers some 688 acres and is expanding in the East Hill plateau area of the city. Agriculture as a viable industrial operation has nearly ceased, although good farmland is still available. The present agriculture activities cover 800 acres. Less than 5,000 acres of the city exist as vacant land. Housir·Jt Stock The 1981 Washirgton State population forecast shows that there are approximately 11,209 housing units within the Kent corporate limits. Over 43% of these are sif€'le-family units, over 51% are multi-family units, and 6% are mobile homes. The trend is toward an increase in the number and percentage of multi-family units, e~ecially on the Valley Floor and East Hill areas. Single-family development is expected to continue on the hillsides as the necessary utilities and public services become available. It is expected that between 1980 and 1990, 300 acres of new residential development will be built on the Valley Floor. The age of the housing stock in the Kent area varies considerably. Almost 20% of the units were built prior to 1949, while 40% were built between 1960 and 1970. The stock is in fairly good condition and is well maintained by owners. Those homes that are in the poorest condition are generally located in areas undergoing transition to industrial or commercial uses, e~ecially on the Valley Floor. Housing values are slightly higher than the County median. Household size is declining and the vacancy rate is estimated to be 11% in the preliminary 1980 U.S. Census. General Population Profile Kent's current population is estimated as 23,400 persons. After being stable for a number of years, a steady increase in population has taken place since 1976. Less than -1- 796 of the incorporated population are ethnic/racial minorities with no apparent geographical concentration within the city. Median income in the Kent area is slightly higher than the County wide median. Figuratively speaki~, the West Hill area, 3396 of the population of Kent, is a middle to high income section. East Hill, with 3796 of the population, is a moderate to middle . income section and the Valley Floor residents, comprising 2996 of the population, are principally low and moderate income people. Rents for new multi-family units are in the moderate ra~e. General Community Issues Growth and new development within Kent and surrounding unincorporated areas is placing continued pressure on the City's public services, facilities and utilities. As needs for open space, parks and recreation service; safe and convenient circulation systems; water, sewer, storm drainage, and other utilities; housi~, social services and neighborhood preservation; and public safety systems increases, so does the strain on Kent's resources. It is the older central area of Kent in which these community development issues are most critical. The City of Kent has designated a 525 acre area comprised of four of the oldest residential and comm~rcial neighborhoods in Kent as the strategy area of its Housing and Community Development Program. 3,094 persons reside within this area of which most are low and moderate income and approximately 4096 are senior citizens. Physical decline is considered the major problem within the strategy area.. It is estimated that 2596 of the single-family dwelli~s are classified as deteriorated. Specific problems in the strategy area. include: Physical decline of the Central Business District's commercial buildings, sidewalks, alleys and street surfaces. Economic decline of the Central Business District. Many of the area's sewers are old and need replacement. Inadequate storm drainage systems are present in the neighborhoods; this also causes hazardous pedestrian and auto circulation. The lack or the decline of existing curbs and sidewalks in neighborhoods intensifies unsafe pedestrian circulation. Noise pollution and unkept areas are present along the railroad lines. Improper garbage storage and lack of alleys has created a collection of clutter and unsanitary conditions. Many of the houses in the area are in need of repair or rehabilitation. Some existing public facilities and services in the Target Area are becoming inadequate as Kent is further developed. As the Valley Floor is developed, open space and recreation needs become more critical for these residents. -2- Pedestrian safety and access problems into and within the Central Business District increase with increased auto-truck volumes. Senior citizens' demands for services have increased faster than the physical facilities which house the services. Existirg Community Development Plan Concepts In accordance with statutory objectives contained in the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, the City of Kent has adol!l.€d the following policy statements as guidelines for development of Block Grant projects: Community Development projects are to be developed so as to give maximum feasible priority to activities which will principally benefit low or moderate income families. Community Development projects should also be developed to provide activities which aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight. Finally, Community Development projects should also propose activities designed to meet other urgent community development needs. Supportive Goals, Objectives and Policies The following goals, objectives and policies are found in the City of Kent's City-Wide Comprehensive Plan, Central Business District Plan, and the Valley Floor Plan. The represent those policy statements most relevant to Kent's Housing &: Community Development Block Grant Program. NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION: HOUSING&: HUMAN RESOURCES Comprehensive Plan-Housing Element Goall: Objective 1: Actively encourage the retention and rehabilitation of existing residential neighborhoods on and adjacent to the Valley Floor, especially those within and around the Central Business District core. Policy 1: Undertake a detailed neighborhood analysis of all existing residential neighborhoods to determine their potential for rehabilitation and to identify strategies for such rehabilitation. Policy 2: Utilize regulatory measures (e.g. zoning) to provide both interim protection to existing residential neighborhoods which will not be retained, and to protect and expand the neighborhoods to be preserved. Policy 3: Through development of neighborhood plans, assure the provision of adequate utility services to these neighborhoods (e.g. water, sanitary sewers, storm drainage, streets, lighting, power, etc.). -3- Policy 4: Policy 5: Goal 3: Ensure that the needed community services (e.g. library facilities, medical services, governmental services, neighborhood shopping opportunities, etc.) are easily accessible by neighborhood residents. Ensure that rehabilitation is more economically feasible by amending the Kent Zoning Code and other applicable regulatory measures to permit a high density of residential development, especially around the Central Business District core. Objective 1: Encourage the maintenance and rehabilitation of existing housi~ units. Policy 1: Sponsor a housing rehabilitation program. Policy 2: Provide information on home maintenance and rehabilitation to homeowners. Policy 3: Maintain a strong code enforcement program. Policy 4: Support legislation and programs which provide incentives for maintaining homes in good condition. Objective 2: Goal 4: Policy 1: Emphasize P. U.D. developments where densities and dwelling types are mixed. Policy 2: Provide for mobile home parks. Policy 3: Review current regulations (e.g. zoni~, building, fire codes) to insure that the associated increased development costs are minimized. Policy 4: Determine what incentives could be provided to encourage new construction of units. Policy 5: Provide for assisted housing (e.g., for the elderly, low income, etc.). Objective 1: Through neighborhood planning, assure an adequate level of community/public services for residential areas. Policy 1: Provide adequate utility services to all residential areas. Policy 2: Provide the environmental health services necessary to maintain the residential environment. Policy 3: Promote needed community services and facilities such as churches, daycare centers, libraries, recreation and leisure activities, etc. -4- Goal 1: Policy 4: Where necessary, establish buffers (e.g., open space, fencing, extensive landscaping, etc.) between existing residential areas and adjacent non-residential areas and/or uses. Policy 5: Promote and encourage consolidation and rerouting of the railroad lines that run through the downtown core. Valley Floor Plan -Housing Element Objective 1: Goal 2: Policy 2: Ensure that the needed community services are easily accessible to neighborhood residents. Objective 1: Policy 2: Permit and encourage multi-family residential development where necessary services are available. Policy 5: Provide for assisted housing (e.g., for the elderly, low income, etc.} Central Business District Plan-Housing Element Overall Goal: Acknowledge the importance of creating and maintaining sound, viable, residential neighborhoods in and around the Central Business District. Goall: Encourage the redevelopment and retention of residential areas in and around the Central Business District. Objective 1: Policy 1: Encourage residential development through positive zoni~ actions. Policy 2: Encourage the mixing of residential and commercial and/or office uses when appropriate. Policy 4: Improve all public rights-of-way and utility services as needed. Objective 2: Discourage and prohibit where possible, uses incompatible with residential activities from locating in the residential areas. Policy 1: Appropriately zone the primary residential areas in and around the Central Business District so that this protection is provided. -5- Goal 2: Objective 1: Goal 3: Policy 1: Require the upgradi~ of all residential units to the standards of the Uniform Building Code. Policy 2: Take all legal steps necessary to eliminate buildings not brought up to codes within a specified period of time. Policy 3: Encourage rehabilitation of existing housing (rather than new construction) where economically feasible. Objective 1: Provide a residential area in and around the Central Business District which is accessible and attractive to a variety of people. Goall: Policy 1: Encourage a variety of housi~ types. Policy 2: Support State, Regional, and Federal housing programs which provide housi~ assistance to various income groups. Policy 3: Permit flexible innovative development standards which, while protecti~ the public interest, permit a variety of building types. Policy 4: Provide City services as required and encourage the provision of needed private services. Policy 6: The City should investigate and promote incentives for development of housi~ in the Central Business District. CIRCULATION Comprehensive Plan-Circulation Element Objective 1: Provide adequate trafficways for both local and through traffic, separating the systems when possible. Goal 1: Policy 2: Encourage through-routes outside residential areas and discourage through-traffic routes in residential areas. Valley Floor Plan-Circulation Element Objective 1: Policy 1: Discourage through-traffic routes in residential areas. Policy 2: Establish an advisory truck route. -6- Goal3: Goal 2: Assure safe and convenient pedestrian movement within the Valley Floor of Kent. Central Business District Plan -Circulation Element Provide for safe, efficient pedestrian movements into and within the Central Business District. Objective 1: Policy 1: Provide pedestrian trafficways in the "convenience" and "shoppi~ goods" retail trade areas. Policy 2: Provide pedestrian linkages between common Central Business District activities and between the Central Business District and adjacent areas. OPEN SPACE Comprehensive Plan -Open Space Element Waterways -Goal 1: Objective 5: Promote both private and public recreational usage along waterways. Policy: Promote easements for hikers and non-motorized vehicles. Policy: Provide rest areas along waterways. Open Space -Goal 1: Objective 1: Goal 4: Policy 2: Encourage a network of corridors, paths and routes throughout the City. Valley Floor Plan -Economic Development Element Objective 1: Goal 3: Policy 2: Preserve open spaces and public -access when permitting any development along the Green River. Central Business District Plan-Land Use Element Objective 1: Policy 2: Preserve and develop multi-use park type green belts and open space around the fringes of and within the Central Business District. -7- ECONOMIC D!WELOPMENT Central Business District Plan-Economic Element Goall: Objective 2: Citizen Participation Create an atmosphere conducive to developing and maintaining a viable retail trade function which provides the goods and services required by the area residents, and which attracts shoppers from the larger region. Encourage the continuation of the "neighborhood convenience center" function. Development of City of Kent city-wide plans generally involves a citizen committee and/or citizen meetings. Adoption of plans involves advertised public hearings before the Kent Planning Commission and the Kent City Council (for block grant citizen participation see Citizen Participation under the mock Grant heading). THE BLOCK GRANT Statement of Needs Kent's Block Grant Target Area, also referred to as Kent's Neighborhood Strategy Area, consists of the Central Business District and three surrounding neighborhoods. Each of these areas has specific needs to be addressed through Kent's Block Grant Program. North Park Neighborhood This low-moderate income neighborhood located directly north of the Central Business District has a population of around 504; 30-40% of the population are senior citizens. 4.596 of the neighborhood population are racial/ethnic minorities. 1. Railroad lines running parallel to North First Avenue adds a certain degree of noise pollution, is a safety hazard, and the unkept areas along the tracks create an eyesore. 2. Areas just north of Bowen Avenue and west of North Fifth Avenue are zoned for industry and no buffer areas exist between the two sections. There is a need for protection from the adverse affects of industrial development of these areas; a need for adequate buffering between residential and industrial properties, and a need for restricting industrial access through the neighborhood. 3. Because of lack of streets running east/west, South Fourth Avenue and South Fifth Avenue are isolated, and need, in some manner, to be connected to the rest of the neighborhood. Improved pedestrian linlmges are needed between the neighborhood and Memorial Park, Commons Playfield, and across the railroad tracks to the Central Business District businesses and services. -8- 4. Some type of improved pedestrian walkways are needed. Roadside ditches force people to walk on the roadway and prevent easy pedestrian travel and present a danger to children. · 5. The storm sewer system does not adequately drain the storm waters. Ponding occurs at street intersections and along the streets; this adversely impacts auto circulation and safety, and pedestrian safety. 6. Lack of curbs and sidewalks, and poorly surfaced streets add to the circulation safety problems and the general unkept atmosphere that prevails in the neighborhood. 7. The percentage of abandoned houses and the general quality of housing conditions show that the worst housing conditions of the strategy area's three neighborhoods are in North Park. South of Willis Neighborhood This area, which contains some of the oldest housing in Kent, is located south of the Central Business District. It has a population of 554; 30-40% of the population is over 65. 1. Railroad lines represent the east and west boundaries of the neighborhood while adding a certain degree of noise pollution and safety concems. 2. Deteriorated houses need continued minor housing repair (rehabilitation), in order to preserve this low and moderate income neighborhood which has many of the City's historic homes. 3. Multi-unit zoning has encouraged the construction of apartment buildings throughout the predominantly single-family neighborhood. Older apartment buildings are generally low income and poorly maintained. Existing single-family homes need protection from impacts of multi-family housing and zoning. 4. Lack of alleys in the neighborhood has led to the collection of old automobiles, boats and trailers in front yards. 5. Improper garbage storage has led to unsanitary conditions and added to a general unkept condition of the neighborhood. 6. Lack of curbs, poor streets, and deteriorating patches of sidewalk add to the general unkept atmosphere that prevails in the neighborhood and intensifies the problem of hazardous pedestrian access within the neighborhood. 7. Surrounding industrial development has caused traffic safety problems. The neighborhood has no buffering at its boundaries with the industrial area. Industrial traffic through the neighborhood causes noise pollution and contributes to hazardous pedestrian and auto circulation. There is a need to mitigate these impacts, and to protect the neighborhood from impacts from development of adjacent adjacent undeveloped properties that are zoned for higher intensity uses. 8. As surrounding land is developed, park and open space needs increase for this neighborhood. One example is the need to maintain access to the Green River. -9- 9. Lack of a storm drainage system causes standing water over long periods of time during winter months, causing hazardous auto and pedestrian circulation. 10. Some of the sanitary sewers are old and need replacement. 11. Pedestrian access from the neighborhood into the Central Business District needs to be improved. Lower East Hill This moderate income neighborhood was built mainly during the 1920's and is located northeast from the downtown core area. It has a population of 922. 1. A definite drainage problem exists in the neighborhood with inadequate storm drains unable to handle the rainwater and waste that originates from various underground springs throughout the neighborhood. 2. Isolated deteriorating houses have created an eyesore, discouraging other homeowners from· maintaining their homes. 3. Lack of alleys in the neighborhood has led to a collection of trailers, boats and other vehicles in front of houses, cluttering up front yards. 4. Some sanitary sewers are in poor condition and need replacement. 5. Lack of curbs, poor streets, and deteriorating patches of sidewalk add to a pedestrian safety problem and to the unkept atmosphere that prevails in various parts of the Lower East Hill neighborhood. 6. Considerable non-residential traffic is using the neighborhood streets as thorough! ares. 7. Since there is no park within the neighborhood, there is a need for improved access to the neighboring recreational areas of Mill Creek/Canyon and Memorial Park, and to the Central Business District businesses and services. Central Business District/Environs This (mixed) area is bounded on the north by Smith Street, on the south by Willis Street, on the west by the Valley Freeway and on the east by North Central. It has a population of 1,114, 5% are ethnic/racial minorities. Portions of the downtown and its mixture of houses and apartments existed prior to the 1900's with much of the "modern" commercial buildings being developed from 1904 to 1920 and from 1965 to 1975. First Avenue, south from East Smith Street to Saar Street, was the first downtown core of Kent. This area, now declining, was prominent from 1905 to 1921 before Meeker Street became more important as a commercial center. 1. There is a need for considerable street and sidewalk repairs or replacements. For example, minor street and sidewalk repair is needed along Meeker Street; sidewalk repair and replacement and street paving is needed on First Avenue South, from Titus to Gowe Streets. -10- 2. Many of the houses in this area are in need of housing repair or rehabilitation. A large portion of these residents are low nnd moderate income. There is a need for preservation and retention of existing multi-family housing, and a need for the encouragement of new housing development. 3. Senior citizens and other pedestrians need to move safely through the commercial/residential areas of the Central Business District. More wheelchair ramps are one type of improvement still needed; there is a need for better separation of auto and pedestrian traffic, and improved routes to the surrounding neighborhoods to improve the safety of pedestrian access. 4. There are several alleys within the Central Business District that are blighted and could be converted into pedestrian pathways within the Central Business District. 5. There is an overriding mandate to redesign the Central Business District into a pedestrian-oriented commercial district and thereby make the retail services more accessible to the low and moderate income and elderly residents of the surrounding residential areas. 6. There is a growing need for expanded public and commercial facilities and services in this area to be conveniently located, especially needed are expanded facilities for senior citizens. 7. New retail and commercial businesses need to be encouraged to locate within the Central Business District for the purposes of economic development and the provision of job opportunities. Block Grant Funding Strategies/Priorities To be funded as a part of Kent's Block Grant Program, projects should address one or more of the following objective categories: Preservation and expansion of housing stock in and around the Central Business District. Preservation and revitalization of neighborhoods close to the Central Business District. Preservation and revitalization of Kent's Central Business District. Provision of supporting human cultural and environmental resources (services and facilities) within Kent's Block Grant Strategy Area. The following funding priorities will apply to the development of Kent's yearly block grant programs. Health and safety needs. Physical and capital improvement needs. Preservation and enhancement of environmental quality of the Block Grant Target Area (visual. historic, cultural and natural environments). -11- Other considerations for development of Keut's Block Grant Program are the project's feasibility, urgency, timeliness, ability to benefit a greater number of low and moderate income citizens of Kent, compliance with Kent's Comprehensive Plan, and ability to address more than one of Kent's Housing & Community Development objectives. Citizen Participation Kent has developed a Housing and Community Development Citizen Review Committee (CRC) to help develop and prioritize projects. The Citizen Participation process simply gives affected citizens direct input into the project generation phase of the program. The Citizen Participation process also includes aspects of public information and opportunities for participation in planning activities and decision-making. The Citizen Review Committee will be composed of residents of the Neighborhood Strategy Area (NSA) who wish to participate in ongoing planning activities. The Committee will include a Planning Commission member for continuity and liaison between the Citizen Review Committee and Planning Commission. CRC activities should be integrated with aspects of the NSA planning studies which will include data collection, review, analysis, policy and goal formulation, project proposal development and research for additional funding sources. The extent of the participation by CRC members in these activities will depend upon their skills, expertise, interests and time. The primary purpose of the CRC will be to receive direct input from low and moderate income citizens or NSA residents throughout the Block Grant Program planning process. Information on citizen meetings and workshops is pamphleted through the Block Grant NSA Area and is advertised in the local newspaper. A series of public hearings before the Council are held before projects are approved as a part of Kent's Housing & Community Development Program. The Housing & Community Development Citizen Review Committee will be deactivated from December to June during which time the Planning Department may conduct technical monitorif€ of ongoing projects and reporting of Housing & Community Development activity participants. The CRC will be reactivated when direct citizen involvement is a critical need and at the time Kent's Block Grant Program is developed. Other Funds The City of Kent, in implementing its Housing and Community Development objectives, will continue its efforts to find and coordinate other funds. Other city funds and in-kind services will continue to be coordinated with block grant projects. Projects for downtown revitalization involving block grant funding will include other city money to spur private sector funds (LID, investments) and funds from other sources. Currently, the Downtown Core Improvements Project has been submitted for Economic Development Administration Funds. The City of Kent will continue searching, obtaining, and administering all available federal, state, and local funds to address the needs of the Kent Block Grant Strategy Area. 0266A(0006A) -12-