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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1198RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION of the City Council of the City of Kent, Washington, regarding housing, amending the City's Comprehensive Plan, by amending the Housing Element of the Plan. WHEREAS, the City Council, by Resolution 1123, evidenced a desire to achieve reduction in the density of multifamily housing developments through revision to Kent's Comprehensive Plan and zoning code; and WHEREAS, there is an increasing imbalance between multifamily and single-family housing within the City, and a lack of availability of a mix of housing options for Kent residents; and WHEREAS, the City Council is concerned with the City's ability to provide, in a timely manner, the public facilities and services necessary to support the increase in multifamily development; and WHEREAS, the City Council, by Resolution 1145, endorsed options B and c of the Planning Department's July, 1987 "Report on Multifamily Density", and directed the Planning Department, Planning Commission and Hearing Examiner to undertake actions necessary to proceed with those options including gathering input from the public on the report and options; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held Public Hearings on the multifamily density reduction on November 23, 1987, January 25, 1988 and February 29, 1988; and referred its resulting recommendation to the City Council. WHEREAS, on April 19, 1988 and June 7, 1988 the Kent Planning Committee discussed the matters related to reduction in the density of multifamily developments; and received additional public input. WHEREAS, the Council Planning Committee, on June 21, 1988, submitted to the Kent city Council its recommendations and accompanying addendum for implementing Council Resolution 1123. WHEREAS, the City Council on July 5, 1988 passed Resolution 1172 directing Planning staff to conduct a study to update the Housing Element of the city's Comprehensive Plan. WHEREAS, the City Council passed Ordinance 2788 contemporaneous to Resolution 1172, which amended the Kent city Zoning Code to achieve a reduction of multifamily residential housing by 20 percent and that City-wide graduated scale reduction referenced in that ordinance was intended to be an interim measure, to remain in effect until the completion and adoption of an area-by-area residential analysis. WHEREAS, the Planning Department staff has worked with a nine member Housing Advisory Committee for completion of the update to the comprehensive plan. WHEREAS, the Planning Department and the Housing Advisory Committee have completed the study and proposed update of the housing element of the City's Comprehensive Plan, including an area-by-area analysis of multifamily residential density for the East Hill, West Hill and Valley Floor planning areas, pursuant to the Council's direction. WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider the proposed update on January 30, 1989, at which time the Commission voted unanimously to amend the update to the Comprehensive Plan as proposed by the Housing Advisory Committee, and Planning staff; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENT, WASHINGTON DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: Section l. The City of Kent Comprehensive Plan, Housing Element, is amended as shown in "Exhibit A", attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. Section 2. The amendments to the Comprehensive Plan shall be filed with the City Clerk and in the office of the Planning Department and made available for public inspection upon request. Passed at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Kent, Washington this _!i:_ day of {7LYL{ (l-1989. I - 2 - Concurred in by the May0r of the City of Kent, this ~ day of /L/1/uJ ~ , 1989. '\;,, (/ \\~ \ -----~,~~-"---- DAN KELLEHER, MAYOR ATTEST: I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of Resolution No. (!qY , passed by the City Council of the City of Kent, Washington, the f day of tZfJ./'J____ , 1989. 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Why-is-heusiAg-re~uired-te-ee-aR-elemeRt-ef-the-~em~reheAsive-PlaA-aAd-why-is it-a-eeAeerR-ef-ureaA-~laAAers?--~em~reheRsive-~laARtAg-attem~ts-te-guide-the tetal-devele~meAt-~atterRs-ef-the-eemmuRity.--It-reeegAizes-the-iAteraetieA-ef varieus-deeisieRs-aAd-seeks-te-aehieve-eemmuRity-geals-ey-estaelishtA§ ~elieies-te-aehieve-these-geals-aRa-te-guiae-aeeisieA-makiAg.--PlaAAers-have leAg-dealt-with-aA8-tAflueAeea-heus1R§;-Rewever,-Aet-always-reeegAiziAg-the im~aet-ef-~laAs-eA-heusiAg-su~~ly,-leeatieA-aAa-eAvireAmeAtal-suitaeility. lhe-heusiAg-elemeAt-ef-the-~em~reheAsive-PlaA-ferees-the-heusiAg-issue-te-ee dealt-with-evertly.--While-~laAAtAg-eaAAet-tAflueAee-maAy-ef-the-ferees-that affeet-the-heusiAg-market-~sueh-as-taxatieA;-availaeility-ef-fiAaAetA§);-it eaA-iAflueAee-the-leeatieA-ef-heustA§;-ty~es-ef-heusiA§;-~revide-a-raAge-ef resideAttal-eAvireAmeAts-aAa-iAerease-the-livaeility-ef-resideAtial eAvireAmeAts. 4853L-3L HOUSING ELEMENT OVERVIEW The comprehensive Plan includes a Housing Element in order to incorporate citizen goals into the desian. building and preservation of attractive, livable and healthy neighborhoods, and to encourage provision of housing for all the City•s residents. The Housing Element is perhaps the most personal component of the comprehensive Plan, for it concerns the immediate environment in which City residents live and raise their families. The housing field is constantly changing, led by population demand and the private sector•s response, and modulated by public policy. A major factor in recent years has been rapid population and housing growth. Between 1970 and 1988 the city• s population doubled, from 16,000 to 32,000; the Greater Kent Area increased just as rapidly. The population growth has been led by strong regional economic forces, coupled with Kent 1 s location. The City occupies a strategic position within the region, with commuter access to employment centers from Tacoma to Seattle. The City is also a major focus of employment in its own right. Regional and local employees and their families have created a vigorous housing market in Kent. Barring major economic downturns, housing growth will continue to be strong in Kent for the foreseeable future. Rapid growth has raised concerns about the City•s ability to keeD up with increased demands on public facilities and services. It has also raised questions about the impact of growth on existing residential areas, particularly single-family neighborhoods. Ultimately these and other questions focus on the kind of residential community which Kent residents aspire to create and maintain. Along with growth, major factors contributina to the dvnamics of the local housing market are the changing nature of the population, and new responsibilities for local government in meeting housing needs. one example is the aging of the population, and the need for new approaches to housing an expanded senior population. The new needs are coupled with a retraction in federal housing assistance during the decade of the 1980s, and an emerging necessity for expanding the local role in housing assistance for residents with special needs. This Plan places maior emphasis on the following points: Retention of existing residential areas as livable and attractive neighborhoods Promotion of a community and neighborhood spirit, including a renewed emphasis on single-family housing -Recognition of the relationships between housing density and circulation, public facilities and services Emphasis on the importance of preserving the natural features of the land -Recognition of the need to provide housing opportunities for all persons in the community. While growth and the private sector will continue to lead the local housing market, this Plan Element should be used to guide growth towards the goals of City residents, to create neighborhood environments which they will be pleased to call 11 home.11 OVERALL GOAL: INCREASE 'PHE RESIDE:tl'PIAL POPULA'PION IN KEN'P, ASSURE A DECENT HOME AND SUITABLE LIVING ENVIRONMENT FOR FAMILIES DESIRING TO LIVE IN KENT. GOAL I: Preserve, aREi expaREi maintain and improve the City's existing residential neighborhoods situated clese te Recessary public facilities aftd ser\Tices. Objective 1: Actively encourage the retention and rehabilitatieR improvement of existing residential neighborhoods on aREi adjaceftt te East Hill, West Hill and the Valley Floor especially these withiR aftd areuftd the CBD cere. Policy 1: UREierta1£e a detailed Reiqhberheed aRalysis ef all existiREJ resideRtial Reiqhberheeds te determiRe their peteRtial fer rehabilitatieR aREi te ideRtify strategies fer such rehabilitatieR. Utilize regulatory measures, such as zoning, to provide both interim protection to existing residential neighborhoods which will not be retained, and to protect and improve the neighborhoods to be preserved. Policy 2: UtiliEe requlatery measures, (e.q. EeftiRq) te previae beth iRterim pretectieR te existiREJ resideRtial Reiqhberheeds which will Ret be retaiRed, aftd te protect aREi expaREi the Reiqhberheeds te be preserved. Through development of area and functional plans, assure the provision of adequate circulation and utility services for city neighborhoods, including street improvements, water, sanitary sewers, storm drainage, lighting, and power. Policy 3: 'Phreuqh develepmeftt ef Reiqhberheed plaRs, assure the prev1s1eR ef adequate utility services te these Reiqhberheeds (e.q. water, saRitary sewers, sterm draiRaqe, streets, liqhtiRq, pewer, etc.) Undertake a survey of infrastructure deficiencies and needs in established neighborhoods, and develop a oroqram for implementing needed improvements. Policy 4: Ensure that -the needed community services, (e.q. including fire, police, library facilities, medical services, qeverRmeRtal services, neighborhood shopping opportunities7 etc.) and other services are easily accessible by to neighborhood residents. Policy 5: Bftsure that rehabilitatieft is mere eceftemically feasible by ameftdiftg the Keftt Zeftiftg Cede and ether applicable regulatory measures to permit a high deftsity of residefttial development, especially areuftd the CBD cere. Protect existing single-family neighborhoods from incompatible uses and other intrusions, through open space buffers, fencing, extensive landscaping, density gradations and other appropriate means. Objective 2: !fai:Atain and improve the existing residefttial neighborhoods en the East and West Hills. Policy 1: Prepare detailed fteighberheed plans fer the east aftd west hill neighborhoods. Policy 2: Utiliae regulatory measures (e.g. aefting) to protect these neighborhoods against uses iftcempatible with residefttial development (e. g. major arterial lecatiefts, commercial and iftdustrial development, etc.) Policy 3: Phreugh development of neighborhood plans, assure the provision of adequate utility services to these neighborhoods (e.g. water, sanitary sewers, storm draiftage, streets, lighting, power, etc.) Pel icy 4 : Ensure that the needed cel\\1\\unity services ~e.g. library facilities, medical serv~ces, governmental services, neighborhood shopping eppertu:Aities etc.) are easily accessible by neighborhood residents. GOAL 2: Guide new residential development into areas where the needed services and facilities are available, and in a manner which is compatible with existing residential neighborhoods. Objective 1: Encourage new residential development on sui table areas of the Valley Floor, close to transportation corridors. Policy 1: Designate suitable areas for future residential development. Policy 2: Develop a capital improvement program fer public streets, utilities aftd facilities eft the Valley Fleer. Expand opportunities for multifamily development where feasible near commercial centers, maior transportation corridors, and major commuter transit routes. Policy 3: Review curreftt eoftift~, coftstructioft, aftd buildift~ re~ulatiofts to eftsure that flexible developmeftt staftdards are maifttaifted. Retain agricultural and rural residential opportunities. Policy 4: Permit aftd eftcoura~e medium aftd hi~h deftsity residefttial developmeftt, but oftly as the ftecessary services are available. Provide for mobile home parks and manufactured housing. Policy 5: Provide for mobile home parJts aftd subdbdsiofts. Encourage upper-story residential uses in commercial and office buildings. Policy 6: Eftcoura~e upper story residential uses ift commercial aftd office buildift~s. Objective 2: Permit new residential development on the East and West Hills as the necessary ser~:dces aftd facilities facilities and services are available. Policy 1: Develop a capital improvement pro~ram for public utilities and facilities oft East and West Hills. Protect existing single-family neighborhoods from adverse impacts of new development. Policy 2: Utiliee re~ulatory measures (e.~. eoftin~) to restrict and discoura~e d&velopment which contributes to urbaft sprawl. Designate sui table areas for future residential development. Policy 3: ~hrou~h nei~hborhood planftin~, permit medium and hi~h density residential developmeftt in areas that are compatible with existin~ low density developmeftt. Encourage development of new single-family housing, by creating neighborhood environments attractive to single-family builders and homeowners. Policy 4: Utilize regulatory measures, such as zoning, to restrict and discourage development which contributes to urban sprawl. Policy 5: Limit opportunities for multifamily development. Policy 6: Limit expansion of multifamily development in rural residential areas. Objective 3: Guide new residential growth so that it occurs in a responsible manner, consistent with neighborhood objectives. Policy 1: Limit opportunities for high-density multifamily development, where appropriate. Policy 2: Provide opportunities for low-or medium- density multifamily development in nodes and near commercial centers. Policy 3: Encourage infill development of areas already served by utili ties and transportation systems, to achieve maximum efficiency in the provision of services and preservation of natural features. Policy 4: For undeveloped areas, encouraqe densities which promote efficiency in providing needed utilities and services. Policy 5: Provide for increased single-family residential densities as a transition between more intensive and less intensive residential areas. Policy 6: Require develoDments to provide for all necessary on-site improvements, as well as their fair share of off-site improvements needed as a result of the development. Policy 7: Through enhanced development standards and other mechanisms, improve the appearance and 11 fit11 of multifamily developments within the community. Policy 8: Encourage the use of clustering, zero lot line, planned unit development and other site planning techniques to improve the quality of developments. Policy 9: Ensure adequate buffering developments where buffering mitigate an adverse impact development. between new is needed to of the new Policy 10: Promote annexation development which as a may means of impact guiding existing residential areas. GOAL 3: Assure an adequate and balanced supply of housing units offering a diversity of size, densities, age, style and cost. Objective 1: Encourage the maintenance and rehabilitation of existing housing 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: Encourage the production of a v·ariety of ne·..- dwelling units. Provide for a mixed residential community with a balance of housing types. Policy 1: Emphasiee Support P.U.D. developments Planned Unit Developments (P.U.D.s) where densities and dwelling types are mixed. Policy 2: Provide for manufactured housing and for mobile home parks. Policy 3: Review current regulations (e.g. eoning, building, fire codes) to insure that the associated increased development costs are minimized. Encourage mixed use zoning which allows residential uses to be incorporated into commercial and office developments. Policy 4: Determine what incentives could be pr~~ided to encourage new construction of units. Encourage creative approaches to housing design and development. Policv 5: Provide for assisted housing (e.g., for the elderly, low income, etc.). Objective 3: Increase the supply and affordability of housing for low-and moderate-income households. Policy 1: Review current regulations Ce.g. zoning, building, fire codes) to insure that the associated increased development costs are minimized. Policy 2: Determine what incentives could be provided to encourage new construction of units. Policy 3: Provide for increased single-family residential densities in appropriate areas as a means of controlling costs and providing opportunities for single-family home ownership. Policy 4: Promote affordable housing design competitions to demonstrate efficient planning and construction techniques that can be replicated by other developments. GOAL 4: Assure environmental quality in residential areas. Objective 1: 'Phreuf:Jh Reiqhberheed plaRRiREJ, assure aft adequate level ef cemmuRityjpublic services fer all resideRtial areas. Policy 1: Provide adequate utility services te all resideRtial areas. Policy 2: Provide the eRvireRmeRtal health services Recessary to maiRtaiR the resideRtial Policy 3: Promote Reeded commuRity ser\·ices aRd facilities such as churches, daycare ceRters, libraries, recreatioR aRd leisure activities, ete-. Policy 4: Where Recessary, establish buffers (e.q., opeR space, feRciRg, exteRsive laRdscapiRg, etc.) betweeR existiRg resideRtial areas aRd adj aceRt ROR resideRtial areas aRdjor uses. Policy 5: Promote aRd eRcourage coRsolidatioR aRd reroutiRg ef the railroad liRes that ruR through the dowatowR core. Objective 1: Preserve and maintain as much of the natural environment as possible. Policy 1: Prohibit residential develoDment in unsuitable for development, such as slopes and wetlands. areas steep Policy 2: Require site desian to conserve natural features, such as streams, steep slopes, trees, and wetlands). Policy 3: Utilize regulatory measures to control the removal of major trees on developed as well as on undeveloped property. Objective 2: Preserve aftd maifttaift as much of the ftatural eftviroftmeftt as possible. Provide open green areas in the city • s residential neighborhoods. Policy 1: Prohibit residefttial developmeftt ift areas Uftsuitable for developmeftt (e.g=. , steep slopes, swamps, ect. ) Require contiguous ooen green area in new multifamily developments. Policy 2: Require site desifJft to utili21e the ftatural features (e.g=., streams, steep slopes, wetlaftds). Require contiguous open green area in new single-family subdivisions. Policy 3: Ift site developmeftt plaHs, require preservatioH of sig=Hificaftt ftatural features. Objective 3: Protect sensitive areas, including significant woodlands, wetlands, meadows, wildlife habitat, and waterways, from the adverse impacts of residential development. Policy 1: Update the Hazard Area Development Limitations Map to include additional sensitive areas. Pol icy 2 : Prioritize sensitive areas as to their constraints on develooment, their safety and welfare functions and the environmental health benefits they provide. Policy 3: study alternative means to prohibit or restrict residential development in sensitive areas, including the purchase or transfer of development rights. Pol icy 4: Encourage, and where necessary require, developments to design around sensitive areas. Promote clustering, zero lot line and Planned unit Developments (P.U.D.s) to this end. Objective 4: Promote good water quality in residential areas. Policy 1: Restrict residential densities unconnected to City sewer. in areas Policy 2: Utilize regulatory measures to limit impervious surface coverage in new residential developments. Policy 3: Require developments to provide adequate on- site storm drainage, including measures to protect groundwater and surface water quality. Objective 5: Encourage the use of emerging and less conventional technologies to protect the environment. Policy 1: survey emerging technologies to determine appropriate applications in residential environments. Policy 2: Protect solar access in residential environments. GOAL 5: Encourage housing opportunities for persons with special needs, such as senior citizens, the homeless, mentally and developmentally disabled, and lower income persons and families. Objective 1: Identify and implement strategies to provide housing for special populations, in coordination with the development community and other private and public bodies. Examples include: h Funding strategies: identify funding resources for special needs housing. ~ coordination strategies: improve coordination between housing providers and service funders. h community acceptance strategies: encourage neighborhood acceptance of community-based housing through community education and coordination concerning the location, distribution, and safety of such housing. Policy 1: Promote preservation of lower-income housing, including requiring mitigation measures for major public and private projects which cause the loss of such. Policy 2: Develop and maintain a citizen participation process to involve the community in planning and developing City housing strategies for special populations. Policy 3: Make special efforts to address emergency and transitional housing needs of special population groups. Policy 4: Periodically update the Kent zoninq Code and other development regulations to reflect new types of senior and special needs housing. Policy 5: Study using incentives to encourage developments to set aside units for low-and- moderate income elderly persons. Objective 2: Achieve a geographic balance in siting special needs housing throughout the city. Policy 1: Work with county and adjacent jurisdictions to promote regional siting and dispersal of special needs housing opportunities both in Kent and throughout the region. Policy 2: Insure adequate notice and discussion of assisted housing proposals which may affect specific neighborhoods. Policy 3: Work with county and suburban jurisdictions to promote regional financing of housing for low- income and special needs housing in Kent and throughout the region.