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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Economic and Community Development Committee - 04/09/2018Unless otherwise noted, the Economic & Community Development Committee meets at 5 p.m. on the second Monday of each month in Kent City Hall, Council Chambers East, 220 4th Ave S, Kent, 98032. For additional information please contact Rhonda Bylin at 253-856-5754. Any person requiring a disability accommodation should contact the City Clerk’s Office at 253-856-5725 in advance. For TDD relay service call Washington Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-833-6388. Economic & Community Development Committee Agenda Councilmembers: Satwinder Kaur, Tina Budell, Bill Boyce, Chair April 9, 2018 5:00 p.m. Item Description Action Speaker(s) Time Page 1. Call to Order Bill Boyce 1 min. n/a 2. Roll Call Bill Boyce 1 min. n/a 3. Changes to the Agenda Bill Boyce 1 min. n/a 4. Approval of March 12, 2018 Minutes YES Bill Boyce 1 min. 1 5. Fern Crest Neighborhood YES Toni Azzola 10 min. 9 Council 6. Permitting Process Improvements Update NO Matt Gilbert 10 min. 14 7. Urban Separators Community NO Danielle Butsick 15 min. 15 Outreach Update 8. Economic Development Webpages NO Michelle Wilmot 10 min. 16 Economic and Community Development Committee March 12, 2018 Minutes Kent, Washington Pending Approval Page 1 of 8 Date: March 12, 2018 Time: 5:00 p.m. Place: Council Chambers Attending: Bill Boyce, Tina Budell, Satwinder Kaur, Toni Azzola, Matt Gilbert, Danielle Butsick, Hayley Bonsteel Agenda: 1. Call to Order 5:00 p.m. 2. Roll Call Taken 3. Changes to the Agenda None 4. Approval of Minutes Committee Member Kaur MOVED, Committee Member Budell SECONDED a Motion to Approve the Minutes of February 12, 2018 minutes, motion PASSED 3-0. 5. Connection Condominiums Neighborhood Council - Resolution Toni Azzola presented the Connections Condominiums neighborhood request to become a neighborhood council. The neighborhood consists of 67 households and is located on the East Hill of Kent. On January 15, 2018, the Connection Condominiums neighborhood submitted an official registration form to request that the City recognize their neighborhood council and allow the neighborhood to take part in the City’s neighborhood program. The neighborhood has now completed the process to be recognized as a neighborhood council. MOTION: Recommend Council adopt a resolution that recognizes the Connection Condominiums Neighborhood Council, supports its community building efforts, and confers all opportunities offered by the City’s Neighborhood Program Committee Member Budell MOVED, Committee Member Kaur SECONDED a Motion to recommend Council adopt a Resolution for Connection Condominiums, motion PASSED 3-0. 6. Laurel Springs Lower Community Neighborhood Council – Resolution Toni Azzola presented the Laurel Springs Lower Community neighborhood request to become a neighborhood council. The neighborhood consists of 37 households and is located on the East Hill of Kent. On January 29, 2018, the Laurel Springs Lower Community neighborhood submitted an official registration form to request that the City recognize their neighborhood council and allow the neighborhood to take part in the City’s neighborhood program. The neighborhood has now completed the process to be recognized as a neighborhood council. Economic and Community Development Committee March 12, 2018 Minutes Kent, Washington Pending Approval Page 2 of 8 MOTION: Recommend Council adopt a resolution that recognizes the Laurel Springs Lower Community Neighborhood Council, supports its community building efforts, and confers all opportunities offered by the City’s Neighborhood Program. Committee Member Kaur MOVED, Committee Member Budell SECONDED a Motion to recommend Council adopt a Resolution for Laurel Springs Lower Neighborhood Council, motion PASSED 3-0. 7. Rental Housing Inspection Program – Ordinance City staff, in partnership with consultants from Furturewise and Living Well Kent have completed outreach and policy development work on a program that will provide pro-active enforcement of basic health and safety standards in Kent’s rental apartment housing. The program described in the attached ordinance will require that every three years, apartment owners have a sampling of their units inspected to ensure that basic maintenance is being done and that units are not creating health problems or a dangerous situation for the tenants. Required elements will be listed on an inspection checklist provided by the City. Successful inspections must be completed prior to issuance of an annual business license, which apartment owners are already required to obtain. The program has been developed based on input from tenants, inspectors, property owners and program administrators in other cities. It is also consistent with Washington’s Landlord Tenant Act which limits the scope of these types of programs. Staff and consultants will present the draft ordinance at the March 12th ECDC meeting. Ordinance Overview Purpose; 1. Protect the health and safety of renters 2. Prevent the deterioration of housing stock 3. Better understand the rental housing sector How it will work; 1. Set a clear standard (a published checklist) 2. Require registration & business license (annually) 3. Require a health and safety inspection (every 3 years) Stakeholder Feedback; Member of the following groups provided feedback 1. Living Well Kent 2. Coalition of Refugees from Burma 3. Somali Youth & Family Club 4. Housing Development Consortium Economic and Community Development Committee March 12, 2018 Minutes Kent, Washington Pending Approval Page 3 of 8 5. Kent Community Foundation 6. Tenants Union 7. Iraqi Women’s Association 8. Washington CAN! 9. Rental Housing Association of Washington 10.Washington Multifamily Housing Association 11.And tons of renters Implementation; 2018 – Set up begins summer & Registration deadline is December 31 2019 - First inspection deadline September 30 & Declaration of compliance deadline December 31 2019 – ECDC update on registration 2019 – ECDC updates zone 1 inspections 2019 – ECDC update zone 2 Costs; Business License $12/unit (This amount was revised based on salary estimates f from the City of Kent Budget and Finance Dept.) Inspection TBD (The inspection fee amount will be set by the inspectors who provide the service, not by the City of Kent) Displacement Mitigation How it will work; 1. Work with owners to avoid this situation 2. Support tenants by providing relocation funding 3. Seek reimbursement for funds used in tenant relocation through the sale of the property (Kent City Code 14.02.190) Plenty for not registering will be $50 per property. MOTION: I recommend that City Council adopt the ordinance establishing the Rental Housing Registration and Inspection Program, as presented by staff. Committee Member Kaur MOVED, Committee Member Budell SECONDED a Motion to recommend Council adopt an Ordinance establishing the Rental Housing Registration and Inspection Program, motion PASSED 3-0. 8. Zoning Code Amendment Midway Transit Community – 1 sign Danielle Butsick presented the Kent adopted sign regulations for the MTC-1 zoning district in 2011 and explain the proposed changes. . The sign regulations were derived from the Midway Subarea Plan and Midway Design Guidelines, documents developed with significant public outreach. To date, no development has occurred in the MTC-1 zoning district that has fallen under the sign code. Staff has identified the need to amend the sign regulations to 1) improve sign visibility, 2) recognize the significant motorized use of the SR-99 corridor, 3) ensure visual parity between signs in adjacent jurisdictions and those in Kent, and 4) enhance the pedestrian Economic and Community Development Committee March 12, 2018 Minutes Kent, Washington Pending Approval Page 4 of 8 environment consistent with the Midway Design Guidelines. Staff will present the proposed code amendment at the March 12 ECDC meeting and will request a recommendation from the Committee on the proposed amendments. MTC-1 Zoning District MTC-1 zoning district, where we’re proposing changes to the sign code. The MTC-1 Zoning district is the gateway to the Midway Subarea – in addition to the Midway Subarea Plan, we have design guidelines requiring human-scale design and pedestrian-oriented character. The MTC-1 zone is a unique environment in Midway, though, because it is characterized by frontage on SR-99 (Pacific Highway) and SR-516 In 2011, sign codes were amended to implement the guidelines, focusing on limiting the type and scale of signs to promote human scale character. Sign Types The current sign codes in MTC-1 allow for three types of signs and place restrictions on their size and height– Wall signs on the far left, limited to greater of 10% of façade or 24 sq. ft.. Freestanding signs are typically used, for a shopping center or when the building is set back from the road. We allow only monument type freestanding signs, limited to 15’ tall, 80 sq. ft. total area (40 sq. feet each side). Suspended or projecting signs on the right – including blade signs or hanging signs attached to the building itself, and are most effective when the building is close to the main flow of traffic (pedestrian or motorist). Limited to 20ft. tall, and 80 sq. ft. (40 each side). Why Change the Code? We took a look at the code to make sure that the requirements were fair and appropriate and would really result in the outcomes called for in the Midway Design Guidelines. We wanted to make sure that they were consistent with other regulations in the area and weren’t unfair to businesses in Kent. We wanted to make sure the signs permitted under the code work for people using the area – because this is a highway most of the users are motorists. Creative design can help achieve the objectives of the Midway Design Guidelines by making the environment more interesting and appealing, both for motorists and pedestrians – we want to allow the option for other sign types (non-monument type freestanding) if they can serve the same purpose and show integrity in design. Economic and Community Development Committee March 12, 2018 Minutes Kent, Washington Pending Approval Page 5 of 8 These are the changes we’re proposing to make the MTC-1 sign code better reflect the users while achieving the outcome we want: Proposed Changes We’re proposing to increase the outright allowed sign size for freestanding monument signs to be the same dimensions allowed across the street in Des Moines. We’re also proposing that the director be authorized to allow exceptions to the type and size of freestanding signs if the sign meets a specific set of criteria. Essentially, the sign has to be creative (no single cabinet rectangular boxes on a big exposed metal post), and the supports have to be attractive for pedestrians, and it has to be clear that the other types of allowed signs won’t work. One small revision to the proposed changes based on staff recommendation – flashing or blinking remains in the proposed conditions, but we’ve removed “flashing, blinking, rotating”, because those restrictions are covered elsewhere in the sign code – cannot flash, blink, or rotate more than 8 revolutions per minute. Sign Examples Some examples of the kinds of signs showing creative design – The first is an example of a sculptural sign, where the sign itself, and the supports, are incorporated into a sculptural design. The second and third show signs with multiple smaller cabinets of different shapes/sizes. And of course the thirds also has a sculpture for good measure. The fourth has a metal post that is ornamented and screened at the pedestrian level with this mosaic guitar. MOTION: Recommend to the City Council approval/denial/modification of proposed amendments to 15.06.050 of the Kent City Code, related to sign regulations in the Midway Transit Community-1 zoning district as presented by staff. Committee Member Budell MOVED, Committee Member Kaur SECONDED a Motion to recommend Council approval a proposed amendment to 15.06. 050 of the Kent City Code, related to sign regulations in the Midway Transit Commuity-1zoning district, motion PASSED 3-0. 9. Sounder Garage Update Danielle Butsick presented that ST approved the CEO to sign a contract with CDM the consultant they worked with in the earlier phases of the project. Phase 1 has been completed which was to select the sight, which is the sight the Council Economic and Community Development Committee March 12, 2018 Minutes Kent, Washington Pending Approval Page 6 of 8 recommended. Moving forward, Sound Transit will move into phase II, the environmental assessment and SEPA review; Phase III preliminary engineering. 10. Mixed Use Update Hayley Bonsteel presented on why Kent’s Mixed User Regulations aren’t working. We have had no mixed use development in our mixed use overlay zones. This is likely due in large part because of the commercial percentage requirements, which are as follows:  Community Commercial/Mixed Use (CC-MU)  > 2 acres: 25% of building floor area must be commercial  < 2 acres: 5% of building floor area must be commercial  General Commercial/Mixed Use (GC-MU)  Downtown: 25% of building floor area must be commercial  Outside of Downtown: 5% of building floor area must be commercial Where we are and how we got here  Early zoning efforts centered around separating noxious industrial uses fromresidences  Separating uses too much is now known to be inefficient use of land Trade areas shrinking; more intensive residential population needed to justify commercial use  More flexible as market conditions change Economic Benefits of mixed use  Lower infrastructure costs  Increased tax revenue  Operating budget cost savings  Save individuals money on transportation by reducing length and number of everyday trips  Support local businesses by increasing foot traffic Public health benefits of mixed use Physical Activity: Compared to suburban residents, those in mixed use neighborhoods spend more time being physically active. Important for Kent as we have a higher proportion of our population who report chronic health factors of obesity and lack of exercise, compared to King County and the state as a whole. Social connectedness: By reducing the need for vehicle travel, mixed-use development also brings shared community space. Plazas, parks, and sidewalks foster interaction among community members—interaction that wouldn’t be safe or possible under a sprawled, car-centric design model. One landmark study of San Francisco compared three neighborhoods identical except for the levels of vehicle traffic on their streets. It revealed that residents of the neighborhood with the Economic and Community Development Committee March 12, 2018 Minutes Kent, Washington Pending Approval Page 7 of 8 lowest level of car traffic had three times as many friends and twice as many acquaintances as their more heavily trafficked counterparts. Mixed Use and Walkability in Kent: Downtown We have that walkability downtown, we have that “district” or “neighborhood” scale, where residential is close by to retail, in Kent’s downtown -- at Kent Station, and also where there are residences above businesses in historic downtown as well. We have many of the key elements of walkability in Kent’s downtown. We have that critical mass of elements that seems to be enough to support mixed use. And obviously we’re planning that for Meeker, we have a solid plan to achieve that on Meeker. The Benson – Less Walkable Arterials can serve to bring people to an area, but they can also serve to move people THROUGH an area, and very quickly at that. While successful, revenue- generating mixed use districts may be generally near major arterials, they are rarely directly on major arterials, and certainly aren’t split down the middle by major arterials—as in the case of Benson. A five-lane, high-speed principal arterial is unlikely to also serve as a sufficiently welcoming, walkable spine for a profitable mixed use district. The presence and preeminence of vehicles simply prohibits the kind of environment that’s necessary for walkable mixed use development. We also don’t have the residential density to make that kind of commercial viable. There aren’t enough people very close to support the coffee shop or yoga studio. What Would Make Mixed Use Succeed on the Benson? Without the infrastructure and public space that encourages folks to access the range of uses on foot …a mixed use district will not net the same benefit of reduced vehicle travel, increased health, lower overall infrastructure cost, and increased vibrancy. Different Regulations For Different Contexts Those commercial zones located far from the urban center on high speed automobile-oriented corridors may not make sense as mixed use corridors. We could rethink them as “flexible use zones” – where we allow more things to happen, not be so restrictive, but recognize that what’s likely to happen isn’t necessarily the cute retail. These areas could see increased investment and revitalization of a different type with the following strategies: (1) Consider allowing a wider variety of Economic and Community Development Committee March 12, 2018 Minutes Kent, Washington Pending Approval Page 8 of 8 uses (EXAMPLES: Manufacturing of food and beverage, cleaning products, toiletries, cosmetics, mineral products, fiber (all different line items so we can easily pick and choose), Printing, publishing, Custom arts & crafts products, Art galleries/studios, Metal fabrication, Complex with combination of permitted uses, Bakery , Retail lumber, Hotels, Business services, Educational services , Research, development and testing, Boarding kennels , Mini golf, drive-in-Theaters, other “outdoor assembly” - ALSO WE HAVE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS THAT ALL MUST MEET. ) (2) Develop commercial design guidelines to ensure quality building stock (3) Reevaluate commercial zoning requirements for opportunities to improve development outcomes. (EXAMPLES: FRONT AND REAR YARD SETBACKS, MAXIMUM SITE COVERAGE, HEIGHT LIMITS) Adjacent to Downtown and along Meeker, we can feel confident that walkability is either at hand or within reach, and craft our regulations to respond to that walkable nature in a sensible and effective way. Still To Consider Is Central Avenue more like the Benson or Meeker?  Close to Downtown, close to residential density  Major thoroughfare, high vehicle traffic What about large big-box sites that could redevelop and be walkable within the site?  Subarea plans?  Exceptions in regulations? A Note We shouldn’t give up on it!  "Walkable, for-sale housing…ranges between 40 percent and 200 percent greater than drivable, suburban housing“– from CNBC in 2014.  More discussion needed  Capital Investment Strategy – Council Workshop 4/3 On Walkability 11. Adjournment 6.00 p.m. ______ ___________________________________ Submitted Julie Pulliam OFFICE OF THE MAYOR Derek Matheson, Chief Administrative Officer Phone: 253-856-5700 Fax: 253-856-6700 220 Fourth Avenue South Kent, WA. 98032 DATE: April 9, 2018 TO: Chair Bill Boyce and Economic and Community Development Committee FROM: Toni Azzola, Neighborhood Program Coordinator RE: Recognition of Fern Crest Neighborhood - Resolution – Recommend SUMMARY: The Fern Crest neighborhood consists of 191 households and is located on the East Hill of Kent. On March 8, 2018, the Fern Crest neighborhood submitted an official registration form to request that the City recognize their neighborhood council and allow the neighborhood to take part in the City’s neighborhood program. The neighborhood has now completed the process to be recognized as a neighborhood council. BACKGROUND: The City’s Neighborhood Program is an initiative designed to foster better communication among residents in a geographic area and city government. The underlying objective of the program is to provide an avenue for residents to work together to enhance the livability of their neighborhoods. The program encourages organization of neighborhood councils, which serve as independent, non-profit organizations promoting resident-based efforts for neighborhood improvements while also establishing a partnership between City government and the neighborhoods they serve. EXHIBITS: Resolution BUDGET IMPACT: None STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL(S): ☒ Authentic Connectivity and Communication - Uniting people to people, to places, and to their government through superior infrastructure, enriched community interactions, and responsive, trusting relationships. MOTION: Recommend Council adopt a resolution that recognizes the Fern Crest Neighborhood Council, supports its community building efforts, and confers all opportunities offered by the City’s Neighborhood Program. 1 Fern Crest Neighborhood Council Resolution RESOLUTION NO. ___________ A RESOLUTION of the city council of the city of Kent, Washington, recognizing Fern Crest Neighborhood Council. RECITALS A. The city of Kent has developed a Neighborhood Program to promote and sustain an environment that responds to residents by building partnerships between the City and its residents. In addition, the city of Kent encourages residents to work together to form geographically distinct neighborhood councils as a means to foster communication among residents and to enhance their sense of community. B. The city of Kent recognizes and supports neighborhood councils by endorsing a process to establish neighborhood boundaries, approve neighborhood councils, and provide neighborhood grant matching program opportunities to make improvements in defined neighborhoods. C. The Fern Crest neighborhood consists of one hundred ninety- one households. D. The Fern Crest neighborhood is located on Kent’s East Hill and is situated generally to the east of 132nd Avenue S.E., to the north of S.E. 227th Place, to the west of 135th Avenue S.E. and to the south of S.E. 224th 2 Fern Crest Neighborhood Council Resolution St. The Neighborhood is shown on Exhibit A, attached and incorporated by this reference. E. On March 8, 2018, the Fern Crest neighborhood submitted an official registration form to request that the City recognize the Fern Crest Neighborhood Council and to allow the Neighborhood to take part in the City’s Neighborhood Program. NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENT, WASHINGTON, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: RESOLUTION SECTION 1. – Recognition of Neighborhood Council. – The City Council for the city of Kent hereby acknowledges the effort and commitment of the Fern Crest neighborhood and all those who participated in forming the Fern Crest Neighborhood Council. The Kent City Council hereby recognizes Fern Crest Neighborhood Council as an official Neighborhood Council of the city of Kent, supports Fern Crest Neighborhood Council community building efforts, and confers on the Fern Crest Neighborhood Council all opportunities offered by the City’s Neighborhood Program. SECTION 2. – Severability. If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this resolution is declared unconstitutional or invalid for any reason, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution. SECTION 3. – Ratification. Any act consistent with the authority and prior to the effective date of this resolution is hereby ratified and affirmed. SECTION 4. – Effective Date. This resolution shall take effect and be in force immediately upon its passage. 3 Fern Crest Neighborhood Council Resolution PASSED at a regular open public meeting by the city council of the city of Kent, Washington, this day of April, 2018. CONCURRED in by the mayor of the city of Kent this ______ day of April, 2018. DANA RALPH, MAYOR ATTEST: KIMBERLEY A. KOMOTO, CITY CLERK APPROVED AS TO FORM: ARTHUR “PAT” FITZPATRICK, CITY ATTORNEY P:\Civil\Resolution\Neighborhoodcouncilferncrestresolution.Docx EXHIBIT A ECONOMIC and COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Kurt Hanson, Director Phone: 253-856-5454 Fax: 253-856-6454 220 Fourth Avenue S. Kent, WA 98032-5895 Date: April 6, 2014 TO: Chair Bill Boyce and Economic & Community Development Committee FROM: Matt Gilbert, Deputy Director RE: Permit Process Improvements and Hiring Update For Meeting of April 9, 2018 SUMMARY: ECD is working on a number of initiatives to cut waste from the permitting process, beginning by focusing on a few particular permits. We expect our efforts will result in better utilization of staff resources and shorter timelines for permit approvals. In addition, ECD and IT are preparing to introduce electronic plan review later this year. Staff will be at the April 9th meeting to discuss these efforts, and present an update on new staff positions. EXHIBITS: None BUDGET IMPACT: N/A MOTION: Information Only ECONOMIC and COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Kurt Hanson, Director Phone: 253-856-5454 Fax: 253-856-6454 220 Fourth Avenue S. Kent, WA 98032-5895 Date: April 3, 2018 TO: Chair Bill Boyce and Economic & Community Development Committee FROM: Danielle Butsick, Sr. Long Range Planner/GIS Coordinator RE: Urban Separators Outreach Findings For Meeting of April 9, 2018 SUMMARY: Outreach activities for the urban separators project are complete, and staff has summarized findings to share with the Economic and Community Development Committee at the April 9 meeting. Staff will provide an overview of comments received during 13 one-on-one interviews with community members, 2 informal community meetings hosted at local elementary schools, as well as formal comments submitted during the March 26 public hearing. Staff will also present the results of the online public survey, through which 281 individual responses were received. BACKGROUND: The urban separators project will determine the best use for Kent’s urban separators; these are lands identified as priority areas for preserving wildlife habitat, connecting open space and critical areas, and providing recreational and aesthetic benefits for Kent’s residents. These purposes are met in part by zoning these areas for low-density residential development; all urban separators in Kent are zoned SR-1 (one single family home per acre). The city received docket requests in 2014 and 2015 to consider changes to zoning in some urban separator areas to facilitate development. As a result of these docket items, staff was directed to broadly consider the urban separator designation and its continued relevance in Kent. The outreach activities discussed at the April 9 meeting will inform staff’s recommendations for a long-term policy regarding urban separators. Staff will be available at the April 9 meeting to provide information and answer questions. EXHIBITS: None BUDGET IMPACT: None MOTION: Information Only. ECONOMIC and COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Kurt Hanson, Director Phone: 253-856-5454 Fax: 253-856-6454 220 Fourth Avenue S. Kent, WA 98032-5895 Date: April 2, 2018 TO: Chair Bill Boyce and Economic & Community Development Committee FROM: Michelle Wilmot, Economic Development Manager RE: Economic Development Webpages For Meeting of April 9, 2018 SUMMARY: Having a first-class online presence is critical for the economic development team to expand the reach of its efforts and to share large amounts of information with interested people and businesses. The economic development division contracted with JayRay to redesign the department’s webpages in an effort to capture the essence of the city, while also relaying important information to our audiences. Market research shows that 98% of site selectors are searching for data online; including up-to-date information about demographics, key industries, showcases of leading employers, incentives, workforce attributes, and available infrastructure and housing. Additionally, information on available sites/properties via a GIS- enabled component is a feature site selectors expect to see on economic development sites allowing them to visualize exactly where available properties are located in the area. Staff is exploring options for a third-party plug-in solution which puts property and demographic information right onto the website where site selectors want it EXHIBITS: None BUDGET IMPACT: None MOTION: Information Only.