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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Economic and Community Development Committee - 04/10/2017Economic and Community Development Committee Minutes April 10, 20L7 Kent, Washington Date: Time: PIace: Attending: 2 3 Approved on May B,2OL7 April 10, 2017 7 p.m. Council Chambers Bill Boyce, Jim Berrios, Tina Budell, Matt Gilbert, Lacey Jane Wolfe, Charlene Anderson, Danielle Butsick, Chad Bieren 4 5 Agenda: 1. Call to Order Roll Call Chanqes to the Aqenda ltem 7 removed from the Agenda to be brought to the Committee at their May meeting, Replaced Item 11 with a report on Rental Housing Inspection Program by Matt Gilbert. Approval of Minutes Council Committee Member Berrios MOVED and Council Committee Member Budell Seconded a MOTION to approve the minutes of March 13, 2077. Motion PASSED 3-0. Comorehensive PIan Amendments 2015 Dockets Danielle Butsick, Long Range Planner, stated that the docketed comprehensive plan amendments were discussed before the Land Use and Planning Board (LUPB) at a workshop followed by a public hearing held in March. The City of Kent maintains a docketing process for comprehensive plan updates, and collects and compiles those amendments proposed by either staff, the public or City Council, These proposals are included in one update. The first proposal revises the Educational Services and Facilities map to replace labels inadvertently left off when the map was produced for the comprehensive plan document. The second proposal amends the land use designation table to add a Mobile Home Park land use designation within multifamily land use designated areas as allowed by Kent's zoning code. This designation was inadvertently left off in the 2015 update. The third proposal updates the Parks and Recreation Element. Kent City Council surplused the Naden properties in October 2016. As part of the ordinance to surplus those properties, there was a request to Economic and Community Development to make changes to the Parks and Open Space Plan and the Parks and Recreation Element pertaining to that decision. At this time, the properties are still under city ownership. This amendment changes the language of the Parks and Recreation element of the comprehensive plan to properly clarify the surplus process, The fourth proposal extends mixed use designation on south lBOth street; this amendment is more substantive as it rezones a 43 acre area on south 180th Street from General Commercial to General Commercial/Mixed Use. The amendment proposes to make these properties consistent with the zoning to the west and allows for more flexibility in land uses in this area. When amending the zoning and land use maps, staff reviews criteria in our codes specific to comprehensive plan amendments and rezoning, and specific criteria for Page I of 5 Economic and Community Development Committee Minutes April 10, 20L7 Kent, Washington Approved on May 8,20L7 rezoning to mixed use, Staff does not have any concerns over this proposal in regards to meeting those criteria. Were South 180th street to be developed to the extent that mixed use allows, it could potentially attract some traffic impacts that would have to be mitigated through the SEPA process, One consideration is rezoning parks to mixed use, because potentially residential uses could go in those areas. There are two parks located within two miles of this area, but none are accessible. The Multifamily Design Guidelines require 150 square feet of open space per dwelling unit. When there is a new mixed use development with residential, some space would be required to be dedicated to open space, which could include not only parks but indoor recreational space, or rooftop decks, to provide open space to those residents. In response to Council Committee Chair Boyce, Butsick stated that she received an email from David Malik requesting that staff look at one of the parcels in this 43 acre area and consider rezoning to include a zero lot line setback, a maximum height of 195 feet, parking widths of B feet and reduced hotel and condominium parking requirements to .75 spaces per room. Butsick stated that David Malik's request was presented to the LUPB, where she recommended this request be considered separately at a later date as part of the docketing process for next year, as it is a significant departure from the initial docket proposal to extend mixed use along south l8Oth Street. Staff would conduct a thorough analysis of what the impacts would be. David Malik stated that his proposal should be considered this year. He cited a positive economic climate; that increasing building heights will encourage more developers to come to Kent; that developers could be asked to pay park fees in lieu of landscaping * generating more revenue; and with heightened use of alternative transportation, parking spaces can be reduced. Anderson stated that the deadline for submitting dockets for consideration this year was September 7,2016. Emergency ordinances can be requested, if a proposal is for the general welfare. Much of what Mr. Malik is proposing is a zoning code amendment related to height increases, zero lot line, and parking issues which are all related to the zoning code, and not a comprehensive plan amendment. What is being proposed could affect policies in the comprehensive plan, A more in-depth analysis would be required by staff to evaluate if the policies are consistent with what is being proposed. Council Committee Chair Boyce asked staff to look closer at Malik's request, conduct an analysis and come back to committee with an update. Butsick stated that the fifth proposal updates the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) data source in the Housing Element of the Comprehensive Plan related to household characteristics, such as substandard, overcrowded or overburdened households in terms of cost for housing. Tables have been revised for clarity, structure and organization. The sixth proposal updates the Land Use Plan Map for continuity with the zoning map for the area of S 2l2th St and Russell Rd to redesignate the Mobile Home Park land use designation to Industrial. Page 2 of 5 Economic and Community Development Committee Minutes April 10, 2017 Kent, Washington 6 Approved on May B,2OL7 Council Committee Member Budell MOVED and Council Committee Member Berrios SECONDED a Motion recommending to the City Council approval of the proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan Land Use PIan Map and Zoning Districts Map as presented by staff. Motion PASSED 3-0. Countvwide Plannino Policies Ratification Charlene Anderson reported on Countywide Planning Policies Ratification stating that periodically the County and Growth Management Planning Council amends countywide planning policies used to guide and ensure consistency among local jurisdictional plans with county plans. The proposed update amends the urban growth boundary and the potential annexation area map. The three technical amendments incorporate, add or remove some road portions related to Covington and Enumclaw, and are unrelated to the City of Kent. A portion of the Issaquah/East Cougar annexation area is being removed at the request of Issaquah. We still ratify these policies because 30 percent of cities or counties that represent 70 percent of the population ratify countywide planning policy amendments. Staff recommends approval of those amendments. Council Committee Member Berrios MOVED and Council Committee Member Budell SECONDED a Motion to recommend to the full City Council ratification of an amendment to the King County Countywide Planning Policies to amend the Urban Growth Boundary and Potential annexation area maps as adopted by the King County Council under Ordinance Lf3454. Motion PASSED 3-0. Development Fee Increase Implementation Update Moved to the May meeting of the Economic and Community Development Committee. Kaibara Park-Sound Transit Garaoe Site Alternative #4 Butsick stated that staff recommends removing this site from the list of potential garage locations. it is located next to the downtown library, is a narrow piece of property, and is one of the oldest parks in the city, with a nice water feature and art work. It commemorates our relationship with our sister city in Japan, The Council had previously wanted to consider this site for redevelopment with the idea that it would tie in with town square plaza, potentially block sound from the trains and make downtown more pleasant in that area. It appealed to Sound Transit as it was thought this site was under city management and would be easier to acquire if it was city property. This site is actually under lease with Burlington Northern Santé Fe Railroad (BNSF), and the property is comprised of two parcels: one leased to the city and one piece being a public easement access area not leased to the city. The ownership of this property is complicated. Staff was unable to locate documentation of the old lease agreement with the city and is recommending that this site be removed from the list of top four. 1O5 Buildinq - Historic Siqnificance Butsick stated that as part of Sound Transit's work in identifying sites and evaluating them for feasibility for a potential parking garage, they have looked at the historic significance of properties. They have said that this building (Kent's old Grain Elevator) is eligible for listing on the national register. Through research and calling the King County Historic Preservation office, the building was determined as eligible for listing as a Kent landmark through King County (KC) in 2008. The City contracted with KC to Page 3 of 5 7 I 9 Economic and Community Development Committee Minutes April 10, 20L7 Kent, Washington Approved on May B,2OL7 conduct a historic resource inventory. The 105 building was one of 160 sites in Kent that were added to the Washington State inventory for potentially historic properties, No official determination has been made about its eligibility for the State or Federal register. It has not been nominated or an official determination made about it being a Kent landmark in KC Landmarks Code. It is likely that it would be eligible for the National Registry, but has not been formally evaluated. It is significant in terms of Kent's past, as it is the one remaining piece of architecture that represents our agricultural history. If there were redevelopment at that site it would go through the SEPA process, where staff would evaluate the environmental impacts including historic significance. KC and the State Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation would likely recommend mitigation for the historic significance to this property. KC is looking into a financial incentive program to work with those owners for properties with historic significance. If a funding source is found to start this program, this property could be eligible for that type of funding. Matt Gilbert conveyed that a structural engineer surveyed the property and reported that the main structure of the building is strong. 1O. 2O18-2O23 Six-Year Transportation Imorovement Prooram Lacey Jane Wolfe, Senior Transportation Planner, defined the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) as a 6-year short range planning document, requiring annual updates by state law, The TIP reflects projected funding capacities and identifies sources of public funds for transportation projects; only included transportation projects that are funded or staff has a reasonable expectation of being fu nded. Staff recommends removing four projects from the TIP that were completed in the past year: SE Kent-Kangley Rd pedestrian safety improvements; 1't Ave N street improvements; traffic control signal system; Central Ave S improvements, The BOth Ave S Improvements project has changed in its scope to a concrete street maintenance-only project so staff recommends removing it. Staff recommends adding two transportation projects that would increase the value of the Naden property for future development. The first project would be the addition of a Right InlRight Out break in access on Willis Street that would allow people to access Naden directly from Willis, The second project is a local access street that would run from Willis north to provide access. Both projects would serve future development, The third project adds improvements to S 248th St. in support of the YMCA proposal. The city would conduct a complete streets analysis for non-motorized improvements on South 248th between 104th and 116th. Next Steps: This item will go to the Public Works Committee on April 17th as an information item and back to the Public Works Committee on May 1't for action with a final prepared TIP, followed by a public hearing within two weeks and Council adoption by June 3Oth based on State Law requirements. 11. Rental Housinq Insoection Prooram Matt Gilbert, Current Planning Manager stated that Council authorized the Rental Housing inspection Program (RHIP) for this biennium, Staff will analyze the problem this year with the intent to have the program up and running next year. The City is on track to have legislation to the council by end of year. Page 4 of 5 Economic and Community Development Committee Minutes April 10, 2OI7 Kent, Washington Approved on May 8,2077 In order to make sure that the program fits within the City's capabilities to enforce, administer and understand the problems, the City is bringing on a consultant to assist with outreach efforts as there are many different community organizations interested in this issue. Staff wants to obtain their input to thoroughly understand what the problems are associated with housing quality and health issues in the community. Gilbert stated that the city will have a limited staff resource to administer this program, The current goal is to zero in on the big problems, prioritize where the needs are, how we act, where we start, where the worst problems exist, are the problems related to geography or age of properties, Staff met with the Somali Youth and Family Club, the Church Council, Tenant's Union and with planners at the King County Housing Development Consortium (KCHDC). Gilbert stated that he met with someone from the Tenant's Union to help with understanding the competencies needed with a consultant. They talked about outreach, language, translation skills and voiced willingness to reach out to refugee and immigrant groups. The consultant should be on board in May with Requests for Proposals (RFP) out by end of April. Staff from KCHDC compiled a list of potential people the RFP will be sent to, Public outreach will occur during the summer. Legislation will be drafted the second half of the year and brought back to Council. In response to the Committee, Gilbert stated that Tukwila, Bellingham, and Auburn have programs. Renton is working on a program. These cities will provide sources of information for best practices. Common themes are lack of maintenance, mold, water-leaky pipes, and insect infestation. The number one issue is that many tenants are afraid to call because without their apartment, they would be homeless and worry about eviction as retribution. A number of landlord/tenant relationship laws are on the books but are difficult to enforce, Community organizations such as the Tenants Union provide some pro-bono legal services. They will intervene with landlords, provide the know-how and help navigate the legal framework with these tenants. Tukwila has had their program for five years. Initial cost to landlords was fairly high because numerous problems were being identified. As the landlords began to understand that staff would be checking on problems on a regular basis, levels of maintenance went up and costs started to come down both for the city and to the landlords. When we begin the public outreach, we will include the Landlord Associations. It is likely that some resistance will be encountered. R -!" raþa,rn Pamela A Mottram Ad mi nistrative Assistant I Economic and Community Development April 10, 2017 Page 5 of 5