HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Economic and Community Development Committee - 06/13/2016 (3) 1� •
KENT
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ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES
June 13, 2016
Committee Members Committee Chair Bill Boyce, Tina Budell, Jim Berrios absent
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Changes to the Agenda
4. Approval of Minutes
Committee Member Budell MOVED and Committee Chair Boyce SECONDED
a Motion to Approve the Minutes of May 11, 2016. Motion PASSED 2-0.
S. Patient Cooperatives Code Amendment (ZCA-2016-5)
Hayley Bonsteel, Long Range Planner presented an overview of changes to the
state law which repealed the category of collective gardens and replaced it with a
new category called patient cooperative. Patient cooperatives are intended to be
small operations, 15 plants per person for up to four people, 60 total in the
domicile of one of the members.
The Liquor and Cannabis Board does have oversight and will propose some rules,
but the City doesn't know yet what those rules will be. One of the gaps staff sees
in the law is it doesn't require the domicile be owned; it could possibly be a rental.
Staff is recommending prohibition consistent with the City's direction for all other
cannabis operations. The Land Use and Planning Board also recommended
prohibition.
The City code has been written to be somewhat easily changed in the future if that
would be desired.
Council Member Budell stated her concern about preventing cannabis grow by the
people who have the legal medical certificate and legitimate need. Budell
understands the state's right to go in and do inspections to make sure of
compliance. Cooperatives will be signing an agreement with the State stating they
will not violate the order of the cooperative and they are subject to inspections.
Budell questioned how to move forward on the operations that are not in
compliance and let the ones with the medical need grow what they have a
certification for. She stated we need to find a way to allow this for the medical
purpose it was intended for.
David Galazin, Assistant City Attorney commented the City has seen the effect of
what state legislative action has produced regarding collective grow operations,
and it has provided an undesirable result for many cities. Even though Kent has
prohibited it, the City has had to go to court to ask for judicial action in order to
shut things down. The City does allow legitimate grows for qualified patients
registered with the state. and the patient will not be caught up within this
regulation. As a land use issue, the City is concerned with allowing multiple people
to congregate within a singular location with not only 60 plants but also 72 ounces
of product or the amount that is allowed to be processed and finding people that
will be pushing those boundaries in residential areas and rental houses. In the
past 5 years in Kent the City has seen the maximum amount of plants and product
allowed, and regulating this under the state law is very difficult.
The City has had a consistent message with collective gardens; the City Council
considered them and decided they be prohibited in all seven residential zoning
districts. Effective July 1, 2016, collective gardens go away and patient
cooperatives replace them. This ordinance tries to simply respect that change, not
trying to create new policy or direction, but simply responding to the changes in
state law. The City would regulate patient cooperatives the same way it regulated
collective gardens in the past.
Chair Boyce questioned whether a person with a card from the state is authorized
to grow in his/her house for personal use. Galazin responded the City does not
regulate what someone does inside their own house for themselves. Once you
bring more people into it and dedicate the use of the structure for a cooperative
that becomes a land use. That is the point the City has regulatory authority over
it.
Resident Sandi Lynden spoke in favor of the use of marijuana as medicine for
people who are registered and need it. She questioned whether the City does not
allow it and passed such legislation because it is not liking the idea of marijuana
because of the taboo reputation. She mentioned other cities around Kent see it
also as a new revenue source. This becomes an emotional issue but it is also a
medicine for people. Lynden stated Kent should have a store that can allow the
medical use and sale of marijuana as the state has allowed. She stated it is time
for the Kent City Council to manage this responsibility and she would like to see
the Council be progressive on this issue.
Budell would like to see the issue go on Other Business at the next Council
meeting.
Council Member Budell moved to recommend to the City Council
approval of proposed amendments to the Kent Zoning Code related
to medical marijuana patient cooperatives as recommended by the
Land Use and Planning Board. Chair Boyce seconded. Motion passed
2-0 and is to be put on Other Business at the next Council meeting to
continue the dialog.
6. Complete Streets - Ordinance
Hayley Bonsteel presented the presentation on Complete Streets with the
assistance of Lacey Jane Wolfe. Benefits of Complete Streets are:
• Public Safety
• Public Health
• Traffic Congestion
• Air Quality
• Economic Development
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The ordinance would codify the city's commitment to considering all users of the
transportation system when planning and designing roadway projects: pedestrians,
bicyclists, wheelchairs users, transit riders, freight haulers, and motor vehicle
drivers.
The procedure would include:
• Staff complete checklist at start of planning or design of a project.
• Staff would integrate complete streets with other plans, guidelines, and
standards, as those are updated.
Checklists would be completed with any transportation project. Public Works and
Economic & Community Development and Parks Directors, in consultation with the
Mayor, may jointly determine exceptions in these cases:
• Prohibited by law
• Environmental impacts
• Topographic challenges
• Public safety
• Cost excessively disproportionate
• Disconnected improvements
This issue will go to a Land Use and Planning Board Public Hearing on June 13,
2016, then to Public Works Committee for action on June 20, 2016, and finally to
the City Council as an action item on July 5, 2016.
Chair Boyce asked if there is a list of streets which would qualify for grants.
Bonsteel responded the funding potential being researched is not a grant and that
the particular grant in question is not project- or location-based, but rather an
award for showing commitment. The City would need to show it is committed to
complete streets through its plans and projects, and through that it would be
eligible for a nomination to receive award monies for complete streets efforts. This
award is more flexible in a way that a lot of grants are not; the award monies could
be used in planning and design, construction or any way that would further the
City's complete streets. Bonsteel stated she did not think there would be a match
required on this award.
Budell was concerned this would reduce lanes of traffic and make congestion for
the business owners. Bonsteel responded this will be balanced to be effective for
all users and not intended to sacrifice anything.
Information Only
7. Density Rounding
Current Planning Manager Matt Gilbert walked the Committee through density
calculations. Residential Densities are assigned to the various residential zoning
areas throughout the city and range from 1 unit per acre (SR1 zone) to 40 units
per acre in the highest density multifamily zone. Most of the City projects are
within 4.5 to 6 units per acre.
Density is calculated on per lot bases, for example if you have an acre of land and
it is being subdivided it would be multiplied by the acre and by the allowed density
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in the code to figure the yield or how many units of new home would come out of
that 1 acre. In cases where the calculation doesn't come to a whole number, most
of the time you will end up with a fraction. Up until 2010 if there was a fraction
you would round to the nearest whole number.
The current rounding density schedule states for smaller projects of 4 lots or less
there is no rounding, for 4-6 lots there is a standard you have to hit .85 tenths to
be able to round up, and from 7-9 you have to hit .75 to be able to round up.
Planners have used this since 2010 and have not heard a complaint until recent.
We have had one complaint where the applicant wanted to subdivide a piece of
property under the current rounding the piece of property could not be subdivided.
The question was asked to look into the current rounding density schedule. Gilbert
is asking Committee for feedback. Gilbert gave a couple of ideas for what could be
done; go back to the original rounding prior to 2010; or do a more targeted area
density.
Chair Boyce stated the system we have has been working well for some time he
has a concern of impact it will have on the entire City. Gilbert stated it is not a
wide spread problem but it means a lot to the people it does affect. Gilbert
suggested to move forward and add this as a docket item for the end of the year
bring forward to the Economic & Community Development Committee at that time
with the rest of the submitted Dockets. Chair Boyce agreed to put it on as a Docket
item at the end of the year.
8. Sound Transit Update
Hayley Bonsteel reported the comments for review have been finished and City
Staff is working on going through most of them with Sound Transit staff. City Staff
meet internally on some of the street sections with goals to maximize pedestrian
experience in all dimensions as well as landscaping and other measures. We are
trying to maximize on street parking; minimize the impact of heavy bus use as well
as possible within the infrastructure and right of way restraints.
Comparable locations that have been looked and hope to learn from what has
already been done are; Redmond Center, Kirkland Transit Center. We are trying to
understand all the competing needs and work with Sound Transit on the scope of
the project to balance all the needs. Sound Transit will be working with us on
defining some of these concepts and we are making good progress together.
Council Member Budell asked about a roundabout in the area of 236th right in the
middle as well as a possible elevated crosswalk from the parking garage over to
the plaza.
Ben Wolters explained the Roundabout was brought up and considered but space
requirement for roundabout did not fit well with the circumstances. Sound Transit
as a region wide policy is trying to avoid sky bridges unless absolutely necessary.
At this location there will be a lot going on; a light rail station, a bus transit center,
and transit oriented development. Combining all these uses in one area will take a
lot of thought on how to do it well.
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9. ShoWare Update
Ben Wolters presented the some of the highlights and changes in maintenance at
the building.
Showare Center is showing $220,000 better in budget so instead of projecting a
$470,000 defect we are now projecting a $250,000 looking forward.
The LED Sport Lights have been installed and will be paid for out of the capital loan
from SMG. Through energy savings we are expecting a 5 year payback as well as
at $40,000 rebate check from PSE so total cost for this project is $108,000.
Digital Menu Boards are completed and operational that will provide more flexibility
in the presentation of the food items which is shown to increase sales.
Next lighting project for energy savings will be the parking lot lights which are
being evaluated now.
Building is going through a complete repaint on the interior.
We are looking next to other improvements in; concession stands, replacement of
the carpets and furniture.
We will continue to watch the concrete cracks but there is nothing structurally
wrong so it is just for esthetics.
We are expecting a visit from Accesso to explore opportunities to extend the
naming rights agreement. Showare was bought out a year ago by Accesso and
some signage changes may occur.
10. Economic Development Update
Andrew Cornona presented the Economic Development update and outlined some
recent retail activities in the last month or so or will be coming.
• To Go's Grand opening at Kent Station
• Rita's Italian Ice opening first store in the State of Washington at Market Place
at Lake Meridian next to Trader Joes
• Additional quick serve restaurants at Panther Lake Shopping Center
• At the Old Panther Lake Elementary there is a LOI on the site for 3 separate
quick serve restaurants
• RB's at 212th and West Valley will be coming
• 50,000 square foot of retail Shopping center along the 104th is under contract
with a California developer that specializes in value add, they will take
deteriorated sites and put in some capital to attract higher end tenants. They
are looking at developing a pad out front on 104th for quick serve restaurants.
• Langston Landing on Washington has been in to talk with City Staff on
increasing visibility and developing another pad.
Adjournment
Chair Boyce adjourned the meeting at 6: p.m.
J i�f''ulliam
onomic & Community Development Committee
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