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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Economic and Community Development Committee - 11/14/2016 • KENT WASHINGTON ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES November 14, 2016 Committee Members Dana Ralph on behalf of Bill Boyce (Absent), Tina Budell, Jim Berrios 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Changes to the Agenda City Attorney Tom Brubaker introduced new Assistant City Attorney Adam Long. 4. None S. Approval of Minutes Committee Member Berrios MOVED and Committee Member Budell SECONDED a Motion to Approve the Minutes of October 10, 2016. Motion PASSED 3-0. 6. Multifamily Design Guidelines Long Range Planner Hayley Bonsteel stated that the updated Multifamily Design Guidelines (MFDG) replace guidelines that are twenty years old. The updated guidelines encourage flexible and innovative MF development that will raise regional standards for durability, quality and attractiveness. The MFDG was discussed at two workshops before the Land Use and Planning Board in July and October, with a hearing held October 24t" where the Board passed the guidelines unanimously. Staff worked extensively with the development and consultant community, and the City Parks Department who contributed valuable input. The Guidelines are formatted with strong intent statements, provides clarity and a variety of ways to meet that intent, is flexible and allows for innovation. Additional photos are included as guidelines to inspire developers and project managers. Associated code amendments are straightforward. Footnotes have been added to the use table to define what type of design can be applied per zone. Bonsteel informed that there is a setback change from 20 feet to 10 feet to create a good street envelope and create sense of place in MF development. Committee Member Berrios MOVED and Committee Member Budell Seconded a Motion to recommend to the City Council approval of the proposed code amendments to Title 15 of the Kent City Code (KCC) and adoption of updated Multifamily Design Guidelines as presented by staff. Motion Passed 3-0. 6. Multifamily Tax Exemption Program Current Planning Manager Matt Gilbert stated that this program is currently offered in its downtown core area for qualifying multifamily projects. This exemption allows property tax calculations to not change when the project is complete. Increases in tax valuation will not show up on tax rolls for eight years and can be a significant financial incentive. Staff proposes that the City and Council expand this incentive to the Riverbend site. This incentive is a tool that can be used to ensure the City can continue to get high quality development. The Committee discussed their concerns on where the boundaries for this exemption program should be placed. Gilbert offered to report back to the Committee on December 12tn concerning the redline boundary issue and offer additional boundary options prior to taking this to City Council December 13tn Ralph suggested moving the redline to include the Colony Park Apartments site - up to the edge of the driving range with Berrios voicing support to include this site. City Attorney Tom Brubaker stated that this item will go before the Operations Committee on November 15 and to City Council that same night. Committee Member Budell moved and Committee Member Berrios seconded the motion to recommend that the city council adopt a resolution to establish an urban center at the location shown in Exhibit A with the amendment to expand the exemption boundary area to cover the colony park apartments up to the edge of the driving range and schedule a hearing to establish a residential target area for the December 13, 2016 city council meeting. Motion PASSED 3-0. 7. Update to the City of Kent Surface Water Design Manual (SWDM) Environmental Conservation Analyst Laura Haren presented this item on behalf of Shawn Gilbertson, Environmental Supervisor. The City's SWDM adopts the new 2016 King County SWDM and includes Kent specific details. State law requires that Kent update their storm water standards. This update is driven by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) which is a part of the Federal Clean Water Act; a discharging permitting system to control the discharge of pollutants into the waters of the State of Washington. The Environmental Protection Agency delegated administration of the NPDES Program to Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE). Haren stated that Kent is covered under the Phase II municipal storm water permit which includes storm water permits for construction and industrial activities; describing the requirements for which Kent is responsible, including implementation of low impact development (LID) by January 1, 2017. Haren described the potential increased costs associated with LID and the need for specialized training. Kent will create development assistance brochures, provide website technical assistance, develop permit pre-application assistance, and provide plan review. The document is currently undergoing review by the Department of commerce. The Land Use and Planning Board will hold a public hearing November 28, and then will go before the Public Works Operations Committee for action on December 5. Implementation will be phased in following acceptance and adoption. S. Sound Transit (ST) Update Hayley Bonsteel reported that staff conducted a comprehensive review process and provided 375 comments to ST on the pre-final submittal; continuing to work on ECDC Minutes November 14, 2016 2 this project in order to meet ST deadlines, and ultimately through the development agreement to be reimbursed for this project. Staff will return to Council May 2017 with a development agreement. Staff is working on a memorandum of understanding to be presented to Council at a workshop on December 13 that will demonstrate that staff has been working with the ST Board to gather and identify issues where we are committed to streamlining our processes to ensure that we meet ST's timelines. Staff will provide comments on the Final Environmental Impact Statement. 9. ShoWare Update Current Planning Manager Matt Gilbert asked that this item be tabled until the next meeting in the absence of ECD Planning Director Ben Wolters. 10. Economic Development Update Economic Development Analyst Bill Ellis reported on the lighting project, stating that the City reached their fund raising targets in July 2016. Staff collaborated with Kent Downtown Partnership, Civil Engineering and a contracted design firm in August 2016 to work on the Meet Me on Meeker Project. The design firm has been working with "SeaTac Lighting and Control" (who has been working pro-bono) on how the city can get the lighting coverage needed within the allotted budget. Staff submitted a proposal to Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for an artistic lighting concept for underneath the Meeker St underpass on September 7th. Staff conducted a demonstration of the selected product type on September 29th and October 12th. Staff submitted new design iteration to WSDOT on October 18th and received comments back the same day. Staff resubmitted on October 215t, receiving positive comments from WSDOT on November Vt with a request to receive stamped drawings with greater specification. WSDOT voiced concern around the esthetic choice of one of the brackets for attaching the light fixture. Staff has developed a solution and will resubmit on November 16th with new stamped drawings from Civil Engineering and KDP. WSDOT's response time will likely be between two to six weeks. I hope to have a scope of work completed to give a vendor beginning December 16th and will return to Council in January for approval of that contract with installation completed by early February. Ellis stated that Sonic restaurant is coming to Kent. He spoke about the potential for development on the site on Pacific Highway where the Dollar Tree store was damaged as well as the site directly to the north and south. Panther Lake Elementary school has submitted a preapplication and is in process of hunting for the right tenant. A variety of businesses have shown interest in the old Albertsons location but as of yet US Realty Partners (property owners) have not found a perfect user. Ellis updated on action taken by the city concerning implementation of a training center as part of the River Bend Complex; an outgrowth of America's Promise Grant submitted in August for 5.92 million dollars to help South King County Council of Human Services trainers bring disadvantaged populations (including ECDC Minutes November 14, 2016 3 Kent residents) and connect them to the right service to get them into the right job in advanced manufacturing. Staff is working with the Center for Advanced Manufacturing Puget Sound (CAMPS) and hopes to hear positive results in a few weeks. As an outgrowth of that discussion, staff has convened the colleges in South Seattle: South Seattle Technical Center, Green River College, Department of Commerce, CAMPS, the Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee and the Port of Seattle around conversations to reuse the River's Edge complex comprised of three buildings, with 43,000 sf and currently owned by King County Flood Control District. The Port supports our efforts to repurpose 10.824 million dollars in training facility dollars allocated by the State of Washington. Adjournment Committee Member Dana Ralph adjourned the meeting at 5:55 p.m. MkLcQ wy Submitted by Pamela Mottram on behalf of Julie Pulliam Economic & Community Development Committee ECDC Minutes November 14, 2016 4