Planning 2013-05-21 Minutes - Work Session - Comprehensive Plan Southcenter / Tukwila Urban Center and Transportation Element

Browse Search

PC Work Session Minutes Commissioner McLeod stated that he doesn't favor head tax or sales tax on businesses to generate new revenue since it isn't popular. He suggested that the best way to generate new revenues is to create environments and destinations where people want to be. He used the example of I -Fly and Bicycles West now being located adjacent to each other, and forming a destination. He asked about the City's creating a public /private partnership w/ REI at Tukwila Pond, or the possibility of using vacant warehouses to attract art and entertainment. He feels that Tukwila needs destinations for entrepreneurs. Cyndy stated support for visionary documents that guide us, but indicated that Public Works staff always asks how to make this happen. Her desire is to give the Planning Commission sufficient background to have some idea of the ramifications of vision. There are many ways to change this, perhaps more incentivizing certain types of activity that will change current lifestyles or ways of travel. But, under what we know today, there is an issue for funding and we must be aware of that as we make policy recommendations. Commissioner McLeod noted the relative lack of bus routes serving the Community Center, and asked if there is a currently an effort to increase public transportation there. Cyndy said that she was not aware of anything specific to TCC. King County Metro wants to provide routes where there are destinations and patrons. We can try to bring this forward to guide them in future, but right now it's a challenge since King County is having its own problems. Commissioner McLeod asked if there were any further talks about light rail at Boeing Field. Nora replied that there is a policy about looking for a station at Boeing Field. Although Tukwila brings this up at regional meetings, momentum is to extend service areas rather than going back and adding stations. The Boeing Field station is not as big a priority for Sound Transit as it is for us, we are trying to keep it on their radar. Transit goal, Policy 1,.4.1 states: Support and encourage the location of a light rail stop at Boeing Access Road. (P 23 of strikeout /underline version.) Commisioner Maestas inquired about the option to deny /delay /reduce new growth if sufficient funding is not available. He wanted to know how does new growth not fund itself? How would we increase funding in relation to new growth since it doesn't fund itself? Cyndy explained that the transportation impact fee program assesses new growth to pay for new growth. This doesn't necessarily always pay for itself, and this is by design. There is hesitation to pass on full cost of growth. Tukwila doesn't want to set fees to low or too high, but it's a balancing act that doesn't always achieve that directive. 8 Rf Z: \DCD \PC minutes- -5.21 & 5.23\5-2 1 -13- -Work Session Minutes.doc 6/20/2013