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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 2015-05-28 Minutes - Public Hearing - 2015 Comprehensive Plan: Transportation Corridors / Tukwila International Boulevard District ElementCity of Tukwila Planning Commission PLANNING COMMISSION (PC) MINUTES Date: May 28, 2015 Time: 6:30 PM Location: Council Chambers Present: Chair, Mike Hansen; Vice Chair, Sharon Mann; Commissioners, Louise Strander, Brooke Alford, Thomas McLeod, Miguel Maestas and Nhan Nguyen Staff: Nora Gierloff, Deputy Director; Lynn Miranda, Senior Planner, Rebecca Fox, Senior Planner, Laura Benjamin, Assistant Planner and Wynetta Bivens, Planning Commission Secretary CASE NUMBER: PL13 -0051 - 2015 Comprehensive Plan Update L13 -0060 - Transportation Corridors /Tukwila International Boulevard District Element APPLICANT: City of Tukwila REQUEST: Proposed amendments to the Transportation Corridors /Tukwila International Boulevard District Element of the Comprehensive Plan as part of the periodic review and update of the Plan required by the Washington Growth Management Act. LOCATION: Vicinity of Tukwila International Boulevard district Chair Hansen called the public hearing to order at 6:40. Motion: Commissioner Mann made a motion to adopt the 04/23/15 minutes. Commissioner Strander seconded the motion and all were in favor. Chair Hansen opened the public hearing and swore in those wishing to provide testimony. Lynn Miranda, Senior Planner, Department of Community Development gave the presentation for staff. She explained that the public would comment on the proposed Tukwila International Boulevard (TIB) District Element of the Comprehensive Plan. She said that the element is going to guide public and private development actions over the next 20 years. It contains a new vision, goals, policies, implementation strategies and actions. The five main topic areas are landuse, Tukwila International Boulevard as a "main street ", walkability & connectivity, community & character, and public & private investment. Staff provided the Planning Commissioners with an Issues Matrix for their review that consisted of staff's proposed revisions from the Planning Commission's recommendations made at the 5/21/15 work session. It also included comments from a comment letter submitted by Pam Carter, dated 5/26/15, and comments from a meeting staff held on 5/28/15 prior to the public hearing with Commissioner Mann, who was unable to attend the work session. Public Comments: Adam Taylor, Global to Local Employee, expressed support for the element. He thanked the City for their efforts and support. He said it has been great working on other policy issues this year, and it is an on -going effort in which he is excited to do more. He also said he worked with Forterra on the Community Connector program. He said they played a role in engaging community members to reach out in their community and provide input for the Comprehensive Plan. Page 2 Public Hearing Minutes May 28, 2015 Reina Blandon, citizen, expressed support for the element. She read the comment letter that she submitted, which was handed out to the Planning Commission. She said she has been a volunteer in the Latino community for three years and they are growing, developing and getting more knowledge about the city. She said it was a result of the City's efforts to communicate more with diverse communities in Tukwila. She asked for continued support of their community with local business and affordable housing. Ms. Blandon said it is important to include affordable housing in the plan so their families can continue to live in Tukwila. She thanked the City for the investment in the sidewalk at Cascade View School, and said she would like to see more investment like that in the TIB area to benefit the community. She concluded by saying, "I am at your service ". Osman Egal, a citizen who has lived in Tukwila for 15 years, expressed support for the element. Mr. Egal has had the opportunity to volunteer with various organizations. He said the City has been supportive and he encourages continued investment in sidewalks and crosswalks, and in different family opportunities. Commissioner Nguyen requested that Mr. Egal and Ms. Blandon submit their comments in writing. He said it is important to understand everything that was said. Kayla Schott Bresler, representative for the Housing Development Consortium. Ms. Bresler said her organization is a non -profit affordable housing association working to ensure that everyone in King County has a safe, healthy, and affordable place to live. Ms. Bresler was also the representative for a joint comment letter submitted by The Housing Development Consortium, Forterra, Futurewise and Global to Local. Ms. Bresler thanked staff for their hard work. She said the City has a tremendous opportunity to provide the community with benefits that residents need as the TIB corridor is redeveloped. She mentioned using incentive programs. She said the City can achieve its goal by attracting market rate development while providing affordable housing. She encouraged the PC to consider their comments related to equity, housing, and transit oriented communities. She said they are suggesting changes to the TIB element that balance the community's needs around retaining affordable housing with economic development priorities. She also said there is a need for Tukwila to receive public benefits when allocating public resources toward attracting market rate development. There was encouragement to add more specific policies for equity, affordable housing, and the retention of the multi - culture character of the TIB neighborhood. There were no further comments. The public hearing was closed. The Planning Commission deliberated. Staff and the Planning Commission completed a walkthrough of the Issues Matrix. The Planning Commission was in consensus to approve all previously incorporated recommendations as revised by staff. During the walkthrough staff created additional language for several new recommendations made by the Planning Commission. All recommendations as amended are in the Issues Matrix dated 5/28/15. Motion: Commissioner Mann made a motion to forward the element as amended to the City Council for their consideration. Commissioner Alford seconded the motion. All were in favor. Adjourned: 9:20 PM Submitted by: Wynetta Bivens Planning Commission Secretary Adopted 6/25/15 Page 2 of 2