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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 2015-06-25 Minutes - Public Hearing - 2015 Comprehensive Plan: Housing and Residential Neighborhoods ElementsCity of Tukwila Planning Commission PLANNING COMMISSION (PC) MINUTES Date: June 25, 2015 Time: 6:30 PM Location: Council Chambers Present: Chair, Mike Hansen; Vice Chair, Sharon Mann; Commissioners, Louise Strander, Thomas McLeod, and Brooke Alford Commissioner Miguel Maestas - Arrived at 6:45 pm Absent; Commissioner, Nhan Nguyen Staff: Nora Gierloff, Deputy Director; Laura Benjamin, Assistant Planner, Rebecca Fox, Senior Planner, and Wynetta Bivens, Planning Commission Secretary Chair Hansen called the public hearing to order at 6:40 pm. Motion: Commissioner Alford made a motion to adopt the 05/21/15 and 05/28/15 minutes. Commissioner McLeod seconded the motion and all were in favor. Chair Hansen opened the public hearing and swore in those wishing to provide testimony. CASE NUMBERS: PL13 -0051 —2015 Comprehensive Plan Update L13 -0052 — Housing L13 -0053 — Residential Neighborhoods APPLICANT: City of Tukwila REQUEST: Proposed amendments to the Housing Element and Residential Neighborhoods Element of the Comprehensive Plan as part of the periodic review and update of the Plan required by the Washington Growth Management Act LOCATION: Citywide Nora Gierloff, Deputy Director, Department of Community Development, explained that staff created a video to provide background on the Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan) Update. The video was played following Ms. Gierloff's comments. Following is a portion of the information that was incorporated in the video. The Comp Plan is a State mandated 20 year vision, which includes State, Regional, King County, and City of Tukwila policies. The purpose of the plan is to guide City decisions, which is made up of various elements and topics. Every eight to twelve years the City assesses how well the plan is working and makes changes. The current update begin in 2011 and will we be completed by the end of 2015. The City has had many forms of public outreach to inform residences, guests and the business community regarding the update process to give them the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed updates. Additional information regarding the Comp Plan Update can be obtained on the City's website. Laura Benjamin, Assistant Planner, Department of Community Development explained the review process for the Housing and Residential Neighborhood Element. Public Hearing Minutes June 25, 2015 Public Comments: Bill Holstine, a 25 year citizen said he has been engaged in conversations with the City for the past six months. His said his main issues are privacy being compromised and the impacts of the maximum building heights in the neighborhood. He said side windows that compromise privacy should not be allowed. He said there should be some coordination with citizens who are going to be impacted by very tall structures. He suggested a policy be adopted for maximum 25 ft. building heights and increased lot sizes. Joan Hernandez, citizen, encouraged maintenance improvement and diversity in the City housing stock. She spoke in support of historical preservation for all private property owners and inquired whether it was referenced in the Comp Plan. Staff said the City does support historical preservation, which is addressed and incorporated in policy 1.3 of the Community Image and Identity element of the Comp Plan. Ms. Hernandez said she did not feel like policy 1.3 was enough because there is no commitment. She requested the Commission consider amending the Comp Plan to reference language in the Residential Neighborhood Element providing the opportunity to property owners to apply for the landmark status. The Commission were in support of adding language to the Comp Plan to support Ms. Hernandez's request. Commissioner Hansen requested a place holder in the matrix to incorporate language. Hamdi Abdull, Executive Director, Somali and Youth and Family Club said the affordable housing situation is very bad, which causes a lot of homelessness. She said there needs to be consideration to see what can be done to support affordable housing for large families and it needs to be comprehensive and inclusive. She said what is currently called affordable is not affordable. Alyssa Mehl and Richard Loo, Representatives for Bellwhether Housing, a non -profit low income and affordable housing provider. Mr. Loo provided background information on Bellwhether Housing. He discussed the challenge they face in providing affordable houses. He is urging that the City's Comp Plan emphasis the prioritization of permanently affordable housing to create long term stability in the City. Ms. Mehl said they think the following three strategies will help provide incentives and attract housing development to the City. They are requesting they are addressed in the Comp: 1) Reduction of parking requirements, 2) The reduction of studio unit size requirements, 3) Partial exemptions of impact fees for qualified affordable housing projects. Barbara Bader, asked the Commission to comment on the Draft TIB element regarding the cultural and ethnic vision. Staff clarified that the element she was referring to was discussed at the May PC meeting. Ms. Bader also commented on reduced parking, and 400 sq. ft. units, which she said she is opposed to being adopted. She said the area is impacted by low income and affordable housing and she would like to see more concentration of economic low income development. Graydon Manning, Representative for Homestead Community Land Trust, a non -profit home ownership group focused on low income housing development. They create permanently affordable home ownership with a one -time subsidy. He said the current zoning restrictions prevents them from maximizing the allowable 35 units for a proposed development in the Page 2 of 4 Public Hearing Minutes June 25, 2015 Cascade View neighborhood. He said they appreciation and support the following policies, 3. 1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.6 as well as 7.3 and 7.4 for residential neighborhoods. He also said they were in agreement with the development strategies mentioned by the Bellwhether Housing representatives. Commissioner Mann asked Mr. Manning if they were to build a 35 unit development how could they assure that it wouldn't look like a project but blend into the neighborhood. Mr. Manning said they have many strategies and the utilization of fantastic designs would prevent it from looking out of place. He said they could write enforcement mechanisms in the home owner's association agreement to ensure it is integrated into the community. Amy Gore, Sustainable Community Instructor, Futurewise, said they are requesting a specific and clear affordable housing development and preservation program in the Comp Plan. She said they urge the City to include language for the following three issues in the Draft Housing Element that will better address the need: 1) Add a policy which addresses the risk of displacement of low income communities, particularly in proximity to transit; 2) Include additional tools such as density bonuses, impact fee exemptions, reduced parking, and housing trust fund under policy 3.2. They urge the City to ensure that any incentives provided by the City be tied directly and explicitly to public benefits like affordable housing, 3) Ensure that all affordable housing preserved or developed with City resources have long term affordability requirements and be offered at below market rate rents. Kayla Schott Bresler, Policy Manager, Housing Development Consortium, King County, requested that a policy is added to the Comp Plan specifically addressing the housing needs for folks making less than 30% of the area median income. She said it is critical that the redevelopment strategies are coupled with affordable housing incentives to ensure Tukwila can meet the needs of current and future residents as housing prices increase. She expressed appreciation for the preservation policy and implementation strategies in the Housing Element. She urge the City to look at both qualitative and quantitative measures of evaluating housing needs such as, adequate size housing stock for families, healthy conditions, near transit, and permanent affordability requirement. Hyojin Whitford, citizen, said she is proposing that the current lot size be reduced from 6500 sq. ft. to 6000 sq. ft. because current lot sizes are limiting. She said reducing the lot size will allow for new development and maximize the property value by having new quality and attractive housing for the residential neighborhoods. She asked that the Commission seriously consider her request. Todd Smith, citizen, expressed concern that the housing element and the way housing is being looked at is not cohesive. He asked why the City can't partnership with groups that have good development ideas. Paula Cabunoc, citizen, said that she is opposed to reducing the current lot size, and she does not want dense housing. She also said the community should be able to provide input. There were no further comments. The public hearing was closed. Page 3 of 4 Public Hearing Minutes June 25, 2015 Matrix Walkthrough — Housing and Residential Neighborhoods Elements Staff and the Planning Commission completed a walkthrough of the Issues Matrix. The Planning Commission was in consensus to approve incorporated recommendations and comments as amended with additional changes noted below. All recommendations from meetings, comment letters and or emails from 6/18/15 — 6/23/15 are incorporated in the attached Housing and Residential Neighborhoods Element Matrix 6.25.15, version 6.9.15. Changes: Housing Revision: Row 22, comment noted section - row 19 is referenced, revise to referenced row 20 Residential Neighborhoods Add - policy 7.2.6, Language to read: "Strict code enforcement for neighborhood quality, especially regarding noise and odor." Motion: Commissioner McLeod made a motion to adopt Case Number L13 -0052 - Housing L13 -0053 and Residential Neighborhoods Elements as amended and forward them to the City Council for review. Commissioner Alford seconded the motion. All were in favor. Director's Report Staff provided an update of upcoming meetings Staff thanked the Commission for their hard work on the Comp Plan. And Chair Hansen commended staff on their exceptional preparation on the Comp Plan. Adjourned: 8:50 PM Submitted by: Wynetta Bivens Planning Commission Secretary Attachment Adopted: 7/23/15 Page 4 of 4