HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 2021-05-27 Minutes - Work Session - Transit Oriented Development Housing Action PlanCity of Tukwila
Allan Ekberg, Mayor
Department of Community Development - Nora Gierloff, AICP, Director
CITY OF TUKWILA
PLANNING COMMISSION (PC) WORK SESSION
MINUTES
Date: May 27, 2021
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Virtual meeting via Microsoft Teams
Present: Chair Louise Strander; Vice Chair Karen Simmons; Commissioners Sharon Mann, Dennis
Martinez, Dixie Stark, Andrea Reay, and Apneet Sidhu
Staff: Department of Community Development (DCD) Director Nora Gierloff, Acting Planner
Supervisor Nancy Eklund, Associate Planner Meredith Sampson, and Planning Commission
Secretary Wynetta Bivens
Welcome: Chair Strander welcomed the new Commissioner Apneet Sidhu to the PC Board. Commissioner
Sidhu said he is looking forward to the opportunity to serve.
Adopt Commissioner Mann moved to adopt the 4/22/21 minutes
Minutes: Commissioner Martinez seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Chair Strander called the meeting to order.
Agenda
Item:
Transit Oriented Development Housing Action Plan (TODHAP)
Meredith Sampson, Associate Planner, DCD, gave the presentation for staff. She gave an overview of the process
for the TODHAP moving forward, including PC review of the analysis and draft recommendations outlined; She
outlined that this plan is a guidance document, and the outcome will serve to guide future Comprehensive Plan
amendments and code changes, but will not change any codes. She provided background information and gave an
overview on what the housing action plan does; provided housing community data; and gave an explanation on area
median income (AMI). She also noted that data from the study showed that Blacks and Hispanic renters are cost -
burdened (cost -burdened means 30% or more of income is spent on rent) at a higher rate than other racial groups,
which is disproportionate for the share of the population these groups make up. She said the direction of the Plan is
to identify pathways to increase residential building compacities while minimizing displacement of existing
residents in the TIB Station Area. The TIB Station Area is a half mile walkshed around the TIB Light Rail Station.
The three objectives of the Plan are: providing higher density development; ensuring anti -displacement and
community stabilization; and improving station area planning and infrastructure. These objectives are supported
based on what staff heard as community needs during the Plan's public outreach process, and the grant requirements.
Public outreach has been a priority and started with the creation of a public engagement plan, which took the City's
Equity Policy into consideration. There were stakeholder interviews and focus groups completed as part of the
Tukwila City Hall • 6200 Southcenter Boulevard = Tukwila, WA 98188 • 206-433-1800 • Website: TukwilaWA.gov
PC Work Session Minutes
5/27/21
Page 2
outreach process, as well as a virtual community open house held on the Plan on May 12th. Some of the key points
and concerns attendees at public outreach events expressed were:
• That there are not enough multi -family units;
• That developers are generally constrained by City parking requirements;
• That open space is important in urban areas and that it can contribute to a higher quality of life;
• That the lack of housing and affordable options seems to be a regional issue, and if not addressed quickly,
the situation will become more dire; and
• Participants love living in Tukwila and want to continue to live in the City without getting priced out or
displaced.
The public outreach resulted in the development of 18 draft recommendations that staff reviewed with the PC to get
their feedback and direction.
At the PC request, staff clarified that the dotted line around the TIB Link Light Rail Station represented a half mile
perimeter "as a crow flies" from the station and that the shaded grey area represented the half mile walkshed around
the TIB Link Light Rail Station, i.e., a half mile walking on surface streets from the station. Staff also stated that
the plan did not address properties within SeaTac, although some may be within a half mile of the station; the Plan
only focuses on areas in Tukwila. The Commission also requested that staff highlight which of the
recommendations focused specifically on the TIB area, versus those that were focused Citywide.
Draft Recommendations — Revisions/Requests:
The PC suggested revisions and/or requests to the following draft recommendations proposed by staff. Staff will
incorporate revisions and/or requests, which PC will review at the June 24 PC public hearing.
A2) Reduce Parking Ratios
PC Recommendation: Revised language for parking requirements broken down by studio units, one -
bedroom units, and two-bedroom units.
A4) Adjust Recreational Space Requirements
PC Requests: 1) Staff provide status on the vacant lot owned by the City on TIB; 2) staff provide
information on what other communities have 10% requirements and how it compares to Tukwila.
B1) Consider a 12 -year MFTE Program
PC Request: Spell out MFTE (multi -family tax exemption) in the PowerPoint slide title sentence.
B2) Identify Opportunities to Increase Homeownership
PC Request: Add language to provide incentives for medium priced housing, to help with homeownership;
and specify which organizations will be included in the process.
B3) Support Community and Faith Based Institutions' Efforts to Develop Affordable Housing
PC Requests: 1) Provide examples of impact fees that the developer will pay; 2) provide language for
community hire consideration (i.e., that local talent be hired for development projects); 3) Provide options,
to strike the language or revised language for PC to consider.
Phone: 206-433-1800 • Email: Mayor@TukwilaWA.gov • Website: TukwilaWA.gov
PC Work Session Minutes
5/27/21
Page 3
B4) Expand Tenant Support
PC Request: 1) Add the following language to the PowerPoint slide under next steps: "The City will
consider a good landlord incentive program."; 2) include language that supports landlords in improving the
quality of their properties.
B5) Monitor and Track Regulated Affordable Housing
PC Request: Confirm that this recommendation aligns with the 12 -year MFTE Program.
B6) Monitor and Track Unregulated Affordable Housing
PC Request: Confirm that this recommendation aligns with the 12 -year MFTE Program.
B7) Offer Tools and Strategies for Housing Preservation
PC Request: 1) Revise language for a 7 -year home repair grant, loan, or assistance program; 2) provide
language that strikes mention of intent to sell notice.
B8) Evaluate a Preservation Funding Program in Exchange for Affordability Restrictions.
PC Request: Add language noting restrictions of the partnership.
C1) Create a Development Framework and Planned Street Network for Parcels South of SR518
PC Request: 1) Add language, "propose development framework." instead of "consider" that promotes
flexibility; 2) Staff will revise language, and/or add option to strike.
Next Steps:
A public hearing will be held on the TODHAP on June 24th. The PC will make their recommendations to be
forwarded to the City Council for their consideration. This item will go to City Council on August 2nd
Director's Report:
- DCD is currently in the process of filling five staffing positions, which were vacant or frozen positions.
Director Gierloff said she knows there is a lot of concern around the permit backlog, which developed due
to low staffing. And that staff are working diligently toward correcting and getting back to the previous
level of permit processes. She said she has been attending the Community and Development Committee
meetings and giving them updates.
There will be an extra PC meeting on June 10th on the Tukwila South Residential Design Standards.
Adjourned: 9:35 p.m.
Submitted by: Wynetta Bivens
Planning Commission Secretary
Adopted: 6/10/21
Phone: 206-433-1800 • Email: Mayor@TukwilaWA.gov • Website: TukwilaWA.gov