HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 2021-07-22 Minutes - Zoning Code Changes for Emergency Shelters, Transitional Housing and Permanent Supportive HousingDate:
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City of Tukwila
Allan Ekberg, Mayor
Department of Community Development - Jack Pace, Director
CITY OF TUKWILA
PLANNING COMIN/HSSION
PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES
July 22, 2021
6:30 PM
Virtual meeting via Microsoft Teams
Chair Louise Strander; Vice Chair Karen Simmons; Commissioners Dennis Martinez, Sharon
Mann, Dixie Stark, Andrea Reay and Apneet Sidhu
Nora Gierloff, Department of Community Development (DCD), Director; Emily Miner,
Assistant City Attorney, and Planning Commission (PC) Secretary Wynetta Bivens
Nora Gierloff, DCD Director, went over the virtual meeting protocols.
Commissioner Mann raised some concerns regarding the accuracy of the 6/24/21 PC minutes
and asked staff to review the PC recording to verify accuracy.
Commissioner Mann moved to table adoption of the minutes until the next meeting to ensure
accuracy. Commissioner Martinez seconded the motion. Motion passed.
The Planning Commission Secretary later reviewed the 6/24/21 recording and confirmed based
on the findings, the minutes that were submitted in the 7/22/21 PC packet were accurate.
Verbatim minutes of the findings for the section of the minutes in question were emailed to the
PC on 7/23/21.
Chair Strander opened the public hearing for:
CASE NUMBERS: E21-0003; L21-0092
PURPOSE: Consider Tukwila Zoning Code changes to respond to new requirements in State
law regarding permitted locations for emergency shelters, transitional housing, and
permanent supportive housing.
LOCATION: Citywide
Chair Strander swore in persons wishing to speak.
Nora Gierloff, DCD Director, gave the presentation. She said that HB 1220 is a new State law that will go into
effect 9/30/21. There are different sections in the ordinance, but the current focus for PC review is on housing
and homeless/supportive shelters, which are mandatory and apply to all cities and counties. The first section of
this bill will add some additional analysis around affordable housing needs assessments and displacement, etc.,
which was recently addressed in the Housing Action Plan. The Zoning Code is being updated to reflect the
changes that have been made. In 2022 there will also be a focus to add some new requirements to the
Comprehensive Plan Update, which must be completed by 2024. In addition, there is a section for updates to the
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) regulation, which is not mandated. However, the suggestions from the State
will be reviewed in the future when DCD staffing levels are more robust. Review of the ADUs had begun in
2020 but had to be tabled due to the pandemic.
Tukwila City Hall • 6200 Southcenter Boulevard • Tukwila, WA 98188 • 206-433-1800 • Website: TukwilaWA.gov
PC Public Hearing
7/22/21
Page 2
Director Gierloff noted that emergency shelters and housing must be permitted where hotels are permitted, in
regional commercial, various industrial, and Tukwila South Districts. Also, transitional/supportive housing must
be permitted where hotels or housing is permitted. All zoning is encompassed citywide. These mandatory
changes for housing facilities are needed, and the goal is to proportionally distribute them across the State. There
are different kinds of shelters and supportive housing, but Tukwila currently allows for one type, which is for
domestic violence survivors. There are a few currently in Tukwila, which are single family homes or duplexes.
These few will be exempt from the new standards proposed in the ordinance, because the needs are different than
those of larger facilities.
Although the facilities are mandated, each city has control over operational criteria, to ensure increased success
of the facilities, and over location, to prevent excessive facilities, while accommodating an equitable share of
facilities.
A walkthrough was provided of staffs proposed changes and criteria to the ordinance. Also, next steps were
provided.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
There were no public comments.
Director Gierloff and the City Attorney addressed several clarifying questions for the PC.
Commissioner Strander closed the public hearing.
DELIBERATIONS
There was extensive discussion on several issues. Following are some of the noted questions and concerns.
- Is it the ultimate goal to not have single-family zoning in Tukwila?
- Will the State provide funding so cities will have the capacity to accommodate mandates?
- Non -Tukwila residents should not be allowed to seek shelter at Tukwila facilities.
- What are the implications if the State's 9/30/21 deadline is not met?
- Will walkability be determined for facilities located within a half -mile of transits?
- Concern was expressed regarding property values of homeowners adjacent to the facilities being
impacted.
- Will the current shelters in the community be permitted to count toward the mandates?
- Clarification was requested on why ADU's will be addressed at a later time.
- Is there any way to separate residents within the shelters?
There was a walk-through of the proposed Ordinance Language.
PC recommended revised language to the Ordinance Language (see motions below)
MOTIONS:
Commissioner Mann moved to amend language for 18.06.XXX Transitional Housing, to read;
"Transitional housing" means a facility that provides housing, case management, and supportive
services to homeless persons or families and that has as its purpose facilitating the movement of
homeless persons and families into independent living." Commissioner Martinez seconded the motion.
Motion passed.
Phone: 206-433-1800 • Email: Mayor@TukwilaWA.gov • Website: TukwilaWA.gov
PC Public Hearing
7/22/21
Page 3
Commissioner Mann moved to amend the language for 18.50.250 Emergency Housing and
Emergency Shelter Criteria; 45 to read; "The maximum number of residents in a facility is limited to
the general capacity of the building but in no case more than 45." Commissioner Stark seconded the
motion. Commissioner Sidhu opposed. Motion passed.
Commissioner Mann moved to amend added criteria 46 for 18.50.250 Emergency Housing and
Emergency Shelter Criteria; to read; `Buildings must have secure entrances staffed 24/7 with individual
units only accessible through interior corridors." Commissioner Martinez seconded the motion.
Commissioner Simmons opposed. Motion passed.
Commissioner Mann Moved to amend 18.50.260 Permanent Supportive Housing and Transitional
Housing Criteria 44; to read; "The maximum number of residents in a facility is limited to the general
capacity of the building but in no case more than 15 in LDR, 30 in MDR and 45 in HDR or other
zones." Commissioner Martinez seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Commissioner Mann Moved to amend added criteria 45 to18.50.260 Permanent Supportive Housing
and Transitional -Housing Criteria; to read; `Buildings must have secure entrances staffed 24/7 with
individual units only accessible through interior corridors." Commissioner Martinez seconded the
motion. Commissioner Simmons opposed. Motion passed.
Commissioner Mann moved to amend language to 18.50.270 Emergency Housing, Emergency
Shelter, Permanent Supportive Housing or Transitional Housing Memorandum of Agreement, Criteria
44; to read: "A coordination plan with both the Police and Fire Departments, including protocols for response to
the facility and to facility residents throughout the City and a maximum number of responses threshold for law
enforcement services as established by calls for services in TMC 5.60.040-060. If calls for law enforcement
services exceed the agreed upon threshold in any given quarter, the facility operator will work with the City to
reduce calls below the threshold level." Commissioner Stark seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Commissioner Mann moved to forward Case Number L21-0092 as amended to City Council for their
review. Commissioner Martinez seconded the motion. Motion passed.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
- In August the Small Cell Ordinance will go to PC for review.
- Commissioner Martinez and Commissioner Sidhu expressed their interest in staff receiving
help handling their workload due to the staffing shortage.
Adjourned: 10:15 p.m.
Submitted by: Wynetta Bivens
Planning Commission Secretary
Adopted: 8/26/21
Phone: 206-433-1800 • Email: Mayor@TukwilaWA.gov • Website: TukwilaWA.gov