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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 2023-01-26 Minutes - Protocols Training / New Requirements for Local Housing PlanningCity of Tukwila 1111111 1111111111 epartment of Community Development - Nora Gierloff, AICP, Director CITY OF TUKWILA PLANNING COMMISSION (PC) MINUTES Allan Ekberg, Mayor Date: January 26, 2023 Time: 6:30 PM Location: Hybrid Meeting - virtual meeting via Microsoft Teams / public, in-person attendance, Council Chambers, 6200 Southcenter Blvd, Tukwila, WA 98188 Vice Chair Sidhu called the meeting to order. Roll Call Present: Chair Apneet Sidhu; Commissioners Louise Strander, Vice Chair Sharon Mann, Dennis Martinez, and Alexandria Teague Excused Absence: Commissioner Martin Probst (1 current vacancy) Rotation of 2023 PC Officers The PC Secretary stated for the record the process of how the PC members rotate to chair and vice chair, Commissioner Apneet Sidhu is the 2023 Chair and Commissioner Sharon Mann is the 2023 Vice Chair and they both assumed their position immediately during the meeting. Staff: Director Nora Gierloff, American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), Department of Community Development (DCD); Long -Range Planning Manager Nancy Eklund, AICP, DCD; Senior Planner Neil Tabor, AICP, DCD; Assistant City Attorney Emily Romanenko, and PC Secretary Wynetta Bivens Adopt Commissioner Strander made a motion to adopt the December 8, 2022, minutes and Minutes: Commissioner Mann seconded. Commissioner Martinez abstained; he was not in attendance. Motion passed. General Public Comments No submittals. PC Protocols Refresher Emily Romanenko, Assistant City Attorney, referenced her presentation and gave an overview on: - Definition (OPA) Requirements. - Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA). - Appearance of Fairness Doctrine related to quasi-judicial hearings. - A description of what "Official business" includes: public testimony, deliberations, discussions, considerations, reviews, and final action, types of meetings and when to notice meetings Public meetings versus public hearings. - Changes to the OPMA since House Bill (HB) 1329 was adopted: physical meeting locations are required for the public; remote attendance of the board allowed; and that the public must be given the opportunity to comment at meetings where "final action" occurs. Tukwila City Hall • 6200 Southcenter Boulevard • Tukwila, WA 98188 • 206-433-1800 • Website: TukwilaWA.gov PC Meeting 1/26/23 Page 2 - Public records, and what a public record is, searching for records, public records vs private records. - Appearance of Fairness Doctrine requires that no ex parte contact is allowed relative to quasi-judicial actions. Department of Commerce Presentation — New Requirements for Local Housing Planning Nancy Eklund, Long -Range Planning Manager, AICP, DCD, introduced the presenter, Joe Tovar. Joe Tovar, Consultant, American Institute of Certified Planners Fellow (FAICP), from the Department of Commerce, Middle Housing Grant section, gave an overview on the comprehensive planning process and the update. He provided background on the Department of Commerce (Commerce) and the Growth Management Act (GMA); some of the major features and the role of the State versus the County, the City, and the Regional County; new housing requirements; a recent opinion survey taken in Washington; and the Commerce assistance that can be offered. The GMA, which was adopted in 1990, exists to address uncoordinated development and urban sprawl; to manage threats to the quality of life in Washington; and to require local planning — all guided by state law, and regionally coordinated. Following are some explanations and/or suggestions that were provided in the GMA framework: there are 14 GMA goals that provide direction on how cities should plan and what they should prioritize. Planning involves making sure goals and policies are in step with regulations and capital projects. There are 39 counties in Washington, but they are not all required to plan under GMA in the same way. Twenty-nine counties are "planning fully" under GMA and must also develop countywide or multicounty policies that will guide how their cities develop their plans. Within the Puget Sound area (the Puget Sound Regional Council area including King, Pierce, Kitsap, and Snohomish counties), the deadline for submitting updates to Comprehensive Plans and associated regulations is December 2024. There is a housing crisis. There has been extensive discussion around housing in recent legislatures, and cities have had to add local policies to respond to requirements. The state fell short of meeting the housing supply needs from 2000-2015. There are disparities in housing in Washington State and rates of cost -burden are highest in communities of color (Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC)), which means they spend a greater portion of their income than they should on housing, etc. In 2021, Washington State adopted HB 1220 to direct communities to strengthen how they plan for and accommodate housing needs for all income bands. HB 1220 changed Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 36.70A.070 for townhomes, duplexes, and triplexes housing option: this type of housing is known as "middle housing" and is sometimes called "missing middle housing," because not much of it has been built over the past 30+ years. With population growth anticipated, Commerce projects that there will be a housing need of more than one million homes statewide over the next 20 years. There is debate around trying to determine how states and cities can provide greater opportunities for home ownership, etc. Mr. Tovar also provided information on the 2022 Joint Housing Opinion Survey. The results of the question, "What are the most pressing issues?" revealed that housing costs and homelessness are the top two issues throughout Washington State. Results further revealed that more housing options for seniors, teachers, firefighters, childcare workers, and health care workers are needed. He noted that 74% of respondents preferred new housing to be in walkable neighborhoods and that 64% wanted their community to offer more diverse and affordable types of housing. The survey found that p eople want lower rents, as the cost of buying a home is unaffordable, and more reasonably priced housing. Another survey question indicated that respondents Phone: 206-433-1800 • Email: Mayor@TukwilaWA.gov • Website: TukwilaWA.gov PC Meeting 1/26/23 Page 3 wanted the government to do more — work together to address the need for housing and support opportunities to provide housing not currently being delivered on the market. Mr. Tovar described some of the technical assistance the Commerce has provided to the City of Tukwila, e.g., grants to support the Housing Action Plan (HAP), the HAP Implementation, and the Middle Housing study. The City must complete the work for the Middle Housing grant by June 30, 2023 deliverables. He noted that the area communities working on middle housing grant projects meet regularly for coordination and education. The Department of Commerce has developed the following assistance for planners and the community: a main Housing webpage; information on Growth Management; and HB 1220 guidance. Other resources include the Middle Housing Technical Team; Growth Management Periodic updates; and the Short Course on Local Planning (PC staff expressed interest in this free training). Mr. Tovar addressed several questions from the PC. There was discussion concerning how to get more data to help make decisions. Staff shared some data with the PC and more information will be forthcoming. Director's Report - Nancy Eklund provided some updates. She notedthatpart of middle housing grant funding allows for outreach to community-based organizations to facilitate obtaining their input. - A draft schedule was shown and discussion ensued of the 2023 PC Work Program. One of the main focuses will be on the mandatory housing element and other elements of the periodic update. - Nancy suggested the PC could host a public meeting/open house on the Comp Plan update and issues to be considered. The PC had questions regarding the purpose and wanted to make sure the open house is focused and targeted to ensure they are prepared. - The draft schedule indicated that, at this point, there may be two PC meetings in May and June in order to complete the middle housing work to be developed by the June 15th deliverable deadline. - Staff anticipates having a full staff -recommended review draft by the beginning of 2024. The Comp Plan will be subject to an environmental review, after which it will be forwarded to the City Council (CC) for their review. Ideally, the Plan will be completed by September 2024 (since 2024 is a CC budget year and that will consume the latter half of the year). - Director Gierloff said that agenda items will take a lot to get through and each of them will only be touched once except for housing, so that's a lot to get through in a night. She said with the PC Chair's help running efficient meetings, and making sure PC have all the information they need at the meeting, they can focus on a certain item and review it in limited time. She requested that the PC reach out to staff in advance to request anything they need. Then staff can address any questions or help the PC with any clarity needed. Staff can also include information in their presentation, which will be really helpful. She suggested doing a time check in a few months. if it seems like these are really unreasonable expectations to get through the material they will need to talk about additional meetings. There is a firm deadline and PC review time cannot stretch out too far because time needs to be reserved for CC review. She said staff are really looking for the PC to be partners with them on how they can best present this material to them so it is easy to understand and they will have the information they need to conduct efficient review. She said a lot of feedback from the PC would be great. - Commissioner Sidhu echoed what Director Gierloff said and suggested setting a deadline of 12:00 pm the Tuesday prior to the meeting for PC to reach out to staff with any requests or questions. Phone: 206-433-1800 • Email: Mayor@TukwilaWA.gov • Website: TukwilaWA.gov PC Meeting 1/26/23 Page 4 Chair Sidhu asked for a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Mann moved to adjourn and Commissioner Martinez seconded the motion. Adjourned: 8:32 pm Submitted by: Wynetta Bivens Planning Commission Secretary Adopted: 2/23/23 Phone: 206-433-1800 • Email: Mayor@TukwilaWA.gov • Website: TukwilaWA.gov