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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 2024-05-23 Minutes - Budget Presentation / Public Hearing on Zoning Code Amendments for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) / Tiny Home Village Code CITY OF TUKWILA PLANNING COMMISSION (PC) MINUTES Meeting Date: May 23, 2024 Time: 6:30 p.m. Location: Hybrid Meeting - via Microsoft Teams / Public, In-Person Attendance, Council Chambers, 6200 Southcenter Blvd., Tukwila, WA 98188 Call to Order Chair Probst called the Tukwila PC meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Roll Call The PC Secretary took roll call. Present: Chair Martin Probst; Commissioners Alexandria Teague, Jane Ho, Richard McLeland Wieser, and Alex Kaehler Excused Absence: Vice Chair Ann Durant and Commissioner Louise Strander Staff: Director Nora Gierloff, American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), Department of Community Development (DCD); Development Supervisor Max Baker, AICP, DCD; Associate Planner Issaac Gloor, DCD; Acting Director Tony Cullerton, Finance; Director Hari Ponnekanti, Public Works (PW); and PC Secretary Wynetta Bivens, DCD Amendment of the Agenda Chair Probst asked for a motion to accept the agenda as presented. Commissioner McLeland Wieser moved to accept the agenda. Commissioner Kaehler seconded the motion. Motion passed. Approve Minutes Commissioner McLeland Wieser moved to approve the 4/25/24 minutes. Commissioner Ho seconded the motion. Commissioner Teague abstained as she was absent. Motion passed. Written General Public Comments A general public comment letter was received from Jon Grant on 5/22/23 and was distributed to the PC on 5/23/23. Old Business None. New Business a. Budget Presentation Acting Finance Director Cullerton, joined by PW Director Ponnekanti, gave a budget presentation. He said the city has started the 2025-2026 biennial budget process. A Finance Committee (FC) was formed that Planning Commission Minutes 5/23/24 Page 2 reviewed the city’s Financial Sustainability Plan and provided recommendations, which went to the City Council (CC) for their review. The Finance Department is also conducting some policy reviews and working on a utility cost study. An overview was provided on some of the tools listed below that were used for the budget process and outreach by the FC with boards and commissions, as well as the community. - Budget process and roles: The city staff prepares the budget; the mayor presents it to the CC; CC makes adjustments to ensure that the budget reflects the values and priorities of the community. - Budget community outreach: Finance is meeting with all the boards and commissions, as well as the community to share information and to obtain feedback. The feedback can be taken into consideration during the budget development process and shared with the CC. One of the outreach efforts by Finance was to attend the Farmer’s Market weekly at the Sullivan Center during the summer, etc. Finance takes the information to the community in a variety of ways where they can get input from senior citizens and others that may not attend CC meetings. - Priority based budget: This type of budget is based on programs that will allow additional transparency of what the programs are and their cost. It shows how money is spent and provides the ability to prioritize programs. This is different from a traditional budget. - Balancing act budget tool: Websites were set up to solicit budget priorities. A statistical survey was sent out to the community for feedback. Also, efforts were made to make the budget language easier to understand, which the Finance Department calls simple language messaging. This year there will be CC town halls with locations to be determined by CC. There will be community contact leaders (ambassadors) to represent the Spanish, Vietnamese, and Somali communities. They will help communicate through a podcast and a radio show, etc. with community members whose first language is not English, regarding what they would like to see in the budget. The 2025-2026 budget is proposed to be restored to pre-covid levels and vacant positions filled. The preliminary budget will be presented to the CC in September and will be adopted in December. Acting Director Cullerton also addressed questions from the PC. Director Ponnekanti requested that the PC review the program choices and pick the programs that they like. He said they are there to implement them. PUBLIC HEARING Chair Probst opened the public hearing for: File Number: L24-0051 Purpose: Consideration of Zoning Code Amendments relating to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) Location: Citywide Associate Planner Issac Gloor went over the public hearing procedures and gave the presentation for staff. In 2023 the PC recommended that CC consider a zoning code amendment that would alter the development standards for ADUs. ADUs are often accessories to single-family homes and are sometimes referred to as Planning Commission Minutes 5/23/24 Page 3 mother-in-law apartments. Staff proposed to bring Tukwila’s code into compliance with recently passed state legislation, HB 1337. The CC approved those changes in November 2023, so they are currently in affect. Because of those changes Tukwila now allows all parcels in most zoning districts that permit single-family homes to develop up to two ADUs, either attached or detached to the main residence. Further, owner occupancy is no longer required, nor is additional parking. In order to ensure full compliance with State requirements, staff is proposing the following three amendments to the code to comply with the law: 1) Update TMC Table 18-6 ‘Land Use’ to permit ADUs in all zones that permit single-family homes. 2) Remove unnecessary language pertaining to detached garages. 3) Remove inapplicable design standard exemptions for ADUs. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommended that the PC forward the amendments to the CC for approval. Staff also addressed questions from the PC. PUBLIC TESTIMONY Sam Pace, King County Realtors, made some general comments and said that ADUs are likely going to present the greatest opportunities for new homeownership in the city. He said they will provide mobility and generational wealth and he said thank you. There was no additional public testimony. Chair Probst asked for a motion to close the public hearing. Commissioner McLeland Wieser moved to close the public hearing. Commissioner Kaehler seconded the motion. Motion carried. There was no deliberation. MOTION Chair Probst asked for a motion to forward the item to the CC for approval. Commissioner McLeland Wieser moved to forward the amendments to the CC. Commissioner Kaehler seconded the motion. Motion carried. Chair Probst closed the public hearing. Chair Probst resumed the PC meeting. New Business – (resumed) b. Tiny Home Villages (THVs) Director Gierloff led a policy discussion to address zoning code updates for THVs. She explained that they Planning Commission Minutes 5/23/24 Page 4 are a group of emergency housing type of small buildings under 120 sq. ft., which are sleeping rooms permanently attached to the ground. The structures are for unhoused individuals with an external kitchen and bathroom facilities in a cluster run by a non-profit. The Low-Income Housing Institute (LIHI) is the non- profit in Tukwila that provides food, services and support. It helps individuals to move on to transitional housing and to get jobs and benefits. Following is some background information. In 2021, HB 1220 legislated a big change as to how cities and counties could regulate various types of homeless and supportive housing services. That legislature determined that there were too many exclusionary rules among the jurisdictions and determined that anywhere a hotel room is allowed, shelters must be allowed. There should not be a distinction for the temporary dwelling based on how much money someone has or whether they can stay in that location. Also, anywhere residences, homes or apartments are allowed, permanent supportive or transitional housing must be allowed. Therefore, the intent is to discontinue many of those distinctions. Specific regulations were not adopted for THVs at that time, and it was determined that they would be reviewed under the umbrella of emergency housing in general. Now there are two THVs in Tukwila and there are some differences in how they are built and regulated. The code needs to be clear that the city does allow them, with procedures for building them. Director Gierloff said that the distinction in the RCWs that were adopted for emergency shelters were pertaining to indoor facilities. Tent encampments and THVs do not fall under that category in the code. The Department of Commerce provides housing guidance for cities and counties that recommends how to meet the intent of the RCW. They just recently came out with some guidance for emergency housing shelters, so that regulatory environment is still in flux. Therefore, the city held off to better understand how this affects local control. The decision was made to move forward with drafting an ordinance for THVs. The proposed definition for THVs is noted in the May 13, 2024, staff report. For THVs and tent encampments, the different sets of RCWs that would apply to them are for religious organizations with broad discretion and parameters. People will be screened before moving in and once they move in, they will have specific units assigned to them for the duration of their stay, privacy, etc. Some established common-sense regulations include that services onsite are limited to the people being served onsite, with a maximum of 45 units - assuming the site can support that amount. Information was provided on the path forward for hosting a THV; expectations, code of conduct, infrastructure, and entering an agreement with the city. Something to think about: Is there an interest in allowing other organizations other than religious institutions to host THV? th Director Gierloff addressed several questions for the PC that will be helpful in preparation for the June 27 public hearing for THVs. The PC accepted verbal comments from Marta Kidane and Sam Pace. Planning Commission Minutes 5/23/24 Page 5 Director Gierloff distributed a copy of the comment letter received on 5/22/24, at the meeting, which was previously emailed to the PC the morning of 5/23/24. In closing Director Gierloff informed the PC that THVs will come back to them in an ordinance form for the public hearing. Director’s Report - PC was reminded that general public comments letters are discussed during the Director’s Report. th - PC will hold a public hearing on THVs on June 27. - SB 5290 - changes to permit regulations, on timeframes for issuing permits, etc. th - The three PC that attended the equity training on May 18 were given the opportunity to speak about it. They were asked whether they had any thoughts about how the training might affect the way they think about the things they review and the decisions that they make on PC, because they are “boots- on-the-ground” about city regulations. - Commissioner Probst said the equity training was very worthwhile, and the four hours presentation was not long enough. It went by very quickly for him. He said the facilitator started by speaking on historical implications and decisions made in the past, marginalized people, there were personal reflections, and helpful resources and tools were provided, etc. He said it was fantastic. - Director Gierloff said that given their greater depth of understanding, the PC should think about ways they can make sure they are using an equity lens when making decisions about what people can do with their property. She said that is something that staff is definitely thinking about, and she is open to thoughts about how we make sure we are not causing unintentional consequences or implications and how we are meeting the needs of the community/market - balancing out the perfect and the good. Adjourn Chair Probst asked for a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Kaehler moved to adjourn, and Commissioner Ho seconded the motion. Motion passed. Adjourned: 7:58 p.m. Submitted By: Wynetta Bivens PC Secretary Adopted: 6/27/24