HomeMy WebLinkAboutSigned Minutes 6-29-19 Council & Planning RetreatMinutes of the Joint City Council and
Planning Commission Retreat
Council Chambers
110 East Third Street
June 29, 2019
Councilmembers Present: Mike Hopson, Debora Nelson, Jan Schuette, Joshua Roundy, Sue
Weiss, Jesica Stickles, and Marilyn Oertle.
Planning Commissioners Present: Board Chair Tim Dean, Bruce Angell, Melissa Johnson,
Mike Thomas, and Vernon Beach.
Staff Present: Mayor Barbara Tolbert, Paul Ellis, Marc Hayes, Nova Heaton, Josh
Grandlienard, Kristin Foster, Launa Peterson, Jim Kelly, Wendy Van Der Meersche, and City
Attorney Steve Peiffle.
Also Known to be Present: Don and Kathy Vanney, Regan and Sarah Hyatt.
Retreat facilitator, Steve Peiffle, called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.m.
Mr. Peiffle began by providing an overview of the retreat, with a review of the agenda, and
the ground rules for the day.
Councilmembers, Planning Commissioners, and City staff introduced themselves.
Growth Management Act (GMA) PowerPoint Presentation
Mr. Peiffle provided a PowerPoint presentation explaining the Growth Management Act
(GMA). The GMA is a series of state statutes that were adopted in 1990 to address growth,
and requires cities and counties to develop comprehensive plans. A comprehensive plan is
a guiding document for cities and counties to establish goals, objectives, policies, actions,
and standards. The comprehensive plan provides guidance for day to day decisions by
electeds and staff. The GMA has established 13 goals to be the basis of all comprehensive
plans.
According to RCW 36.70A.3450, Sanctions may be imposed by the governor on cities in
non-compliance, which include, the withholding of motor vehicle fuel tax, the
transportation improvement account, sales and use tax, liquor profit tax, and temporary
rescission of Real Estate Excise Tax (REET).
Mr. Peiffle then turned the retreat over to Community and Economic Development Director
Marc Hayes, who explained "Game of Homes", and the first planning exercise.
Minutes of the Joint City Council and Planning Commission Retreat June 29 2019
Planning Exercise 1
At the three tables, sat councilmembers, planning commissioners, and staff. One person at
each table was named as mathematician to determine lot densities and dwelling units per
acre. An overseer was also chosen at each table to guide the placement of buildings by the
other team members in accordance with the applicable zoning as described in the map
legend. A Community and Economic Development staff member was also at each table
acting as scribe to record the progress and results and address any comments and
questions, reporting to the group after the exercise.
A map was placed at each table showing under-utilized and undeveloped residential lands
within Arlington city limits. The object of the exercise was to utilize the available land
within the city limits to house an additional 7,000 residents over the next 20 years, (which
is forecasted in VISION 2040, a plan developed by the Puget Sound Regional Council
(PSRC), to keep central Puget Sound thriving as it grows.)
The three groups worked for one hour on Planning Exercise 1. The three scribes repurled
to the group their results and progress, with discussion following.
Planning Exercise 2
Mr. Hayes then explained the second Game of Homes exercise, stating that the object of the
second exercise was to utilize the available land within the existing city limits to house
approximately 14,000 additional residents over the next 30 years. Although the exact
amount of population will not be determined until the adoption of Vision 2050, this was the
population being used for Planning Exercise 2. This required a creation of a minimum of
7,000 new housing units. The information used in the first exercise was still utilized,
however, there were zoning changes required, as well.
The three groups worked for one hour on Planning Exercise 2. After lunch, the three scribes
reported to the group the results and progress from their tables, with discussion following.
Open discussion and conversation - Community engagement - Communications
between City Council and Planning Commission
A discussion followed between councilmembers and planning commissioners regarding the
desire to meet regularly, and then provide interactive information to the public.
Mr. Peiffle compiled notes from councilmembers and planning commissioners regarding
possible ways to engage the public.
Engaging the public
• Getting information to and engaging with the community
• Where do you want growth in your neighborhood?
• Recognize market conditions
• Missing middle
• Current zoning doesn't work
• More confident we can accommodate
Page 2 of 4
Minutes of the Joint City Council and Planning Commission Retreat June 29, 2019
• Infrastructure needs
• Arlington is high -density transit corridor
• We need to implement a new zoning tool
• We want to create livable neighborhoods
• Create a more understandable package for the public
• Educate developers too
• Give visuals to electeds
• Varieties of impact fees by zone
• SR 530, SR 531, HWY 9
• Need to update fees for County impacts
• State Routes need to be defined as "projects"
• How do citizens impact Olympia
• Plan helps advocate for citizens
• Limits on rezone "redos"
Don Vanney, 425 S. Olympic Avenue, provided a public comment suggesting early
involvement with the community during planning stages, before things become tense.
Wrap-up and further action plans
• The next comprehensive plan will be due in 2023. Work on the plan will begin in
2020.
• Educate citizens on the planning process, GMA requirements, and consequences of
not following the GMA.
• Educate developers.
• Provide preliminary education to the public.
• Additional meetings/retreats between councilmembers and planning
commissioners.
Mr. Peiffle then recorded the next steps that councilmembers and planning commissioners
would like to take.
Next Steps
• Continued meetings/workshops on zoning and engagement
• Take to public in small bites - neighborhood focus groups
• What is goal of engagement?
• Process of additional changes
• Educate public
• Specific meeting regarding East Hill (formerly known as Brekhus Beach)
• Meeting regarding engagement
• Interactive engagement with citizens
• Use fliers to engage
• How do we capitalize on hot market?
• Multiple forms of engagement
• Interactive map coming
Page 3 of 4
Minutes of the joint City Council and Planning Commission Retreat June 29.2019
Councilmembers' break will begin after the August 5 meeting, and return they will return
September 9 with a workshop.
With no other discussion or comments, there was no objection to Mr. Peiffle's suggestion to
end the retreat 15 minutes early.
The retreat was adjourned at 1:45 p.m.
Page 4 of 4
Barbara Tolbert, Mayor