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2024-05-22 Planning Board MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS PLANNING BOARD JOINT MEETING WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Minutes of Hybrid Meeting May 22, 2024 Chair Mitchell called the hybrid joint meeting of the Edmonds Planning Board and the Economic Development Commission to order at 7:00 p.m. at Edmonds City Hall and on Zoom. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES The Land Acknowledgement was read by Board Member Golembiewski. Planning Board Members Present Jeremy Mitchell, Chair Lauren Golembiewski, Vice Chair Judi Gladstone Lee Hankins Susanna Martini Nick Maxwell Steven Li (alternate) Planning Board Members Absent Richard Kuehn (excused) READING/APPROVAL OF MINUTES Staff Present Susan McLaughlin, Development Services Director Mike Clugston, Acting Planning Manager Todd Tatum, Community, Culture, and Ec. Devt. Director Economic Development Commission (EDC) Members Matt Cox, Chair Allen Townsend, Vice Chair Darrol Hoag Nicole Hughes Carrie Mandak Natalie Seitz MOTION MADE BY BOARD MEMBER HANKINS, SECONDED BY BOARD CHAIR MITCHELL, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF MAY 8, 2024 AS PRESENTED. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY WITH BOARD MEMBER GOLEMBIEWSKI ABSTAINING. ANNOUNCEMENT OF AGENDA Chair Mitchell added an item to nominate a Planning Board Liaison to the Economic Development Commission. THERE WAS UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED. AUDIENCE COMMENTS None Planning Board Meeting Minutes May 22, 2024 Page 1 of 4 NEW BUSINESS A. Nominate Planning Board Liaison to the Economic Development Commission CHAIR MITCHELL NOMINATED BOARD MEMBER HANKINS TO BE THE PLANNING BOARD LIAISON TO THE EDC. BOARD MEMBER MAXWELL SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Economic Development Element of the Comprehensive Plan — Joint Discussion with the Economic Development Commission Director Tatum made the presentation regarding the development of the draft Economic Development Element (EDE). The language has been updated to reflect changes in the region, economy, and transportation. He explained how the EDE strives to create an integrated place -based strategy of economic development by growing the economy, placemaking, focusing on quality of life, and governing effectively. There was some discussion about working with specific organizations to find out if their goals are aligned with what the City is trying to do. EDC members reviewed challenges and opportunities such as supporting growth areas, placemaking along the two-mile stretch of Highway 99, cultural displacement, growing the hospital district, and how to craft action -based policies that support the City's values and priorities. Developing partnerships will be important, especially from a financial standpoint to fund investments. Concerns were raised about the disparity between where growth is sited (primarily Highway 99 and south Edmonds) and where resources are sited. Economic Development policies may begin to move the City closer to what they want to see and support a shift in resources. There was a suggestion to pay more attention to the infrastructure needs associated with the anticipated population growth such as looking at treating wastewater closer to where it is created. There was some discussion about the need for state and federal funding for infrastructure and its availability. This needs to be addressed with state and federal legislators but given the current budgetary challenges, it does not appear to be something that can be counted on. The group debated how to handle the long stretch of CG zoning along Highway 99. There were comments about utilizing hubs and centers which encompass the area and having very specific, measurable goals that target what they want to see in key areas. Staff spoke to the opportunity to redefine the area through the Comprehensive Plan process and subsequent master planning. Questions were raised about how they would prioritize the types of jobs they want to see, what kind of development they want to see in hubs and centers, if priorities are different in different parts of the city, and if there are potential conflicts. Staff referred back to the objective of improving economic wellbeing through efforts that entail job creation, job retention, tax -based enhancements, and quality of life. Staff explained that the City wants to increase jobs and has job targets, but the City is not the developer. There are things the City can do to influence the market by investing in infrastructure that creates a sense of place and improves access and linkages. Director McLaughlin spoke to the need for the Comprehensive Plan to be relevant for 20 years. She stressed that zoning needs to be an adaptable resilient tool that enables a flexible economic -based strategy. She also mentioned the new Community Culture and Urban Design Element which involves a neighborhood planning Planning Board Meeting Minutes May 22, 2024 Page 2 of 4 framework to set a vision and create a strategic action plan. This will dictate investment and recognize anticipated impact fees and potential financial tools. It will also enable the City to focus on the types of businesses they want to see and to be flexible when partnership opportunities arise. There was some discussion about potential revenue sources and the relationship between zoning, planning, development, and infrastructure. There were recommendations for a policy goal of having a diversity of revenues so they aren't dependent on property taxes and to balance growth so that it leads to more people both living and working in Edmonds. Members discussed the importance of policies that provide direction and that take the City where they want to go. There should also be language that clearly states that the goal is neighborhoods with specific character. A concern was raised about displacement being the outcome of development. There was some discussion about the importance of the community leading and being involved in neighborhood planning as well as the importance of strategic action resulting from the plans. There was a recommendation for a policy that emphasizes enhancing existing assets. The hubs are currently an asset, but they are not as fully utilized as they could be to generate revenue. The biggest challenge is that what needs to happen for significant growth to actually occur is not what a lot of people want to see. A concern was raised about the City's unbalanced budget and the high costs of the City's capital plan which increases year over year while the tax base remains the same. There needs to be a focus on things that may provide more resiliency or diversity to contribute to the local economy. It was noted that if they want to increase the number of people who live and work in Edmonds, there needs to be consideration for providing community spaces for people who work from home but don't have an office in their apartment. There was some debate about ways to increase streams of revenue with one suggestion to allow higher heights for development on the Unocal property. There was agreement on the need to have more clarity and future direction of what the policies state. There was some debate about whether these are forward -looking enough to hit the economic goals they have and whether the goals complement the growth alternatives. Staff pointed to the upcoming citywide meetings on the elements of the Comprehensive Plan as a way to receive more public feedback on these. There was a recommendation to reconsider the language in Goal A to reflect the desire to diversify jobs and the economy and to show where people who work in manufacturing and service type jobs fit into the picture. It is important that the housing component matches the economic component. PLANNING BOARD EXTENDED AGENDA June 12 —Transportation Element; Green Building Incentives public hearing June 26 - Land use permit timelines introduction; CAO update; Climate Legislative Package The Planning Board requested an earlier touch on the CIP/CFP than they had last year. Staff is working through this but will outline a schedule for the Planning Board. There was discussion about the process and how the Planning Board hopes it will be different this year. Tree Canopy options will be discussed in July. There was a question about whether the Planning Board will have another touch on the DEIS and if so, how. The Landmark item will be going to Council in June. Planning Manager Clugston will send an email about possibly adding an extra meeting to make up for the ones cancelled due to holidays. PLANNING BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS Planning Board Meeting Minutes May 22, 2024 Page 3 of 4 Board Member Li expressed appreciation for the joint conversation they had tonight and the amazing sunset view. Board Member Martini concurred. Vice Chair Golembiewski thought having the joint meetings is very helpful in broadening their thinking. Board Member Hankins thought it would have been helpful for all those working on the various elements to have had a common goal of focusing on growth at the beginning of the Comprehensive Plan update process. He is concerned about conflicting goals between elements. PLANNING BOARD CHAIR COMMENTS Chair Mitchell reported that the ADU presentation to the Council was well received. They got comments back from some councilmembers that they appreciated having the Planning Board at the table. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 9:09 p.m. Planning Board Meeting Minutes May 22, 2024 Page 4 of 4