2023-02-22 Planning Board MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS PLANNING BOARD
Minutes of Retreat
February 22, 2023
Chair Gladstone called the hybrid Edmonds Planning Board Retreat to order at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
Board Member Maxwell read the Land Acknowledgement.
Board Members Present
Judi Gladstone, Chair
Richard Kuehn'
Lauren Golembiewski
Jeremy Mitchell
Susanna Martini
Nick Maxwell (alternate)
Lily Distelhorst (student rep)2
Board Members Absent
Todd Cloutier
Beth Tragus-Campbell
Staff Present
Susan McLaughlin, Planning and Development Director
David Levitan, Planning Manager
Jeff Taraday, City Attorney
Other:
Joe Tovar, FAICP
ANNOUNCEMENT OF AGENDA
THERE WAS UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT TRAINING
An Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) discussion was facilitated by City Attorney Jeff Taraday. He stressed
that all board members are required to complete the state OPMA training which is available online. For this
discussion, board members requested an overview of the OPMA and how it relates to digital communication.
General topics covered included what constitutes a meeting or official business, public records, the Public
Records Act, communications with constituents, ex parte communications, the Appearance of Fairness doctrine,
serial communication, and communications with other boards and commissions. Mr. Taraday offered to follow
up if there are more questions in the future.
' Board Member Kuehn joined at 7:00 after the OPMA discussion.
2 Student Representative Distelhorst joined at 7:00 after the OPMA discussion.
Planning Board Retreat Minutes
February 22, 2022 Pagel of 4
PRESENTATION BY JOE TOVAR, FAICP
A. Planning 101: The Growth Management Act and Comprehensive Planning
Joe Tovar, FAICP, Policy Specialist, gave an overview of the Growth Management Act, the Comprehensive
Plan, the 2024 Periodic Update, development regulations, Shoreline Management Act, permits, budgets, land
use map, State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). He discussed elements of the Comprehensive Plan and new
requirements for the Housing Element of the Comprehensive Plan. He answered questions about the timing of
incorporating new state regulations into the Comprehensive Plan and development regulations, displacement
issues, growth scenarios, key areas to focus on (housing, climate change, racial disparate impacts), and SEPA
review/scoping.
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT 2023 WORK PLAN
A. Planning and Development Department 2023 Work Plan, Roles, and Responsibilities
Planning and Development Director Susan McLaughlin gave a high-level review of Planning and Development
key projects for 2023:
• Reimagining Neighborhoods & Streets — Goal: to optimize existing right of way in order to create social
hubs, expand connectivity, and improve environmental outcomes.
o Develop new street typologies.
o Develop a green street investment network.
o Develop new public space typologies.
o Create a public space activation strategies toolkit.
■ Chair Gladstone asked about Planning Board involvement. Director McLaughlin
explained they would be involved with the update of the street map.
■ Board Member Golembiewski asked about updates to the sidewalk code. Director
McLaughlin explained it would standardize sidewalks on each street based on street
typology.
■ Board Member Martini asked if they have thought about accessibility. Director
McLaughlin explained this is one of the main objectives. Dimensional standards will
change along with requirements for a landscape planter strip. She encouraged those with
personal knowledge of accessibility issues to participate in the Reimagining Steering
Committee.
Highway 99 Community Renewal Plan — Goal: draft actions to foster positive development.
■ Chair Gladstone asked if the Planning Board would be involved in this. Director
McLaughlin explained that if and when they take this to the City Council for adoption,
it would start at the Planning Board.
Climate Action Plan — Goal: identify bold yet achievable actions that position the City to achieve carbon
neutrality by 2050.
Comprehensive Plan Update 2022-2024 — Goal: develop 20-year vision to shape sustainable growth
strategy in collaboration with community and to meet statutory requirements.
o Evaluate PSRC (Puget Sound Regional Council) and countywide planning policies for potential
consistency issues.
o Continue a robust and inclusive outreach process, in accordance with the Equitable Engagement
Process.
Planning Board Retreat Minutes
February 22, 2022 Page 2 of 4
o Scope 2024 plan update based on gap analysis and 2044 planning targets.
o Develop plan alternatives for evaluation in the EIS (Environmental Impact Statement).
o Incorporate SEIS (Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement) into the Comprehensive
Plan EIS.
■ Chair Gladstone asked if they are planning on updating or adding any subarea plans.
Planning Manager Levitan explained subarea plans are not required to be done as part
of the periodic update. They can be adopted following the Comprehensive Plan Update.
Urban Forestry
o Develop Permit Review
o Homeowner tree removals and code enforcement
o Tree Code Amendments
o Citywide Urban Forestry Work Plan
o Street Tree Plan
• Code Modernization
o Minor Code Amendment Process
o Major Code Amendments
o Reformatting/Graphics/New Web Features
■ Board Member Mitchell asked about using a form -based approach. Director
McLaughlin replied that it has not come up in the time she has been with the City.
■ Board Member Golembiewski asked if code modernization and the code rewriting that
happens in conjunction with the Comprehensive Plan are two different things. Director
McLaughlin explained they are the same thing. There was discussion about the fact that
the code amendment process is an iterative process.
Green Building Incentive Program — Goal: to implement a CAP (Climate Action Plan) goal that will
help drive market change and foster low carbon developments.
■ Board Member Maxwell asked if the Planning Board would be reviewing the Green
Building Incentive Program. Director McLaughlin replied that they would. It would also
go to the Architectural Design Board because a lot of it is related to design
specifications. Additionally, there would need to be code amendments to effectuate the
incentives that will be offered.
There was discussion about what the Planning Board's work plan would be for the year and how they can most
effectively help staff. Planning Manager Levitan indicated staff is working on work plans for the
Comprehensive Plan Update and the code modernization. He noted that staff can incorporate Planning Board
touch points. The Board can expect that the Comprehensive Plan will likely be at at least one Planning Board
meeting a month. Board Member Mitchell asked if there are ways the Board can be involved outside of
meetings. Director McLaughlin thought an appropriate place would be as part of the Community Champions
Steering Committee once that gets going. Chair Gladstone asked about a work plan for the year or at least the
next few quarters. Planning Manager Levitan replied they are still working on that.
AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
PLANNING BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
Planning Board Retreat Minutes
February 22, 2022 Page 3 of 4
None
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
Planning Board Retreat Minutes
February 22, 2022 Page 4 of 4