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Home My WebLink About100923 Special Session Joint Planning and City Council Tour and Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF PORT TOWNSEND MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION EVANS VISTA SITE TOUR AND JOINT COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING OF OCTOBER 9, 2023 CALL TO ORDER/ ROLL CALL The Port Townsend City Council and Planning Commission met on the 9'h day of October for an Evans Vista Site Tour located at the end of Evans Vista Street Near Washington State Department of Social and Health Services located at 2507 Evans Vista Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368, and a Special Session Joint Council/Planning Commission Workshop Meeting to follow in Council Chambers at 540 Water Street. Mayor David Faber called the tour to order at 5:OOpm. Councilmembers present at the tour were Aislinn Palmer, David Faber, Monica MickHager, Owen Rowe, and Ben Thomas with Amy Howard and Libby Wennstrom excused. Staff members present at the tour were City Manager John Mauro, Planning and Community Development Director Emma Bolin, Public Works Director Steve King , Communications and Marketing Manager Shelly Leavens, Parks and Recreation Strategy Director Carrie Hite, Finance and Technology Services Director Connie Anderson, Long Range Planner Adrian Smith, and People and Performance Director Cynthia Shaffer. Planning Commissioners present at the tour were Rick Jahnke, Neil Nelson, Samantha Bair -Jones, Bob Doyle, Andreas Andreadis, and Viki Sonntag. CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION TOUR OF EVANS VISTA SITE Mayor Faber introduced Planning and Community Development Director Emma Bolin Planning and Community Development Director Emma Bolin introduced Ron Thomas, Principal of Thomas Architecture Studios. Mr. Thomas introduced his architect team and explained the City's project goals and oriented the walking group to the site compared to the site renderings. The group toured the Evans Vista site, where the Evans Vista Extension Street would be located, four planned mixed-use buildings near the neighborhood entrance, planned detached childcare facility, south open space lawn, and the existing gravel access road which will be the future site of a parking lot. Throughout the tour locations for townhomes, walk-up apartments, and several multifamily buildings with partially underground first level parking were pointed out. The tour ended by the group returning to the tour origin along the site's eastern property line. October 9, 2023 Special Sesion Joint Planning Commission and City Council Tour and Workshop Meeting Page 1 of 4 The Planning Commission and City Council adjourned the tour at 6:40pm and returned to Council Chambers for Workshop discussion portion of meeting. DISCUSSION ITEMS Councilmembers present at the meeting were Aislinn Palmer, David Faber, Monica MickHager, Owen Rowe, and Ben Thomas with Amy Howard and Libby Wennstrom excused. Staff members present at the meeting were City Manager John Mauro, Planning and Community Development Director Emma Bolin , Public Works Director Steve King , Communications and Marketing Manager Shelly Leavens, Parks and Recreation Strategy Director Carrie Hite, Finance and Technology Services Director Connie Anderson, Long Range Planner Adrian Smith, People and Performance Director Cynthia Shaffer, Chief of Police Tom Olsen, City Attorney Heidi Greenwood, and City Clerk Alyssa Rodrigues. Planning Commissioners present at the meeting were Rick Jahnke, Lois Stanford, Neil Nelson, Samantha Bair -Jones, Bob Doyle, Andreas Andreadis, and Viki Sonntag. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS Mayor Faber presented the Indigenous Peoples Day Proclamation to the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe representatives. Mayor Faber presented the National Community Planning Month Proclamation to the Planning Commissioners. COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION FINAL DESIGN DISCUSSION Principal of Thomas Architecture Studios Ron Thomas, Associate Principle/Project Manager Amos Callendar, Architectural Associate Jason Mirzayi, and ECONorthwest Project Manager James Kim provided the Evans Vista Housing presentation which included Introduction, Schedule, Vision, Site Analysis and Background, Site: Sun/Wind/Views, Site: Circulations/Access, Site: Natural Features, Site Plan, Site Plan - Major Zones, Site Plan- Outdoors, Site Plan- Urban Zone, Building A, Building B, Building C (C1, C2), Site Plan — Walk Ups, Building D (D1,D2), Site Plan- Townhomes, Building E (E1, E2, E3), Site Plans- Apartments, Building F&G, Typical Unit Plans, Example Interiors, Site Plan — Recap, Precedent Imagery, Site Sections, Conceptual Renderings, Refinement, RFP Considerations, Tradeoffs in Feasibility, and Approach to Analyzing Affordability Options. In response to Council and Planning Commissions clarifying questions staff and consultants explained dense development and affordability trade off, smaller mixed unit development cost, podium parking, LIHTC funding, land next to DSHS, projects for local October 9, 2023 Special Sesion Joint Planning Commission and City Council Tour and Workshop Meeting Page 2 of 4 builders, developing RFP, final site design, tuck under parking costs and topography, nonprofit buildings vs mixed use, defining workforce housing, federal subsidy for whole project, mixed use housing, land dictating construction, and flow of traffic. Discussion ensued around logic of project, workforce vs. affordable housing goals, concerns around systemic part, concerns of social element, age differential, scenarios, diversity, dog park, community center, buses, covered bike racks, covered spaces, building quickly, evolving process, understanding entire housing system, more affordable units, attractive to everyone in community, building clientele, constructing walkups first, maximizing what is feasible, more affordable units by increasing density, parking, 800 units of affordable housing, only current project to provide affordable housing, displaced community, finding subsidies, and goal of more affordable units. Public Comment: Liz Coker spoke about importance of discussion with housing partners. Liz Revord spoke about affordable housing, workforce housing, operational costs, partners, nonprofit building, local contractors/builders, and Housing Solutions Network support. Kelsey Caudebec spoke about wanting to stay in Port Townsend and housing for people who already live here. Julia Cochrane spoke about oversight board, ground floor for less mobile people, living integrated, homelessness, and affordability. Scott Walker spoke about parking, In response to Public Comment staff and consultants explained partnership discussions, prioritizing locals, prioritization for walkups, and nonprofit property management. Discussion ensued around marketing for locals and interest list. Planning Commission adjourned at 8:22pm. Council members went into recess at 8:22pm. Council members reconvened at 8:27pm. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT There was no public comment. BUDGET AND THE 2024 WORKPLAN City Manager John Mauro introduced the Budget and the 2024 Workplan October 9, 2023 Special Sesion Joint Planning Commission and City Council Tour and Workshop Meeting Page 3 of 4 Mr. Mauro presented Getting it Right: An integrated workplan that drives our budget and a responsible budget that delivers for our community presentation which includes Overview, Quarterly Workplan Update: 2023 Priorities, Quarterly Workplan Update: Status, Quarterly Workplan Update: Policy Suggestion Board Status, 2024 Strategic Workplan — take it to the bridge, Strategic Capacity (doing the math)- reality check, and What Next- we've got this. Public Comment: Viki Sonntag spoke about housing strategy development being in priority 1, affordable housing packages and more public discussion about housing subsidy. Rick Jahnke spoke about employees per 1000 residents. Scott Walker spoke about off street parking requirements. In response to Public Comment staff explained housing and priorities list. Discussion ensued around strategic capacity vs. FTE, Financial Sustainability Task Force, Advisory Board and Council help, July discussion, weighted items, what staff needs, Comprehensive Plan, Planning strategic capacity, grant resources, sustainable economic development, big picture results, budgeting time, culture, City Manager conference, upcoming meetings, collaborative approach, and watching Finance and Budget Committee meeting. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:19pm, Attest: Alyssa Rodrigues City Clerk October 9, 2023 Special Sesion Joint Planning Commission and City Council Tour and Workshop Meeting Page 4 of 4