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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApproved Minutes - 2003-11-10 PM w h\ INTDM71 Qar-lid WAKE 03 o .pJ - 0 City of Lake Oswego ' ` 4 °'''' ' Planning Commission Minutes PiL E . ~,---,____ November 10, 2003 I. CALL TO ORDER Chair James Johnson called the Planning Commission meeting of November 10, 2003 to order at approximately 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 380 A Avenue, Lake Oswego, Oregon. II. ROLL CALL Commission members present were Chair James Johnson, Vice Chair Frank Groznik, and Commissioners Kenneth Sandblast, Daniel Vizzini and Alison Webster. Commissioners Mary Beth Coffey and Mark Stayer were excused. Staff present were Dennis Egner, Long Range Planning Manager; Sidaro Sin, Associate Planner; Robert Galante, Director Lake Oswego Redevelopment Agency; Ken Itel, • Assistant Redevelopment Planner; Evan Boone, Deputy City Attorney and Iris Treinen, Senior Secretary. III. CITIZEN COMMENT—Regarding issues not on the agenda. None. Chair Johnson modified the agenda so the Commissioners conducted the GENERAL PLANNING—WORK SESSION before they addressed the other Agenda items. IV. GENERAL PLANNING—WORK SESSION Quality of Life Indicators Report(P 01-0001)—Review and Discussion Sidaro Sin, Associate Planner, presented the staff report. Mr. Sin observed that the Planning Commission Quality of Life Indicators Subcommittee had narrowed 72 indicators down to 41 indicators. He pointed out that the program had not met the timetable set forth in the Task Force report and implementation plan the City Council had adopted in 2000: Phase 1 was to adopt a final set of indicators, and Phase 2 was to set targets to be measured by the indicators. He pointed out the Subcommittee's report flagged seven indicators related to the City's "Sustainability Program," and the document featured an Appendix that contained additional data to support the indicators. He also pointed out that Attachment 2, "Quality of Life Indicators Status Report 10/23/03," listed incomplete indicators that were close to being completed. He reported that the Fire Department had suggested that the indicator of the percentage of calls responded to within five minutes be changed to the percentage of calls responded to within eight minutes so it would correspond with a national standard and the City of Lake Oswego Planning Commission Page 1 of 6 Minutes of November 10,2003 Comprehensive Plan. He reported that the Subcommittee had decided to track water qu lity separately for Oswego Lake and Springbrook Creek, and that the Lake Oswego oration had agreed to provide annual water quality averages for the lake. He ,. exp fined the Subcommittee had found that to track the percentage of residential properties located within one-quarter mile of a grocery or convenience store (3,738 of 15,470 total properties) was a better indicator than to track the percentage of residential properties located within one-quarter mile of a commercial district (10,000 of 15,470 total properties). He reported that local library circulation would be compared with the statewide average. He said that staff was working with Commissioner Vizzini to refine the indicator of citizen voting participation. He anticipated the document would be forwarded to the City Council so the Council could examine it before the Councilors began their January goal-setting discussions. During their ensuing discussion, the Commissioners commended the Subcommittee and staff for generating a usable report with a concise format that contained indicators for which supporting data was readily available. Subcommittee Chair Vizzini called the report a "first step" and said he hoped it would grow in quality and use over time and that the community would utilize it in decision making. He saw a need to draw public attention to the indicators program by initially highlighting and publicizing the value of a few important indicators. Vice Chair Groznik agreed and he suggested that the community might initially embrace the seven sustainability-related indicators. Chair Johnson related that his experience using indicators demonstrated that when people knew who to contact and where the data came from they would use the indicators. The Commissioners generally agreed the indicators could serve the Sustainability Program and could serve as benchmarks during the Outlook 2025 periodic review process if the Council utilized them as a basis for City goals. The Commissioners observed that although the original Quality of Life Indicators Task Force had been charged with recommending indicators related to growth management—indicators that would provide benchmarks against which land use proposals could be measured — the group's report listed indicators that could be applied to a wider range of circumstances. They anticipated they would discuss the use of indicators to support benchmarks during their upcoming work session with the Council. V. PUBLIC MEETING East End Redevelopment Plan Update (P 03-0008) Robert Galante, Director, Lake Oswego Redevelopment Agency (LORA), and Ken Itel, Assistant Redevelopment Planner, presented the staff report and announced that the grand opening of the Block 138 development was to be November 20, 2003. He reported that the value of the Downtown area had doubled since the original redevelopment plan had been created and he anticipated its current value would quadruple over the next 25 years. He observed that the City was accomplishing its vision for a valuable four-block compact shopping district that included Blocks 136, 137, 138, Block 50 (location of the Rite Aid store) and part of Block 49 (location of the Oswego Review). He said that LORA's role was to be the catalyst for successful redevelopment. He acknowledged that LORA had found Block 138 the most challenging block to develop. He clarified for the Commissioners that First Street had City of Lake Oswego Planning Commission Page 2 of 6 Minutes of November 10,2003 the same width right-of-way as A Avenue (80 feet) but did not appear to be that wide because of its pedestrian features. He advised that the Downtown area needed a north attractor and that could be accomplished by redevelopment of property along B Avenue with ground level retail with upstairs housing. He said LORA would also like to see housing included in Block 137(the current Wizer's store location). Mr. Galante reported that the City Council had reviewed LORA's Lakefront Master Plan and that LORA had acquired the US Bank property along State Street. He said the Plan called for the bank site to become parkland tied to Millennium Park. He recalled that the bank was willing to relocate because customer access was challenged by Highway 43 peak hour traffic. He explained that it was not practical to propose new retail on that land because the Code would require a substantial amount of additional off street parking for that use. Mr. Galante reported the Safeway store on Block 45 had a long-term lease. He envisioned more retail storefronts along that side of 5th Street that would reflect those of the existing development across 5th Street. Mr. Galante observed the properties at the north entry to Downtown(that included a gas station, paint store, car wash and Thai restaurant) were currently underdeveloped. He clarified that LORA had not yet been asked to add the Foothills District to the redevelopment plan. He reported the City had purchased the chip plant site and had come to an agreement with the City of Portland to use that city's expansion land adjacent to the sewage treatment plant. He said that changes in Portland's plans for the sewage plant (including possible future relocation of the plant) could provide a future opportunity for redevelopment there by the City of Lake Oswego. He pointed out the proposed "Willamette Steps" project would create a pedestrian way bordered by development. Mr. Galante related the City was interested in bringing the Portland streetcar to downtown Lake Oswego. He said the City desired to build a new transit center to serve bus, rail and streetcar riders,but each site that had been examined so far had limitations. He noted the City already owned land at the end of A Avenue at State Street and that area could someday be opened to allow a view from Downtown. He suggested that property on the east side of State Street across from US Bank might be a good site for a hotel with a waterfront park. He suggested that an area of older houses next to Millennium Park might be upgraded to allow denser housing. He clarified that although LORA initially believed that the Goodyear site was small enough to be redeveloped by a private entity, the City Council had asked LORA to include it in the redevelopment plan. Mr. Galante reported that the City had purchased and then resold property at 2nd Street and B Avenue that had been the site of a controversial proposal for an assisted living facility. The property was to be developed by Jim Morton. The agreement with Mr. Morton provided that the City of Lake Oswego was to contribute $200,000 to enhance the exterior architecture of the new building so it would be more interesting than a City of Lake Oswego Planning Commission Page 3 of 6 Minutes of November 10,2003 building that was privately funded. He anticipated the two-story building would feature office space over ground level retail shops along B Avenue and 24 condominium units next to the First Addition Neighborhood. Mr. Galante clarified for the Commissioners that LORA and the City of Lake Oswego had separate budgets. He anticipated that in 25 years there would be a compact area of ground level retail uses along 3rd, 4'h and 5`h Streets that would encourage pedestrian storefront-to-storefront shopping. He envisioned that the other types of business uses would be located at the outer edge of the retail area. The Commissioners recalled they were about to consider a retail size limitation and re- consider allowed uses in the EC Zone. They asked how such changes could be reconciled with a redevelopment plan that focused on more retail uses. They noted that "big box" retail establishments would be out of character with the City's vision of Downtown. Mr. Galante agreed the City should re-examine the existing Zoning Code and the Development Code - particularly regarding allowed uses, allowable materials and parking requirements. He explained that the Block 138 development had been approved for more parking spaces than the Code required so the parking garage could serve patrons of local events as well. He explained that garage parking was free, but limited to a maximum of three hours. He advised that future new development Downtown would have to provide its own parking. Commissioner Vizzini reported that Downtown business owners were concerned about adequate parking. Mr. Galante clarified for the Commissioners that the width of the Block 138 portion of the State Street sidewalk that served retail uses varied between 12 and 14 feet, and the A Avenue sidewalk was 10 feet wide. Mr. Galante explained to the Commissioners that the development plan listed many potentially competing public uses (civic center, city offices) and private uses (hotel, retail, office, housing) in order to be prepared to take advantage of opportunities that might arise that could improve the business environment and quality of life Downtown. He also clarified that Project K (Civic Center) provided a way to replace City Hall, which was not built to current earthquake standards and had other structural problems. He invited the Commissioners to e-mail their comments to him. He clarified that he had distributed both a draft Plan and a draft Report because state statutes required separate documents. The Commissioners noted that the draft Plan said "encourage the hotel use" on Block 137, but did not require it. Mr. Galante explained that LORA would like to have more legal tools to ensure that a private developer who built on that block would design a building that fit Downtown. He suggested tools such as zoning and development standards and conservation easements. Chair Johnson clarified for the audience that the meeting was not a public hearing. Then he invited public comments. City of Lake Oswego Planning Commission Page 4 of 6 Minutes of November 10,2003 Public Comments Jim Bolland, Chair, First Addition Neighborhood (FAN), observed the draft Plan did not mention the library. He asked if Project E (B Avenue Village Anchor Street)would widen the roadway. Mr. Galante anticipated that LORA would conduct a traffic study related to continued redevelopment of Downtown. Mr. Bolland stressed that the existing transit center near the Safeway store should be moved because transit riders used the residential neighborhood for parking. He recalled that the Downtown Business Association had suggested that another small parking garage might be needed closer to the Downtown core as uses intensified. Mr. Galante observed that the "Village" look meant buildings located close to the street, with parking hidden from view. Several Commissioners agreed that the core district was small enough that parking should be at its edges and pedestrians should be encouraged to walk through Downtown. Mr. Bolland pointed out that the draft Plan described street improvements on B Avenue between State Street and 6th Street that would attract "new anchor development." He noted that part of the land was an area of primarily residential development. Mr. Galante clarified that part of the Plan needed to be further refined. Mr. Bolland related that the FAN Plan called for a traffic circle at B Avenue and 5th Street. When the Commissioners observed that no one from the Downtown Business Association was present at the meeting, .Mr. Galante related that he had recently presented the updated Plan to the Association. Mr. Bolland reported that the Downtown Business Association board had attended the last FAN meeting and they were supportive of FAN's efforts to protect the neighborhood. The Commissioners saw a need to consider the impact of improvement of A and B Avenues on neighborhoods. Mr. Galante explained how an arrangement had been negotiated by the FAN and Evergreen Neighborhood Associations with the developer of the downtown blocks to study and mitigate traffic (if necessary) at different levels of occupancy in the development. He suggested that this type of arrangement could be made a standard of development. Mr. Bolland reported that the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) had agreed to a request by the Evergreen, FAN and Lake Grove Neighborhood Associations to create a TAB goal to convince the City Council to fund neighborhood traffic studies. Chair Johnson anticipated the Commissioners would continue their discussion of the draft redevelopment plan at the next Planning Commission meeting. VI. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioners Sandblast moved to approve the Minutes of October 13, 2003. Commissioner Webster seconded the motion and it passed with Vice Chair Groznik and Commissioners Sandblast,Vizzini and Webster voting yes. Chair Johnson recused himself from the vote. Commissioners Coffey and Stayer were not present. VII. OTHER BUSINESS Removal of Natural Resources From Potential Annexation Properties The staff explained that the City Council was considering a proposal that would allow them to choose not to annex a property when it was determined that natural resources City of Lake Oswego Planning Commission Page 5 of 6 Minutes of November l0,2003 • { there had been compromised since the City evaluated them. They reported that if someone cut trees in the resource area of an annexation candidate site (possibly to avoid the requirements of the City's Tree Code) the city would require mitigation before the property could be annexed. Lake Grove Town Center Update Commissioner Sandblast reported that the Lake Grove Town Center Advisory Committee had held two meetings to review the charge statement; to discuss how the Committee members would communicate with their respective organizations; to create a task list and schedule; and to envision what the area should look like in 20 years. He anticipated that the Committee would report back to the Planning Commission in January 2004. Chair Johnson directed the staff to distribute future Committee reports to all of the Commissioners. Agenda for Upcoming Joint PC/City Council Work Session The Commissioners discussed how to frame their discussion with the City Council during an upcoming joint work session. They proposed to list issues they had identified as issues that should be resolved during the Outlook 2025 periodic review process. They proposed to discuss the issue of neighborhood planning that the Planning Commission and the City Council had not yet resolved. Tree Code The staff reported that the City Council had asked the Tree Code Review Task Force to continue working on some aspects of the draft revised Tree Code. Council Work Program—Urban.Renewal District Project The staff reported the Council would consider the establishment of an urban renewal district in Lake Grove after the Lake Grove Town Center Plan was completed. VIII. ADJOURNMENT There being no other business, Chair Johnson adjourned the meeting at 8:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, (A"i4 Iris Treinen Senior Secretary City of Lake Oswego Planning Commission Page 6 of 6 Minutes of November 10,2003