Agenda Packet 1-23-19 Work Session

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January 23, 2019, Work Session – Item 1 requirement is to ensure that communities provide a predictable path to approval for housing projects and that path does not rely on discretionary or subjective criteria. This may include development standards such as setbacks and building height that apply to housing at the time of building permit as well as land use application criteria that apply to land use applications for the development of housing. Cities that provide a clear and objective land use application approval path may also adopt alternative or “discretionary” approval criteria that developers may elect to follow to, for example, allow greater flexibility in housing development proposals. The project was kicked off in 2018 and consists of four phases. The Summary of Key Issues Report produced at the end of Phase 1 of the project was provided to council in an email sent September 11, 2018. The project is nearing the end of the Phase 2 with the Draft Preferred Concepts report, as detailed below. Draft Preferred Concepts The Draft Preferred Concepts report (provided with the November 26, 2018, agenda) is the outcome of Phase 2 of this project. The report presents staff recommendations on how to address the 37 key issues identified during Phase 1 of the project and described in the Summary of Key Issues Report. An excerpt from the Draft Preferred Concepts Report of Batch 2 recommendations is provided as Attachment A. The recommendations in the Draft Preferred Concepts Report were derived using: input from working groups; research into the issues and possible concepts; consultation with internal staff who work with the land use application review process daily; and a concept evaluation rubric for the 19 significant issues. For these reasons, in some cases recommendations may not reflect the apparent preference of the working group. In these instances, an explanation for the discrepancy is provided. In an effort to be both responsive and responsible to City Council’s direction, while also addressing concerns raised by some stakeholders about lack of time, staff divided the key issues into two batches. The intent was to allow stakeholders and the Planning Commission extra time on the more complex issues in Batch 2, to ensure sufficient consideration and vetting. Maintenance issues and the less complex significant issues made up Batch 1 (which was advanced to draft code writing at the November 26, 2018, council work session). The draft report was provided to stakeholders and the general public on November 13, 2018, with feedback on Batch 2 issues requested by December 3, 2018. No public comments were received by December 3, 2018. Planning Commission Review Planning Commission thoroughly reviewed recommendations for Batch 2 issues, listed below, from the Draft Preferred Concepts Report at two work sessions held on December 10 and December 11, 2018. Each issue and recommendation was presented to the commission, followed by discussion and finally a straw poll to determine support for each recommendation.