4-CD 2020 Council RetreatCommunity Development
Future Planning/Needs
February 1, 2020 City Council Retreat
Brian Davis
Community Development Director
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Four Quick Topics
1. Comprehensive Plan Update
2. City Center Planned Action SEPA Update
3. Subarea Planning
4. A Word on Permitting…
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What is a Comprehensive Plan?
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“The role of the Federal Way Comprehensive Plan is to clearly state the community’s vision for its future, and to articulate a plan for accomplishing this vision over a 20-year period.
The FWCP seeks to answer a number of questions:
What areas are most suitable for development or redevelopment?
What areas should be preserved in their natural state?
How can we encourage the type of development we desire?
How should we address traffic congestion?
How many parks do we need, of what size, kind, and where?
What steps should we take to encourage economic development?
How can we encourage preservation of our historic resources?
How can we ensure an adequate supply of affordable housing for all income levels?
What utilities and public services will we need?
How will the community pay for all of these things?”
Status: Last updated 2015; requires update every eight years
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City Center
Planned Action SEPA
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Planned Action Area is approximately 215 acres
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City Center Planned Action SEPA and its Benefits
The State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) authorizes cities to designate a Planned Action Area and prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that adequately addresses significant
impacts of future growth within that area
The 2006 EIS resulted in streamlining subsequent review of projects within the City Center Area
Beneficiaries include Town Square Park, Performing Arts and Events Center, Affinity Apartments, and numerous small businesses
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Expiration and Cost to Renew
Preparation of the original Planned Action SEPA in 2006-2007 cost $213,181.76
Extension of the Planned Action SEPA in 2015 to December 31, 2025 cost $96,804
January 2016 – Ordinance 16-811 extended the Planned Action SEPA to December 31, 2025 or until the total trips in the Transportation Analysis are exceeded
Cost to renew $150,000 - $300,000
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Benefits of Subarea Planning:
Sound Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility Site Selection
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May 19, 2019 Kent Reporter:
The cities of Kent and Des Moines began work years ago to zone the [Midway] area for transit-oriented development.
“There was strong public opposition to the site,” [Sound Transit Board Member Dave] Upthegrove said.
But that didn’t carry as much weight as the impact to limit [planned] transit-oriented development.
“With or without Dick’s Drive-In, the site would have been removed,”
[Kent Mayor Dana] Ralph thanked city long range planning manager Hayley Bonsteel and city liasion to Sound Transit Kelly Peterson for their work on getting the site off the list.
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A word on permitting…
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July 2017 Survey
Regional Response Times (weeks) for Permits
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Kaizen of January 2018
“Kaizen” is a Japanese word meaning change for the better, or continuous improvement
State Auditor’s Office Analyzed our Commercial Building Permit Process
Staff from Planning, Building, Permit Center, Public Works, and Fire spent a week with State Auditor in a “Lean Academy” to find process improvements
Resulted in 18 recommended changes
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Kaizen of January 2018
Recommended Changes
1. Land use approval before commercial building permit application
2. Update intake checklist
3. Route individual packets to reviewers
4. Planners as project leads for building permit process
5. Bluebeam
6. Electronic plan submittal and online applications
7. Move inspector in-office customer time to afternoon
8. Focused customer hours of 9-4
9. Quiet time
10. Update application forms
11. Intake appointments for all commercial
12. Establish documented standard procedures
13. Self-serve centers at a lobby kiosk and online
14. Correct inconsistencies on website, handouts, forms
15. Centrally locate plans and establish checkout procedures
16. Consistency in records (e.g., addressing, document naming)
17. GIS in Amanda
18. Eliminate permit file copy
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Kaizen of January 2018
Results?
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July 2017 Survey
Regional Response Times (weeks) for Permits
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