Title
Downtown Strategy Update
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive the update. Briefing only; no action requested.
Report
Issue:
Whether to receive a briefing on the status of the public process to form the Downtown Strategy
Staff Contact:
Amy Buckler, Senior Planner, Community Planning & Development, 360.570.5847
Presenter(s):
Amy Buckler, Senior Planner, Community Planning & Development
Background and Analysis:
The public process to form Olympia’s Downtown Strategy (DTS) is in step 4 of 5 (attachment 6.) Over 3,500 people have engaged in workshops and online, and City staff has met with over 30 organizational groups to discuss this community effort.
Major elements of the strategy include:
• Urban design focus with recommended updates to design guidelines, streetscape, historic preservation and view protection
• A housing strategy
• Business (retail) enhancement strategy
• Recommended tools to encourage private investment in line with community goals, including SEPA exemptions
NEXT STEPS IN THE PROCESS
At this time, staff and the MAKERS team are working to bring all the pieces together in preparation for a public open house on Oct. 29. Also occurring this month are additional opportunities for public feedback, including:
• Online Survey regarding housing and views, open Oct. 5-20
• Retail Forum with select business and real estate participants, Oct. 12
• PBIA discussion on draft retail strategy, Oct. 13
At the Oct. 29 open house, recommended actions for the next six years will be displayed and the public will be asked about their priorities (which they think should be completed first). Feedback will help shape the final draft of the Downtown Strategy Report, to be released later this year.
The actions and timelines ultimately recommended in the Downtown Strategy Report will be based on what we understand to be public priorities, budget realities and strategic advantage. The Report will be the subject of final review steps by the Olympia Planning Commission (OPC) and City Council.
In August, the LUEC guided staff to move forward with the following final review steps:
• October 29 - Public Open House (10:00 - noon at The Olympia Center)
o Presentation of the recommended Downtown Strategy
o Public feedback on recommendations
o All Councilmembers and Planning Commissioners encouraged to attend
• November 22 - Council study session
o Present the Strategy and issues rising to the top from the public process
o Council discussion leading to guidance for the final draft document and Planning Commission review
o OPC members encouraged to attend and listen to Council discussion
• December 5 - Planning Commission Briefing
o Overview of Strategy elements and Council’s direction for OPC review
o Discussion of Planning Commission’s public hearing process
• Completed in early 2017
o Planning Commission public hearing and recommendation
o Council adoption of the final Downtown Strategy
In addition, staff has worked with other advisory board liaisons to ensure boards and commissions have an opportunity to weigh in line with their designated role to “advise Council and staff on potential initiatives to include in the Strategy.” Attachment 2 describes the options presented to advisory boards for providing comment along with what the planning team believes to be their areas of interest at this time.
FOLLOW UP TO AUGUST MEETING
In August, the Land Use Committee requested more information about development tools available for encouraging private investment (attachment 1). A review and consolidation of three ‘development tool boxes’ previously prepared for the City by prior downtown consultants reveals the City and applicable partners currently makes use of 16 available tools. Many of these tools have been put in place over the last 10 years (Parking & Business Improvement Area, Community Renewal Area, HUD/Grow Olympia Fund, Metropolitan Parks District, etc.)
The Downtown Strategy will recommend the City explore additional tools during the 6 year implementation period (highlighted in attachment 1.) These tools could be focused to meet specific priorities identified in the Strategy, such as: incentivize adaptive reuse, fund transportation or parking improvements, address sea level rise, and continue waterfront redevelopment.
OCTOBER LUEC MEETING
At this LUEC meeting, staff and John Owen from MAKERS will provide a status update along with a list of draft actions. The list is currently in technical review and not ready at the time of this staff report.
Public engagement efforts during the month of October will further shape proposals under consideration. The following attachments provide some insight what is being considered at the time of this staff report:
• Attachment 3: Draft Retail Strategy Summary for presentation at the Retail Forum and PBIA
• Attachment 4: Summary of feedback regarding view protection from the September 17 public workshop
• Attachment 5: Summary of feedback on housing actions from the September 17 public workshop (at this event small groups had rich discussions which were difficult to capture - a high level summary of group report-outs is provided.)
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Over 3,500 people have engaged in the public process through workshops and online surveys. Other reports are available on the Downtown Strategy web page link in Attachment 7.
Options:
Oral presentation and discussion only
Financial Impact:
Included in base budget
Attachments
Potential Development Tools
Advisory Board Interests
Draft Retail Strategy Summary
Views Feedback
Housing Feedback
Public Participation Timeline
Link to Downtown Strategy webpage