Title
Downtown Strategy Scoping
Recommended Action
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive briefing from staff; provide guidance on the proposed framework and priority topics (attachment 1), and preferred approach to SEPA (attachment 2).
Report
Issue:
Scoping discussion about the Downtown Strategy. Staff will provide an overview of the proposed framework and priority topics for the strategy, including specific work items proposed to be completed during the planning stage.
Staff Contact:
Amy Buckler, Senior Planner, Community Planning and Development, 360.570.5847
Presenter(s):
Amy Buckler, Senior Planner, Community Planning and Development (CP&D)
Leonard Bauer, Deputy Director, CP&D
Brian Wilson, Downtown Liaison, CP&D
Background and Analysis:
The Comprehensive Plan directs the City to have a 'plan for downtown', and this Downtown Strategy is of considerable interest to the community. Scoping for the downtown strategy is set to occur through May of 2015 (attachment 7), including:
* The Land Use & Environment Committee (LUEC) to develop a recommended scope at their meetings in January and February;
* Presentation of the LUEC recommendation to Council for direction in March;
* An open house and opportunity for public to provide comment in April;
* Council approval of scope in May;
* City's request for proposals (RFP) for a consultant team to assist with the planning stage (June 2015-16).
At its December 11 meeting, the Land Use & Environment Committee (LUEC) received a staff briefing about downtown planning history and some associated myths, listened to the public and provided feedback on principles to shape the scoping process (attachment 7). The committee also recommended that excerpts from the old Comprehensive Plan known as the "Downtown Plan" be referred to as necessary during development of the Downtown Strategy, but not re-adopted at this time.
At its retreat on January 8, 2015, the City Council discussed what the down...
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