Staff also notes that they'll be having regular, proactive conversations w/ developers. This process will come along with the tracking component.
Conversation
CM Zahn notes how we're in a housing crisis and we need to move w/ urgency. Appreciates staff considerations around focusing on why developers may not choose to use MFTE. She does have a couple of questions about the amendments proposed by the Chamber.
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CM Lee and Mayor Robinson support the proposal tonight. Mayor is "confident that this is a good effort from the Council, from the community, and from staff." Provides some minor amendments to the Chamber's amendments, but otherwise seems supportive.
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MFTE proposal, with minor amendments put forward by the Chamber and Mayor Robinson, passes unanimously.
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After an informational presentation on Harborview Medical Center, we're now moving on to the East Main LUCA discussions. Tonight, Council will be identifying things they want to be discussed in future study sessions, as well as scheduling a Public Hearing.
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This LUCA has been in the works for over a year, but has received significant stakeholder input during that time.
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FAR is a general metric that stands for the amount of development allowed in an area. With that basic overview in mind, I'm happy that the baseline zoning will encourage more residential than commercial developments. #BuildThatHousing
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Moving on to Council discussion. CM Robertson seems to support increasing the height limits on the towers allowed on the site. Says that this is a unique opportunity to go big or go home on making sure we build a lot of housing.
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CM Stokes notes that "everyone knows" we need to address affordable housing and says we need to do that "everywhere." Says that maybe height limits and affordable housing shouldn't be kept in isolated "buckets." He wants to go "big" on affordable housing.
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Mayor Robinson agrees w/ CM Stokes and floats the idea of affordable housing triggering greater building heights. Says that 100% AMI is not affordable housing and should not be enough to trigger a kickback. CM Zahn agrees - "we only have so many truly TOD [parcels] in the city."
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Mayor Robinson trying to urge her colleagues to keep their comments short as there are multiple suggestions to go through. CM Zahn speaking on a broad level that she'd like to understand why staff says some the suggestions don't line up with Council priorities.
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Council is going 1 by 1 through the amendments proposed in this document & providing feedback. These comments will be what is discussed in future study sessions. Not sure I'll post *all* their comments here tonight, but you can see the amendments here: bellevue.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&
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Seems the concern vis-a-vis the Bellevue Club is that, if they choose to expand their property, they'd be subject to the new development requirements in this LUCA. It seems some conservative CMs are okay with not requiring BC to be subject to the LUCA in event of an expansion.
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Moving on to regional issues, staff is discussing how they will bring in Interim Official Controls (IOCs, essentially land use code stopgap measures) by end July so that the city can comply with HB 1220 and SB 5235. Have to do with temporary shelter & unrelated people in a house.