Staff noting that some of the alternatives being presented tonight deviate heavily from the "wedding cake conception" - having the core of Downtown have the tallest buildings, then gradually taper downwards as you get to the surrounding single-family neighborhoods.
Conversation
Have a graphic, just in case - as well as a more detailed schedule & topics description of the upcoming study sessions.
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Summary of the options available. Option A is what's currently in LUCA, Option B is staff's recommendation, and the stakeholders request is from Wig Properties.
That would see significantly less housing being produced in this area, in a city with a significant housing shortage.
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Option B, which would see higher building heights for more housing, came about as a response to Council direction saying that certain members would be welcome to higher heights for more housing.
Again, #UpzoneSurreyDowns I'll make this hashtag happen I swear.
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Mayor Robinson says she likes what Wig Properties has proposed, but doesn't want to make it blanket for all of East Main to go the same way. Says some of their proposals should go in the LUC, but some should go in a Development Agreement.
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CM Robertson agrees. Says that she'd like to right size the amenities code system now so that the housing construction can begin right away. Would be interested in a 400' maximum in a DA, and a housing minimum of 20%, which is apparently Wig's new proposal.
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CM Stokes felt "the wedding cake was always going towards a sheet cake," and that the crisis of affordable housing means that we need to move quickly. Wants to bring things to the point where some of the construction can start happening, rather than plans.
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DM Nieuwenhuis notes the housing/jobs imbalance pointed out by staff. Supports CM Robertson's comments around expanding the ideas for what counts as incentives - counting things like childcare, pedestrian overpasses, or arts.
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CM Barksdale emphasizes the importance of affordable housing. He expands upon Nieuwenhuis's mention of the arts to say he wants amenities that create opportunities for people to "interact rather than just coexist."
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CM Lee says the key is economic feasibility. "We can have all the good ideas & thinking but it doesn't happen."
Except, as established, economics/the free market isn't structured to create affordable housing. That's why we're talking about this, man.
CM Zahn likes Option B, but acknowledges concerns expressed by developers that that may not be economically feasible at this time. Acknowledges that it's a difficult needle to thread between looking at short-term and long-term action around affordability.
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Supports what I believe other CMs have expressed support for, which is 320' with the ability to get up to 400' with a DA. Think there might be some disagreements around what percentage should be housing, but seems every CM is comfortable deviating from "wedding cake values".
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Mayor Robinson corrects: "I'm for the wedding cake in Downtown. This is not Downtown." Says that since this site would have certain affordable housing requirements that Downtown does not have, she's fine deviating from that previous vision.
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Staff has received enough direction from Council to have ideas for recommendations at future study sessions, so we're moving on to the final item - an annual update on the development the city has been experiencing.
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Staff says that development in the city has been at a "peak level" for 8 years.
Here's a cross-section of some of the significant number of developments going on in Bel-Red.
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And some in Downtown - both commercial and residential projects are under construction, though we still *definitely* don't have enough of the latter.
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Construction value in Bellevue in 2021 alone is poised to surpass the city's record set in 2020 of $1.2 billion(!) dollars.
Also, can we collectively vote to not use the word "customer" when talking about anything the city does? It feels very neoliberal and I don't like it.
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I know staff needs to (at least appear) apolitical, but imo it's sacrilege that staff's presentation tonight doesn't point out the connection between the rapid, outsized development of office spaces vs. housing and the commensurate contribution to our affordable housing crisis.
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CM Barksdale advocating for smaller tenant spaces that might support smaller, more affordable mom & pop businesses. Staff says that they're mainly seeing large tenant spaces at this time. Barksdale wants to see ways to encourage smaller commercial spaces.
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CM Robertson curious how remote work is going with the permitting department & if the department is sharing info on MFTE & 1590 funds w/ applicants. Staff says that reps from community development are present in permitting process to advertise programs.
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No other major comments, so I'll end it there as the meeting adjourns!
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