First study session item is an update to the Community Development department's 2022-2023 workplan. There's a lot of important planning work to be done in Bellevue, such as the Wilburton LUCA, the Grand Connection, BelRed Lookback (now named "BelRed Look-Forward"), and more.
Conversation
So how do timelines look? Staff included the handy chart below, which covers the next 2 years.
Wilburton LUCA not coming until *2024*.
BelRed Look-Forward *pre-work* not beginning until Q1 2023.
Light rail is still slated to open next year.
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Encouragingly, some Affordable Housing conversations will be starting up in Q2. Seems Council may be able to identify some additional priorities for staff to look into.
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Staff will need further direction from Council in order to proceed with work around the I-405 Lid Park project, so it's likely some important discussions around that will be happening soon. The Urbanist's Brandon Zuo presented a good vision a while back.
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Second study session item is on 12 new FTEs in Development Services. The positions will be funded from development fees from the all the record levels of development in the city.
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3rd item is on the Council's return to in-person meetings & still allowing CMs to participate remotely. Currently, Council meetings are expected to return to in-person in April. Staff are recommending that Council retain the meeting format that's been used during COVID.
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First three speakers from the public are using a tactic that's been really en vogue recently: they're each spending 3 minutes on a combined presentation to make their case to rethink Bellevue's tree codes.
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"There are developers in Bellevue that take a thoughtful approach of incorporating trees into the design process. There are other builders who scrape the lot from end to end, having a devastating impact on our tree canopy." Doesn't want new unit production to take down old trees.
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Notes that Bellevue isn't on pace to meet its housing growth targets. Since a lot more growth will have to happen in order to meet that demand, advocates want the tree code examined now so that trees are protected while accommodating that growth.
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Next speaker is a Bellevue architect again emphasizing how trees impact design and can be kept during redevelopment. Describes how his firm does incorporates all trees on a site greater than 3" in diameter as noteworthy site features.
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This week's group is definitely focusing on how tree canopy preservation can function alongside redevelopments and increased housing density, an aspect which I sincerely appreciate.
Next speaker citing the recent IPCC as reason that the city needs to move quickly on environmental stewardship. Is concerned that environmental stewardship work and green buildings programs are being pushed back later into the planning schedule.
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Final preregistered talking about how a lot of planning work is taking too long. Says there's so much work to be done, also references how he feels work in the past was completed much more quickly. Says Wilburton work from 4 years ago is already out of date.
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Asks Council to not adopt the schedule presented in front of them, but rather discuss further details at their upcoming retreat to incorporate creativity and nimbleness to deliver projects more quickly. "Don't ask how we can keep this schedule. Ask how we can beat this schedule."
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Moving onto the timeline of the key planning initiatives over the next couple of years. Staff providing this update to provide the public with more information and certainty on when work will be happening on which projects.
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Staff say they've been working on "process improvements" over the last 18 months to provide people with more predictability and clarity.
The plan presented tonight is just for CM's information, not subject to their formal approval.
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This slide explains why current outreach work on the Comp Plan is important: the plans lead to specific codes that dictate what particular projects can be built.
There's an opportunity for *you* to get involved tomorrow evening! Register here: eventbrite.com/e/bellevue-204
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Staff's LUPI approach has created "an updated, standardized, predictable process where we have defined goals & responsibility... as well as defined outcomes on how we measure our work."
All big initiatives can be fit into a schema of pre-launch, execution, and implementation.
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Before Council provides formal approval to proceed on a project, there's a lot of prelaunch work that's done, including lining up contractors and reviewing the scope of the work. Once Council gives its approval, that's when stakeholder engagement and public process begins.
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The following list of projects have used the LUPI process since its implementation 18 months ago.
Although it provides more stability, I'm personally curious if this rigid process ultimately slows down planning work, or if it speeds it up by making it more standardized.
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The following principles help prioritize which projects should be worked on first in Work Plan. Say the plan is organized around equity and sustainability considerations.
As a speaker noted tonight, key environmental stewardship provisions are still a couple of years away.
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Key to prioritization is utilizing synergies from projects with overlapping scope, such as working on Affordable Housing Strategy implementation in tandem with LUCAs around emergency and supportive housing.
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Staff announce that April 25th is "tentatively" the launch date for Council work on Wilburton. Is looking to streamline environmental review by combining it with the Comp Plan environmental review process.
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Re: Grand Connection, staff say there's been private interest in a bridge over I-405 to provide a ped connection along the GC. So the work I mentioned earlier is actually about this bridge, described as a short-term project compared to the long-term vision of a Lid Park.
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BelRed Look-Forward will synergize with Comp Plan work to more quickly deliver map & policy amendments.
Affordable Housing "Next Right Work" is the stakeholder review and ultimate Council direction on what CMs want staff to look at next in implementing affordable housing.
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Staff say that City is close to implementing actions from the 2017 Affordable Housing Strategy, so this would help decide what's next.
It's not hard to have already completed them all when your plan only calls for 2500 affordable units in 10 years.
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Moving to CM comment. CM Robertson wants staff to ensure that calculations are done on how many new housing units BelRed & Wilburton will be able to provide so that city knows how much growth needs to be looked at in other areas.
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Says that tree concerns need to be balanced with housing concerns, also that several neighborhoods are "view communities" where there are certain ordinances around maintaining views. Wants all these to be taken into account as tree code work occurs.
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Staff say that Council will be able to weigh in on framework of tree code updates.
Once Council approves, Wilburton work will begin by examining the 2018 CAC report, which can be found here. bellevuewa.gov/city-governmen
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Staff believe Wilburton and BelRed work is sequenced properly to allow for discussions on how growth in those neighborhoods will affect the need for housing growth in other areas.
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CM Stokes echoes comments from speaker. Wants to make sure the city isn't taking forever on these initiatives. "Part of the reason we've taken so long with things is that Council has taken so long with some things."
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CM Zahn: appreciates tree canopy prework being moved to this year. Is concerned that postponing environmental stewardship work to 2024 is going to make it so that City doesn't meet its 2030 emission reduction targets. Cites availability of grant funding from infrastructure bill.
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Also interested in advancing Grand Connection work, since grants will be available to reconnect communities, which she says is what a Lid Park would do. Retreat will be good opportunity to discuss priorities.
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CM Lee says the plan needs to be nimble and reflect public outreach and engagement. Wants the plan to put more emphasis on technology like 5G and autonomous vehicle workplans.
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CM Lee, whose Somerset home is worth $2.5 million, in a city whose rents have gone up over 20% year-over-year and are still the most expensive in the state:
"We do a great job with housing, we're doing very well on housing."
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DM Nieuwenhuis notes that there's an opportunity cost to projects taking so long, is also excited by the prospect of private money helping fund the Lid Park project.
CM Barksdale: wants to make sure that work around small retail spaces and mom & pop shops is also incorporated.
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Wants to know how his ask to incorporate DADUs into the workplan fits into these discussions. That vote had some controversy last November.
Says that DADU discussions fit into framework for equity & sustainability.
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CM Robertson bringing forward a point of order that this wasn't on the agenda, not necessarily expressing support one way or another. Says trying to give Council direction at the end of a long discussion is "really poor form. Everyone would be really angry if I did that."
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Staff: mom & pop work can be looked at in a lot of initiatives, including Wilburton & BelRed. DADU work could be incorporated as part of Affordable Housing Right Next Work.
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Mayor Robinson: says good Comp Plan work will help out all other projects. Supports public outreach around the tree code process. Wants to know where Eastgate fits in, as it could be another growth area. Also curious what it takes to advance environmental goals more quickly.
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Staff say capacity is a barrier, but trying to address this by hiring consultants to help with work. Says that advancing sustainability through other initiatives will also be important. Says projects in transpo & utilities are also helping advance environmental stewardship.
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Re: Eastgate, code work was about 3-4 years ago now and little development has occurred, but this has signs of changing in the next few years.
The Council retreat late next week will also be a good time to discuss this work and the Council priorities.
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