Town Center Task Force Meeting Materials and Documents

Meeting Recaps for June-December, 2018
October 26, 2018 – Town Center Subarea Plan and Development Regulations: During the October 15 City Council meeting, the Assistant City Manager and Community Economic Development Director presented an update on the Town Center Subarea Plan and Development Regulations. During the presentation, they mentioned that to date, an open house, Economic Development Opportunities Panel discussion and seven Task Force meetings have been held, the most recent of which took place on October 9.

Regarding next steps, draft updates to the Town Center Subarea Plan and related documents will need to be prepared and submitted to the Task Force for review. Revisions by the Task Force are likely to be made or proposed and a public open house will need to be held to allow the public an opportunity to review proposals and provide comments or feedback. A revised draft extended schedule has been provided to Task Force members that includes additional meeting dates.

One idea shared on October 15 is the possibility of hosting a joint Planning Commission and City Council work session in mid-December. The purpose of this meeting is to have SCJ introduce Task Force recommended updates to the City Council and Planning Commission at the same time. This will give the Council and Commission more time to review information prior to additional Commission and Council workshops and public hearings being held in January and February of 2019.

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October 19, 2018 – Town Center Subarea Plan and Development Regulations: During the October 15 City Council meeting, the Assistant City Manager and Community Economic Development Director presented an update on the Town Center Subarea Plan and Development Regulations. During the presentation, they mentioned that to date, an open house, Economic Development Opportunities Panel discussion and seven Task Force meetings have been held, the most recent of which took place on October 9.

Regarding next steps, draft updates to the Town Center Subarea Plan and related documents will need to be prepared and submitted to the Task Force for review. Revisions by the Task Force are likely to be made or proposed and a public open house will need to be held to allow the public an opportunity to review proposals and provide comments or feedback. A revised draft extended schedule has been provided to Task Force members that includes additional meeting dates.

One idea shared on October 15 is the possibility of hosting a joint Planning Commission and City Council work session in mid-December. The purpose of this meeting is to have SCJ introduce Task Force recommended updates to the City Council and Planning Commission at the same time. This will give the Council and Commission more time to review information prior to additional Planning Commission and Council workshops and public hearings being held in January and February of 2019.

NOTE: The October 23 Task Force Meeting is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. The Task Force Meeting agenda includes the following items:

• Summary of Visual Preference Survey Rating from October 9
• Visual Tour of Selected Town Center Development Districts
• Preferred Design Themes: Buildings, Streetscapes, Landscaping
• Reaffirming Guiding Principles

October 12, 2018 – Economic Vitality & Town Center (EV&TC) Task Force: A meeting took place on October 9, 2018 to discuss possible updates to the Town Center. The agenda included the following items:

• Welcome: Meeting purpose and future steps in the Town Center planning process
• Visual Preference Exercise o Building form
  • Open Spaces
  • Streetscapes and Plazas
  • Landscaping
• Discussion of zoning districts based on design preferences
• Next Meeting Tasks. Due to time constraints, the topic "Discussion of zoning districts based on design preferences" did not take place and will be moved to a future agenda item.
  Regarding future steps and due to the holidays approaching, a draft EV&TC Task Force Meeting Schedule and Agenda was handed out to provide an overview or long term outlook of future Task Force meetings and related agenda items.
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  September 28, 2018 
• Economic Vitality and Town Center Task Force: A sixth Economic Vitality &Town Center Task Force meeting was held on September 6. During the meeting, a number of items were discussed and presented such as: o Previous Task Force comments, issues, and consensus
  • Public comments from May 15 open house
  • Community Attributes Report Findings (April 2018) o Panelists' comments and observations from the July 12, 2018 event.
  • Conceptual Land Use Concepts A and B
  • Task Force discussion and creation of draft Preliminary Town Center Land Use Concept
• Town Center Subarea Plan and Development Regulations: During a recent City Council work session, the possibility of setting up additional Town Center Task Force meetings was discussed. The primary purpose would be to further discuss the concept identified by the Task Force on September 6 as well as other items needed in order to move towards hosting an open house and eventually the preparation of a Task Force recommendation. City staff are working on an amended schedule and agenda(s). They will be notifying the Task Force about the idea to schedule additional meetings and then discussing additional tasks/timeline during that meeting.

August 31, 2018 – Economic Vitality and Town Center (EV&TC) Task Force Meeting #6: A couple of adjustments to the process have been made following the panel discussion and we have been working to obtain and generate additional information related to updating the Town Center Plan, Economic Vitality Strategy and Codes/Standards.

Due to Labor Day this Monday and moving the Council meeting to Tuesday, the next EV&TC Task Force meeting will be on Thursday, September 6 at 6 p.m. in the interim City Hall Council Chambers. During the meeting, the Task Force will discuss draft maps depicting conceptual land use scenarios, building heights, general land use districts, and street/pedestrian grid/connections. Development incentives will also be discussed.

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July 20, 2018 – Town Center Task Force: The city reached out to real estate professionals, developers, economic development professionals, and architects as part of creating a panel discussion to talk about economic development and opportunities. Four individuals from varied backgrounds accepted an invitation to participate on the panel and about 30 people attended the meeting. The event took place on July 12 in the Mountlake Terrace Council Chambers and the topics discussed included what these professions take into consideration when identifying development opportunities, planning and implementing projects, facilitating economic vitality, and creating livable and lively environments.

The meeting began with a brief introduction of each speaker. Panelists included Chris Fiori, Principal and Project Director of Heartland LLC; Bob Tiscareno, AIA, Design Principal and Founder of Tiscareno Associates; Joe Ferguson, Co-founder and principal of Lake Union Partners; and Brynn Estelle Telkamp, Designated Broker and Retail Brokerage Consultant with BeRetail. This was followed by the speakers providing opening remarks, a question and answer session, and open discussion.

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July 13, 2018 – Town Center Task Force: The City of Mountlake Terrace reached out to real estate professionals, developers, economic development professionals, and architects as part of creating a panel discussion to talk about economic development and opportunities. Four individuals from varied backgrounds accepted an invitation to participate on the panel. The event took place on July 12 in the Mountlake Terrace Council Chambers and the topics discussed included what these professions take into consideration when identifying development opportunities, planning and implementing projects, facilitating economic vitality, and creating livable and lively environments.

The meeting began with a brief introduction of each speaker. Panelists included Chris Fiori, Principal and Project Director of Heartland LLC; Bob Tiscareno, AIA, Design Principal and Founder of Tiscareno Associates; Joe Ferguson, Co-founder and principal of Lake Union Partners; and Brynn Estelle Telkamp, Designated Broker and Retail Brokerage Consultant with BeRetail. This was followed by the speakers providing opening remarks, a question and answer session, and open discussion.

July 6, 2018 – July 12 Town Center Panel Discussion: As noted above under City Council meetings, the City Council, Planning Commission and Economic Vitality & Town Center Task Force invite the community to attend a Town Center Economic Development Opportunities Panel on Thursday, July 12 at 6:00 p.m. The panel discussion is the first item on the City Council's work/study session and the meeting will be noted as a special meeting due to the 6:00 start time.

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June 8, 2018 – Economic Vitality and Town Center Task Force: The next Economic Vitality Strategy and Town Center Task Force meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 starting at 6:00 p.m. in the Mountlake Terrace City Council Chambers (6100 – 219th Street SW, Suite 220). The public is encouraged to attend.

The purpose of this planning effort is to identify and develop recommended updates to the City's Economic Vitality Strategy, development codes and Town Center Subarea Plan to support and encourage the types of development desired by the community with a specific focus on the Town Center Subarea. The goal of the series of meetings is to obtain input from the community to help SCJ Alliance prepare recommendations on, and City Council appointed Town Center Task Force assist with the development of, potential updates to these strategies, codes and plan.

The Task Force and SCJ Alliance will also conduct a meeting on August 8, an open house on August 21 and submit recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council for their consideration before the end of 2018. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the discussion about the future of the community and the Town Center area.

For more information about the Economic Vitality and Town Center planning process, please visit the city's website at www.cityofmlt.com/1936 or contact Community and Economic Development at 425-744-6281.

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June 1, 2018 – Economic Vitality and Town Center Task Force: Over the next several months, the Task Force and SCJ Alliance will conduct two more meetings, an open house and submit recommendations to the Planning Commission for their consideration and recommendation to the City Council before the end of 2018. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the discussion about the future of the community and the Town Center area. The next Economic Vitality Strategy and Town Center Task Force meeting number 4 will be held on June 12, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Mountlake Terrace City Hall (6100 – 219th Street SW, Suite 220); all meetings are open to the public. For more information about the Economic Vitality and Town Center planning process, please visit the city's website or contact Community and Economic Development at 425-744-6207.

Comprehensive Plans and their related elements are designed to be reviewed on a periodic basis by the community to assess the goals and visions contained within the plans and make adjustments to reflect changes for the future. The Town Center Subarea Plan was adopted over ten years ago and the city and region have experienced many changes over the last several years, including the approval to extend Sound Transit's light rail line northward into Snohomish County; a Mountlake Terrace Rail Station, located at 236th and Interstate 5, is scheduled to be operational in 2024.

May 25, 2018 – Economic Vitality and Town Center Workshop Focus on Future of Mountlake Terrace: Over 40 people attended a public workshop on the Economic Vitality Strategy and Town Center at the Mountlake Terrace Library May 15. The purpose of this planning effort is to identify and develop recommended updates to the City's Economic Vitality Strategy, development codes and Town Center Subarea Plan to support and encourage the types of development desired by the community with a specific focus on the Town Center Subarea. The goal of the workshop was to obtain input from the community to help SCJ Alliance prepare recommendations for review by the Town Center Task Force on potential updates to these strategies, codes and plan.

Over the next several months, SCJ Alliance and the Task Force will conduct three more meetings, an open house and submit recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council for their consideration before the end of 2018. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the discussion about the future of the community and the Town Center area. The next Economic Vitality Strategy and Town Center Task Force meeting will be held on May 30, 2018 in the Council Chambers of Mountlake Terrace City Hall (6100 – 219th Street SW, Suite 220); all meetings are open to the public. For more information about the Economic Vitality and Town Center planning process, please visit the city's website or contact Community and Economic Development at 425-744-6207.

Comprehensive Plans and their related elements are designed to be reviewed on a periodic basis by the community to assess the goals and visions contained within the plans and make adjustments to reflect changes for the future. The Town Center Subarea Plan was adopted over ten years ago and the city and region have experienced many changes over the last several years….including the approval to extend Sound Transit's light rail line northward into Snohomish County; a Mountlake Terrace Rail Station, located at 236th and Interstate 5, is scheduled to be operational in 2024.

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May 18, 2018 – Economic Vitality and Town Center Workshop Focus on Future of Mountlake Terrace: Over 40 people attended a public workshop on the Economic Vitality Strategy and Town Center at the Mountlake Terrace Library this week. The purpose of this planning effort is to identify and develop recommended updates to the City's Economic Vitality Strategy, development codes and Town Center Subarea Plan to support and encourage the types of development desired by the community with a specific focus on the Town Center Subarea. The goal of the May 15 workshop was to obtain input from the community to help SCJ Alliance prepare recommendations for review by the Town Center Task Force on potential updates to these strategies, codes and plan.

Comprehensive Plans and their related elements are designed to be reviewed on a periodic basis by the community to assess the goals and visions contained within the plans and make adjustments to reflect changes for the future. The Town Center Subarea Plan was adopted over ten years ago and the city and region have experienced many changes over the last several years….including the approval to extend Sound Transit's light rail line northward into Snohomish County; a Mountlake Terrace Rail Station, located at 236th and Interstate 5, is scheduled to be operational in 2024.

Over the next several months, SCJ Alliance and the Task Force will conduct three more meetings, an open house and submit recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council for their consideration before the end of 2018. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the discussion about the future of the community and the Town Center area. The next Economic Vitality Strategy and Town Center Task Force meeting will be held on May 30, 2018 in the Council Chambers of Mountlake Terrace City Hall; all meetings are open to the public. For more information contact 425-744-6207.

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 May 11, 2018 – Public Workshop on Economic Vitality and Town Center Planning: A Public Workshop is planned for Tuesday, May 15, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Mountlake Terrace Library to obtain input from the community on potential updates to the city's Town Center Subarea Plan and Economic Vitality Element of the Comprehensive Plan.

Comprehensive Plans are designed to be reviewed on a periodic basis by the community to assess the goals and visions contained in the plan and make changes to reflect changes for the future. The city has experienced many changes over the last several years and is planning for future changes including the pending Sound Transit light rail station, and interest in Mountlake Terrace as an attractive and affordable place to live and work.

The Economic Vitality and Town Center Task Force appointed by the City Council will be working over the next several months to discuss the wants and needs of residents and business owners and balance them with development feasibility to help generate economic development. The Task Force will make recommendations on updates to existing codes and standards to the Planning Commission and City Council to consider by the end of this year.

Everyone is encouraged to participate in the discussion about the future of the community and the Town Center area. For more information about the Economic Vitality and Town Center planning process contact 425-744-6207.