CNA Meeting Minutes – January 10, 2022, via Zoom, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Present:
Council of Neighborhood Associations Officers: Larry Dzieza (Nottingham) – Chair, Melissa Allen, Vice Chair, Mark Toy (SWONA) Co-Secretary.
Members: Bruce Coulter (NWONA), Bob Jacobs (Gov. Stevens NA), Judy Bardin (NWONA), Charlotte Persons (Bigelow NA), Dana McAvoy (East Bay), Darrah (Wildwood), Lee Riner and John Newman (Burbank), Jenn Wulf (DNA), Victor Minjares
City Representatives & Presenters: Tim Smith, Amy Buckler, Joyce Philips
6:30 – 6:45 Neighborhood Reports
Bruce (NWONA) – NW neighborhood starting to come out of Cave. NWONA Meeting next Monday night. Capital Mall Triangle Development meeting planned with SWONA members.
Melissa (Bigelow Heights) – Distributed neighborhood newsletter to six hundred prior to quarterly meeting. No in-person meeting due to Covid, but no mechanism to notify distribution list for change in newsletter.
Charlotte Persons (BNA) – CACC – plan for new airport. Six possible locations for airport expansion – Paine field is top of list. Olympia rated high for expansion. Jay Elder passed, Larry mentions Jay former president of CNA, science teacher. Judy (NWONA) – Meal train being organized for Jay Elder’s family after his passing.
Darrah (Wildwood) – Next quarterly meeting Jan. 20th. “Winter Walkabout” activity since last meeting (caroling outside of Vic’s).
Bob Jacobs (Gov. Stevens) – Snow has been good for kids – sledding five days in a row. Airport path goes down unopened right of way. Flight path for Olympia goes over south and east Olympia. (Melissa to Charlotte: any local organization against airport? Most pollution on landing. Larry suggests for future meeting topic. Airport discussion – board voted 2 to 1 against last summer but issue is not dead. Owner of local airport for expansion. Judy referenced UW study on public health impacts of airport.)
Mark Toy (SWONA)– Since last meeting finished final NMG report to City, held December quarterly meeting – speakers on Crisis Response unit, Capital Mall Triangle Development, Public Safety, Homeless Encampment evacuation. This is my last turn taking minutes. Larry asked about current Covid surge, Mark suggested people minimize social interactions for the next 2-3 weeks.
Dana (East Bay Drive) – Not too much happening. Updating communication e-mail distribution list.
Jenn (DNA) – DNA took time off during holidays. Leg session is starting – watching for Tenants Advocacy work. Hard to do outreach to new apartments – cannot knock on door on new developments – need to know someone in building to get in. (Larry – referencing City MOU – strategies to reach renters – send out to new tenants notice of rights, NA).
Charlotte Persons (BNA) – Recent WIP article on the December 15 downtown fire impacts to local businesses. Jenn – two neighborhood associations in downtown – one for businesses, one for residents – GoFundMe fund to businesses.
John Newman (Burbank) – Burbank Avenue ditch by GRUB to Schneider Creek flooded during last storm.
Karen (Eastside NA) – No comments, just guest.
Larry (Nottingham NA) – NA meeting Feb. 20, electing new board. $220 assessment/year for fence maintenance and landscaping. Trying to solicit interest in bus shelter.
Tim (City) – Lydia asked to mention that 2022 NMG workshop will be coming second week of February via Zoom.
6:45 – 7:00 Council Liaison Report – Councilmember Yen Huynh
Yen could not make meeting.
7:00 – 8:15 Neighborhood Engagement and the City’s Current and Future Development Direction
Part 1: Presentation by Joyce Phillips on the Comprehensive Plan
Where We Are Today and How Did We Get There?
Results – What Are We Seeing? (Plan Implementation)
Where Are We Headed?
Neighborhood engagement
(See attached PowerPoint for more details)
As intro, Larry references book called Suburban Nation about value of neighborhoods, ability to walk places. ‘Neighborhoods or Nothing’ is the book’s rallying cry.
Comprehensive plans have been happening since late 1950’s. Growth Management Act in 1990 increased scope/requirements. First post-GMA plan in 1994. The current Comp Plan goes from 2014-2035 (updated every 8 years), covers UGA. Over 1,500 participants gave input to last update. 20,000 new residents expected between 2014 and 2035; most (15,000) expected density growth in three areas – Capital Mall triangle, downtown and triangle area by bordered by Pacific Avenue, Martin Way, and Lilly Road (hatched areas in graphic below).
Related master plans – Parks & recreation, water, sewer, storm, emergency management, transportation, all feed into Comp Plan. All plans must be internally consistent and consistent with master capital plan. Also needs to be consistent with neighboring community plans.
Implementation efforts since 2014 – Downtown Strategy, Home Fund, Climate change, etc.
GMA requirements – planning for growth. Adopted level of services requirement. 14 goals of GMA must be met. Within UGA urban levels of service, outside UGA maintain rural character.
Judy – Olympian article on housing options – yearly report by area? Joyce – request in to data team, in process – by end of month.
Bob – density will be mostly renters, has City given any thought to neighborhood impacts? Joyce – currently >50% pop. are renters. Challenging to build condos due to financing requirements. No new condos in +/- 15 years. Infrastructure requirements are same.
Jenn – Concept of increased urban density to save rural character. Issue with slumlords downtown, affordability. Has City investigated other options – co-ops perhaps? Joyce – City cannot directly impact ownership patterns. City has allowed 4-plexes in moderate density zones, ADU flexibility, townhouse development. Ownership opportunities in downtown a problem for condos unless State legislature changes laws.
Charlotte – Is City exploring co-op arrangement? Habitat for Humanity has done some projects. Joyce – City allows co-housing, cooperatives, cottage housing. Regulations make fronting project costs more difficult. Parks has goals of park acquisition – all housing should be within ¼ mile from a park.
Joyce highlights City efforts: OONA and Eastside subarea plans, multimodal transportation plan (sidewalks, bike lanes, bus lines). Blue Heron protection, pre-approved ADU plans.
Slide showing progress in subsidized, low-income housing in process. Growth pays for growth. Increase in townhome developments. Slides on individual projects, plans (Martin Way corridor, Short Term Rental standards, Capital Mall Triangle Area subarea plan, Neighborhood Centers, Boulevard Road Housing Project etc.).
Melissa – How many projects in UGA? Joyce – Olympia Construction Map on website shows locations – will send link. Tim – all projects within City limits. Majority of housing within urban villages, downtown, corridors.
Melissa – OONA process good between neighborhoods, no positive communications with City. Joyce – pathway connection project gained priority from subarea plan.
2025 periodic update starting in 2022 – due June 30, 2025. Update planning horizon to 2045 (population, housing, etc.). EIS will be prepared for update. There is a Public Participation Plan, neighborhood engagement blah blah blah.
Larry – Social Justice element should be included in Comp Plan. Cannot continue to only develop market rate housing. Brought up Montgomery County Md. Example for including affordable housing plan in Comp Plan, preserving, and creating 1000 low-cost housing units annually. Joyce – City will look at strategies to address housing affordability. Update will look to clarify terms like neighborhood character, public safety.
Bob – Comp Plan language for last 30 years on affordable housing but no real action. Joyce – More to come on Housing Action Plan.
Melissa – Home Fund expected to be used for affordable housing but seems only to be used for homeless shelters. Tim – Home Fund presentation in future, hiring new manager – last manager left in fall.
Bob – Comp Plan teeth question re: 7/11 decision (Harrison/Division development), when judge said Comp Plan needed to be enforced. Joyce – land use decisions need to be consistent with Comp Plan, Capital Facilities Plan. Comp Plan can be appealed to GMA Board. GMA issues – can lose State grant money if not compliant. Put contact info in chat.
8:15 – 8:30 Minutes Approval and Agenda Ideas
Minutes approved. Need new secretaries. Job takes about 4 hours every other month (assumes co-secretaries).
8:30 Adjourn
Meeting adjourned.
Council of Neighborhood Associations 