Promoting Economic Development Through Upfront SEPA Review: Lessons from South Downtown Tacoma

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1 Promoting Economic Development Through Upfront SEPA Review: Lessons from South Downtown Tacoma 1

2 This session will focus on the City of Tacoma s South Downtown Subarea Plan and associated Non-Project SEPA Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Looking northwest across the Thea Foss Waterway to the Glass Museum, marina, and waterfront promenade 2

3 Background UWT Campus Regional Growth Center PSRC Growing Transit Communities HUD Grant One of 3 Subareas in Downtown Tacoma South Downtown Subarea and its districts 3

4 University of Washington Tacoma Current Student Population: 4,000 Staff: 900 Projected 2030 Student Population: 14,000 Looking east toward the Foss on the Grand Staircase of the UWT campus 4

5 Regional Growth Center 2030 City-wide Targets: 60,000 new jobs 70,000 new people Based on growth allocations from PSRC and Pierce County 5

6 PSRC Growing Transit Communities The Growing Transit Communities Partnership was funded by a three-year grant from the Federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities LINK riders headed to the Dome Station Three main goals: Attract more of the region s residential and employment growth near high-capacity transit Provide housing choices affordable to a full range of incomes near high-capacity transit UWT campus Increase access to opportunity for existing and future community members in transit communities The South Downtown Plan and EIS are one of three demonstration projects 6 Chihuly Bridge of Glass

7 Station Typology West end of Freighthouse Square Busy LINK at Tacoma Dome Station LINK passing through the UWT campus Pierce Transit Park and Ride across from Freighthouse Square The four Sound Transit LINK station areas located in South Downtown are all designated as the Stimulate Demand type The high priority strategy categories associated with the Stimulate Demand type are: Promote economic development to retain and expand job base Long-Range capital facilities plan with phased infrastructure and public realm investments Affordable housing assessment and preservation Community needs assessment and targeted investments 7

8 HUD Grant U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program Supports locally-led collaborative efforts to determine how best to target housing, economic and workforce development, and infrastructure investments to create more jobs and regional economic activity Looking north on Pacific Ave. at the UWT campus Six livability principles Historic Union Station (now a Federal Courthouse) To date HUD has awarded over $165 million to 74 regional grantees in 44 states and helping to improve the lives of approximately 112 million people. 8 Thea s Landing on the Foss Waterway

9 3 Downtown Tacoma Subareas North Downtown South Downtown Hilltop (MLK) 9

10 Previous Planning Efforts 10

11 About the Project Subarea Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Planning Target: 30 million sq. ft. of new development 11

12 About the Plan Identify Necessary Utility Improvements Water, sewer, stormwater, telecommunications, etc. Plan for Open Space Prairie Line Trail, potential pocket & destination parks, Foss Waterway Park, etc. Prioritize Transportation Investments Light rail, bus, train, parking, pedestrian, bike, roadway improvements, etc. View of Pacific Ave. from S. 21 st St. The Harmon Brewery with office/loft space above. 12

13 Project Goals Alfred s Café in the Dome District The back side of the WA State History Museum Thea s Landing on the Foss Waterway Keystone building on UWT campus Maintain basic eligibility for federal, state, and regional transportation funding Accelerate public investment in downtown through a series of coordinated actions, e.g. utility/multi-model street upgrades and Freighthouse Square-area upgrades Gain a competitive advantage for new private and public sector investment through a streamlined project approval process, more flexible zoning, and public/private partnerships 13

14 Stakeholder Input & Review September 2011 Spring 2013 Data Collection & Existing Conditions Review Establish Draft Goals and Policy Framework Draft Subarea Plan & EIS Council Approval December 2013 Spring - Winter 2011 Spring Fall 2012 Spring Fall

15 Upfront SEPA LINK on Pacific Ave. Artwork and the Glass Museum Bicyclists, cars, and buses sharing the road Transit-Infill Review Upfront SEPA Looking south of the Foss at the SR-509 Bridge The City proceeded under the Planned Action and Infill Exemption Upfront SEPA forms recognizing that RCW 43.21C.420(5)(a) and (b) ( Transit-Infill Review ) include a sunset provision. 15

16 Non-Project EIS Not subject to SEPA-based appeals at project level Jointly sponsored by the City of Tacoma and the University of Washington Tacoma (UWT) with the City of Tacoma acting as Lead Agency A non-project document as it addresses a 600- acre area of South Downtown Tacoma and presents a cumulative impact analysis for the entire subarea Transit Infill Review No project/eis consistency test Provides certainty and predictability to developers and investors Streamlines permit review process Grand Staircase on UWT campus 16

17 Extensive EIS Notice Provision and Community Outreach Transit-infill review requires extensive mailed notice and upfront public participation provisions. The outreach efforts included providing project updates and overviews of the Plan and EIS to neighborhood councils, interested parties, monthly meetings with the Steering Committee, quarterly meetings with a Council-resolutionformed Working Group, periodic stakeholder meetings, and business group outreach Participants were encouraged to voice concerns, provide suggestions, and discuss particular issues throughout the entire process Reverie at Marcato Condominiums on Tacoma Ave. The Swiss Pub on Jefferson Ave. Adaptive-reuse building: UWT s Carlton Center 17

18 Catalyst Projects UWT Campus Master Plan Approval Amtrak Station Relocation Pierce Transit Site Redevelopment Prairie Line Trail The Henry 18

19 University of Washington Tacoma Master Plan The City pre-approved the entire UWT Campus Master Plan UWT campus was established in 1990 and the UWT campus has undergone an extraordinary transformation earning numerous awards for the adaptive reuse of several century-old, brick railroad-era structures into modern classroom facilities Looking west on the UWT campus UWT UWT s plans for continued expansion will be a major economic driver for the area. UWT Science Building 19

20 Amtrak Station Relocation Amtrak station is being relocated to Freighthouse Square from its current location on Puyallup Avenue The relocation is part of the Point Defiance Bypass Project which will reroute passenger trains to an existing rail line along the west side of Interstate 5 through south Tacoma, Lakewood, and DuPont The Project will allow two more runs from Tacoma to Portland, create a faster route and more reliable service, as well as free up the Point Defiance tracks for freight-only traffic Current location of the Amtrak station on Puyallup Ave. A Citizen Advisory Group was formed in February 2013 to help with the planning process of the relocation of Amtrak Station Freighthouse Square in the Dome District The Citizen Advisory Group recommended that the Amtrak station relocation be sited at the east end of Freighthouse Square 20

21 Pierce Transit Site Redevelopment Site owned by Pierce Transit across from Freighthouse Square on East 25 th St. A market study done by Kidder Mathews found that that there is a market for housing in this area, there is currently virtually no housing in the Dome District The proposed building would have dwelling units, 7500 sq. ft. of street-level retail, 4,000 sq. ft. of amenities, and 7,000 sq. ft. of open space 6 modes of transportation available for residents and visitors Design concepts for the new Dome District apartment building 21

22 Map of the Pierce Transit Site 22

23 Prairie Line Trail Located ½ block from 6.4 acre catalyst site at 21 st Street and Jefferson Avenue The project would connect the Foss Waterway, downtown destinations and regional bicycle and pedestrian networks via a safe, comfortable and accessible multi-use pathway. Trail corridor and linear park will act as economic catalyst and important community resource UWT to complete portion running through the campus 23

24 Prairie Line Trail Design Concept Design concepts for the Prairie Line Trail through the UWT Campus 24

25 The Henry Located between Dock St. and the Thea Foss Waterway on the north side of the S. 21 st St Bridge 161-unit mixed-use building Rooftop dining, private dog park, views of Mt. Rainier and the Foss, retail space, and public park space. $32 million building 3 Design illustrations of The Henry Developed by the same group that built the first major building on the Foss: Thea s Landing 25

26 South Downtown Subarea 26

27 Thank you Contact Us: Ian Munce (253)