Advanced Plans Committee

Advance Plans Committee Meeting Summary Thursday, November 4, 2021 Meeting is conducted virtually via GoTo Meetings and in-person in the MAPC Conference room on the second floor of the Reagan Building Attendance AP Committee Members: Ann Fox (Chair), Chuck Warren, Joe Johnson, Rob Hartman, John McKay, Bob Dool, Cindy Miles; Members Absent: None MAPD staff: Scott Wadle, Mary M. Hunt, Stephen Banks, Matt Williams, J.R. Cox, Justin Waggoner, ThaiBinh Ninh; Other: Robert Parnacott and Jim Fugarino; Discussion Summary 1. The meeting commenced at 10:30am with Chair Ann Fox welcoming all attendees and advised the Committee of one change in the agenda. Item 5 (Development Trends) will be heard first, followed by item 4 (Comprehensive Plan Monitoring Report). 2. The October 7, 2021 meeting summary was approved 4 votes to zero with three abstentions. Commissioner McKay motioned to approve; Commissioner Warren second the motion to approve. 3. Scott Wadle, Planning Director updated the Committee that the Sustainability Integration Board has been formed with seven members representing various areas of expertise including business and industry, climate change and resilience, economic development, energy use and conservation as well as other areas. A draft ordinance was presented to the City Council in August of this year. The purpose of the Committee is to “advise the City Council and City staff on sustainability matters effecting the City’s long-term livability and economic vitality.” 4. Stephen Banks, Senior Planner presented the 2021 Development Trends report. Residential building permits increased in 2020 driven by pent up demand. COVID-19 resulted in employment decline. Commercial building activity experienced a five-year high in square footage built. Permits issued were lower, however projects were larger in size. Commercial subdivision activity increased for commercial and office projects. Residential material prices began threatening future home sales in 2020. Current inventory of buildable lots is 3.15 years and is considered an acceptable level of inventory. The Committee voted unanimously to forward the report to the full MAPC (Metropolitan Area Planning Commission) at a later date. 5. Stephen Banks continued with a presentation of the Community Investments Plan Monitoring Report. The purpose of the report is to evaluate the Plan compared to stated goals of the Plan including: 1) Support an innovative, vibrant and diverse economy; 2) Invest in the quality of Community Life; 3) Take better care of what we have; 4) Make strategic value added investments; 5) Provide for a balanced growth with focus on established neighborhoods. Advanced Plans Committee Meeting Summary – November 4, 2021 1  High-Tech employment saw a 16.3% decline in 2020, while total employment decreased 6.5% due to COVID-19. Residential construction increased in 2020. Commercial construction increased slightly. The ECA (Established Central Area) experienced growth in commercial activity. The ACS (American Community Survey) for 2019 showed median income and the unemployment rate improving modestly while educational attainment held steady. The Wichita CIP (Capital Improvements Program) shows continued alignment with priorities and goals of the CIP. County infrastructure projects are consistent with program objectives and maintenance policies. Wichita and Sedgwick County reached 523,824 people in 2020 with Wichita being 397,532 of the County population, although it lags the projections outlined in the Community Investments Plan. Housing construction lags due to lower population growth, however the ECA is close to its target due to downtown housing. There were more housing units built in 2020 than in 2019. One Commissioner inquired if duplex and other multi-family homes counted as one unit. Stephen explained that all housing is counted by the number of dwelling units. Stephen presented the idea of using the 2020 Census to revise the population projections in the Community Investments Plan update. The Committee discussed the possibility of skipping the 2021 report, allowing staff to review several elements of the Community Investments Plan including population scenarios, updating the plan to 2040 (the current Plan extends to 2035), employment projections and other parts of the Plan. Chairperson Fox inquired of the Committee their thoughts on delaying the Monitoring Report for one year as staff prepares the update to the Community Investments Plan (Comprehensive Plan). Discussion followed with no final decision. The Committee voted unanimously to move the Monitoring Report forward to the full MAPC at a future date. 6. J.R. Cox, Zoning Administrator presented information on the zoning issues related to night clubs. J.R. reviewed the current regulations, the issues and possible solutions. In Wichita, nightclub is defined when alcohol and entertainment are combined at a location. Matt Williams, Senior Planner reviewed how other cities in Kansas address this issue. Most cities did not differentiate a nightclub in their codes. J.R reviewed the options. They are: 1) Nightclub is an establishment with 300 persons or more; 2) Remove ‘nightclub in the city’ from the code and substitute ‘entertainment establishment in the city’; 3) Change the distance of establishments from homes, parks, schools, churches from 200 feet to 300 feet. Ultimately, fewer venues will be labeled ‘nightclubs’; rather they will be labeled ‘entertainment venues’ with fewer situations that confuse the public. A comment was made Advanced Plans Committee Meeting Summary – November 4, 2021 2  that labeling a nightclub activity as something more palatable is of concern. One suggestion is to include a definition in the notification letters. Scott offered to have staff clean up the current draft document and send it to Committee members in advance of the December meeting. 7. Mary Hunt, Principal Planner shared an update on Places for People. The Incentives part of the Plan has created an Affordable Housing initiative. There is $5M available from the Federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Priorities for this program include: 1) Improve existing housing stock; 2) Expand homeownership; 3) Provide services that support housing stability; 4) Improve rental property; 5) Appropriate by 2024 and complete by 2026. The Affordable Housing Advisory Committee is reviewing different options as to how best to allocate the funds. Types of projects include renovation, home repair, home buying services and new infill home construction. Different options will result in different outcomes and range of households assisted. The Committee will eventually make a recommendation to the City Manager. The HOME-ARP (HOME American Rescue Plan) provides $5.5 million directed at housing for the homeless. This program does not have the time constraints as the ARPA program. The Wichita Housing Authority (WHA) has 352 single-family homes that could be sold for an average of $50,000, for a total of $17.6 million to be used as leverage for affordable housing purposes. Possible options include carrying 20% down payment to remove PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance), offer project based Section 8 for deeply affordable rents and/or place restrictions of a certain term for affordable housing. The consulting team is working on a recommendation that includes many of the issues and concerns expressed by the Committee members allowing the Committee members to come to a consensus on the matter. 8. Mary Hunt then shared information that the Land Bank Board of Trustees has been formed and that the seven appointments have been made. The Board had its first meeting on November 3, 2021and is now reviewing the Bylaws and Administrative Policies developed by the Land Bank Advisory Committee. Their next duty will be to select board officers. The next meeting is December 8, 2021. 9. Scott Wadle updated the Committee on the case load of the Planning Department comparing several years. The quantity of cases is not consistent from one meeting to the next. In the most recent application cycle, two applications were postponed to a later meeting date. The department is recruiting for the Planning Manager position and the Historic Preservation Manager positions as Kathy Morgan will retire in early 2022. Scott shared with the Committee the positions that have been filled this year. Advanced Plans Committee Meeting Summary – November 4, 2021 3  The department is also working on an annual report including financial information, staffing and the number and types of cases the department handles. Due to some technical issues at the start of today’s meeting, in future meetings a roll call will be conducted on votes to ensure that everyone can participate fully in the meetings. The agenda item number 9, Parking Plan in Delano will be postponed to a future meeting date. 10. The next meeting of the Advance Plans Committee will take place on Thursday, December 2, 2021 beginning at 10:30 am. With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:50 a.m. Advanced Plans Committee Meeting Summary – November 4, 2021 4