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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10. 10-19-2023 Planning Commission Meeting MinutesPLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES ,gyp Pasco City Hall - Council Chambers 525 North Third Avenue Pasco, Washington THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023 6.30 PM CALL TO ORDER City of Pasco Planning Commission meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m., by Chair Jerry Cochran. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chair Cochran led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL Commissioners Present: Abel Campos, Rosa Torres, Kim Lehrman, Dana Crutchfield, Jay Hendler and Jerry Cochran, a quorum was declared. Commissioners Excused: Paul Mendez, Rachel Teel, Mitchell Moffitt Staff Present: Community & Economic Development Director Jacob Gonzalez, Block Grant Administrator Kristin Webb, and Administrative Assistant II Carmen Patrick. WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Cochran explained the Planning Commission is an advisory board made up of volunteers appointed by City Council. He further explained the purpose of the Planning Commission was to provide recommendations to City Council regarding changes to the City's Comprehensive Plan, Land Use Updates, Block Grant Allocations and Zoning Code. The Planning Commission is tasked with considering the long-term growth and development of the community, the impact of land use decisions on community, livability, economic opportunity, housing affordability, public services, and the environment. Chair Cochran reminded the audience tonight's proceedings were being broadcast live on City of Pasco's Facebook page and on Charter Cable PSC Channel 191 and will be rebroadcast several times during the next month. He stated the meeting was also being recorded and could be watched on City of Pasco's website, which is Pasco-wa.gov. Click on the VIDEO ON DEMAND link and make your selection there. Chair Cochran stated copies of the meeting agenda were available on the back table. He then asked that everyone -silence cell phones to prevent interruptions during the meeting. For those present this evening, when you are given the opportunity to address the Commission, please come to the podium, speak clearly into the microphone, and state your name and city of address for the record. Chair Cochran reminded the audience and the Planning Commission that Washington State Law requires public meetings like the one being held this evening not only be fair, but also appear to be fair. In addition, Washington State Law prohibits Planning Commission members from participating in discussions or decisions in which the member may have a direct interest or may be either benefited or harmed by the Planning Commission's decision. An objection to any Planning Commission member hearing any matter on tonight's agenda needs to be aired at this time or it will be waived. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 7 October 19, 2023 Chair Cochran asked if there were any Planning Commission members who have a declaration at this time regarding any of the items on the agenda. ❖ Chair Cochran recused himself due to being a board member of one of the applicants for the 2024 CDBG Fund Allocations. Commissioner Lehrman recused herself from the Comprehensive Plan Amendment. Chair Cochran asked if anyone in the audience objected to any Planning Commission member hearing any of the items on the agenda. ❖ None heard, record shows there were no declarations. Chair Cochran stated the Planning Commission needed and valued public input explaining it helped the Commission understand the issues more clearly and allowed for better recommendations to City Council. Furthermore, in many cases, this could be the only forum for the public to get facts and opinions placed into the official record and City Council will use to make the Commission's decision. He encouraged those present to take full advantage of this opportunity. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Hendler moved to approve the Planning Commission meeting minutes of August 17, 2023, Commissioner Lehrman seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. OLD BUSINESS None PUBLIC HEARINGS A. CDBG-VC2 Grant Closing Kristin Webb discussed CDBG VC-2 corona virus funds disbursement, which was amended in May 2022 and reallocated to support eligible public service activities. The amendment allowed the City to benefit seniors through the Meals on Wheels program. During the greater period of July 202 to June 2023, the Meals on Wheels served a total of 614 seniors in the City of Pasco. Next Stems: • Complete the Grant Closeout Report • Forward to City Manager's Office for signature • Incorporate any comments from the Public Hearing into the report • Send to the Department of Commerce for close out of the grant Chair Cochran opened and closed the Public Hearing with no comments made. A motion was made by Commissioner Lehrman to close out the use of funds for the CDBG- CV grant and forward any comments to the Department of Commerce, seconded by Commissioner Hendler, and the motion passed unanimously. B. 2024 CDBG Allocations (MF: BGAP2023-003) Kristin Webb reiterated what the intent of the Community Development Block Grant program is and offered the Commissioners three options for funding: Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 7 October 19, 2023 A. Staff recommendations which were City projects only B. Non -City Projects only C. A Hybrid Option, mixture of City and Non -City activities Questions/Comments from Commissioners: Commissioner Torres asked with Option B, if we are coaxing out the public service funding, would we then not be able to use the remaining funds on City projects? Kristin Webb stated yes, the only reason we left Option B that way is because the Commissioners requested that. Chair Cochran opened and closed the Public Hearing with no comments made. Questions/Comments from Commissioners: Commissioner Torres commented that she would have liked to see Option B with City project added after the maxing out the public service funding. That she still has concerns about the sustainability of some of the items on the City list as they are not a one time item and the concern of funding those with grant money. Chair Cochran suggested next year that the Commission workshops on these and comes up with their own slate rather then having staff guess at what the Commission wants. Kristin Webb answered that the other two cities, Kennewick, and Richland, do that. That several of the public service applicants also applied for CDBG funds in the other two cities. And that the funding trend in Kennewick, Richland, and Walla Walla also indicates that the majority of funds are allocated to City projects. Commissioner Lehrman applauded staff for their hard work. Commissioner Lehrman moved the Planning Commission forward recommendations as presented to the City Council workshop for consideration of Option C. Seconded by Commissioner Hendler. All in favor. Commissioner Lehrman, Commissioner Hendler, Commissioner Crutchfield. All opposed. Commissioner Campos, Commissioner Torres. Motion passed with at 3-2 vote. C. 2023 Comprehensive Plan Amendment Jacob Gonzalez stated in general, the Comprehensive Plan should be considered a living document so that it doesn't remain static and remains adaptable to the needs of a rapidly growing community. To ensure consistency with the Comprehensive Plan, the Growth Management Act directs cities like Pasco to create a docket, which this is attempting to do, that clearly identifies an amendment via the application and the proposals to be considered. The application window for the 2023 cycle ran effectively from January through early May, and the city received one privately initiated application, which is the subject of this evening's discussion. I want to highlight the criteria adopted by the Pasco City Council as outlined in Pasco Municipal Code Title 25.215. And the primary questions that form the staff recommendation are on the screen for the review today. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 7 October 19, 2023 Criteria: • Is there sufficient time for Council to make an informed decision? • Will the City be able to conduct sufficient analysis to develop policy and related development regulations?. • Has the proposed amendment been previously rejected for consideration? • Will the amendment implement and comply with the adopted Comprehensive Plan and Washington State Growth Management Act? • Is the proposed amendment better addressed through another planning process? Description: File Number: CPA2023-001 Applicant: Description: Shane O'Neill, Clover Planning & Zoning LLC Future Land Use Map Amendment: Low Density Residential to Mixed Residential and Commercial Address / Parcel(s) 118292036 & 118292027 2.86 Determination of Non -Significance, issued 06/19/2023 Total Area (Acres) Environmental Determination Next Stgis: Oct. 23: Recommendation from the Planning Commission Nov. 23: Pasco City Council Docket Establishment Dec. 23- Mar24: Evaluation/Planning Commission Recommendation April 2024: City Counsil Decision Questions/Comments from Commissioners: Commissioner Crutchfield asked I understand that you say no project is associated with this at this time, so it's a blanket commercial or increased density? Jacob Gonzalez explained the process for which this item has to move forward, the numerous steps this project would need to go through. That this is the first step of many. Public Hearinu: Sandra Koch of Pasco spoke against this amendment due to the safety concerns of the neighborhood and the children as well as congestion to the area regarding schools. Pete Rieke of Pasco spoke against this amendment due to it not working regarding walkability. That it is clear they want to make it like Road 68 and Argent. That this is the only block to the neighborhood having to get out of there in an emergency. Steven Schlegel of Pasco spoke against the amendment stating you don't put walkable businesses right on the intersection of two of the biggest roads in the area there. That it does not comply with the Comprehensive Plan and it is a dangerous intersection as it is. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 7 October 19, 2023 Jeff Smith of Pasco representing the Smith family is spoke against the amendment due to the legal aspects of the Environmental Impact Statement. That there was insufficient and ineffective notice to the public, and that people built their homes here, or moved to the area relying on the plan and the balance of that was previously decided. Teresa Kruschke of Pasco spoke against the amendment due to the increased traffic. Their home being in the area, the safety concerns are being so close to the river there are many bikers, walkers, strollers, cross country teams, with the school nearby that it's not conducive to that. Paran Singh of Pasco and for the amendment, stated his confusion due to this meeting being about if the amendment meets the criteria, if the application can move forward and not what the concerns may be, because we don't know what the plans are yet, so we don't know if the plans are going to bring more traffic or not bring more traffic. So, some of these issues he heard seem irrelevant right now. James Larson of Pasco spoke against the amendment due to the application criteria being insufficient, that the received date was blank. He supplied three maps to the Commission stating that they showed deficiencies of the application due to transit, conservation design, residential design, maintaining housing stock, and providing affordable housing. Ladi Singh of Pasco and owner of the property and for the amendment, stating the main purpose here was to get the application process started. That they are aware safety concerns mentioned but just want this to move to the next level however the overall idea was to generate revenue to the town and improve the property. Joe Kline of Pasco spoke against the amendment stating the neighborhood isn't about making money, that it's about the neighborhood families living together. That commercial items should be built by the freeway where there is easy access. Jeff Smith of Pasco spoke on a personal note against the amendment with concerns of turning Road 100 into another Road 68 and that he thinks the property owner owns property at Road 68 & Argent that is already zoned commercial and would be amore appropriate place for what he want's to do. Ron Anderson of Pasco spoke against the amendment stating he could fit nine homes on his lots. Shane O'Neill, Clover Planning Pasco, for the amendment, stated he had not heard any sound rebuttals to any of the criteria. He said his packet is complete and that he took a lot of time listing the comprehensive code sections that are met. The request is for a mixed residential commercial land use designation. There are several instances in the City where you'll see that that land use designation already interfaces with low density residential, especially on the east side of Road 68 towards the city limits on the north. But again, our application was received on time, and we already received a determination of non -significance to address the environmental comment. There is no legal preclusion to consider comp plan amendments on an annual basis. Please allot my client the due process opportunity to be considered in detail throughout this process. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 7 October 19, 2023 James Larson of Pasco spoke again wanting to know when the application was received, in which the Commissioners responded that staff will get back to him as to the date. Chair Cochran closed the public hearing. Comments/Questions from Commissioners: Commissioner Torres asked for clarification for the criteria number 4. Jacob Gonzalez explained what criteria 4 was stating and went through all the criteria as follows with answers: • Is there sufficient time for Council to make an informed decision? - YES • Will the City be able to conduct sufficient analysis to develop policy and related development regulations? - YES • Has the proposed amendment been previously rejected for consideration? - NO • Will the amendment implement and comply with the adopted Comprehensive Plan and Washington State Growth Management Act? - YES • Is the proposed amendment better addressed through another planning process? - NO Commissioner Crutchfield stated that she needs more information with regard to spot zoning. LU1C- specifically discourages strip commercial development, discourages spot zoning which she thinks this possibly is. LU2A-the City setting aside lands available for commercial development, and that she thinks the City has done that along the I82 Corridor and that she feels that is a better location instead of plopping something down in the middle of an established neighborhood. LU3's goal is to maintain established neighborhoods, and mixed residential commercial designation would detract from that. LU613-walkable neighborhood concept, heavy traffic, sidewalks, she does not understand this location. Commissioner Cochran reminded the Commissioner that all their questions are valid for the process, however this part of the criteria. Commissioner Crutchfield asked what spot zoning is? Jacob Gonzalez explained traditionally spot zoning has been a term used to sort of describe potentially assigning a zone or the prescription of a zone for an unfair advantage, potentially. So I want to be cafeful with how I say this, that this isn't a zone change proposal, this is a land use proposal. Commissioner Hendler asked the current zoning, low density residential, what could be built there? And would 5000 sq. ft. lots be permitted? Jacob Gonzalez answered the permitted zoning is RS-20, RS-12, RS-1, so 7200 sq. ft. could be lower depending on the product type, and higher. And in terms of the Pascal municipal code, I think the smallest lot size is 7200 sq. ft. Commissioner Lehrman made a declaration and recused herself from this matter. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 7 October 19, 2023 A motion was made by Commissioner Campos, for the application be forwarded to the Pasco City Council and that a docket be established for further evaluation. Seconded by Commissioner Hendlen All in favor. Commissioner Campos, Commissioner Hendler, Commissioner Torres, Chair Cochran. All opposed. Commissioner Crutchfield Motion passed 4-1 vote. WORSHOP None OTHER BUSINESS Jacob Gonzalez informed the Commission that nominations for officers will be in November, and voting taking place in January, with positions taking effect in February. ADJOURNMENT Chair Cochran stated with no other business, I recommend a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Lehrman made the motion to adjourn the meeting, it was seconded by Commissioner Crutchfield Passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 7:58 pm. YouTube link to watch full meeting: ectfully subm' d, A-- Carmen Patrick, Administrative Assistant II Community & Economic Development Department Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Page 7 of 7 October 19, 2023