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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-15-2009 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes REGULAR MEETING January 15, 2009 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Todd Samuel. POSITION MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT No. 1 Todd Samuel, Chairman No. 2 James Hay No. 3 Andy Anderson No. 4 David Little No. 5 Joe Cruz No. 6 Ray Rose No. 7 Tony Schouviller No. 8 Jana Kempf No. 9 Vacant APPEARANCE OF FAIRNESS: Chairman Samuel read a statement about the appearance of fairness for hearings on land use matters. Chairman Samuel asked if any Commission member had anything to declare. Commissioner Little recused himself from the Public Hearing on the Special Permit for CBC, due to the fact he is an employee of CBC. Chairman Samuel then asked the audience if there were any objections based on a conflict of interest or appearance of fairness questions regarding the items to be discussed this evening. There were no objections. Chairman Samuel asked the audience if there were objections to any commissioner hearing any matter. There were no objections from the audience. ADMINISTERING THE OATH: Chairman Samuel explained that state law requires testimony in quasi-judicial hearings such as held by the Planning Commission be given under oath or affirmation. Chairman Samuel swore in all those desiring to speak. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Anderson moved, seconded by Commissioner Hay, that the minutes dated December 18, 2008 be approved as corrected. The Motion carried unanimously. -1- OLD BUSINESS: A. Development Big Pasco Industrial Center (Port of Pasco) (3295 Agreement E. Ainsworth Ave.) (MF# SMP 08-001) Chairman Samuel read the Master File number and asked for discussion and or comments from staff. Staff noted that the findings were corrected from the hearing. Finding #4 was added which accounted for the public notice that occurred prior to the December 18, 2008 public hearing. Commissioner Hays moved, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, that the Planning Commission adopt the Findings of Fact and conclusions as contained in the January 15, 2009 staff report. The motion was unanimously approved. Commissioner Hays further moved, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, based on the Findings of Fact as adopted, the Planning Commission recommends that City Council enter into the proposed Development Agreement with the Port of Pasco as presented in the January 15, 2009 staff report. The motion was unanimously approved. Staff noted this item would go to the City Council at their first regular meeting in February. Staff briefly explained the appeal process. B. Special Permit Captain Gray Annex Modifications (Pasco School District No. 1 L(1110 N. 10th Ave.) (MF# SP 08-014) Chairman Samuel read the Master File number and asked for discussion and or comments from staff. Staff explained that as per the request of the Planning Commission, two alternatives with findings and conditions have been prepared. Staff reviewed Alternate #1 which does not contain findings or conditions related to the need for installing a new traffic signal at 10th and Court. Alternate #2 provided findings and conditions for a new traffic signal at 10th and Court. The new driveway entrance on Court Street would cause a bottle-neck for bus traffic entering the proposed driveway due to the lack of stacking behind the current pedestrian traffic light. -2- Commissioner Anderson stated staff was grasping at straws when talking about stacking cars in front of the driveway. The driveway is for entrance and not an exit so he did not believe there would be an issue. Commissioner Rose stated that to leave the crosswalk as is would be a mistake and he was in favor of Alternate #2. Commissioner Anderson stated that his concern was the City should be responsible for the cost of this signal and not the School District. Staff explained that the School District was the entity causing the change to Court Street. The new driveway was changing the dynamics of Court Street. Only about three cars would be able to stack up behind the cross walk light before blocking the new driveway. Blocking the driveway would cause buses to back up along Court Street. Staff also pointed out that in other projects where the School District has caused changes, such as on Argent for the new High School, the School district has been responsible for installing new traffic signals. Chairman Samuel stated based on the information provided by staff he is in favor of Alternative #2. Commissioner Hay moved, seconded by Commissioner Little, that the Planning Commission adopt the Findings of Fact and conclusions in Alternate #2 as contained in the January 15, 2009 staff report. The motion passed with Commissioner Anderson voting Nay. Commissioner Hay further moved, seconded by Commissioner Little, based on the Findings of Fact as adopted, the Planning Commission recommend the City Council grant a special permit to the Pasco School District for the modification of the Captain Gray Annex with conditions under Alternate #2 as contained in the January 15, 2009 staff report. The motion passed with Commissioner Anderson voting Nay. Staff noted this item would go to the City Council at their first regular meeting in February. Staff briefly explained the appeal process. C. Special Permit Location of a Children's Learning Center in an R-1 District (Dolores Escalera) (1730 W. Park ST.) (MF# SP08-011) Chairman Samuel read the Master File number and asked for discussion and or comments from staff. Staff explained that during the public hearing there was considerable discussion related to handicap ramp improvements on all corners of the proposed site. Following the hearing staff reviewed the matter with the Engineering Department and the request for ramp modifications was dropped. Staff further -3- explained that the request for the driveway approach improvements were necessary to prevent rocks and dirt from getting into the streets and being washed into the storm drains. Staff also discussed the need and recommendation for a sidewalk along 18th Avenue. It was pointed out that the property in question was the only property between Court and Sylvester in this area of town without sidewalk. Staff recommended a sidewalk be required along 18th Avenue. Staff also explained they had, as requested, provided alternate sets of findings and approval conditions for the Planning Commission's consideration. Commissioner Anderson asked if the Engineering Department had withdrawn the request on the handicap ramps. Staff stated that is correct. Chairman Samuel asked what the cost would be for paving the first 40 feet of the driveway entrances. Staff did not have the cost information for driveways but explained a five foot wide sidewalk would be about $10.00 a running foot. Commissioner Anderson asked how many driveways would be affected. Staff stated there was one driveway on the south side, and two driveways on the north side. One driveway on the north side is blocked with a log. This abandoned driveway needs to be removed. Chairman Samuel commented that with Alternate #1 it would cost approximately a couple of thousand dollars and Alternate #2 would cost approximately $4,000 - $5,000. Commissioner Anderson was in favor of adding the sidewalk on 18th Avenue in the future when the parking lot was improved. Commissioner Kempf stated she was in favor of Alternate #2 due to the safety of pedestrians. Commissioners Little and Cruz also stated they were in favor of Alternate #2. Commissioner Kempf moved, seconded by Commissioner Cruz based on the findings of fact as adopted, the Planning Commission recommend the City Council grant a special permit to Dolores Escalera for the location of a Child Learning Center/Daycare at 1730 W. Park Street with conditions in Alternate #2 as contained in the January 15, 2009 staff report. The motion passed with Commissioners Anderson and Samuel voting Nay. Staff noted this item would go to the City Council at their first regular meeting in February. Staff briefly explained the appeal process. -4- D. Code Amendment Sign Code (Community Event Regional Signs - City Wide) (City of Pasco) (MF# CA 08-005) Chairman Samuel read the Master File number and asked for discussion and or comments from staff. Staff commented this item was discussed over the past few months and they have no further comments. Commissioner Anderson moved, seconded by Commissioner Hay that the Planning Commission recommends the City amend Title 17 to include provisions for Regional Community Event signs as indicated in the proposed ordinance. The motion passed unanimously. Staff noted this item would go to the City Council at their next available workshop and will be voted on at a regular City Council Meeting. PUBLIC HEARINGS: A. Special Permit CBC Research Farm (Columbia Basin College) (4100 Block of Argent Pl.) (MF# SP 08-015) Chairman Samuel read the master file number and asked for comments from staff. Staff explained CBC was requesting a special permit to locate an agricultural research farm at the corner (northeast) of Road 44 and Argent Place. Due to planned expansion at CBC, the existing farm on the CBC Campus needs to be relocated. Staff explained the only crop to be grown is alfalfa. Staff reviewed the written report explaining the surrounding zoning land uses and Comprehensive Plan designation for the site. Chairman Samuel asked staff if they were aware of any planned development in the open parcels surrounding the site. Staff was not aware of any plans. Chairman Samuel asked if the City had received complaints about the operation of the CBC farm. Staff stated no. Bill Saraceno, Senior Vice President, CBC, stated he has had no complaints about the existing farm. Mr. Saraceno briefly expanded the need for relocating -5- the CBC farm. The proposed site is available to CBC for 5 years, in the event a developer comes along and needs the site, CBC will vacate the property. Chairman Samuel asked about the number of students that would visit the site each day. Mr. Saraceno stated no more than 3-4 students would come to the farm on a daily basis. Occasionally there might be up to 20 students on site. Commissioner Anderson asked if the site would be fenced. Mr. Saraceno stated there would be no fence. Chairman Samuel opened the hearing for public comment. Dwayne Moffatt, 4204 W. Argent Pl., stated his family was supportive of the CBC Research farm. Ron Foraker, Assistant Manager of the Tri-Cities Airport, stated the Port was supportive of CBC's growth. Mr. Foraker explained the Port purchased the property in the early 1970's for runway protection. The need for the second runway has never developed. Chairman Samuel called for further public comment and after 3 calls and no response; the hearing was closed for public comment. Commissioner Hay moved, seconded by Commissioner Anderson to close the hearing on the proposed Columbia Basin College Research Farm; initiate deliberations and schedule adoption of findings of fact, conclusions and a recommendation to the City Council for the February 19, 2009 meeting. The motion passed unanimously. WORKSHOP: A. Code Amendment Critical Areas Ordinance (City of Pasco) (MF# CA 08-003) Chairman Samuel read the master file number and asked for comments from staff. Staff explained the Planning Commission held a public hearing last fall to consider a proposed amendment to the municipal code for the inclusion of a critical lands ordinance. Following the hearing, the proposed amendment was sent to State agencies for review. Comments were received from the Department of Ecology and the Department of Trade and Economic Development. As a result of those comments the proposed regulations have been modified. The modifications related almost entirely to the wetlands section of the proposed -6- code. The Department of Ecology had changed several reference manuals and the proposed code needs to be aligned with those updated manuals. Staff explained the City has very few wetland areas and the code would have minimal impact on the community. Wetlands are located in Sacajawea State Park, and along the river at the west end of the City. Commissioner Cruz stated that with few wetland areas, the regulations would have relatively minimal impacts. Chairman Samuel agreed with Commissioner Cruz. Staff explained a hearing would be set for next month. OTHER BUSINESS: With no further business, the Planning Commission was adjourned at 7:49 pm. David McDonald, Secretary -7-