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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-16-2010 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes REGULAR MEETING December 16, 2010 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Cruz. POSITION MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT No. 1 Vacant No. 2 James Hay No. 3 Andy Anderson No. 4 Alecia Greenaway No. 5 Joe Cruz No. 6 Kurt Lukins No. 7 Vacant No. 8 Jana Kempf No. 9 Lisa Gemig APPEARANCE OF FAIRNESS: Chairman Cruz read a statement about the appearance of fairness for hearings on land use matters. Chairman Cruz asked if any Commission member had anything to declare. Commissioner Anderson recused himself from the application for CPA 10-002. Commissioner Lukins identified himself as owning a home within the vicinity of the applications for SP 10-024 & CPA 10-002. No other declarations were made. Chairman Cruz then asked the audience if there were any objections based on conflict of interest or appearance of fairness questions regarding any of the items to be discussed this evening. There were no objections. ADMINISTERING THE OATH: Chairman Cruz explained that State law requires testimony in quasi-judicial hearings such as held by the Planning Commission be given under oath or affirmation. Chairman Cruz swore in all those desiring to speak. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Hay moved to adopt the October 21St minutes 8s the November 16th minutes. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Anderson. The motion passed unanimously. -1 - OLD BUSINESS: Chairman Cruz explained that at the November meeting a quorum was not present, however the members that were present developed a record for Items "A" and "B" listed under New Business on the agenda. The Chairman further explained that those members not present at the November meeting had an opportunity review the record by either listening to the recorded audio or audio and video record of the hearings. Items "A" and "B" are continued hearings from the November meeting. NEW BUSINESS: A. Special Permit Location of new Middle School in an R-S-1 District. (Rd 52 & Powerline Rd.) (Renewal of a previously approved Special Permit) (Pasco School District) (MF# SP 10-0241 Chairman Cruz read the master file number and explained the item was a continuation of a hearing held in November. Chairman Cruz reopened the hearing and asked for comments from staff. Dave McDonald, City Planner, stated an explanation of the proposal was provided at the November meeting and explained the report was essentially the same as the original report of two years ago. The only real changes to the report were removal of conditions relating to the completion of Road 52 and utility improvements. Commissioner Cruz closed the public hearing following three calls for comments. Commissioner Lukins moved, seconded by Commissioner Kempf, to adopt findings of fact and conclusions therefrom as contained in the December 16, 2010 staff report. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Lukins further moved, seconded by Commissioner Kempf, based on findings of fact and conclusions therefrom the Planning Commission recommend the City Council grant a special permit to the Pasco School District for the location of a Middle School at the southwest corner of Road 52 and Powerline Road with conditions as listed in the December 16, 2010 staff report. B. Special Permit Location of a Church with daycare services in a C-1 Zone (3806 W Court St.) (House of Restoration) JMF# SP 10-025) -2 - Chairman Cruz read the master file number reopened the hearing and asked for comments from staff. Shane O'Neill, Planner I, indicated a paragraph was added to the staff report relating to parking requirements. Mr. O'Neill also mentioned a condition was added to address building occupancy as it relates to the phasing of parking improvements. Commissioner Cruz closed the public hearing following three calls for comments. Commissioner Anderson moved, seconded by Commissioner Hay, to adopt findings of fact and conclusions therefrom as contained in the December 16, 2010 staff report. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Anderson moved, seconded by Commissioner Hay, based on findings of fact and conclusions therefrom the Planning Commission recommend the City Council grant a special permit to Oscar Perez for the location of a Church at 3806 W. Court Street with conditions as listed in the December 16, 2010 staff report. The motion passed unanimously. C. Comprehensive Land Use Designation change from Low- Plan Amendment Density Residential to Mixed Residential (3300 Block of Wernett Rd.) (Vinh Pham) (MF # CPA 10-001) Chairman Cruz read the master file number and asked for comments from staff. Shane O'Neill, Planner I, briefly explained the nature of the application and the reasons for staffs' recommendation of denial. Chairman Cruz opened the hearing and asked if anyone wished to speak to the matter. Arnie McReynolds, 2220 Road 34, Pasco, spoke in opposition to the proposal based on his negative experiences with past residents of a nearby duplexes. He discussed traffic incidents, graffiti and other vandalism and criminal activity he felt were associated with the nearby duplexes. He would rather see the site developed with single-family residences. Lynn Hall, 2216 Road 33, agreed with Mr. Reynolds that a majority of the nuisance issues are generated by residents of the nearby duplexes. He spoke in opposition to the proposal and supported staff's recommendation of denial. He would rather see the site developed with single-family residences. -3 - Rick Russell (owner of Worley Surveying), 501 N. Quebec Street, spoke on behalf of the applicant. He stated the applicant wishes to construct 22 units (11 duplexes) on the site. He pointed out that the proposed density is similar to the density if the site were developed with single-family residences. Lynn Hall, 2216 Road 33, stated that the previous property owners did not desire to develop the property. Chairman Cruz closed the hearing after three calls for comments. Commissioner Lukins moved, seconded by Commissioner Greenaway, to schedule deliberation, adoption of findings of fact and develop a recommendation for City Council for the January 20, 2011 meeting. The motion passed unanimously. D. Comprehensive Land Use Designation change from High- Plan Amendment Density Residential to Industrial (Corner of Pearl St. and 4th Ave.)(Terry Brown) (MF# CPA 10-002 Commissioner Anderson recused himself from the hearing because his employer (Pasco Housing Authority) owns the land involved in the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment. Chairman Cruz read the master file number and asked for comments from staff. Shane O'Neill, Planner I, reviewed the written report which included information related to surrounding zoning and land uses. Mr. O'Neill indicated the original proposal to extend the industrial designation south into the Housing Authority property was not being recommended by staff. The recommendation was for the commercial designation along 4th Avenue to be extended to the east to include the Housing Authority property over to 3rd Avenue. Terry Brown (applicant), 5402 Jackson Lane, stated he was requesting the change to enable future development of the property for a coffee shop. He stated his timeframe for completion was roughly two years, but indicated he intends to begin site development in Spring of 2011. Chairman Cruz closed the hearing after three calls for comments. Commissioner Gemig moved, seconded by Commissioner Hay, to close the public hearing and schedule deliberations, the adoption of findings of fact and to develop a recommendation for the City Council for the January 20, 2011 meeting. The motion passed unanimously. -4 - E. Comprehensive Urban Growth Area Expansion (Road 52 & Plan Amendment Powerline Road) (Farm 2005, LLC) (MF # CPA 10-003 Chairman Cruz read the master file number and asked for comments from staff. David McDonald, City Planner, provided background information on the Growth Management Act as it applies to Pasco. Urban Growth Areas are the principal tool which communities around the State use manage growth. Urban Growth areas are to include enough land to accommodate population growth as estimated by the State Office of Financial Management (OFM). The OFM estimates indicate that over the current planning horizon from 2007 to 2027 the City will grow by an additional 30,000 people. The 2008 Comprehensive Plan was updated to include an additional 1,100 acres to accommodate the project population increase. Mr. McDonald also discussed utility constraints and future street improvements within the UGA. It was pointed out that the current sewer system east of Road 68 cannot accommodate any additional development north of the current UGA boundary. Without new population projections there is no justification to expand the Urban Growth Area. Chairman Cruz opened the public hearing. Jason Maddox, Meier Architecture and Engineering, 8697 Gage Blvd., reviewed the Office of Financial Management projections and explained they underestimated Pasco population growth. Mr. Maddox explained the City of Pasco's Comprehensive Plan states the size of Urban Growth Areas can vary due to regional settings and should be adequate to promote viable economic strategies, promote choices in housing accommodations and ensure adequate lands are available for associated open spaces and public purposes. He then explained how expanding he UGA boundary would support viable economic development strategies in the area by creating additional housing to support commercial development on Road 68. Mr. Maddox also discussed water rights and transportation improvements that would be associated with development of the site. Mr. Maddox felt that the site was the last viable piece of land to potentially develop for single-family homes. Chairman Cruz called for further public comment and with no response, the public hearing was closed. -5 - Commissioner Lukins questioned the special permit approval for the middle school and mentioned the housing to be built surrounding the school. He questioned why the area to the north was not being included in the Urban Growth Area. Mr. McDonald stated the School District was encouraged to find another location which was not on the border of the Urban Growth Boundary when they were looking for a school site. The area to the north was not included in the current UGA boundary because of the lack of capacity in the sewer system east of Road 68. Mr. Maddox provided some additional comments about septic systems and other options for sewer. Sewer lines east of the airport are reserved for industrial development. Commissioner Anderson moved, seconded by Commissioner Hay, to close the public hearing and schedule deliberations, the adoption of findings of fact and develop a recommendation for the City Council for the January 20, 2011 meeting. The motion passed unanimously. F. Comprehensive Land Use Designation change from Low- Plan Amendment Density Residential to Mixed Residential (Corner of Charles Avenue and Clark Street) (Beacon Development) (MF # CPA 10-004) Chairman Cruz read the master file number and asked for comments from staff. Rick White, Community 8v Economic Development Director, reviewed the written report for the Planning Commission describing the property, surrounding uses and various Comprehensive Plan policies related to the proposal. Chairman Cruz opened the public hearing. Paul Purcell, 3408 19th Ave South, President of Beacon Development, was present to speak in favor of the proposal. Mr. Purcell reviewed a number of slides explaining his proposal and why Beacon Development was seeking the Comprehensive Plan amendment. Mr. Purcell noted the proposal would provide a transitional buffer between low-density residential development to the east and commercial development to the west. Gracie Chacon, 323 N. Charles Avenue, captain of the neighborhood watch group, spoke in opposition of the proposal. The neighborhood was concerned -6 - about potential increases in traffic and crime. She noted these are problems associated with existing apartments. Mr. Purcell, cited police report statistics indicating a reduction in crime following the development of Tepeyac Haven. He followed by mentioning the family oriented characteristics of the proposed development. Chairman Cruz asked Mr. Purcell how apartment resident applications are screened. Mr. Purcell responded by saying criminal and rental history background screening are part of the screening process. Chairman Cruz asked the applicant how the site would be accessed. Mr. Purcell indicated the preliminary points of access on the overhead screen development and acknowledged traffic volumes would increase regardless of the access configuration. Daniel Jimenez, 323 N. Charles Avenue, asked Mr. Purcell if traffic will increase. Mr. Purcell responded affirmatively. Mr. Jimenez stated his opposition to the development of apartments on the site. Chairman Cruz asked Mr. Jimenez how many people were in the neighborhood watch group which Mr. Jimenez was speaking on behalf of. Mr. Jimenez responded "seven". Mr. Purcell added that his staff intends to join the neighborhood watch. Gracie Chacon, 323 N. Charles Avenue, reiterated her opposition to the proposal. Commissioner Anderson stated that while in his position with the Pasco Housing Authority, his experience with Beacon Development has been a positive one. In his opinion, Beacon Development screens their applicants thoroughly and their facilities are well maintained. Commissioner Anderson moved, seconded by Commissioner Greenaway, to close the public hearing and schedule deliberations, the adoption of findings of fact and to develop a recommendation for the City Council for the January 20, 2011 meeting. The motion passed unanimously. OTHER BUSINESS: -7 - With no further business, the Planning Commission was adjourned at 8:42 p.m. David McDonald, Secretary -8 -