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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-18-2013 Planning Commission Minutes-1- REGULAR MEETING July 18, 2013 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 7:00pm by Chairman Cruz. POSITION MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT No. 1 Tim Hoekstra No. 2 Tony Bachart No. 3 Andy Anderson No. 4 Alecia Greenaway No. 5 Joe Cruz No. 6 Loren Polk No. 7 Zahra Khan No. 8 Jana Kempf No. 9 Paul Hilliard 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. There were no declarations. Chairman Cruz then asked the audience if there were any objections based on a conflict of interest or appearance of fairness question regarding 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 Hilliard moved, seconded by Commissioner Greenaway, that the minutes dated June 20, 2013 be approved as mailed. The motion passed unanimously. OLD BUSINESS: A. Special Permit Location of an automotive body shop in a C-3 (General Business Zone) (Russell Dean) (MF # SP 2013-012) Chairman Cruz read the master file number and asked for comments from staff. Rick White, Community & Economic Development Director, explained there was -2- nothing to add from what was explained at the previous meeting. Commissioner Hilliard moved, seconded by Commissioner Polk, to adopt the findings of fact and conclusions therefrom as contained in the July 18, 2013 staff report. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Hilliard moved, seconded by Commissioner Greenaway, based on the findings of fact and conclusions as adopted the Planning Commission recommend the City Council grant a special permit for the construction and operation of an auto body shop on the south 200.04 feet of Lot 1, Short Plat 77-27. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. White stated that this will go to City Council at their Special Meeting on July 29, 2013 unless an appeal is received. B. Rezone Rezone from R-2 (Medium Density Residential) to C-1 (Retail Business) (Jeff McClure) (MF # Z 2013-003) Chairman Cruz read the master file number and asked for comments from staff. Rick White, Community & Economic Development Director, explained there was nothing to add from what was explained at the previous meeting. Commissioner Greenaway moved, seconded by Commissioner Hilliard, to adopt the findings of fact and conclusions therefrom as contained in the July 18, 2013 staff report. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Greenaway moved, seconded by Commissioner Hilliard, based on the findings of fact and conclusions as adopted the Planning Commission recommend the City Council approve the rezone from R-2 (Medium Density Residential) to C-1 (Retail Business) for 2302 E. Lewis Street. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. White stated that this will go to City Council at their Special Meeting on July 29, 2013 unless an appeal is received. C. Preliminary Plat Aintree Pre-Plat (Nathan Machiela of Hayden Homes) (MF # PP 2013-001) Chairman Cruz read the master file number and asked for comments from staff. David McDonald, City Planner, explained that a revised set of conditions was place on the bench prior to the meeting. The revised conditions address question by the developer who asked for some flexibility in the language for how and where the -3- sewer line would connect to the proposed subdivision. The other change related to the requirement for irrigation water. The property is served by the Irrigation District and will not be served by the City. Commissioner Hoekstra moved, seconded by Commissioner Greenaway, to adopt the findings of fact and conditions as contained in the July 18, 2013 staff report. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Hoekstra moved, seconded by Commissioner Greenaway, based on the findings of fact and conclusions, as adopted, the Planning Commission recommend the City Council approve the Preliminary Plat of the Aintree subdivision with conditions as listed in the July 18, 2013 staff report. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. McDonald stated that this will go to City Council at their Special Meeting on July 29, 2013 unless an appeal is received. D. Code Amendment Park Fees Update (MF# CA2013-002) Chairman Cruz read the master file number and asked for comments from staff. Dave McDonald, City Planner, discussed the Park Fee Updates. At the April meeting the Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider consolidating the park fees with other development impact fees (traffic and schools). During the prior workshop the Director of Administrative & Community Services indicated the current park fees for park development have not kept pace with the rising costs of new park construction. The Director suggested the park fee should increase to $1,500 per dwelling unit to more accurately cover the costs for new park development. As a result of the public hearing, staff prepared a code amendment that would establish a higher base fee and also move the park fees and place them with the other fees in Title 3 rather than Title 25 and 26. Staff also prepared proposed district modification for park locations although no action on this item will need to be taken by the Planning Commission. The park districts were also briefly explained. Commissioner Polk asked if a sliding scale as mentioned in the April was investigated any further. Mr. McDonald explained under the proposal if a developer provides a 5 acre park with infrastructure, grades the park and hydro-seeds it and dedicates it to the City as part of the plat, he would receive a 50 percent deduction regardless of how many homes are in the subdivision. If the developer provides the park with all of the infrastructure, playground equipment, pathways, and so forth, all of the neighborhood park fee would be taken care of and the developer would only be required to pay the community park portion of the fee. -4- Commissioner Hoekstra asked if the fee was per acre or per home. Mr. McDonald answered per home. Commissioner Hilliard moved, seconded by Commissioner Greenaway, to adopt the findings of fact as contained in the July 18, 2013 staff memo on the park fee amendments. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Hilliard moved, seconded by Commissioner Greenaway, the Planning Commission recommend the City Council adopt the proposed park fee amendments as attached to the July 18, 2013 staff memo to the Planning Commission. The motion passed unanimously. PUBLIC HEARINGS: A. Block Grant 2014 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Fund Allocations (MF # BGAP 2013- 003) Chairman Cruz read the master file number and asked for comments from staff. Rick White, Community & Economic Development Director, discussed the 2014 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Fund Allocations. He stated that the Planning Commission heard presentations from the applicants at the public hearing last month. There was a total of a little less than $1.5 million and only roughly $656,000 of funds is available so a certain amount of cuts had to occur to make staff recommendations. Mr. White briefly discussed the attachment that was part of the staff memo which represented how much was requested by each applicant and how much staff recommends allocating. It is estimated after the Planning Commissioner makes a recommendation this item will be forwarded to City Council. Commissioner Hilliard asked about the ADA Improvements allocations and if they were going to be reallocation again since they have been in the past. Mr. White answered that those reallocations came back to the Planning Commission twice last year because once the reallocations exceed a certain amount they have to go through the public process to reallocate the funds. He stated that he didn’t foresee the 2014 ADA Funds being reallocated. Commissioner Greenaway stated that she felt the staff has done a good job. Chairman Cruz noted that since the previous years, a lot of funding has been cut and that there is less to be distributed. Commissioner Hoekstra voiced his appreciation to staff on the recommendations and where they would best be served. -5- Chairman Cruz commented for the people watching at home that the “non- matched funds” mean a lot to the program and a well-established and mature organization typically is received well for a recommendation. With no further comments the public hearing closed. Commissioner Hilliard moved, seconded by Commissioner Greenaway, to close the public hearing and recommend the City Council approve the use of funds for the 2014 Community Development Block Grant Program as set forth in the “2014 Fund Summary” as recommended by staff. The motion passed unanimously. B. Block Grant 2014 HOME Fund Allocations (MF # BGAP 2013-004) Chairman Cruz read the master file number and asked for comments from staff. Rick White, Community & Economic Development Director, discussed the 2014 HOME Fund Allocations. He explained that the City of Pasco formed a consortium with Kennewick and Richland several years ago in order to receive these funds. Like CDBG, these funds have been decreasing as well. Staff recommends that the money be used for down payment assistance for low-moderate income homebuyers. It provides a measure of the down payment and assists with the closing costs associated with buying a home. With no further comments the public hearing closed. Commissioner Kempf moved, seconded by Commissioner Hoekstra, the Planning Commission recommend the City Council approve the use of funds for the 2014 HOME Investment Partnerships Program as set forth in the “2014 HOME Fund Summary” as recommended by staff. The motion passed unanimously. C. Block Grant 2014 NSP Fund Allocations (MF # BGAP 2013- 005) Chairman Cruz read the master file number and asked for comments from staff. Rick White, Community & Economic Development Director, discussed the 2014 NSP Fund Allocations. These funds are also federal funds the City received in 2010 to alleviate the effects of home foreclosures in neighborhoods. With that money the City purchased four foreclosed homes and two additional homes were donated by the School District, making a total of six homes. Those homes have been rehabilitated, three have been sold, there is an offer pending on the fourth and two homes still remain. Once those homes sell there will be program income coming back for use for acquisition of foreclosed homes to rehabilitate and sell. With no further comments the public hearing closed. Commissioner Polk moved, seconded by Commissioner Greenaway, the Planning Commission recommend the City Council approve the use of funds for the 2014 Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) as recommended by staff. The motion passed unanimously. -6- OTHER BUSINESS: A. Plan Tri-Cities Prep Master Plan Chairman Cruz read the master file number and asked for comments from staff. Rick White, Community & Economic Development Director, discussed the Tri- Cities Prep Master Plan. They currently have a 10-year Master Plan approved in 2007 that is good until 2017, which is a long time to look ahead at future needs. During a recent struggle attempting to meet the scheduling needs due to the number of students, it was brought to their attention that a two-classroom portable was available from St. Joseph’s school in Kennewick for little or no cost. This unit would provide temporary relief until the adequate funds are raised to add on to the current facility. They would like to be able to add the two portables without going through the special permit process. Staff believes that the portable classroom is consistent with the master plan that was approved in 2007. Staff would like input from the Planning Commission on this item. Chairman Cruz opened up an informal public hearing on this item since there was someone in the audience regarding this item. Arlene Jones, 9612 St. Thomas Drive, spoke on behalf of Tri-Cities Prep as their principal. Commissioner Hoekstra asked the applicant if she could put in context how the portables will affect the future plans. Ms. Jones answered that their intent is that they will eventually occupy the final footprint of the building. Currently the structure is only 50 percent of the overall plan. They raise the funds that they need prior to building the exterior and then raise money to finish the interior when they expand onto the school. When the portable became available for free it assisted their needs until they can raise the funds to add on to their school. Chairman Cruz asked the Commissioner’s if they had any issues with the stance staff has taken as considering this a special circumstance that would not require a special permit. None of the Commissioner’s stated any issues. With no further comments the informal public hearing closed. COMMENTS: Rick White, Community & Economic Development Director, stated that at the next -7- month’s meeting there may be some extra items on the agenda, such as the accessory structure height issue, the auto repair issue and the auto sales issue in Commercial Zones. With no further discussion or business, the Planning Commission was adjourned at 7:38 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Dave McDonald, City Planner