HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-19-2017 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes-1-
REGULAR MEETING January 19, 2017
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 Tanya Bowers
No. 2 Kurt Lukins
No. 3 Paul Mendez
No. 4 Alecia Greenaway
No. 5 Joe Cruz
No. 6 Loren Polk
No. 7 Zahra Roach
No. 8 Pam Bykonen
No. 9 Gabriel Portugal
APPEARANCE OF FAIRNESS:
Chairman Cruz read a statement about the appearance of fairness for hearings on land
use matters. 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. 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 Portugal moved, seconded by Commissioner Greenaway that the minutes
dated December 21, 2016 be approved. The motion passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS:
A. Special Permit Location of a church in a C-1 (Retail Business)
District (Omar Ramirez/CLUE Church) (MF# SP
2016-016)
Chairman Cruz read the master file number and asked for comments from staff.
Rick White, Community & Economic Development Director, discussed the special permit
application to locate a church in a C-1 District. There were no changes to the staff report
since the previous meeting.
-2-
Commissioner Greenaway moved, seconded by Commissioner Portugal, to adopt the
findings of fact and conclusions therefrom as contained in the January 19, 2017 staff
report. The motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Greenaway moved, seconded by Commissioner Portugal, based on the
findings of fact and conclusions therefrom, the Planning Commission recommend the City
Council grant a special permit to the Christo la Unica Esperanza Church for the location
of a church at 5202 Outlet Drive, with the conditions as contained in the January 19,
2017 staff report. The motion passed unanimously.
B. Rezone Rezone from C-1 (Retail Business) to R-3 (Medium
Density Residential) (Pro Made Homes) (MF# Z
2016-006)
Chairman Cruz read the master file number and asked for comments from staff.
Rick White, Community & Economic Development Director, discussed the rezone
application from C- to R-3 zoning. There were no changes to the staff report since the
previous meeting.
Commissioner Portugal asked what offices were located adjacent to the proposed site.
Mr. White answered that there was property zoned for office and commercial use.
Commissioner Greenaway moved, seconded by Commissioner Bykonen, to adopt the
findings of fact and conclusions therefrom as contained in the January 19, 2017 staff
report. The motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Greenaway moved, seconded by Commissioner Bykonen, based on the
findings of fact as contained in the January 19, 2017 staff report and conclusions as
adopted, the Planning Commission recommend the City Council rezone Lot B, Majestia
Place from C-1 to R-3. The motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
A. Special Permit Location of a daycare center in an R-1-A Zone
(Gloria Torres) (MF# SP 2016-017)
Chairman Cruz read the master file number and asked for comments from staff.
Rick White, Community & Economic Development Director, discussed the special permit
application for the location of a daycare center in an R-1-A Zoning District. Daycare
centers in all zones are subject to special permits but only if they exceed the home daycare
state limit of 12 children. This proposal is to locate as many as 25 students on the
residential property. The property is at 2411 E. George Street just north of Lewis Street
and west of Heritage Boulevard. As indicated in the staff report, the center would operate
5 days a week, roughly 12 hours per day. The parking ratio for students, parents and
teachers is not favorable to the layout of the lots in the area. The lots are all identical in
shape with 60’ of frontage. The applicant has been in discussion with staff and a letter
-3-
from the applicant was presented to the Commission. It is recommended that the
Planning Commission open the public hearing bu t continue the hearing to the next
meeting to allow the applicant to work with City Staff on their options.
Commissioner Portugal asked if the area by the fence in the front yard could be used for
parking.
Mr. White was not sure of the solution at this time. As it is now with the number of
students proposed parking would be a problematic.
Chairman Cruz added that with residential lots there has to be a certain percentage of
landscaping that will need to be maintained so parking might not be possible where the
fence is located.
Gloria Torres and Esveida Uriostegui, 2411 E. George Street, spoke on the behalf of their
application. The said that they would be willing to move the fence to allow for more
parking.
Chairman Cruz responded that it might not be as easy as simply moving the fence and
that they will need to work with City Staff to come up with a solution.
Commissioner Greenaway moved, seconded by Commissioner Portugal, to continue the
public hearing to the February 16, 2017 Planning Commission meeting. The motion
passed unanimously.
B. Special Permit Location of portables at Chiawana High School
(Pasco School District) (MF# SP 2016-018)
Chairman Cruz read the master file number and asked for comments from staff.
Rick White, Community & Economic Development Director, discussed the special permit
application to locate portables at Chiawana High School. The School District is trying to
catch up to the increased enrollment. The proposal is to locate at least 8 portables in the
northwest corner of the parking lot at the western end of the site. There is discussion in
the staff report regarding the location itself and the fact that currently the parking lot is
underutilized. A conceptual photo was shown on the overhead for the Commissioner ’s of
what the proposal will look like.
Randy Nunamaker, Executive Director of Operations for the Pasco School District, 1215
W. Lewis Street, spoke on behalf of the application. As mentioned, the 8 portables will
help meet current pressure placed on Chiawana High School class sizes. Enrollment is up
to almost 2,500 students. There are teachers currently working off of carts that don’t even
have their own classroom space. These portables will allow them to have their own space
to utilize.
Chairman Cruz asked Mr. Nunamaker what the maximum capacity is for portables before
the parking to portable ratio becomes unfavorable.
Mr. Nunamker responded that he hadn’t looked at it but he could put those numbers
-4-
together. The idea is to keep the portables down to a minimum. The School District and
Board is putting together a Master Facilities Plan that will incorporate when to move for
another high school and hopefully the needs will be addressed for brick and mortar as
opposed through portables.
Commissioner Portugal asked if there would be water available in the portables.
Mr. Nunamaker answered that portables in secondary schools don’t have water supplied
to them, unlike all of the elementary schools which do have water and restrooms. With
secondary school students there is movement from classroom to classroom leaving them
ample movement to have time for water and restroom breaks.
Chairman Cruz suggested to Mr. Nunamaker to keep a lookout for mobile home parks that
may be unloading mobile homes.
Commissioner Portugal moved, seconded by Commissioner Greenaway, to close the public
hearing and schedule deliberations, the adoption of findings of fact and development of a
recommendation for City Council for the February 16, 2017 Planning Commission
meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
C. Code Amendment Mini-Pigs in Residential Zones (MF# CA 2016-005)
Chairman Cruz read the master file number and asked for comments from staff.
Rick White, Community & Economic Development Director, discussed the proposed code
amendment for mini-pigs in residential zones. The Planning Commission heard this item
at a previous workshop meeting prior to recommending it to City Council. It was brought
to City Council for discussion prior to coming back to the Planning Commission for a
hearing.
Chairman Cruz briefly discussed the different options for the code amendment; (1)
Allowing mini-pigs in residential zones outright, (2) Allowing mini-pigs in residential zones
through the special permit process or (3) Banning mini-pigs in residential zones outright.
With no further comments the public hearing closed.
Commissioner Mendez moved, seconded by Commissioner Portugal, the Planning
Commission adopt the findings of fact as contained in the January 19, 2017 staff memo
on Small-Breed Pigs or Mini-Pigs. The motion passed 4 to 1 with Commissioner
Greenaway dissenting.
Commissioner Mendez moved, seconded by Commissioner Portugal, recommend the City
Council decline amending the Pasco Municipal Code regarding the keepi ng of mini-pigs.
The motion passed 4 to 1 with Commissioner Greenaway dissenting.
With no further discussion or business, the Planning Commission was adjourned at
7:27 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
-5-
David McDonald, City Planner