HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-18-2018 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes-1-
REGULAR MEETING January 18, 2018
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order at 7:00pm by Chairwoman Bykonen.
POSITION MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT
No. 1 Tanya Bowers
No. 2 Joseph Campos
No. 3 Paul Mendez
No. 4 Alecia Greenaway
No. 5 Joe Cruz
No. 6 Vacant Position
No. 7 Zahra Roach
No. 8 Pam Bykonen
No. 9 Gabriel Portugal
APPEARANCE OF FAIRNESS:
Chairwoman Bykonen read a statement about the appearance of fairness for hearings on
land use matters. There were no declarations.
Chairwoman Bykonen 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:
Chairwoman Bykonen explained that state law re quires testimony in quasi-judicial
hearings such as held by the Planning Commission be given under oath or affirmation.
Chairwoman Bykonen swore in all those desiring to speak.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Commissioner Mendez moved, seconded by Commissioner Portugal that the minutes
dated December 21, 2017 be approved. The motion passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS:
A. Special Permit Location of a Solid Waste Facility (2022
Commercial Avenue LLC) (MF# SP 2017-019)
Chairwoman Bykonen 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 solid waste facility. The regional planning process
associated with the Solid Waste Plan needs to establish the foundation for land use
through the special permit process in this case. The consistency review required by the
-2-
City’s own Comprehensive Plan and the regional coordination required by the Growth
Management Act for essential public facilities are hurdles that staff cannot overcome by
proposing a recommendation for denial. The caveats, there has been an argument made
that the caveats could be included to allow for approval of the special permit but
practical consideration of caveats at this stage for a project that may not materialize for
5-7 years simply are too weak to be taken seriously at this point. There are a number of
findings of facts and conclusions in the staff report because the special permit
requirements contained the in Pasco Municipal Code. Staff is recommending the
Planning Commission adopt the findings and conclusions and recommend to City
Council that the special permit be denied.
Chairwoman Bykonen asked for clarification on if the public hearing was closed at the
previous meeting.
Mr. White answered yes.
Commissioner Campos moved, seconded by Commissioner Mendez, to adopt findings of
fact and conclusions therefrom as contained in the January 18, 2018 staff report. The
motion passed 4 to 1 with Commissioner Greenaway dissenting.
Commissioner Campos moved, seconded by Commissioner Mendez, based on the
findings of fact and conclusions therefrom, the Planning Commission recommend the
City Council deny a special permit for the location of a solid waste transfer station for
2022 Commercial Avenue LLC on Parcel 2 of Lot 11, Binding Site Plan 2011-03. The
motion passed 4 to 1 with Commissioner Greenaway dissenting.
B. Special Permit Location of a Used Car Lot (Adriana Robledo) (MF#
SP 2017-020)
Chairwoman Bykonen read the master file number and asked for comments from staff.
Darcy Bourcier, Planner I, discussed the special permit application for the location of a
used car lot. She stated that there were no further comments to add since the previous
meeting.
Commissioner Greenaway moved, seconded by Commissioner Campos, to adopt findings
of fact and conclusions therefrom as contained in the January 18, 2018 staff report. The
motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Greenaway moved, seconded by Commissioner Campos, based on the
findings of fact and conclusions therefrom, the Planning Commission recommend the
City Council grant a special permit to Adriana Robledo for the location of an auto sales
lot at 1424 North 4th Avenue, with conditions as contained in the January 18, 2018 staff
report. The motion passed unanimously.
C. Special Permit Valdivia Daycare Center Expansion (Mariana
Hernandez & Juan Valdivia) (MF# SP 2017-021)
-3-
Chairwoman Bykonen read the master file number and asked for comments from staff.
Rick White, Community & Economic Development Director, discussed the special permit
application to expand Valdivia Daycare Center. He reminded the Commission that at the
previous meeting there were some minor issues brought up. One of those issues being
parking and the other was the number of students. The applicants have met with staff
and have come up with a parking scheme, as contained in the staff report, which will
accommodate the number of employees and students, to allow staff to provide a
recommendation for up to 50 students as outlined by the State regulations.
Commissioner Portugal moved, seconded by Commissioner Campos, to adopt the
findings of fact and conclusions therefrom as contained in the January 18, 2018 staff
report. The motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Portugal moved, seconded by Commissioner Campos, based on the
findings of fact and conclusions therefrom, the Planning Commission recommend the
City Council grant a special permit to Mariana & Juan Valdivia for the expansion of a
commercial daycare center located at 3503 W. Sylvester Street, with conditions as
contained in the January 18, 2018 staff report. The motion passed unanimously.
D. Special Permit Location of a Recreation Complex in an RS-1
Zoning District (JUB Engineers, Inc.) (MF# SP
2017-022)
Chairwoman Bykonen read the master file number and asked for comments from staff.
Darcy Bourcier, Planner I, discussed the special permit to locate a recreation complex in
an RS-1 zoning district. Staff, as stated in the memo to the Planning Commission, would
like to postpone action on this item and reopen the public hearing for the next Planning
Commission Meeting on February 15, 2018. It was discussed at the previous meeting
that staff would be meeting with the applicant to further work on the roadway
improvements and the installation of utilities. Staff has met with the applicant but there
is still more to work on.
Commissioner Campos moved, seconded by Commissioner Greenaway, to postpone the
development of a recommendation and set February 15, 2018 as the date for a
continuation of the public hearing and the development of a recommendation for the City
Council. The motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
A. Preliminary Plat Northridge Estates, 72-Lots (Sunbelt Homes, LLC)
(MF# PP 2017-010)
Chairwoman Bykonen read the master file number and asked for comments from staff.
Darcy Bourcier, Planner I, discussed the preliminary plat application for Northridge
Estates, 72-Lots. The plat is located just to the east of Rosalind Franklin Elementary on
-4-
Road 52 and contains 72 lots for single-family houses on a 20 acre parcel. Each lot
ranges in size from approximately 7,200 sqft to 18,800 sqft which averages to 3.6 units
per acre. It was initially designated an RS-1 zone after being annexed into the City in
2006 but was rezoned to R-1 in 2010. Surrounding properties are zoned for low density
residential and are developed with single family homes making the general vicinity
conducive for low density residential. The site will be accessed from Burns Road with
emergency access on Curlew Lane to the south. Curlew Lane will be gated and improved
to County standards from Overton to the proposed plat. The plat will be developed to the
standards of the Pasco Municipal Code and the standard specifications of the City
Engineering Division. As such, there will be full road improvements including curb,
gutter, sidewalk and water and sewer service. For the properties backing up to Burns
Road an estate fence will be installed on the rear property lines.
Dave McDonald, City Planner, added that staff has had conversations with the County
Road Department within the past couple of days regarding the lot with the gate situation
on Curlew. There is a conflict between that requirement and the Fire Department
wanting a second access into that subdivision for fire safety and ambulance. During the
conversation with the County, they’ve determined that if Curlew Lane was paved with a
paved road section meeting their standards, roughly 28 feet wide, there would be no need
for the gate and would serve as a secondary access for fire, ambulance and residents. It
would also give residents on Curlew Lane a paved road section which they do not have
now.
Jason Maddox, PBS Engineering & Environmental, 400 Bradley Boulevard, Richland, WA
spoke on behalf of the applicant. The current owner of the property is the Pasco School
District and was originally purchased when they did Rosalind Franklin Elementary
School. There were thoughts at that time to make it a larger school but instead it was
made an elementary school and now there is leftover acreage. They have made the
decision to sell the property to allow for development. The primary discussion they have
been having with the project is the access. The main access would be from Burns Roa d
which is already 50% completed. Along the east boundary the School District already
installed a chain link fence so there wouldn’t be a means for people to enter through
there. As for the secondary means of access via Curlew Lane, the intention is to p ave a
section to the City of Pasco’s standards to the southern boundary. It was discovered that
the plats developed in the County did extend the road, Curlew Lane, but those plats had
easement issues. There will not be enough dedicated easement on Curlew Lane for full
public access since it wasn’t dedicated for that plat in the County and there is only 30
feet of right of way to establish a new road. That is where the idea of a gate with a Knox-
Box for the Fire Department to unlock the gate if necessary. He expected to have further
discussions with the County to resolve the issue. In terms of utilities, there is already an
existing sewer line through the property that was put in when the school was built. They
are working on making it a public line.
Commissioner Mendez asked if the applicant was fine with the tentative approval
conditions.
Mr. Maddox said, yes.
Commissioner Portugal asked staff if the 6 foot masonry fence would only go next to
-5-
Burns Road.
Ms. Bourcier responded, yes.
With no further questions or comments the public hearing closed.
Commissioner Campos moved, seconded by Commissioner Portugal, to close the hearing
on the proposed subdivision and initiate deliberations and schedule adoption of findings
of fact, conclusions and a recommendation to the City Council for the February 15, 2018
meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
B. Comp Plan Amendment Public Participation Plan Regarding the 2018
Comprehensive Plan Update (MF# CPA 2017-001)
Chairwoman Bykonen read the master file number and asked for comments from staff.
Dave McDonald, City Planner, discussed the Comprehensive Plan Amendment for the
Public Participation Plan regarding the 2018 Comprehensive Plan Update. The City is
required to update the plan and one of the things required during that process is to have
a Citizen’s Participation Plan. Staff provided a copy of the proposed plan for the
Commission. It is similar to the plan that was prepared in the 2008 update, which the
City is already following. The City had an open house at 5:30 p.m. before the Planning
Commission for the public and there have been two other meetings. Those open houses
are mentioned in the plan. The plan is almost identical to the one done in 2008 with a
few additions. This will eventually become Appendix 2 when the Comprehensive Plan
Update is completed.
With no further questions or comments the public hearing closed.
Commissioner Campos moved, seconded by Commissioner Greenaway, that the Planning
Commission adopt Commission Resolution 2018-01 establishing a public participation
process to be used as part of the 2018 Comprehensive Plan Update. The motion passed
unanimously.
OTHER BUSINESS:
With no further discussion or business, the Planning Commission was adjourned at
7:34 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
David McDonald, City Planner