HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-28-2026 YPC MinutesCity of Yakima Planning Commission (YPC) Meeting Minutes
January 28, 2026
Call to Order
Vice -Chair Hitchcock called the meeting to order at 3:04 p.m.
Roll Call
YPC Members Present:
YPC Members Absent:
Staff Present:
City Council Liaison:
Vice -Chair Charles Hitchcock, Jeff Baker, Roy Gondo, Leanne
Hughes -Mickel, Anne Knapp, Colleda Monick, Kevin Rangel,
Shelley White
Chair Mary Place (excused), Frieda Stephens (excused), Philip
Ostriem
Trevor Martin; Planning Manager, Eva Rivera; Planning
Technician
Matt Brown, Felisa Gonzalez
Vice -Chair Hitchcock welcomed Councilwoman Gonzalez to her first Planning Commission
meeting.
Approval of Minutes from December ember 10. 2025 and January 14. 2026- Commissioner Hughes -
Mickel moved to approve the meeting minutes from December 10, 2025, Commissioner Baker
seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Commissioner Gondo moved to approve
the meeting minutes from January 14, 2026, Commissioner Rangel seconded the motion. The
motion carried unanimously.
Staff Announcements -
Trevor announced that BERK consultants would be joining virtually today.
Public Comment — None
Public Hearing ;TXT#003-25- Trevor reviewed the staff report on the text amendments. The
commission held a discussion on the recommended changes. Commissioner Baker moved to
classify maintenance and repair shops in the Regional Development (RD) zoning district as a
Type 1 use. Commissioner Rangel seconded the motion. Following discussion, Commissioner
Knapp moved to amend the motion to include paint and body repair shops as Type 1 uses.
Commissioner Baker seconded. The commission entered further discussion.
Roll Call Vote — Amendment
A roll call vote was conducted on the amendment to add paint and body repair shops to
Commissioner Baker's motion:
White - Yes
Rangel - Yes
Monick - No
Knapp — Yes
Hughes -Mickel - Yes
Gondo — No
Baker — Yes
Hitchcock - Yes
Totals
- Yes: 6
- No: 2
Outcome
01/28/2026 YPC Minutes
The amendment passed.
Roll Call Vote — Amended Motion
A roll call vote was conducted on the amended motion to classify maintenance and repair
shops, as well as paint and body repair shops, as Type 1 uses in the Regional Development
(RD) zoning district.
White — Yes
Rangel — Yes
Knapp — Yes
Hughes -Mickel — Yes
Monick — No
Gondo - No
Baker — Yes
Hitchcock — Yes
Totals
- Yes: 6
- No: 2
Outcome
The amended motion passed.
Discussion continued over the recommended changes. Commissioner White read a statement
she wrote.
Commissioner Monick moved based on the testimony and evidence presented during this
afternoon's public hearing, that the City of Yakima Planning staff modify the draft language to
include the changes noted in the minutes of this afternoon's public hearing, and with these
changes move that the Planning Commission draft findings of fact and forward a
recommendation of approval to the Yakima City Council. Commissioner Baker seconded.
Roll Call Vote
White — No
Rangel — Yes
Monick — Yes
Knapp — Yes
Hughes- Mickel — Yes
Gondo — No
Baker — Yes
Hitchcock — Yes
Totals
- Yes: 6
- No: 2
Outcome
The motion passed.
Draft Housing Chapter— BERK Consulting presented a PowerPoint outlining the changes
made to the Housing Chapter. Discussion followed regarding the proposed revisions in the draft
Housing Chapter. Due to time constraints, the Commission was unable to review all of the
proposed changes, and the remaining items will be reviewed at a future meeting.
01/28/2026 YPC Minutes
Due to time constraints,. the remaining items on the agenda were not taken up.
Other Business -Commissioner Monick distributed a handout from the Department of
Commerce to the Commission and it was entered into the record. Vice -Chair Hitchcock motion
to schedule a future study session focused more specifically on possibilities and limitations and
options available within the Regional Development (RD) section. Commissioner Gondo
seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Meeting Recap — Action Items & Decisions:
• Remaining portions of the draft chapters in the packet will be reviewed at a future
meeting.
Establish a method for capturing and tracking action items.
• Request for improved proofreading for Comp Plan draft from BERK.
The Land Capacity Analysis currently under review by the Transpo group will be
provided as soon as it's ready.
Outs ndinq Action items
Transit ridership information will be provided.
An EV charging station policy will be integrated into the Comprehensive Plan.
The elements of the Comp Plan rough drafts will be reviewed in January or February.
• Implementation measures in the Comp Plan.
• Alphabetize Table 4.1 by category.
Pg. 23 parking space extends to 9 feet.
A link of the survey will be emailed.
The commission will go through the comprehensive plan page by page.
• The Land Capacity Analysis currently under review by the Transpo group will be
provided.
A new section for congregant living will be added to the code and reviewed by the
Commission.
Future Items
• Staff will notify and update the Commission when the countywide policies are completed.
Downtown Action Plan - staff will determine if the Planning Commission will be involved.
• Staff will coordinate a future roundtable with experts to discuss design standards.
A motion to adjourn to February 11, 2026, was passed with a unanimous vote. The meeting
adjourned at approximately 4:58 p.m.
Vice Chair Hitchcock Date
This meeting was filmed by YPAC. Minutes for this meeting submitted by: Eva Rivera, Planning Technician.
01/28/2026 YPC Minutes