HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-28-18 YPC MinutesCity of Yakima Planning Commission (YPC) City Hall Council Chambers
Meeting Minutes of February 28, 2018
Call to Order
Chairwoman Patricia Byers called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
Roll Call
YPC Members Present: Chairwoman Patricia Byers, Vice -Chair Al Rose, Jacob
Liddicoat, Rob McCormick
YPC Members Absent: Peter Marinace, Bill Cook (both excused)
Staff Present: Joseph Calhoun, Planning Manager; Lisa Maxey, Planning
Specialist; Sara Watkins, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Others: Sign -in sheet in file
Staff Announcements
Planning Manager Joseph Calhoun announced that there is still one vacancy on the
Planning Commission, and that interviews for the applicants should be conducted soon.
Audience Participation
Audience member Jon Briggs spoke on the impact that Uber has had on taxicab
businesses in Yakima. He requested that the city allow taxi businesses to be permitted
as a home occupation to eliminate the requirement for taxi businesses to have an office.
The Commission asked staff to research and report back at a future meeting the history
of the ordinance that changed licensing regulations for taxis.
Approval of Meeting Minutes of February 14 2018
It was motioned by Vice -Chair Rose and seconded by Commissioner McCormick to
approve the minutes of February 14, 2018. The motion carried unanimously.
Opening of the 201.8 Comprehensive Plan Amendment Process
Calhoun explained the purpose and timeline of the annual comprehensive plan
amendment process. He reported that staff has received some interest from property
owners in participating in this year's map amendment process. Chairwoman Byers then
opened the public hearing. After allowing for public comment and receiving none, it was
motioned by Vice -Chair Rose and seconded by Commission Liddicoat to open the
comprehensive plan amendment process for the year 2018. The motion carried
unanimously, and the hearing was then closed.
Continued Discussion on Temporary Worker Housin
Calhoun described staff's updated recommendations on changes to Yakima Municipal
Code Title 15 regarding the addition of regulations for temporary worker housing. The
Commission requested staff to bring back code language on this topic from other cities
that are comparative to Yakima, if available. The Commission then discussed the
possibility of allowing temporary worker housing in the RD zoning district.
Audience member Bill Hordan expressed his support of staff's recommendations and
echoed comments from some of the commissioners that the RD zoning district may be
an appropriate zone for this land use.
Audience member Ermelindo Escobedo expressed concerns on a section of the
proposed definition of "Dormitory, Congregate Living Facility, Boardinghouse" which
states, "maximum occupancy to be determined by the Building Official." Calhoun
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clarified the intent for leaving that statement in the definition as a means for allowing
flexibility. Escobedo requested that the level of review for boardinghouses with 11 or
more people be a Type 1 in zoning districts where the Commission is recommending
this use to be allowed.
Audience member Rob Valicoff expressed his desire for city regulations to mirror
federal regulations, particularly concerning the minimum square footage requirements
for sleeping areas.
After discussion, the Commission came to these preliminary recommendations which
are to be discussed further and finalized at the public hearing:
"Dormitory, Congregant Living Facilities, and Boardinghouses" should be....
• SR R-1 and CBD zoning districts: Prohibited
• R-2 zoning district: Type 2 Review for 10 or fewer people; Type 3 Review for 11
or more people.
• R-3 zoning district„ Type 1 Review for 10 or fewer people; Type 2 Review for 11
or more people.
• B-2 & B-2 zoning districts: Type 2 Review for 10 or fewer people; Type 3 Review
for 11 or more people.
• GC zoning district: Type 1 Review for 10 or fewer people; Type 2 Review for 11
or more people.
• RD zoning district: Type 1 Review for 10 or fewer people; Type 2 Review for 11
or more people.
Sara Watkins, Senior Assistant City Attorney, suggested that the term "transient
lodging" be incorporated into the definition in order to differentiate it from permanent
and semi-permanent housing. She also recommended that the definition for this land
use be under one term, with the other associated terms listed at the end of the
definition. The Commission had consensus for Watkins to make these changes, and to
use "congregant living facility" as the land use designation term.
Calhoun stated that staff will make the changes requested at this meeting and will begin
the public notice process which will establish March 28f as the public hearing date.
Other Business
The Commission reiterated their request for staff to bring back a summary of the history
of the ordinance related to taxi businesses being removed from the list of allowed home
occupations.
Adjourn
A motion to adjourn to March 14, 2018 was passed with unanimous vote. This meeting
adjourned at 4:15 pm.
Chad
This rii
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Date
was filmed by 1!PAC Minutes for this meeting submitted by: Lisa Maxey, Planning Specialist.
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