HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-10-17 YPC MinutesCity of Yakima Planning Commission (YPC) City Hall Council Chambers
Meeting Minutes of May 10, 2017
Call to Order
Vice -Chair Patricia Byers called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
Roll Call
YPC Members Present: Vice -Chair Patricia Byers, Bill Cook, Al Rose, Peter
Marinace, Jacob Liddicoat, Gavin Keefe
YPC Members Absent: Chairman Scott Clark (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
None noted.
Audience Participation
Audience member Pat Moran addressed the Commission regarding curb cuts within
the city that are not well-suited for mobility devices like wheelchairs due to the
improper angling.
Approval of Meeti pig Minutes of April 26 2017
Commissioner Marinace asked if staff was able to conduct an interview with a news
station to communicate how the Comprehensive Plan 2040 update will affect the
community after noting that this was included in the minutes of the previous meeting as
a suggestion from the Commission. Planning Manager Joseph Calhoun indicated that this
was not able to be completed but described the other means of notification provided to
the public about the plan update. Commissioner Cook motioned to approve the minutes
of April 26, 2017. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Marinace and carried
unanimously.
Public Hearin : Comprehensive Plan 2040 U date
Joseph Calhoun provided a summary of the staff report on this matter.
Audience member Joe Walsh of the Central Washington Home Builders Association
(CWHBA) suggested changes to the wording of some of the Growth Management Act
Goals listed in the Comprehensive Plan.
Audience Member Rob Strader of Yakima Bikes and Walks spoke on the Blue Zone
presentation that was recently made at the Yakima Chamber of Commerce covering
topics on healthy communities. He encouraged the Commission to include language in
the plan that would support some of the concepts that were presented.
Audience member Shirley Strader of Yakima Bikes and Walks echoed the previous
comments made about the Blue Zone presentation, and commented on the Bike Master
Plan and multi -modal transportation methods.
Audience member Phil Hoge echoed previous comments regarding multi -modal
transportation and urged for development standards to be created or revised to better
support goals in the Comprehensive Plan 2040 such as goal 2.3.3. which states, "create
walkable residential neighborhoods with safe streets and good connections to schools,
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parks, transit, and commercial services." Hoge also expressed that he would like the
recommendations made by the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee to be
incorporated into the plan. He then pointed out that in the Transportation Systems Plan
it is incorrectly indicated that there are bike lanes on Lincoln Ave between 24th Ave and
40th Ave, as well as on Fruitvale Blvd between 23rd Ave and 40th Ave. Lastly, he suggested
that primary and secondary bike routes be defined in the plan.
Audience member Tony Sandoval emphasized the need to make areas like downtown
more bike and pedestrian friendly.
Audience member Bill Hordan of Hordan Planning Services expressed his support of the
key amendments to the land use elements which were listed in the staff report.
After receiving all public comments, vice -Chair Byers closed the public testimony portion
of the hearing. Discussion took place amongst commissioners regarding the public
testimony received. They had consensus to change one of the Growth Management Act
Goals stated in the draft Comprehensive Plan 2040, so that the goal reads, "encourage a
variety of affordable housing types" rather than, "encourage a variety of housing types
including affordable housing", and to change another goal to read, "protect property
rights" rather than, "recognize property rights." The Commission also agreed to have
staff revise the language in Policy 2.1.9 in Appendix A - Comprehensive Plan
Amendments to remove the language which reads, "the City should give priority
consideration to annexation proposals that are financially self-sufficient or those where
the fiscal impact can be improved. The City should develop a variety of service delivery
or revenue enhancement options to increase the feasibility of annexation. The City may
request a fiscal analysis of the annexation proposal by annexation proponents," and
replace it with, "the City will prepare a fiscal analysis of the proposal prior to
annexation."
Calhoun announced that suggestions from the Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
and from the public will be included in the Transportations Systems Plan, the incorrect
bike lanes locations will be fixed, and 80th Ave from Nob Hill Blvd to Zier Rd and Zier
Rd from 72nd Ave to 96th Ave will be added as bike and pedestrian priorities. He further
commented that the definition of primary and secondary bike routes will be inserted.
A few comments were made on grammatical and formatting issues in Appendix D - 2017
GMA Updates.
Calhoun presented staff's response to suggested changes received on April 26, 2017 by
CWHBA in regards to the Critical Areas Ordinance update. After discussion, the
Commission had consensus to reject the incorporation of the Interim Water Typing
System found in WAC 222-16-031, and instead make minor revisions to the definitions of
the stream types in the water typing system that is currently being used.
Commissioner Cook motioned for staff to modify the findings of fact and draft ordinance
to include the changes as discussed and agreed upon at this meeting and to forward a
recommendation of approval to City Council for final consideration. The motion was
seconded by Commissioner Marinace and carried unanimously.
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Follow-up Discussion on Sign Code .Amendments Remand
Senior Assistant City Attorney Sara Watkins presented a memo to the Commission
outlining options on how to regulate trailered signs, as discussion on this topic was
initiated at the Council public hearing in which the sign code amendments was remanded
back to the Planning Commission for further review.
Discussion ensued regarding what constitutes a trailered sign and the necessity to keep
trailered signs from obstructing the view of traffic.
The Commission had consensus to ask staff to research and report back on what the
average sign of a portable sign is, how many companies in Yakima manufacture trailered
signs, and what the penalty would be for violating the sign code. They also requested
staff to collect any pictures they can find of trailered signs in Yakima, to invite local sign
manufacturers to the next Planning Commission meeting, and to revisit the requirement
of having portable signs no further than 10 feet from the primary building of the business
and come up with possible alternative language while considering how other
jurisdictions regulate this.
Other Business
Discussion
Air
A motion to adjourn to May 24, 2017 was passed with unanimous vote. This meeting
adjourned at 5:07 pT.
Cliairrriaii Scott C.la
Date
This meeting was filmed by YPAC. Minutes for this meeting submitted by: Lisa Maxey, Planning Specialist.
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