HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-08-17 YPC MinutesCity of Yakima Planning Commission (YPC) City Hall Council Chambers
Meeting Minutes of November 8, 2017
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, Bill Cook, Rob McCormick
YPC Members Absent: Peter Marinace
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 informed the commission that members of the
public have expressed interest in submitting proposals for the annual comprehensive
plan amendment process that will open the beginning of next year. He mentioned that
the Planning Division is compiling a list of ideas for text amendments as well.
Audience Participation
None noted.
Approval of Meeting Minutes of October 11, 2017
It was motioned by Vice -Chair Rose and seconded by Commissioner McCormick to
approve the minutes of October 11, 2017.
Discussion: Roles of the Planning Commission
Calhoun spoke to and provided copies of sections from the Yakima Municipal Code
(YMC) that relate to the Planning Commissions authority and responsibilities. Concerns
were raised regarding the lack of detail of the comments submitted for the record by the
city's Development Services Team (DST) which makes it more difficult for the Planning
Commission to make recommendations to city council on subdivisions. There was also
discussion on the city engineer's authority on deciding the requirement for right-of-way
width dedication and the commission wanting to know how those decisions are made,
especially when there are discrepancies between city and county requirements.
Discussion ensued on the desire to keep the commission informed of land use decisions.
The commission requested that Planning Division staff make a presentation annually to
the commission showing how much of the developable land in the city is being developed
and for what uses. Calhoun responded that the commission members can be added to
the list of parties who are emailed the Hearing Examiner decision notices.
There was also discussion on how staff determines if a preliminary long plat should be
sent to the Hearing Examiner or to the Planning Commission for public hearing.
Returning to the discussion on right-of-way dedications, Calhoun clarified that technical
engineering decisions are often not made until after preliminary plat approval which
leaves the city engineer the final discretion on those matters. The commission reiterated
their desire to know how these decisions are made and requested that for future
subdivisions the city engineer submit something in writing that further explains how he
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came to his decision on what to require for the right-of-way dedication width, or to come
to the meeting to provide that explanation.
Discussion took place relating to the preliminary plat of "Saddlebrook Loop" at 74th Ave.
and Summitview Ave., which the Planning Commission just recently held a hearing on.
A question was raised as to why curb and sidewalk were installed prior to the planning
commission hearing. Calhoun explained that a short plat running along 76tll Ave. was
approved last year, with a condition requiring that curb, gutter, and sidewalk be installed
on 76th Ave. and 74th Ave.
Chairwoman Byers requested staff to look into her terms on the Planning Commission
and let her know if she is eligible to reapply after her current term is over.
Discussion took place on YMC 1.42.030 (4) which gives the planning commission the
ability to investigate and make recommendations on land use matters on its own
initiative. Calhoun clarified that this applies to text in any title or chapter of the municipal
code that is in the Planning Commissions purview. The commission requested that staff
schedule a study session to talk about the possibility of codifying a requirement for a
condition of approval to be imposed on non -project rezones that requires SEPA review
to accompany the development proposal once submitted.
The commission requested that staff look into hosting an Open Public Meetings Act
training at City Hall for both the city and the county planning commission members.
Other Business
The commission had consensus to cancel the next regularly scheduled meeting of
November 22, 2017.
Adjourn
A motion to adjourn to December 13, 2017 was passed with unanimous vote. This
ne c g. l jc; urned at 3:52 p.m.
ClIatoman. Byers Date
This n < eting was filmed by YPAC. Minutes for this meeting submitted by: Lisa Maxey, Planning Specialist.
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