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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-10-16 YPC MinutesCity of Yakima Planning Commission (YPC) City Hall Council Chambers Meeting Minutes of August 10, 2016 Call to Order Chairman Scott Clark called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. Roll Call YPC Members Present: Chairman Scott Clark, Vice -Chair Patricia Byers, Al Rose, Bill Cook, Gavin Keefe, YPC Members Absent: Peter Marinace (unexcused), Tom Trepanier (excused) Staff Present: Jeff Peters, Supervising Planner; Sara Watkins, Senior Assistant City Attorney; Trevor Martin, Associate Planner; Lisa Maxey, Department Assistant Others: Sign -in sheet in file Staff Announcements Supervising Planner Jeff Peters provided a brief overview of the items on the meeting agenda. He informed the Commission that Joan Davenport, Planning Manager, has requested the Commission to hold a special meeting on August 31St for a continued study session related to the Comprehensive Plan 2040 Update process. Commissioner Byers made it known that she likely cannot attend that meeting. Commissioner Rose, Clark, Cook, and Keefe indicated that they expect to be present. Audience Participation Bob West alerted the Commission of inappropriate advertisement on the northeast corner of 91h Street and Yakima Avenue, where a baby crib and handmade sign have been placed on the grass area between the strip mall and Yakima Ave. West then moved on to talking about food trucks, explaining that some are being used as a semi-permanent structure and have indoor seating, siting an example at 7th Street and Nob Hill Boulevard. Lastly, he mentioned that there are bright yellow signs placed high up on power poles that are creating distractions at busy intersections such as Nob Hill Boulevard and 181h Street. Approval of Meeting Minutes of July 27th 2016 Commissioner Cook made a motion to approve the meeting minutes of July 27th, 2016. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously. Discussion on Outdoor Displays of Merchandise Peters explained City CounciYs request to the Planning Commission to consider the issue of outdoor displays of merchandise. Sara Watkins, Senior Assistant City Attorney, detailed how the current Municipal Code addresses outdoor displays, falling under the term "outside promotional sales". She went over the various options the Planning Commission could consider if they decide it is appropriate for them to regulate this issue. Watkins explained the results of her research of how other municipalities are regulating outdoor display of merchandise. Discussion ensued relating to right of way use permits, access issues for stores that are close in proximity, emergency access concerns, and aesthetic matters. Audience member Shannon Bird voiced her concerns as a business owner and resident of Yakima, highlighting the specific issue of explicitly indoor items being displayed ME outside. She also expressed her frustrations with nude or inappropriately dressed mannequins next to one of her businesses, as these displays make customers and other pedestrians uncomfortable. Bird emphasized that this could become a growing trend. She also shared some of her research of ordinances from other cities regarding this dilemma. Audience member Shirley Puryear talked about mannequins on 1St Street as well as on 9th Street and Nob Hill Boulevard and how these could have a negative effect on Yakima's wine tourism industry. Audience member Bob West talked about how damaging these outdoor displays are to the image of the city. He listed some areas of the city where mannequins are a problem. The Commissioners discussed their apprehension with regulating outdoor displays and the effect it will have on the freedom of business owners. Commissioner Rose highlighted that the number of mannequins and other outdoor displays is overpowering. Discussion took place pertaining to the difficulty of regulating amount or size of display, displays in parking areas, the necessity of the code being clear so that it can be enforced, transactions occurring inside the building of the business, and the concepts of "incidental use" and "accessory use". Sara Watkins reminded the Commission that the definition of "sign" will be reviewed and likely be modified. Chairman Clark suggested considering the distance of these displays from the travelled public right of way. General discussion was held on the possibility of nuisance cases associated with adverse effects of outdoor displays on business owners. The Commission directed Watkins to research examples of other city ordinances regulating the number of square footage of allowed outdoor displays, ways to reduce the negative impact these displays can have on surrounding property owners, incidental uses, the definition of sign and temporary sign, and uses permitted via right of way use permits. Discussion on Land Use Sign Removal Amendments Peters explained that this item of land use sign removal amendments was discussed earlier in the year and then tabled. Commissioner Rose, Cook, and Byers voiced their agreement with option 5, which is to have the City be responsible for removal of the sign with the cost of the production and removal added to the application fee. Peters added that a fee increase to land use application which was done in the 1990s included the cost of making the sign but not removing them. He also informed the Commission that Planning is conducting a fee study on the current land use application fees. Chairman Clark stated that sending a letter quarterly, as Planning has done once already this year, to the property owners who have gone through a process requiring posting a land use action sign would be the least intrusive solution. Commissioner Cook articulated language can be added to the land use posting certificate stating that the applicant may be charged with the city's cost of removing the sign if not removed within 30 days after a decision has been rendered on the project. Commissioner Cook made a motion to draft findings that would revise the Planning Division's procedures and language on the land use action certificate of posting form to indicate that land use action signs must be removed within 30 days after the decision has been rendered or the applicant may be charged with the city's cost to remove the sign from the property. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously. -2- Introduction to Codifying Ri ht-of-Wa Vacation Standards Trevor Martin explained that there is not a section in the Municipal Code specific to right- of-way vacation procedures, so the city currently bases their procedures solely on a resolution that was passed and provisions in the Revised Code of Washington. Consequently, there have been issues and confusion during two recent right-of-way vacation application processes. He went over his draft of the new code section. Discussion ensued regarding placement of this section within the Yakima Municipal Code, compensation exemptions, application submittal requirements, council initiated right-of- way vacations, and land value. The Commission had consensus to include a 5 year time frame in section 14.21.050(4) of the draft ordinance. Other Business Peters informed the Commission that he will bringing back some of the issues from this meeting at the next meeting on August 241h. Adjourn A motion to adjourn to August 24, 2016 was passed with unanimous vote. This meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m. 131116 Chairman Scott Clark Date This meeting was filmed by YPAC. Minutes for this meeting submitted by: Lisa Maxey, Department Assistant II -3-