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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-26-16 YPC MinutesCity of Yakima Planning Commission (YPC) City Hall Council Chambers Meeting Minutes of October 26, 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, Tom Trepanier, Peter Marinace YPC Members Absent: Al Rose, Bill Cook, Gavin Keefe (all excused) Staff Present: Joan Davenport, Planning Manager; Joseph Calhoun, Senior Planner; Jeff Peters, Supervising Planner; Lisa Maxey, Department Assistant; Sara Watkins, Senior Assistant City Attorney Others: Sign -in sheet in file Staff Announcements None noted. Audience Participation Cathy Franklin described disputes she has had with the "Dress 4 Less" store located at 502 W Nob Hill Blvd. She explained that the business has been causing trash go onto her property, has caused issues relating to access and parking for her property, and has displayed nude and inappropriately dressed mannequins outside the store. Veronica Rodriguez also spoke to the issue of the mannequins displayed outside the store, and highlighted her concerns for the children who have to pass by them regularly. 2016 Text Amendments Public Hearin Supervising Planner Jeff Peters provided the staff report for the 2016 Text Amendments project (TXT#001-16). Joan Davenport, Community Development Director, explained to the Planning Commission that the City Council will be conducting a study session on November 31rd and will decide at that time whether they would like the Planning Commission to consider fee increases for land use application into the text amendment proposals. Therefore, Commissioner Byers made a motion to continue this public hearing to Wednesday November 9, 2016. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously. Discussion on Outdoor Product Displays Jeff Peters announced that flyers and notices were distributed to the Yakima Greater Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and other interested parties and businesses, advertising this discussion. Sara Watkins, Senior Assistant City Attorney, went over options the Planning Commission has for regulating outdoor displays. Audience member Shannon Bird expressed her frustrations with mannequins blocking access to neighboring businesses like hers, as well as the volume and the nakedness of the mannequins. She provided pictures to the Commission demonstrating these problems and printed sections of the Yakima Municipal Code where outdoor product displays could possibly be regulated. Audience members Serena Plant and Michele Taylor also reiterated concerns with these mannequins being displayed outside. Audience member Lynn Opiella requested that the Planning Commission look at how other cities are regulating outdoor product displays. Audience member Cathy Franklin spoke regarding the general image and reputation of the city of Yakima, and how that is being affected by these outdoor displays. Commission members began discussion on what they feel is appropriate for the Commission to regulate in this matter. Audience member Hadia Abbas Nazer, a board member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, reported that she did not receive notification of this meeting and therefore could not disseminate the meeting information to other parties for their attendance and comments back to the Commission. Shannon Bird reported that she and her neighboring businesses did receive notification. Sara Watkins reported that the Planning Commission does not have jurisdiction to make changes to Title 5, where the Outside Promotional Sales section is located in the Yakima Municipal Code. She informed the Commission of the option for them to recommend to have the Economic Development Committee to review this issue instead so they could regulate it through Title 5. There was general discussion between staff, the Commission, and audience member Cathy Franklin on how City Code Enforcement handles complaints for situations like the ones mentioned during this agenda item. Commissioner Trepanier made a motion to discontinue discussion related to regulating outdoor product displays and to recommend to the City Council that the Planning Commission is not fit to regulate this issue. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously. Jeff Peters announced that during this meeting Assistant Planner Eric Crowell transmitted to him a copy of the notice and flyer that was delivered to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and it included a note indicating that those items were hand delivered. Discussion on Draft Sign Code Amendments Sara Watkins went over her memo entitled "Optional Language for Sign Code Amendments." Chairman Clark read into the record an email from Commissioner Cook to Commissioner Byers to be shared with the rest of the Commission regarding the topic of portable and trailer signs. Discussion ensued regarding portable and trailer signs, sign walkers, digital signs, and sign illumination. The Commission had consensus for staff to copy the language in YMC 15.08.040 (11), which is currently the language for temporary signs, and incorporate it into the proposed portable signs section. The Commission also had consensus to change the time limitations in the proposed section for sign walkers from "daylight hours" to "dawn to dusk," (or similar language), to add trailer signs to the prohibited sign section, and to incorporate language into the draft for digital signs and sign illumination as presented in Sara's memo. The Planning Commission requested to see these changes made to the draft at their next meeting. -2- Com rehensive Plan 2040 U date: Housing,Natural Environment & Utilities Draft Elements Senior Planner Joseph Calhoun summarized the background information, goals, and policies for the Housing, Natural Environment, and Utilities draft elements for the Comprehensive Plan 2040 update that were provided to the Commission for their review and comments. Other Business None noted. AAjourn A motion to adjourn to November 9, 2016 was passed with unanimous vote. This meeting adjourned at 5:06 p.m. Chairman Scott Clark Date This meeting was filmed by YPAC. Minutes for this meeting submitted by: Lisa Maxey, Department Assistant II -3-