HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-16-13 YPC MinutesFORTITE
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City of Yakima Planning Commission (YPC) City Hall Council Chambers
Meeting Minutes of May 16, 2013
Call to Order
Chairman Ben Shoval called the meeting to order at 2:00 pm.
Roll Call
YPC Members Present: Chairman Ben Shoval, Co -Chair Dave Fonfara, Ron
Anderson, Al Rose, Bill Cook, Scott Clark
YPC Members Absent: Paul Stelzer (excused)
Staff Present: Jeff Peters, Associate Planner; Steve Osguthorpe,
Community Development Director
Others: Steve Campbell, Alice Campbell, Cally Price, Mike Kryger,
Joe Walsh, Carol Guthrie, Leonard Jordan
Audience Participation
No audience participation noted.
Public Hearin
Steve Osguthorpe introduced the text amendment for the new section 15.09.210 Special
Requirements for Retaining Walls. He displayed examples of retaining walls found
around town that are not controversial and would be allowed.
Chairman Ben Shoval officially opened the public hearing at 2:15.
Steve Campbell spoke first about the retaining walls issue and about one that collapsed.
He expressed his safety concern and went on to explain the aesthetics of the retaining
wall that belonged to his neighbor.
Next, Cally Price came up to the microphone and brought up the point that the safety
issues of these walls need to be discussed.
Then Mike Kryger talked about his fear of the destruction of his retaining wall and the
displeasing aesthetics of the wall.
Joe Walsh spoke next and made a suggestion to add the requirements for retaining
walls into the codes section.
Carol Guthrie added more detail to the previous complaints as she can also see the wall
from her house.
Alice Campbell explained to the committee her concern for the people who live below
these retaining walls. She does not feel safe with people being able to walk along those
retaining walls to get into their property.
Ben Shoval opened up discussion of these problems for those who are part of the
planning commission. The members seemed to agree that the safety, security, and
aesthetics issues need to be covered when considering future building of retaining
walls. They agree that some sort of code needs to be in place to improve these issues
without being too restrictive on the aesthetics. Another idea presented was that the wall
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could be set back so that if it was to fall over, it would fall a safe distance away from the
next property over. Steve told the committee that he would find examples of
communities with retaining walls in eastern Washington to show at the next meeting.
Al Rose made a motion to continue the public hearing and refer the matter back to staff
for additional information and Bill seconded this motion. The motion carried
unanimously. Chairman Ben Shoval closed the public hearing at 3:36.
Chairman Ben Shoval called for a five minute recess at 3:36 to which there was no
objection.
The meeting came back into session at 3:42.
Staff Distribution of Shoreline Materials
Associate Planner Jeff Peters provided the Planning Commission with a packet
containing information on sections they have covered so far, as well as proposed edits
and changes to the SMP. In addition it included sections they reviewed in this meeting
and the printed out PowerPoint.
Shoreline Master Program review
Jeff informed the commission on the intent to remove Cowiche Creek from the
Shoreline Master Program and from Shoreline jurisdiction. A USGS study showed how
the Cowiche Creek didn t meet the mean annual flow. An unofficial comment from the
Yakama Nation, however, puts the status of Cowiche Creek in the SMP back in
question. The agency does not believe the USGS study to be adequate. Now the intent is
to find the correct data for Cowiche Creek and refer back to Ecology to determine which
direction to go.
The first section Amy Summe of the Wetland Corporation went over with the planning
commission was Environmental Protection which would give guidance to all of
Shoreline jurisdiction. She presented a provision of alternative mitigation which adds
flexibility for applicants who want to take advantage of new and evolving mitigations
that are not explicitly in the code.
Next, Amy covered the Shoreline Vegetation Conservation and called attention to a few
of the important provisions. Ben reminded Jeff and Amy to get back to them on how
this will affect the weed and mosquito control districts.
From there they talked about the Critical Areas section. The SMP includes the City's
current Critical Areas regulations but with changes to remove things that are not
applicable for Shoreline along with other necessary fixes.
Other sections that were edited and reviewed include Fish and Wildlife Habitat and the
Stream Corridor System, Flood Hazard Reduction, Boating and Private Moorage
Facilities, and Shoreline Stabilization. Amy and Jeff presented proposed buffers for
different areas included in the SMP.
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Ben Shoval left the meeting at 4:28 and Co -Chair Dave Fonfara resumed his role
temporarily for the rest of the meeting while they finished up the last sections for this
meeting.
Other Business
No other business noted.
A motion to adjourn to May 22, 2013, was passed by unanimous vote. This meeting
adjourned at 5:02 p.m.
This meeting was filmed by YPAC. Minutes for this meeting submitted by: Lisa Maxey, Department Assistant 3.
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