HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-13-13 YPC MinutesREDW"ORD FIL
City of Yakima Planning Commission (YPC) City Hall Council Chambers
Meeting Minutes of November 13, 2013
Call to Order
Co -Chair Dave Fonfara called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
Roll Call
YPC Members Present: Co -Chair Dave Fonfara, Al Rose, Bill Cook,
YPC Members Absent: Chairman Ben Shoval (excused), Paul Stelzer (excused), Scott
Clark (excused)
Staff Present: Jeff Peters, Supervising Planner; Steve Osguthorpe,
Community Development Director
Others: Larry Oliver, Quirt Pierce, David Servine, Fred Mees, Noelle
Mad, Tommy Carroll, torn Knaub, Troy Launick, MCS of
Central Washington, James Carpentier from the
International Sign Association, Mark Kunkler
Staff Announcements
Steve Osguthorpe announced that they are trying to schedule an evening meeting on
December 11, 2013, at 5:30 p.m. to provide opportunity for public input on the billboard
and digital sign issues.
No audience participation noted.
Introductory Discussion: Billboards & Digital Signs
Steve Osguthorpe went over the staff report and slide show about the moratorium. He
displayed a map of the billboard inventory and pictures of billboards from around
Yakima. Steve also included facts and statistics in his presentation relating to the
billboards and digital signs. He added that there is nothing in the code about regulating
digital billboards and explained both sides of the controversial issue. Yakima allows
digital billboards and they are protected under the HBA. Steve offered action plans
which included:
• Amend code to prohibit new billboards, including new digital billboards.
• Same as option 1 but include amortization clause to phase out existing billboards
that are not subject to the HBA protection.
• Amend code to further restrict height, size, and/or spacing of billboards.
• Amend code to limit billboards to a particular zone and prohibit billboards
within 660 feet of federally funded highways.
The recommended option would be to continue the moratorium along with option 1 or
alternatively to defer to the Planning Commission on a policy recommendation. The
Council chose to defer to the Planning Commission.
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James Carpentier from the International Sign Association talked about the safety and
economic impact of digital billboards. He thinks the safety concern should be
researched more but that the economic impact could be very positive. Another concern
of his was illumination standards and regulations for digital billboards.
David Servine encouraged the Commission to meet in a work study environment in
order to share information more effectively.
Tom Knaub talked about flagging billboards.
IntroductM Discussion: Recreational Mari'uana
Mark Kunkler gave the staff report. He announced that the City Council adopted a
moratorium earlier in the year and there was a public hearing as well. Mark compared
the zoning factor of the recreational marijuana issue to the adult entertainment issue.
The Planning Commission and staff discussed how to balance their focus between the
marijuana issue and the billboard issue and talked about upcoming meetings.
Jeffery McPhee agreed that having separate meetings for these topics would be
beneficial.
Mitch Gordon from MCS of Central Washington requested that the commission keep
him updated so that they can use his expertise on the marijuana issue.
Other Business
No other business noted.
A motion to adjourn to December 11, 2013, was passed with unanimous vote. This
meeting adjourned at 5:10 p.m.
This meeting was filmed by YPAC. Minutes for this meeting submitted by: Lisa Maxey, Department Assistant 3.
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