HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-25-15 YPC MinutesCity of Yakima Planning Commission (YPC) City Hall Council Chambers
Meeting Minutes of February 25, 2015
Call to Order
Chairman Dave Fonfara called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
Roll Call
YPC Members Present: Chairman Dave Fonfara, Al Rose, Patricia Byers, Bill Cook,
Ron Anderson
YPC Members Absent: Vice -Chair Scott Clark, Paul Stelzer
Staff Present: Jeff Peters, Supervising Planner; Robbie Aaron, Assistant
Planner; Mark Kunkler, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Others: Bev Luby Bartz, David Gaudette
Staff Announcements
No staff announcements noted.
David Gaudette suggested incorporating community gardens in neighborhoods into the
Comprehensive Plan. Chairman Dave Fonfara stated that changes have been made to
allow for community gardens in some zones in Yakima. Supervising Planner Jeff Peters
notified the Commission that David Gaudette has gone before the City Council to
address this issue and the direction that David received from the Council and City
Manager was to begin by going through the process of a comprehensive plan text
amendment. Dave Fonfara suggested that Gaudette provide input for the visioning of
the Comprehensive Plan Update 2040 when those opportunities arise.
Commissioner Patricia Byers suggested a correction to exclude a sentence from the
August 27, 2014 meeting minutes that read, "Along those lines, Patricia commented that
she wanted someone from Solar to be there at the upcoming meeting to be able to
comment," as it was viewed to be out of place. The Commission had consensus to
suggest that correction.
Commissioner Al Rose made the motion to approve the 2014 Planning Commission
meeting minutes with the correction mentioned above to the August 27, 2014 meeting
minutes. Commissioner Ron Anderson seconded the motion. The motion carried
unanimously.
Review of the Public Participation Plan for the Comprehensive Plan Update 2040
Jeff Peters introduced this topic to the Commission. He shared staff's idea to group
similar elements in the Comprehensive Plan 2040 Horizon Public Participation Plan and
to conduct public meetings and work sessions on those items.
Assistant Planner Robbie Aaron stressed to the Commission that the Commission will
be in charge of running this process for the Comprehensive Plan 2040 Horizon Public
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Participation Plan update. The Commission will decide what goals and policies to
include in the plan with assistance from staff in writing these goals and policies and
assisting the Commission in general with the plan update process. Jeff added that once
the staff and Commission have finalized this plan, it will move to the City Council to be
adopted as the official work plan for the Yakima's 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update.
Dave Fonfara inquired from staff what times these meetings for the Comprehensive
Plan 2040 Horizon Public Participation Plan update will occur. Jeff commented that
special meeting times in the evening will most likely need to be scheduled to
accommodate for citizen involvement and input. Patricia Byers asked if the
Commission will have a say on the days and times of the special meetings. Jeff
confirmed that the Commission will be able to provide input on this matter.
Dave Fonfara highlighted the addition of a webpage dedicated to this comprehensive
plan update process.
Commissioner Bill Cook asked if there will be opportunity for the Commission to be
involved in what goes into the presentations that will be presented at the open houses.
Jeff replied that the Commission will be fully involved in what goes into the
presentations and that staff will bring these presentations to the Commission ahead of
time before they are presented at open houses.
Patricia asked if the Commission will be able to schedule more time with the public if
they feel it is necessary. Jeff and Dave clarified that there will be a tight time frame with
limited opportunity for such changes to be made.
Dave Fonfara requested that the staff provide a mailing list to the Commission of all the
parties who will be notified of this opportunity for public comment on the
Comprehensive Plan 2040 Update so that the Commission may add to the list if
necessary. Dave also made a request for staff to provide the Commission with Census
data as it relates to the demographics of the community to better understand the needs
of the people. Dave asked if there is a mechanism in place for providing information
about the comprehensive plan update to those who speak Spanish. Jeff explained that
Spanish-speaking staff members have been able to translate similar information into
Spanish in the past and that he will look into what the Planning Department can do to
provide information to those who speak Spanish. Dave brought up the idea of having
an English -Spanish translator at the public hearings.
Discussion on the Hearijig Examiner's Interpretations on Mission Use in
Consideration of Allowed Zoning Districts and Revisions to the Definition of
"Mission"
Mark continued discussion on this topic and gave the Commission a brief recap on how
the issue of the definition of missions came about. Mark provided the Commission with
his suggestion to focus on the definition of mission that Phil Lamb provided in his
previous decisions, make modifications as necessary, and then go forth with a public
hearing.
Commissioner Ron Anderson asked what the process would be to change the zoning of
Roy's Market to a zone that would fit the mission use. Mark replied that a rezone
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application would have to be filed but such a request could create a problem of spot -
zoning. He also shared his thoughts about changing the uses allowed in the SCC zone
versus changing the zoning of the parcel.
Patricia Byers made a motion to have staff move ahead with scheduling the public
hearing on incorporating the Hearing Examiner's definition of "mission' from his
decision in 1995 at an appropriate location and in a timely manner. The motion was
seconded by Ron Anderson. The motion carried unanimously.
Other Business
Bill Cook asked when the joint Planning Commission meeting on the topic of the
Airport Safety Overlay would be. Robbie Aaron confirmed that the joint meeting will be
on March 181h. He added that staff is still working on confirming that the Union Gap
Planning Commission and Yakima County Planning Commission will be able and
willing to come to the meeting. Bill asked if the Yakama Nation has land that will be
impacted by the Airport Safety Overlay. Planning Staff replied that they will check if
the Yakama Nation will be affected.
Jeff Peters announced that a replacement for Commissioner Paul Stelzer is still being
considered, as Stelzer has requested to step down.
Jeff added that the Airport Master Plan will be considered for adoption at the City
Council's next meeting. Dave asked how the adoption of the Airport Master Plan will
impact the Comprehensive Plan 2040 update. Jeff responded that the Airport Master
Plan and Comprehensive Plan 2040 update will coincide well.
Adjourn
A motion to adjourn to March 11, 2015 was passed with unanimous vote. This meeting
adjourned at 4:57 p.m.
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Chairman Dave Fonfara Date
This meeting was filmed by YPAC. Minutes for this meeting submitted by: Lisa Maxey, Department Assistant II
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