HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-11-15 YPC MinutesCity of Yakima Planning Commission (YPC) City Hall Council Chambers
Meeting Minutes of March 11, 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, Vice -Chair Scott Clark, Al Rose,
Patricia Byers, Ron Anderson
YPC Members Absent: Bill Cook, Paul Stelzer
Staff Present: Robbie Aaron, Assistant Planner; Valerie Smith, Senior
Planner; Mark Kunkler, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Others: Bev Luby Bartz, David Gaudette, Luz Gutierrez
Staff Announcements
Assistant Planner Robbie Aaron announced that the Planning Department has hired a
permanent Department Assistant II.
Audience Participation
David Gaudette explained to the Commission that there are many people interested in
community gardens in Yakima besides himself. David referred to a Facebook group, an
online petition, and other items to show the public's interests in community gardens. In
addition, Gaudette mentioned the issue of the public not being able to attend these
meetings because of the inconvenient time. David reemphasized his interest in
incorporating community gardens in neighborhoods into the Comprehensive Plan.
Commissioner Al Rose asked what the benefit would be to include community gardens
in the comprehensive plan since community gardens are already an acceptable land use
in certain zones in the Yakima. Valerie explained that having supportive goals and
policies in the comprehensive plan is beneficial to the planners when writing decisions
for land use proposals. David expressed his desire in trying to make community
gardens on public land an accepted use.
Luz Gutierrez also spoke about her interest in community gardens. Luz expressed her
support in community gardens but also spoke about the need to have a plan for the
garden and someone in charge who will maintain it.
Luz also asked when the public notice that included a map of the SCC zones in Yakima
will be discussed. Dave Fonfara replied that discussion on what the public notice
addresses is not on the agenda but that Luz may make a comment if desired. Senior
Assistant City Attorney Mark Kunkler clarified for Luz that there is a public hearing
with the Yakima Planning Commission that will take place on March 25, 2015 regarding
Yakima Neighborhood Health Service's request to amend the code to allow for a
"Community Resource Service Center" in the SCC zone. Mark explained that there is a
separate hearing on April 2, 2015 with the Hearing Examiner regarding Yakima
Neighborhood Health Service's request for an interpretation from the Hearing
Examiner for a proposal for a mission type use in the SCC zone.
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Luz also asked if there are any vacancies in the Planning Commission. She added that a
notice should be sent out informing people that there's a vacancy in the Planning
Commission. Senior Planner Valerie Smith added that anyone interested in being
considered to fill a seat in a committee can fill out an application in the City Clerk's
office. Dave Fonfara reiterated that the Planning Commission members are uncertain of
the status of the vacant position in the Planning Commission.
City Clerk Sonya Claar-Tee clarified that notifications for this position have been sent
out and the Nominating Committee has performed interviews for interested candidates
recently. Sonya added that the Nominating Committee has made a decision which will
be on City Council's next meeting agenda for a recommendation for Council to
consider.
MUM
Al Rose suggested making one correction to the February 11, 2015 meeting minutes in
the form of adding context to a statement made by Al Rose that referred to him not
being sure if the airport will have adequate access in the future.
Al Rose made a motion to approve the City of Yakima Planning Commission meeting
minutes of January 14, 2015, January 28, 2015, and February 11, 2015 with the correction
suggested by Al that the Commission agreed with on the February 11, 2015 minutes.
Ron Anderson seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Continue Review of the Public Participation Plan for the Comprehensive Plan
Update
Valerie Smith began the follow-up discussion on the Public Participation Plan for the
Comprehensive Plan Update 2040. Valerie brought up a request that the Commission
made at the last meeting for the staff to provide a list of parties the staff plans to send
notification to about the Public Participation Plan for the Comprehensive Plan Update
2040. She added that there is already a list of stakeholders on page 3 of the draft of the
Public Participation Plan for the Comprehensive Plan Update 2040 that was provided to
the Commission at the last Planning Commission meeting. Valerie affirmed that the
Downtown Association of Yakima was not on the stakeholder's list but will be added
and that the staff and Commission can continue to add to this list. Dave Fonfara stated
that it would be appropriate based on input received from the public to consider
scheduling some of the meetings and workshops for this update to the plan after
regular work hours. Valerie responded that there are many opportunities within the
work plan to add that night meetings are preferred. Valerie also brought up a request
that the Commission made at the last meeting for the staff to look into making materials
related to the Comprehensive Plan Update 2040 in Spanish. She informed them that the
City's website can translate into Spanish but attachments won't translate as easily as the
other information on the website. She added that the notice about the upcoming
Hearing Examiner's public hearing and Yakima Planning Commission public hearing
was translated into Spanish but that the staff cannot translate every document they
send out into Spanish. The Commission agreed to include in the Public Participation
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document that the staff will do their best to make materials related to the process
available in Spanish.
Other Business
Robbie Aaron provided the Commission an updated Airport Safety Overlay map and
reminded the Commission that there is a special Planning Commission meeting on
March 18, 2015 that is a joint study session regarding the Airport Safety Overlay. Robbie
reported that Planning staff will confirm the time with the Commission and send them
the materials they need for the meeting by e-mail. Robbie added that a few members
from the Yakima County Planning Staff will be present at the joint study session as well
as a staff member from Union Gap Planning. The Union Gap Planning Commission was
invited but responded that they would like to have a study session of their own before
they participate in a joint study session with the Yakima Planning Commission on this
topic, opening an opportunity in the future for a joint study session exclusively with the
Union Gap Planning Commission. Carter Timmerman from WSDOT and Airport
Manager Rob Peterson will also be attending the meeting on March 18th. Commissioner
Ron Anderson asked for clarification on the timeline for the completion of the Airport
Safety Overlay. Robbie explained that the Airport Master Plan was adopted recently by
City Council but the rest of the timeline is uncertain but may be discussed at the March
18th meeting. Ron added that the timing in this matter is important in consideration of
property owners around the airport who may want to build on their property or change
their property in some way, which may be slowed down because of the process of
implementing the Airport Safety Overlay into the zoning code.
Valerie Smith announced that a packet titled, "City Planning Commission Mission Use
Study Session' has been provided to the Commission for their review before the public
hearing on March 25, 2015.
Dave Fonfara posed the question of what the process would be to create an appropriate
definition and move forward if the Planning Commissions definition of mission that
they come up with at the public hearing on March 25th and Hearing Examiner's
definition of mission that he deems appropriate at the public hearing on April 2nd are in
conflict. Mark Kunkler responded that ultimately the City Council will make the final
decision.
Adjourn
A motion to adjourn to March 18, 2015 was passed with unanimous vote. This meeting
adjourned at 4:19 p.m.
S
Chairman Dave �Fonnfaara Date
This meeting was filmed by YPAC. Minutes for this meeting submitted by: Lisa Maxey, Department Assistant II
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