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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-29-15 YPC MinutesCity of Yakima Planning Commission (YPC) City Hall Council Chambers Meeting Minutes of April 29, 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, Bill Cook, Al Rose, Ron Anderson, Carmen Mendez YPC Members Absent: Vice -chair Scott Clark, Patricia Byers Staff Present: Robbie Aaron, Assistant Planner; Valerie Smith, Senior Planner; Mark Kunkler, Senior Assistant City Attorney; Joan Davenport, Planning Manager/ Community Development Director Others: Bev Luby Bartz, Phyllis Musgrove, Dennis Macias Staff Announcements Senior Planner Valerie Smith described two events coming up in May including, "Voices for Our Streets" and "Feet in the Streets." Assistant Planner Robbie Aaron mentioned that he, Joan Davenport, and Airport Manager Rob Peterson attended a Union Gap planning commission meeting where the three of them presented the airport safety overlay to their commission. Audience Participation None noted. Planning Commission's Recommendation on the Public Participation Plan PPP Guide for the Ci 's Comprehensive Plan Update Pro am Commissioner Al Rose made a motion for the Planning Commission to recommend approval of the Comprehensive Plan 2040 Horizon Public Participation Plan Guide. The motion was seconded. The motion carried unanimously. Study Session - Discussion on "Community Resource Service Center" Use and Definition Senior Assistant City Attorney Mark Kunkler made a remark that the information submitted by Yakima Neighborhood Health Services was beneficial. Commissioner Anderson added that Neighborhood Health was thorough in describing their goal. Commissioner Mendez agreed with Commissioner Anderson and commented that she was pleased with the information they provided. Commissioner Rose observed that the expanded definition of "community resource service center" was adequately described in the additional material provided by Neighborhood Health. James Carmody, representing Neighborhood Health, highlighted new information added to the proposed definition including development standards, legal standards, demonstrating the need for a resource and shelter facility in communities, and locating community resource service centers in the "renewal community." -1- Chairman Dave Fonfara brought up a concern about the site being too small for the proposal, which expands beyond an emergency shelter. Mendez asked if the pre -homeless will go to the shelter or to the depot. Carmody clarified that all services will be consolidated at the proposed site. Fonfara also questioned what will happen if the need for services exceeds the maximum of 50 beds as proposed by Neighborhood Health. Carmody answered that the facility will not change or expand at that point. Commissioner Anderson asked how many days it is anticipated for individuals to stay at the proposed resource service center. Carmody answered that the plan is to take in individuals overnight and then evaluate them and send them off the next day to where they need to go according to their needs. Fonfara discussed the difference between studies conducted on the affects to property values as a result of the location of shelters versus the neighborhood perception, as many concerns regarding the negative impact on safety and other aspects have been raised by the public who live near Roy's Market or near an SCC zone. Carmody responded that their concerns are legitimate but that the purpose of shelters and the resource service center is to get people off of the streets. Mendez asked if the center will only be open during extreme weather. Carmody responded that the center will be open year-round. Commissioner Bill Cook asked how many of the SCC zones in the city are located in the renewal community to which Joan Davenport answered that there are a few. She explained that the renewal community is a block grant program and expressed her concerns about relying on a block grant program that may not be around for a long period of time. Cook expanded on possible legal issues that may result due to limiting resource service centers to the renewal community. Carmody explained Neighborhood Health's intent to define a geographic area for resource service centers based upon objective criteria. Mark Kunkler communicated his agreement with Carmody and Neighborhood Health's intent and expanded on the idea of using census data in determining where to appropriately locate these resource service centers. Commissioner Rose mentioned the possibility of drastic changes in census data over 10 years. Cook commented on the shift in areas who may be affected by the proposal and who may need to be notified of the final decision. Davenport added that notice requirements have been satisfied thus far. Kunkler discussed the strategy of using an overlay along with a list of criteria that needs to be met. Rose commented that using an overlay would eliminate the current zoning issue causing conflict with Neighborhood Health's proposal to which Davenport added that the community resource service center use will still be prohibited in some zoning districts. A member of the audience, Bev Luby Bartz, shared recent negative experiences she's had living in the neighborhood of the proposed community resource service center. Another member of the audience, Phyllis Musgrove, mentioned that the Union Gospel Mission never reaches the maximum occupancy level. She added that the rules Neighborhood Health are proposing to enforce are unknown and that Neighborhood Health will not kick anyone out who breaks the rules. Musgrove also asked if the grant -2- funding is going away. She shared her personal opinion that the proposal should be moved to North 1St Street, close to the mission. Audience member Dennis Macias talked about the difference between needs and wants and emphasized that the community does not support this proposal, as shown by the 300 petitions signed in opposition to the proposal. He also mentioned confusion on the overlay, the presence of a daycare in the area of Roy's Market, the change in the number of beds proposed from the last meeting, trouble in the neighborhood where he owns property, and the status of the ownership of the Roy's Market property. Rhonda Hauff, Chief Operating Officer of Yakima Neighborhood Health Services, addressed Neighborhood Health's rules, the help of case managers, and the network of services. Rose expressed his interest in taking a further look into the possibility of applying an overlay. The commission had consensus to go forth with investigating this option. Other Business Valerie Smith reported that 6 comprehensive plan amendment applications have been received and that the deadline is April 30, 2015. A motion to adjourn to May 13, 2015 was passed with unanimous vote. This meeting adjourned at 5:03 p.m. Chairman Dave Fon.ara Date This meeting was filmed by YPAC. Minutes for this meeting submitted by: Lisa Maxey, Department Assistant II -3-