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Home My WebLink About10-28-15 YPC MinutesCity of Yakima Planning Commission (YPC) City Hall Council Chambers Meeting Minutes of October 28, 2015 Call to Order Vice -Chair Scott Clark called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. Roll Call YPC Members Present: Vice -Chair Scott Clark, Bill Cook, Carmen Mendez, Al Rose, Ron Anderson, Patricia Byers YPC Members Absent: Chairman Dave Fonfara (excused) Staff Present: Jeff Peters, Supervising Planner; Valerie Smith, Senior Planner; Mark Kunkler, Senior Assistant City Attorney Others: Sign -in sheet in file Staff Announcements Supervising Planner Jeff Peters informed the Commission that the Council Chambers is available until 6:00 p.m. Audience Participation None noted. Public Hearin -V Westwood West CorpCPA#1006-15 Senior Planner Valerie Smith gave an introduction to the Comprehensive Plan Amendment reviewing process. Vice -Chair Clark announced that a sign -in sheet is in the back of the room for the public and that comments from the public at the hearing should be directed to the commission instead of staff. Smith provided a summary of the staff report and asked for any disclosures of the Planning Commission members under the appearance of fairness doctrine. No disclosures were made. Bill Hordan, representing the project applicant, complimented staff on the staff report and explained that there are no current plans for the development of this property. He went on to explain the reason for the proposal. Audience member Jay Carskadden explained her desire for a greater buffer for the residents. She expanded on how this could be an opportunity for local business to thrive and a chance to create or maintain a positive neighborhood feel. Audience member Laura Staples communicated her opposition to the rezone, citing traffic issues that could have negative impacts. She pointed out that there are undeveloped areas that could be built on instead. Audience member Steve Branch voiced his concern with access on side streets. Discussion ensued regarding the thought process behind the 100 -foot buffer, the future dedication of right-of-way, and the street pattern shown on the site plan. Commissioner Rose made a motion to forward a recommendation of approval to City Council and have staff prepare the appropriate findings of fact. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously. - 1 - Public Hearin - Super Cold Storage LLC CPA#003-15 Valerie Smith provided a summary of the staff report and asked for any disclosures of the Planning Commission members under the appearance of fairness doctrine. No disclosures were made. Bill Hordan, representative for the project applicant, explained the reasoning behind the proposal. Discussion ensued relating to access roads. Commissioner Byers made a motion to forward a recommendation of approval to City Council and to direct staff to prepare the appropriate findings of fact. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously. Public Hearing - TM Rentals (CPA#005-15A Jeff Peters asked for any disclosures of the Planning Commission members under the appearance of fairness doctrine. Commissioner Byers disclosed that that she was contacted by a concerned citizen. Peters provided a summary of the staff report and explained the revision to the application. Bill Hordan, representing the project applicant, explained the reasoning behind the proposal. Discussion ensued regarding access points, demolishing existing buildings on site, and a 100-foot buffer minimum. Senior Assistant City Attorney Mark Kunkler commented on possible legal issues surrounding a variable width being approved by ordinance but asserted that the Planning Commission's recommendation can specify that the buffer is a minimum. Audience member Rogers Watt indicated his preference for the creek to be the boundary. Audience member Mary Schend also said she would like the creek to be the natural buffer and voiced her concerns about traffic on Logan Avenue. She then described the character of the neighborhood and her desire for it to remain the same. Audience member John Smestad stressed that he does not want more traffic in the area and talked about his concerns regarding sewer. Audience member Jennifer Mabry expressed her opposition, explaining that she wants the area to stay residential and has worries about the possible effect on property values. Audience member Robert Kennedy also explained his opposition to the proposal for similar reasons already stated by the other audience members. Audience member Debbie Corning described her disagreement with this request and added that she would have liked to have received the staff report in advance of the public hearing. Corning made comments about road improvements. Audience member Tom Schend made comments about access points and expressed that he would have like to have seen the staff report prior to the hearing. Audience member Randy Schend explained that he's against the proposal and pointed out that there are many empty office buildings in Yakima. He added that this proposal would disrupt the neighborhood and natural environment. Audience member Debbie Corning talked about how 38th Avenue is undeveloped. Bill Hordan explained that there are no access plans until there is a project proposal. Peters clarified the purpose of staff reports and explained how changes to this proposal came about. Further discussion took place regarding traffic issues. Commissioner Anderson made it known that he would vote in favor of the proposal. Commissioner -2- Cook and Commissioner Byers commented on the significance of comprehensive planning. Commissioner Mendez voiced to the Commission that she does not see the need to approve this proposal right now. Vice -Chair Clark pointed out that a professional office development may not be a more intensive use than residential. Commissioner Anderson concurred with Commissioner Clark's comments. Peters pointed the Commission to a section in the staff report which addresses the estimated number of vehicle trips. Discussion ensued regarding traffic access points and environmental impacts. Commissioner Anderson made a motion to recommend approval of this proposal to City Council. The motion failed due to the lack of a second. Commissioner Rose made a motion to recommend denial of this proposal to City Council and to direct staff to prepare the appropriate findings of fact. The motion was seconded and carried 3 to 2. Public Hearin - Johnson Family CentuKy 21 LLC CPA#009-15 Valerie Smith provided a summary of the staff report and asked for any disclosures of the Planning Commission members under the appearance of fairness doctrine. No disclosures were made. Bill Hordan, representative for the project applicant, explained the reasoning behind the proposal. Audience member Anne Massong expressed her concerns regarding traffic and people accessing the current development. Vice -Chair Clark explained how the proposal is compatible with the surrounding area. Commissioner Rose added that traffic conflicts won't be significant to which Commissioner Cook agreed and added that development there would attract people who are already passing by. Commissioner Byers mentioned that any traffic concerns would be addressed through a traffic study. Commissioner Mendez made a motion to recommend approval of the proposal to the City Council and to direct staff to prepare the appropriate findings of fact. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously. Other Business Commissioner Mendez informed the Commission that she will be in attendance at Thursday's public hearing, after stating at a previous meeting that she would be unavailable. Mark Kunkler notified the commission that the applicant for What the Hay may request to briefly reopen the public hearing for that proposal tomorrow at the public hearing in order to submit new information. Rich Hochrein, applicant for What the Hay LLC, showed the Commission a drawing of a layout for what a future development could look like in order to help ease the concerns of the citizens. Peters reminded the Commission that when they make a recommendation for denial the commission must enter in their own findings. Adjourn A motion to adjourn to October 29, 2015 was passed with unanimous vote. This meeting adjourned at 7:19 p.m, IN Chairman Date This meeting was filmed by YPAC. Minutes for this meeting submitted by: Lisa Maxey, Department Assistant II -3-