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Home My WebLink About10-29-15 YPC MinutesCity of Yakima Planning Commission (YPC) City Hall Council Chambers Meeting Minutes of October 29, 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 audience that a sign-up sheet is in the back of the room and those who sign up will receive future notices. Audience Participation None noted. Public Hearings Commissioner Rose clarified the motion he made on October 28t" regarding TM Rentals. He motioned that the Planning Commission forward a recommendation of denial to City Council regarding CPA#005-15 and concurrent rezone RZ#005-15 and further direct city staff to prepare the appropriate findings of fact. Public Hearin - Larry Hull CPA#003-15 Senior Planner Valerie Smith gave an introduction pertaining to the Comprehensive Plan Amendment reviewing process. She asked for any disclosures of the Planning Commission members under the appearance of fairness doctrine. No disclosures were made. She then provided a summary of the staff report. Larry Hull, project applicant, explained the reasoning behind the proposal. Commissioner Anderson, Mendez, Byers, and Rose each expressed their support of the proposal. Commissioner Cook made a motion that the Planning Commission forward a recommendation of approval to City Council and direct staff to prepare the appropriate findings of fact. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously. Public Hearin - Cottonwood Partners LLC CPA#007-15 Jeff Peters provided a summary of the staff report. Tom Durant, project applicant representative, explained the reasoning behind the proposal. Audience member Larry Wolf explained his concern with small children being nearby his farm in the incident that one may get hurt by one of his animals. He also mentioned concerns of too much runoff water and increased traffic on Ahtanum Road. Audience member Laurie Amer talked on the topic of land values of nearby properties. Peters explained that no study has been done thus far in relation to that factor. Peters and Commissioner Anderson explained in general how property values can be affected. - 1 - Audience member Paula Moore made it known that she doesn't want the character of the neighborhood to change. She asked for clarification regarding the right-of-way dedication requirements to which Peters provided a detailed response. Commissioner Rose pointed out that the City and County are generally not making changes to zoning but rather it is the property owners who are requesting rezones. Commissioner Byers commented on the need for neighbors to be understanding of what is going on the neighborhood prior to moving in. Commissioner Clark also made a remark that development standards must be complied with when development plans come in. Commissioner Byers made a motion that the Planning Commission forward a recommendation of approval to City Council and direct staff to prepare the appropriate findings of fact. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously. Public Hearin - Chelmin r Association CPA#008-15 Jeff Peters provided a summary of the staff report. Tom Durant, project applicant representative, explained the reasoning behind the proposal. Audience member Jack Staples shared with the commission the condition of the building and its declining use. Discussion ensued regarding the necessity to demolish and reconstruct prior to establishing professional offices there. Audience member Nancy Kenmotsu handed a letter to the commissioners on behalf of the Chelminar Association. She then voiced her opinion that a change in zoning would be inappropriate as it is located directly inside a residential neighborhood. She asserted that there are plenty of vacant B-1 zoned parcels and cited goals and polices that aren't supported by the proposal. Lastly, she discussed traffic and safety concerns. Audience member Bill Wallace concurred with Nancy's comments and explained that parking will be an issue for future development. Commissioner Mendez confirmed that parking is an issue and that she doesn't believe B-1 is the appropriate zoning. Commissioner Cook concurred with Mendez and added that the staff report convinces that the building is compatible but not necessarily the use. Commissioner Byers agreed with the previous comments and commented that the property could be sold as one or two lots. Peters clarified that the building would have to be demolished and then sold as two lots. Commissioner Rose asserted that the building seems out of place in the current environment and needs to be taken out. Commissioner Byers included that the neighborhood has a pleasant atmosphere that should be preserved. Commissioner Cook made a motion that the Planning Commission forward a recommendation of denial to City Council and direct staff to prepare appropriate findings of fact, adding that the use of the location doesn't fit in with the comprehensive plan, the suitability of the property is lacking, and the public need is insufficient. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously. Deliberation for What the Hay LLC CPA#004-15 Bill Hordan, project applicant representative, requested that the Commission reopen the hearing in order to provide additional information as means of clarification for the intent of the proposal. -2- Audience member Terry Geaudreau that she would like to have the Planning Commission hearing rescheduled. James Carmody, the applicant's attorney, explained that the intent is to present the conceptual map as an exhibit, make it available to the public, and then reschedule the hearing. Commissioner Byers remarked that if the public hearing is reopened it needs to be rescheduled to be fair to the residents. Mark Kunkler, Senior Assistant City Attorney, explained that the Commission would first need to vote whether to grant the request to reopen the hearing to receive the additional information and then determine a date for the hearing to be continued to. Discussion ensued between the Commissioners regarding the applicant's request. Audience member Barbara Headrick expressed her concerns about presenting a development proposal at this point in the hearing process. Peters added that the conceptual plan can be posted on the City's website for the public to view. Commissioner Mendez voiced that she would have preferred to have the applicant bring a conceptual plan earlier on in the process. Commissioner Anderson made a motion to reopen the public testimony. The motion was seconded and carried four to one. Rich Hochrein, project applicant, presented a conceptual map as an exhibit and explained it to the commission. Audience member Brenda Moore expressed that she doesn t believe that continuing the hearing to November 9th would be adequate time for the residents. Commissioner Clark asked staff if continuing the hearing to the 9th would affect the date of the City Council hearing. Peters answered yes, and that the Council will need to meet on a special date in order to hear this proposal. Audience member Bill Johnson voiced his apprehension with rushing to change the zoning. Peters addressed the timing of comprehensive plans. Senior Planner Valerie Smith chimed in, explaining that the comprehensive plan amendment process for the years 2016 and 2017 will be different than the regular process. Discussion ensued regarding an appropriate date and time to continue the hearing to. Commissioner Byers made a motion to continue the public hearing to 6:00 p.m. on November 16th. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously. Other Business Valerie Smith announced that the findings of fact will be drafted and sent to the commission by email after November 16th. A&urn A motion to adjourn to November 4, 2015 was passed with unanimous vote. This meeting rS,P Cllairt an 4 G Date This meeting was filmed by YPAC. Minutes for this meeting submitted by: Lisa Maxey, Department Assistant II -3-