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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-16-15 YPC MinutesCity of Yakima Planning Commission (YPC) City Hall Council Chambers Meeting Minutes of November 16, 2015 Call to Order Chairman Dave Fonfara called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Roll Call YPC Members Present: Chairman Dave Fonfara, Vice -Chair Scott Clark, Bill Cook, Al Rose, Ron Anderson, Patricia Byers, Carmen Mendez YPC Members Absent: Staff Present: Jeff Peters, Supervising Planner; Joan Davenport, Planning Manager; Valerie Smith, Senior Planner Others: Sign -in sheet in file Staff Announcements Supervising Planner Jeff Peters announced that additional public comments received have been provided to the commission, along with a letter from James Carmody, the applicant's attorney, requesting a change to the proposal for the What the Hay LLC (CPA#004-15) project, which this continued public hearing pertains to. Audience Participation None noted. Continued Public Hearin - What the HAy LLC Chairman Fonfara provided a brief introduction in which he described the expectations for the public hearing. James Carmody, the applicant's attorney, presented the modification to the proposal and emphasized that this is not a project specific proposal. Discussion ensued between James Carmody, Rich Hochrein (applicant), Planning Division staff, and the commission regarding the definition of "affordable housing', issues with Wide Hollow Creek needing to be resolved prior to project planning, land uses that would be allowed at that location, and the steps that need to be taken in order to begin development. Michael Taylor read a letter on behalf of Bradley and Cynthia Arnesen, which described concerns related to traffic increase and increased population in the school district. Michael Taylor then expressed his own opinions about the project and his desire for the character of the neighborhood to remain the same. Michael Brophy, Superintendent of West Valley School District, thanked Planning Division staff for meeting with him and the Planning Commission for their service. He went on to explain that growth in the school district is welcomed in a mild pattern. Commission Cook asked if the school district was notified of the proposal to which Mr. Brophy answered that he and the assistant superintendent were not. Discussion ensued regarding the capacity of the schools in the district. Audience member Barbara Headrick explained that the letter she submitted was an email forwarded to her from her neighbor in regards to floodplain concerns. She then went over goals and policies that the proposal did not meet. She added that this proposal will increase the school district's costs. -1- Audience member Nicole Donnegan expressed concerns regarding traffic and road infrastructure. Audience member Terry Goodreau voiced that she is not opposed to growth but has noticed a strong desire for R-1 zoned properties. She also shared concerns associated with traffic, protecting endangered species, and floodplain concerns. She expanded on the list of goals and policies that the proposal did not meet. Audience member Dennis Hammermeister also commented on traffic concerns. Audience member Colleen Fisher shared her knowledge of past flooding experiences in the area. Audience member Julia Jackson and Charity Yates reiterated the neighbors' concerns in relation to flooding and safety of the kids in the neighborhood. Audience member Kevin Davis mentioned that the area is lacking school bus stop locations. Charity Yates approached the podium again and provided her estimations of kids in the neighborhood who walk to school and those whose parents transport them. Audience member Martha Stewart brought up the issue of lowering property taxes. Audience member Gary Patrick spoke on the topic of floodplain concerns. James Carmody addressed the floodplain and roadway conditions concerns and referenced the ITE Manual for trip generations. Audience member Bill Hardsock expanded on traffic concerns and the number of trips per day. Audience member Kurt Hilyard voiced that he would like the property to remain R-1. Audience member Robert Fawcett stated that more units means more traffic for the neighborhood. Audience member Jim Schneider asked on the topic of subsidized housing, which Commissioner Cook and Commission Fonfara replied to. Chairman Fonfara closed the public hearing. Commissioner Cook asked Jeff Peters to expand on why many properties are zoned R-1, to which Peters explained the annexation process as detailed in the West Valley Neighborhood Plan. Commissioner Rose expanded on the topic of affordable housing. Commissioner Byers added that many concerns that the audience members had will be addressed at the time that a site specific proposal is proposed. Chairman Fonfara asked Peters to clarify for the audience how a development agreement works, which Peters proceeded to explain. Commissioner Clark shared his experiences of how development agreements have been applied to projects brought before the Planning Commission in the past. Commissioner Cook expressed his opinion that the future land use designation change may be necessary at this time but not necessarily the zoning change. General discussion ensued regarding the approval criteria for Comprehensive Plan Amendments. Commissioner Anderson made a motion that the Planning Commission recommend approval to the City Council for project CPA#004-15 and RZ#004-15 as submitted. Commissioner Byers seconded the motion. The motion -2- failed 2 to 5. Commissioner Byers made a motion that the Planning Commission forward a recommendation of approval to the City Council of CPA#004-15 and a recommendation of denial of RZ#004-15. Commissioner Rose seconded the motion. The motion carried 6 to 1. Discussion ensued regarding which criteria for the rezone was not met. Other Business Jeff Peters announced that the Planning Commission has an upcoming public hearing on December 9th. Commissioner Mendez informed the commission and staff that she cannot attend that meeting. Adjourn A motion to adjourn to December 9, 2016 was passed with unanimous vote. This meeting adjourned at 9:56 p.m. Chairman Date Minutes for this meeting submitted by: Lisa Maxey, Department Assistant II -3-