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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-08-18 YPC MinutesCity of Yakima Planning Commission (YPC) City Hall Council Chambers Meeting Minutes of August 8, 2018 Call to Order Chairwoman Patricia Byers called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. Roll Call YPC Members Present: Chairwoman Patricia Byers, Vice -Chair Al Rose, Bill Cook, Jacob Liddicoat, Leanne Hughes -Mickel, Philip Ostriem YPC Members Absent: Robert McCormick (excused) Staff Present: Joseph Calhoun, Planning Manager; Lisa Maxey, Planning Specialist Council Liaison: Jason White, District 2 (absent) Others: Sign -in sheet in file Staff Announcements - Planning Manager Joseph Calhoun reminded the Commission that hearings on 4 of the Comprehensive Plan Map Amendments will be held on August 22, 2018, that the hearing on the various text amendments the Commission have been discussing is scheduled for September 12f, and that there is a hearing on a proposed rezone on September 26th. Audience Participation - None noted. Approval of Meeting Minutes of mal 25 2018 - It was motioned by Commissioner Cook and seconded by Vice -Chair Rose to approve the meeting minutes of July 25, 2018. The motion carried unanimously. 2018 Comprehensive Plan. Map Amendment Hearin s - Chairwoman Byers asked commissioners if they had anything to disclose under the provisions of the appearance of fairness doctrine related to these hearings. Byers explained that she is an active member of Transform Yakima Together (TYT) but reasoned that this would not result in a conflict of interest as the requests at hand (CPA#007-18 & RZ#008-18) are for a change in the future land use designation and zoning and not for the approval of a homeless shelter at this time which will need to go through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to determine who will operate it. CPA#001-18 & RZ#002-18 - Coastal Farm Real Estate Inc - Calhoun presented staff's findings of fact, conclusions, and recommendation on this matter. Tom Durant of PLSA Engineering and Surveying (applicant) reiterated the reason for this proposal. No testimony was given by the audience so the public hearing was closed. Discussion ensued regarding a comment letter from the Department of Ecology regarding the likelihood of groundwater contamination in the Yakima Railroad Area. Calhoun clarified that this issue, as well as comments received from the city's Development Services Team (DST), would be addressed at the project level. There was also discussion on the letter staff sent to the adjacent property owner inviting them to participate in this amendment and rezone request which did not result in a response. It was motioned by Commissioner Hughes -Mickel and seconded by Vice -Chair Rose that the Yakima Planning Commission recommend approval of this amendment request from Industrial to Commercial Mixed Use to accommodate a concurrent rezone from -1- M-1 (Light Industrial) to GC (General Commercial) to the Yakima City Council. The motion carried unanimously. CPA#002-18 & RZ#003-18 - Yakima Valley Farmworkers Clinic - Calhoun presented staff's findings of fact, conclusions, and recommendation on this matter. It was noted that the property owner of the adjacent parcels was invited to participate in this amendment and rezone request but did not respond. Bill Hordan of Hordan Planning Services (applicant) reiterated the reason for the proposal and clarified that Yakima Valley Farmworkers Clinic (YVFWC) had also reached out to the owner of the adjacent parcels asking them to participate in this amendment and rezone process. Hordan submitted an additional conceptual site plan showing how the facility could expand in the future without ownership of the two adjacent parcels which were originally going to be incorporated in this request. He explained that YVFWC would still likely pursue ownership of these parcels in the future for further expansion. Discussion took place on the concern of this request potentially creating a spot zone, and discussion on the ability to change the future land use designation of a property without property owner consent. No testimony was given by the audience so the public hearing was closed. It was motioned by Commissioner Cook and seconded by Vice -Chair Rose that the Yakima Planning Commission recommend approval of this amendment request from Mixed Residential to Commercial Mixed Use to accommodate a concurrent rezone from R-2 (Two -Family Residential) to GC (General Commercial) to the Yakima City Council, with a modification to staff's recommendation to also change the future land use designation of the two adjacent parcels not included in this request (parcel number 191330-41429 and 191330-41430) from Mixed Residential to Commercial Mixed Use. The motion carried unanimously. CPA#007-18 & RZ#008-18 - City of Yakima Wastewater Division - Calhoun presented staff's findings of fact, conclusions, and recommendation on this matter. Community Development Director Joan Davenport provided additional information on why the City is making this request. She spoke on the homeless crisis that is happening in Yakima and nationwide, and explained what the City of Yakima and other organizations have done in recent years in response to this issue. Davenport informed the Commission that City Council had a list of several city -owned locations where a homeless camp could be established, and decided on land by the wastewater treatment plant by K -Mart, which came to be known as "Camp Hope." She explained that if the Commission recommends approval of the amendment and concurrent rezone and Council approves it, Council would have discussion on what the criteria would be for the shelter, put out an RFP/RFQ to solicit partners in the community and make a selection, and then take the project through land use review. Brief discussion took place on how other jurisdictions are approaching this problem. Davenport and Calhoun clarified that a lot line adjustment would be done before the future land use map amendment and rezone takes effect if approved so that the land being rezoned encompasses the areas outside of the floodplain. Audience member Linda Hopkins shared her concern about the "land use action" sign being visually blocked by weeds. She then expressed her opposition to the proposal being labeled as "non -project" and spoke on problems caused by the homeless -2- population. Hopkins voiced her opinion that there are other commercially zoned properties in the city that could be used that have utilities available. Kellie Connaughton, Executive Director of the Greenway Foundation, shared her observation of the erosion of neighborhoods near mission -type uses. She emphasized that the Greenway is already dealing with complications due to the temporary encampment, though they try to work with TYT. Connaughton articulated that areas around the Greenway need to be conserved and that the Greenway will lose public support if a permanent shelter goes in. Davenport clarified that staff was tasked with looking at city -owned properties appropriate for a shelter, not privately owned property. She mentioned a few sites that were being contemplated and reasons why they were taken out of consideration. The Commission requested that Davenport bring back a complete list of locations that were considered with reasons why they were not selected, as well as how the City could look into using private property for the shelter and what barriers there may be in pursuing that route. Connaughton told the Commission members she would provide to them copies of the Greenway Master Plan. It was motioned by Commissioner Liddicoat and seconded by Commissioner Hughes - Mickel to continue this hearing to their meeting on September 12th. Discussion: Hote otel and Extended Stay Hotel/Motel Uses and Definitions - Calhoun reminded the Commission that there is currently no definition of hotel or motel in the zoning ordinance but that the uses are listed in Table 4-1- Permitted Land Uses which dictates where the use is allowed. He stated that the Planning Commission has already recommended a definition to City Council which council did not adopt, and that Council now wants a recommendation regarding extended stay hotels/ motels. Audience member John Cooper from Yakima Valley Tourism voiced his support for codifying a definition of hotel/motel and extended stay hotel/motel in order to sustain and grow tourism in Yakima. Calhoun informed the Commission that they need to consider what they want the definition to look like and how they want to incorporate the use in Table 4-1. Calhoun provided the history behind this topic and how the Planning Commission was tasked with this matter. Other Business - None noted. Ad journ - A motion to adjourn to August 22, 2018 was passed with unanimous vote. This meeting adjourned at 5:14 p.m. Char omiln Byers Date This inling was filmed by YP C. Minutes for this meeting submitted by: Lisa Maxey, Planning Specialist. -3-