HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-22-18 YPC MinutesCity of Yakima Planning Commission (YPC) City Hall Council Chambers
Meeting Minutes of August 22, 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, Jacob
Liddicoat, Robert McCormick, Leanne Hughes -Mickel,
Philip Ostriem
YPC Members Absent: Bill Cook (excused)
Staff Present: Joseph Calhoun, Planning Manager; Trevor Martin,
Associate Planner; 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
of a hearing on various text amendments and a continued hearing for a Comprehensive
Plan Amendment and Rezone (CPA#007-18/RZ#008-18) for property at the wastewater
treatment plant on September 12th, and a rezone hearing for property located on the
southeast corner of 56�h Ave and Summitview Ave on September 26th.
Audience Participation - None noted.
Approval of Meeting Minutes of August 8 2018 - It was motioned by Commissioner
Liddicoat and seconded by Vice -Chair Rose to approve the meeting minutes of August
8, 2018. The motion carried unanimously.
2018 Comprehensive Plan Map Amendment Hearings -
CPA#003-18 & RZ#004-18 - William Almon - Associate Planner Trevor Martin
presented staff's findings of fact, conclusions, and recommendation on this matter. Bill
Hordan of Hordan Planning Services (applicant) restated the reason for this proposal.
No testimony was given by the audience so the public hearing was closed. Hordan
clarified that there is no project at this time and that the driveway approach for this
property would most likely be relocated further to the south on 48th Ave at the time that
a project is established. It was motioned by Commissioner McCormick and seconded by
Vice -Chair Rose that the Yakima Planning Commission recommend approval of this
amendment request from Low -Density Residential to Community Mixed Use to
accommodate a concurrent rezone from R-1 (Single-family Residential) to B-1
(Professional Business) to the Yakima City Council. The motion carried unanimously.
CPA#004-18 & RZ#005-18 - Riverpointe Landing LLC/Westtowne LLC - Martin
presented staff's findings of fact, conclusions, and recommendation on this matter. Bill
Hordan (applicant) spoke on the expansion of industrial uses in the area and specified
that there is no project at this time. He reported that when a project is approved, it
would likely be subject to sitescreening standards like fencing and landscaping to help
mitigate impacts to surrounding properties. He added that due to a large easement,
development on these parcels would be limited to the eastern portion of the properties.
Hordan mentioned that he received a phone call from Harlan Dunn, a developer of
Lake Aspen who has ownership interest in property located northwest of this proposal,
with questions about the proposal but no written comments were submitted
subsequently. Hordan stated that the existing residence on one of the subject properties
in the request would become a legal non -conforming use. The Commission had brief
discussion on a previous proposal for a shopping center at this site that did not come to
fruition, as well as how many parcels were reached using a 300 -ft buffer from the
subject parcels for mailing public notice. No testimony was given by the audience so the
public hearing was closed. It was motioned by Commissioner Hughes -Mickel and
seconded by Commissioner McCormick that the Yakima Planning Commission
recommend approval of this amendment request from Regional Commercial to
Industrial to accommodate a concurrent rezone from LCC (Large Convenience Center)
to M-1 (Light Industrial) to the Yakima City Council. The motion carried unanimously.
CPA#005-18 & RZ#006-18 - West Valley Nursing Homes Inc - Martin explained that
the applicant has requested the hearing to be continued to the September 26t" Planning
Commission meeting so the applicant has time to continue negotiations with neighbors
in the area prior to moving forward. No testimony from the audience was submitted so
the Commission had consensus to continue the hearing to September 26th at which time
the staff report would be presented.
CPA#006-18 & RZ#007-18 - Israel Zaragoza - Martin presented staff's findings of fact,
conclusions, and recommendation on this matter. Bill Hordan (applicant) accentuated
the success of the property owner's business to the south (Audio King and Tinting) but
raised concerns with traffic congestion. He reasoned that this proposal would help in
this regard since parking for the business could expand onto this property in the future.
Hordan informed the Commission that the property is now vacant as the house that
was on it has been demolished. He voiced that he does not have an issue with staff's
recommendation to limit any new road approach on 7th St for this business at the time
of project submittal and said that he expects a sitescreening requirement of a 6 -ft fence
at a minimum on the north property line as there is a single-family residence on the
abutting property. Discussion took place on the noise complaint mentioned in the
comment letter from a neighbor, which Hordan said he did not address. The
Commission requested that city staff respond to the neighbor informing them of what
departments they can direct their complaints to. The Commission discussed their
desires for the subject lot and the lot to the south which has the business on it be
merged together, for the alleyway to be paved, and for new access off of 7f St to be
prohibited for this business.
Rita Garza, neighbor to the north, spoke on and provided photos of troubles she's had
with this business since it moved into her neighborhood, including traffic congestion,
dust and insulation going onto her property from not watering the area down after the
house demolition, light pollution, contractors removing a pole from her property,
playing loud music and revving engines late at night, tearing up sidewalk in front of
her property, repeatedly driving up and down the street, and causing a tree to fall on
her fence. She added that the land use action sign posted at the site was being covered
by trucks so it was not visible (the applicant addressed this earlier in his testimony,
mentioning that he went to the site to move the sign so it could be seen). Garza
expressed her desire for this lot to remain residential and further explained that the
proposal may reduce traffic congestion but she is still highly concerned with problems
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this business has caused and is therefore opposed to the opportunity for them to
expand. The Commission responded to Garza, explaining that the City Clerk's office
could assist in telling her which departments to contact related to these complaints. Le
Roy Pacheco, Garza's boyfriend, explained that the building for this business extends
almost to the end of the alley rather than using a fence on the property line.
Hordan told the Commission he will follow up with the property owner and inform
him that he is jeopardizing his opportunity for this rezone based on these complaints.
He added that he may speak with staff about putting "no parking" signs at certain areas
near the intersection. Hordan submitted an exhibit showing where the current
driveway approach is to the business.
Pacheco encouraged the Commission and staff not to require paving of the alley due to
cars already speeding through it.
It was motioned by Commissioner Hughes -Mickel and seconded by Commissioner
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 require a merger of the subject parcel
with the parcel to the south that the business is on. The motion carried unanimously.
Studv Session: HotellMotel and Extended Stay Hote otel Uses and Definitions -
Calhoun went over staff's recommendations on draft definitions for hotel, motel, and
extended stay hotel/motel. John Cooper from Yakima Valley Tourism voiced his
support for the draft hotel/ motel definition and suggested that a high percentage of
rooms for short-term stay be designated in the definition. Cooper said he would ask the
Ledgestone Hotel and report back what percentage of short-term rooms vs. extended -
stay rooms they offer. Calhoun said he will check the building code for a definition of
"kitchen facility" for clarity in case it is placed in the definition of extended -stay.
Cooper confirmed that the Home2 Suites located in Richland, which is considered an
"extended -stay" hotel chain and one of which is being constructed in Yakima, contains
an under-the-counter refrigerator, microwave, sink, and coffeemaker, and possibly a
heating pad in lieu of a stove range in their rooms. Through discussion, Calhoun
defined the objective of this process to be preventing a hotel from converting to
temporary worker housing and providing definitions the code was lacking. Staff and
Commission concluded that stipulating in the definition that lodging would be for a fee
would create a scenario in which temporary worker housing may be excluded from the
extended -stay use. The Commission requested staff to report back on the state and
federal definitions of H -2A and temporary worker housing. The Commission had
consensus to continue discussion on this item at the next meeting.
Other Business - None noted.
Ad
journ - A motion to adjourn to September 12, 2018 was passed with unanimous vote.
' eedjogavd`a� 5:07 p.m.
�.� , . 09-12-- 2618
ChYhoma.n. Byers Date
This was filmed by YPAC. %inutvs for this meeting submitted by: Lisa Maxey, Planning Specialist.
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