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Home My WebLink About09-12-18 YPC MinutesCity of Yakima Planning Commission (YPC) City Hall Council Chambers Meeting Minutes of September 12, 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 (unexcused) Staff Present: Joseph Calhoun, Planning Manager; Joan Davenport, Community Development Director; Sara Watkins, Senior Assistant City Attorney; Lisa Maxey, Planning Specialist Council Liaison: Jason White, District 2 (absent) Others: Sign -in sheet in file Stiff Announcements - Planning Manager Joseph Calhoun reminded the Commission of their two upcoming hearings on September 26th - a rezone hearing for property on the southeast corner of 561h Ave and Summitview Ave and the final Comprehensive Plan Amendment and concurrent Rezone for this year's cycle. Audience Partici ation - None noted. A royal of :C"eetin Minutes of Ao ust 22 2011.8 - It was motioned by Vice -Chair Rose and seconded by Commissioner Liddicoat to approve the meeting minutes of August 22, 2018. The motion carried unanimously. Public Hearing: 201.8 Text Amendments - Calhoun provided a summary of the proposed amendments to Chapter 1, 15, and 16 of the Yakima Municipal Code (YMC), which would modify the sign code, Rezone criteria, Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) standards, the Modification Chapter, add a definition and land use for Taxicab Home Occupation, modify the district intent statement and permitted uses in the Regional Development (RD) zoning district, and consolidate Appeals from YMC Ch. 1.43 & 15.16 into YMC Ch. 16.08. Audience member Clarice Dyer communicated that her lot is smaller than the proposed minimum lot size standard for an ADU. She expressed support for a review process to accommodate to lots that are smaller than this standard rather than outright prohibiting this use on such lots. Discussion took place between staff and the Commission on the term "variance" used in Dyer's comment letter, which Calhoun explained is a difficult request to be approved as it would have to meet all 6 criteria for variance approval per the code. Calhoun suggested an option for the Commission to revise the recommendation to include language allowing lots not meeting the size requirements for ADUs to go through a review that is one level higher than what is dictated in Table 4-1 Permitted Land Uses. He added that the proposal will still need to meet all other site design standards in the code. It was motioned by Vice -Chair Rose and seconded by Commissioner Liddicoat to recommend approval of these amendments to City Council with a modification to the ADU regulations to specify that lots not meeting the minimum lot size for ADUs may .l_ be approved after going through an additional level of review from what is stated in Table 4-1 Permitted Land Uses. The motion carried unanimously. 2018 Comprehensive Plan Map Amendment Hearin - Cfty Wastewater Division - CPA#007-18 & RZ#008-18 - Chairwoman Byers began by stating that a comment letter received for this proposal voiced concerns regarding Byers not choosing to recuse herself from this vote on account of her involvement with the organization Transform Yakima Together (TYT). Byers reiterated from the first hearing on this matter that she is affiliated with TYT but is not associated with the "Camp Hope" function of TYT, and emphasized that TYT is not the proponent of this proposal. Calhoun recapped staff's findings of fact, conclusions, and recommendation on this matter and introduced additional materials for the record including the Greenway Master Plan Update 1995, a document containing sections of the YMC addressing the Greenway Overlay, and a memo from Community Development Director Joan Davenport speaking to past efforts in Yakima regarding homelessness. Calhoun described the difference between a project -specific rezone and a non -project rezone. Davenport presented information from her memo to the Commission which went over the history of the City of Yakima's involvement with locating homeless encampments and winter weather shelters, an overview of sites previously considered by City Council for a homeless encampment, TYT's search for a permanent location for low -barrier homeless housing or a shelter, an explanation of the next steps for establishing a low - barrier shelter on this land pending approval of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Rezone, and examples of other uses that may be suitable at this location if no community partner is found to operate low -barrier homeless housing or shelter. Senior Assistant City Attorney Sara Watkins summarized a decision from the court of appeals, Martin v. City of Boise, which held that before an individual can be removed from sleeping in public via an unlawful camping ordinance, disorderly conduct ordinance, etc., there must be "available shelter space," which excludes shelters that only allow individuals to stay on the condition that they join one of their programs. Watkins added that the trending model for low -barrier emergency homeless housing is representative of apartment -style living, and that there are several options and combinations of housing styles that could be used. Calhoun emphasized that any project proposed would have to meet site design standards as well as any additional standards imposed by the Greenway Overlay. Lance Reese, President of the Yakima Greenway Foundation, stated that the Greenway believes it is a conflict of interest that Chairwoman Byers did not recuse herself. Reese voiced their strong opposition to this proposal and elaborated that they would be concerned of the potential impacts of putting any business in this location. He said that the Greenway has plans for expansion in this area and would rather see this land turned into a park. Audience member Lynda Hopkins said that the Land Use Action sign posted at the site had been relocated so it was more visible but it has since blown away. She advocated that there are many available beds in the city on a regular basis. Hopkins added that she believes it is a conflict of interest that Byers did not recuse herself. She then read a portion of the May 21, 2018 meeting minutes of the Yakima Valley Conference of -2- Governments (YVCOG) in which the City was thanked for rezoning this property for a low -barrier homeless shelter, giving the appearance that the proposal had already been approved. Hopkins said the June 16, 2018 YVCOG minutes state that County Commissioner Mike Leita approved and authorized YVCOG to issue an RFP for an amount up to $250,000 for sewer and water facilities for a permanent shelter. Leslie Wahl of the Yakima Area Arboretum communicated that the Arboretum has been directly impacted by the homeless and that the homelessness issue is reaching critical proportions. Andrew Bates, U -Haul General Manager, indicated that they are opposed to this proposal for reasons that have already been stated by other individuals. Discussion took place surrounding the confusion on what authority the Greenway Master Plan 1995 has in this matter, which states, "Commercial development must be placed in the Greenway with a great deal of planning and consideration for the other needs of the Greenway. For this reason, commercial development has been encouraged only in those areas already zoned or developed commercially." Commissioner Hughes - Mickel motioned to deny the requests for amendment from Low -Density Residential to Commercial Mixed Use and concurrent rezone from Suburban Residential (SR) to General Commercial (GC). The motion failed for the lack of a second. Further discussion followed on the relationship between the City and the Greenway. Calhoun stated that the subject property is in the northwest section of the riverside conservation area. Kellie Connaughton, Executive Director of the Yakima Greenway Foundation, explained that the boundary of the Greenway Overlay is from I-82 to the middle of the Yakima River. She described interactions between the Greenway and the City as a working relationship with frequent communication, and mentioned that the Greenway has an ongoing maintenance agreement with the City for portions of trails in the city limits. Davenport reported that the Greenway Master Plan was adopted by reference into the 1998 Comprehensive Plan. Discussion took place on the possibility of denying the rezone to make way for an opportunity for a project -specific rezone to be proposed to allow for a better evaluation process. It was motioned by Commissioner Liddicoat and seconded by Vice -Chair Rose that the Yakima Planning Commission recommend approval of this amendment request from Low -Density Residential to Commercial Mixed Use, and to deny the rezone from SR (Suburban Residential) to GC (General Commercial) to the Yakima City Council. The motion carried unanimously. ,Study Session: Hote otel and Extended Stay Hotel/Motel Uses and Definitions - Due to lack of time, the Commission requested for this item to be the initial topic on the agenda for the October 10th Planning Commission meeting. Other Business - None noted. Adjourn - A motion to adjourn to September 26, 2018 was passed with unanimous vote. 'i � 11 aur 5:04 p.m. Byers IM This Mil e ting, was filmed by YVAC. Minutes for this meeting submitted by: Lisa Maxey, Planning Specialist. _3_