HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-09-19 YPC MinutesCity of Yakima Planning Commission (YPC) Meeting Minutes
City Hall Council Chambers
January 9, 2019
Call to Order
Chairwoman Patricia Byers called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
Roll Call
YPC Members Present: Patricia Byers, Al Rose, Bill Cook, Jacob Liddicoat, Robert
McCormick
YPC Members Absent: Leanne Hughes -Mickel, Philip Ostriem (both 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 passed around to the Commission
members an invitation and agenda for the H2A Worker Housing forum which has been
scheduled for January 30, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at the Yakima Convention Center. He explained
that it is a county -wide forum that anyone is welcome to attend.
Calhoun also informed the Commission that at the February 5th City Council meeting, a
resolution to open the Comprehensive Plan Amendment process for 2019 will be presented. If
Council decides to open the process this year, the Planning Commission will hold a public
meeting on February 27th to officially open the process and begin accepting applications.
Calhoun added that at this time he is aware of one application and potentially a second
application that will be submitted if the process is opened.
Election of Chair and Vice -Chair of the Yakima Planning Commission — It was motioned by
Commissioner McCormick and seconded by Commissioner Rose to re-elect Commissioner
Byers as Chair. The nomination was accepted and the motion carried unanimously. It was
motioned by Commissioner Rose and seconded by Commissioner McCormick to nominate
Commissioner Liddicoat as Vice -Chair. The nomination was accepted and the motion carried
unanimously.
Audience Participation - None noted.
Approval of..Meeting Minutes of December 12 2011 —Commissioner Cook asked for the
removal of the language in the minutes stating that he abstained from voting on the approval of
the November 14th meeting minutes. Commissioner Cook explained that due to his absence at
the November 14th meeting, he did not vote on those minutes. He clarified that it was his
understanding previously that a commission member should not vote on the minutes for a
meeting which they did not attend, but concluded through research into this matter that this is
not a mandate. Commissioner Cook stated the reasons for his request to modify the minutes,
which included avoiding any misconception that he disagreed with the minutes and to apply
Roberts Rules which do not require noting in the meeting minutes any members who did not
vote. He commented that it would be necessary to record those who did not vote if it impacts the
quorum, however.
Commissioner Rose reiterated that he would like to see the new survey map of the area
impacted by the rezone near the Wastewater Treatment Plant site. Calhoun confirmed he can
provide the map, but that it has not yet been recorded.
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It was motioned by Commissioner Rose and seconded by Commissioner Cook to approve the
meeting minutes of December 12, 2018 with the correction requested by Commissioner Cook.
The motion carried unanimously.
Public Hearing: S wire -In harp Co R2"#010-18 & S'EP,A#027-18 — Associate Planner Trevor
Martin presented staff's findings of fact, conclusions, and recommendation pertaining to this
proposed non -project rezone.
Bill Hordan of Hordan Planning Services (applicant) commended Martin on his staff report. He
remarked on the readiness of the property to be developed once the rezone is approved.
Discussion took place between Commission members and the applicant on the term indirect
access as mentioned in the application, a potential sewer extension, and the relation of the
location of Cowiche Canyon ditch to this site.
Larry Hull of Megalodon LLC (potential buyer of the property contingent on approval of the
rezone) explained that HLA Engineering & Land Surveying Inc. prepared a topographic map of
the site. He stated that he anticipates no issues with the sewer extension. Hull emphasized
Yakima's urgent need for more housing, which this rezone would help enable. Chairwoman
Byers asked what the anticipated project may be. Hull answered that one possibility would be
high-density apartments on one portion of the land and an expansion of the adjacent mobile
home park on another.
Discussion took place on various aspects of the site including highest possible density, use of
the 24 -inch water line, requirements for extension of the sewer line, and requirements for
widening Powerhouse Rd. Staff explained that calculation of highest density would depend on
site design standards such as parking and lot coverage, but that an estimated range could be
calculated. Staff also clarified that the developer likely wouldn't have direct connection to the 24 -
inch water line, that the applicant's estimate of a 1,600 -foot extension of the sewer line would be
a minimum and would ultimately be the discretion of the Engineering Division, and that the City
can only require the applicant to widen Powerhouse Rd. along the frontage of the subject
property and not in any other location.
It was motioned by Commissioner Rose and seconded by Commissioner McCormick that the
Planning Commission draft findings of fact and forward a recommendation of approval to the
Yakima City Council. The motion carried unanimously.
Other Business — None.
Adjourn - A motion to adjourn to January 23, 2019 was passed with unanimous vote. This
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This meefpng was filmed by YPAC, Minutes for this meeting submitted by: Lisa Maxey, Planning Specialist.
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