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Home My WebLink About04-28-2021 YPC MinutesCity A f Yakima Planning Commission (YPC) Meeting Minutes Virtual Meeting via Zoom April 28, 2021 Call to Order Vice -Chair Lisa Wallace called the meeting to order at approximately 3:00 p.m. Roll Call YPC Members Present: Vice -chair Lisa Wallace, Al Rose, Mary Place, Leanne Hughes - Mickel, Phil Ostreirn YPC Members Absent: Jacob Liddicoat (excused), Rob McCormick (excused) Staff Present: Joseph Calhoun, Planning Manager; Sara Watkins, City Attorney; Joan Davenport, Community Development Director Council Liaison: Kay Funk, District 4 Others: Radhika Nair, BERK, Sign -in sheet in file After Roll Call, Calhoun provided attendees instructions on how to raise their hand if they Would like to participate in the Public Hearing later on in the agenda, Staff Announcements,— Planning Manager Joseph Calhoun announced the following: • So far two CPA/Rezone applications have been submitted. Any additional applications submitted prior to the 4/30 deadline will be docketed at the May '12 YPC meeting 'for processing. • SMP Periodic update: Notice is scheduled to be sent on May & YPC will hold a study session May 12 and a public hearing on May 26, It was motioned by Commissioner Place and seconded by Commissioner Rose to approve the meeting minutes of April 14, 2021 as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Public — Wallace provided an overview of the public hearing process. Calhoun surnmarized the staff report which included: background information; environmental review; public notice; plan objectives; RCW 36.70A.600 analysis; edits from the public review draft to incorporate and respond to public comments received; additional supplemental comments received; addition of Appendix F to the draft; conclusions and recommendation. BERK Consultant/Project Manager Radhika Nair went through a PowerPoint presentation which included: background information; relationship to other plans; state and grant requirements; HAP process and planning framework; outline/layout of the HAP; and an overview of the six HAP objectives. Calhoun provided a brief presentation on the six Priority One strategies: Update city regulations; make strategic investments in infrastructure; encourage rent -to -own and sweat equity programs; expand and update down payment assistance programs; develop, acquire, or sell surplus or under -Utilized city -property; and incentivize landlords to improve the quality and maintenance of housing. Place asked about when dwelling units were counted. Calhoun answered that currently our building permit reporting tool is updated when permits are issued. In the future we can also include when a Certificate of Occupancy is issued to compare with the issued permit report. Place asked a second question about City property for sale. Calhoun answered that there is a miap in the HAP (Appendix D). The city has a spreadsheet that includes all city properties and is going through a process to identify potential sites that Could be designated surplus and sold or donated. Wallace opened the hearing for public comment. Calhoun repeated the instructions for attendees who wish to speak during the public hearing. The following attendees provided public comment: Brian Hedengren — 1813 Mayhan Ave, Richland WA. In the process of moving to the Yakima Valley. Question about available land — most of the undeveloped land is privately held. Are there ways to promote opening land for development? Calhoun answered that the primary way that undeveloped land is addressed is through strategy 1 — Update city regulations to, remove barriers to innovative housing types. This strategy, along with past updates to the zoning ordinance, wi�ll provide more opportunities for vacant lands to be developed. Question about agricultural use in city limits — farmland vs, land for development. Calhoun answered that farmland in the city is allowed to remain in production. All Currently farmed areas are zoned for some kind of use, whether residential, commercial or industrial. The farmland can continue as long as the property owner desires, and future projects will be dependent on the underlying zoning district. Corey Baldwin — 012304 1811'-r Dr, Snohomish, WA. Represents Shelter Resources, Inc. which is an affordable housing developer/operator. Recently purchased Englewood Gardens in Yakima, a senior housing community. Financing for affordable housing is very competitive in WA. Wants to make sure that RFFs are timed with application cycles Such as housing trust fund or housing finance commission. Most resources in recent years have gone to the Seattle area, the rest of the state needs an equitable share of resources,. Wallace closed the public testimony portion of the hearing and opened for commissioner testimony. Place stated she liked the proposed changes to the plan, She discussed the sales tax portion of the RCW that goes to the vote of the people. Would like to encourage the City Council to put it on the ballot, Hughes -Mickel asked about land capacity. Calhoun explained that the FINA and 2040 comp plan identified that there is rnore than sufficient land capacity to meet the population projection and annual average housing goal of 295 dwelling units. Hughes -Mickel asked about criteria for determining: priorities. Calhoun stated that priorities were ranked by the TAC and also based upon feedback received during the survey and other public engagement activities. The priorities will follow the priority 1, 2, and 3 from a timing standpoint, but there are also short-, medium- and long-term timelines. There will be some overlap of priority 1, 2, and 3 strategies due to the timefrarne in which to implement them. Rose discussed infrastructure, Such as sewer, water, and roads. Need to make sure that everyone who will be working with utility projects, that the City watches how they are developed, and new ideas for financing. We do have a latecomer's agreement but it could be revisited. Opportunities for public/private projects. Need to makes sure that fire code is considered for development such as tiny homes. Calhoun mentioned that the latecomer's agreement is mentioned in strategy 2, and discusses updates. Also, related to setbacks, current processes, go through a joint review and Codes provides, comments related to setbacks and fire code considerations. Wallace asked about the edits recommended in the staff report. Calhoun noted that those would be included in the YPC recommendation. Motion — Rose moved: "Based on the testimony and evidence presented during this afternoon's public hearing, I move that the Planning Cornmission adopt the findings of fact and order that the draft housing action plan be forwarded to the Yakima City Council with a recommendation for approval. Place seconded. Motion carried unanimously. -1)- Calhoun stated next steps. Council will hold a study session on May 25 and a public hearing on June 1. Calhoun thanked our consultants, TAC members, CIC members, people who took the survey and were otherwise involved, and to the YPC for their work throughout this process. Place asked about the need for a separate motion related to the Sales Tax. Watkins stated that the city has already implemented the HB 1406 tax retention for affordable housing. 'There is a second tax, such as one that Ellensburg passed, which is a new tax and would need to go to the votes. — A motion to adjourn to May 12, 2021 was passed with unanimous vote. This meeting adjourned at approximately 4:00 p.m. /,Chair Liddicoat Date This meeting was filmed by YPAC. Minutes for this meeting submitted by: Joseph Calhoun, Flanning Manager