HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/01/2013 12 Retaining Walls; YMC Adding Chapter 15.09.210 T4-
BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. / ,
For Meeting of: 10/1/2013
ITEM TITLE: Ordinance Adopting a new Section 15.09.210 - Special
Requirements for Retaining Walls.
SUBMITTED BY: Steve Osguthorpe, AICP
Community Development Director
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
At its. September 3, 2013 meeting, the City Council further discussed the issue of using ecology
blocks on retaining walls. After hearing input from staff and concerned citizens regarding
inconsistency in the structural integrity of ecology blocks, the Council moved to amend its
previous motion adopting regulations on retaining walls to explicitly disallow ecology blocks of
any design. Staff has therefore prepared for Council action the attached ordinance that
includes the following regulations:
15.09.210 — Special Requirements for Retaining Walls.
Retaining walls may be made of any material commonly used for this purpose, such as
block, timber, stone or concrete, except that the following materials are prohibited:
1. Materials not manufactured for or customarily used on, retaining walls.
2. Ecology blocks of any style or design.
The staff believes that these changes are in line with the objectives of concerned citizens who
have expressed input on this matter, the Planning Commission, and the City Council.
Resolution: Ordinance: X
Other (Specify):
Contract: Contract Term:
Start Date: End Date:
Item Budgeted: NA Amount:
Funding Source /Fiscal
Impact:
Strategic Priority: Improve the Built Environment
Insurance Required? No
Mail to:
Phone:
APPROVED FOR
SUBMITTAL: City Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Council adopt the attached ordinance.
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
11 Ordinance 9/23/2013 Cover Memo
ORDINANCE NO. 2013 -
AN ORDINANCE relating to retaining walls; amending Chapter 15.09 of the Yakima
Municipal Code to add new section 15.09.210 providing special
requirements for retaining walls.
WHEREAS, the City Council has previously adopted ordinances establishing
development standards and regulation of certain uses within the City of Yakima, all as
codified at Chapter 15.09 YMC; and
WHEREAS, the Yakima Planning Commission has conducted public hearings on
May 16 and June 26, 2013 to consider proposed regulations for retaining walls, has
received and considered all testimony and evidence presented at such hearings, has
adopted findings of fact on July 16, 2013 supporting a recommendation for amendment
of Chapter 15.09 YMC to add new YMC 15.09.210 pertaining to such uses; and
WHEREAS, the City Council held and conducted a public meeting to consider
the recommendation of the Planning Commission, together with the record therein on
August 6, 2013, and thereafter conducted further discussion on September 3, 2013; and
WHEREAS, the City Council hereby adopts the findings and conclusions of the
Planning Commission as its own, and further finds and determines that Chapter 15.09
YMC should be amended to add new section 15.09.210 as set forth below; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds and determines that such amendment is in the
best interests of residents of the City of Yakima and will promote the general health,
safety and welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
Section 1. Chapter 15.09 of the Yakima Municipal Code is hereby amended
to add new section 15.09.210 to read and provide as follows:
15.09.210 Special requirements for retaining walls.
Retaining walls may be made of any material commonly used for this
purpose, such as block, timber, stone or concrete, except that the
following materials are prohibited:
1. Materials not manufactured for, or customarily used on,
retaining walls.
2. Ecology blocks of any style or design.
Section 2. Except as amended above, Chapter 15.09 YMC shall remain
unchanged.
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Section 3. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect 30 days after its
passage, approval, and publication as provided by law and by the City Charter.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, signed and approved this 1S day of October, 2013.
ATTEST: Micah Cawley, Mayor
City Clerk
Publication Date:
Effective Date:
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Distributed at the
Meeting
REVISED - ITEM #12
ORDINANCE NO. 2013 -
AN ORDINANCE relating to retaining walls; amending Chapter 15.02 of the Yakima
Municipal Code to add a new definition of "retaining wall" to
section 15.02 020; amending Chapter 15 09 of the Yakima
Municipal Code to add new section 15 09 210 providing special
requirements for retaining walls.
WHEREAS, the City Council has previously adopted ordinances establishing
development standards and regulation of certain uses within the City of Yakima, all as
codified at Chapter 15.09 YMC; and
WHEREAS, the Yakima Planning Commission has conducted public hearings on
May 16 and June 26, 2013 to consider proposed regulations for retaining walls, has
received and considered all testimony and evidence presented at such hearings, has
adopted findings of fact on July 16, 2013 supporting a recommendation for amendment
of Chapter 15.09 YMC to add new YMC 15.09.210 pertaining to such uses; and
WHEREAS, the City Council held and conducted a public meeting to consider
the recommendation of the Planning Commission, together with the record therein on
August 6, 2013, and thereafter conducted further discussion on September 3, 2013; and
WHEREAS, the City Council hereby adopts the findings and conclusions of the
Planning Commission as its own, and further finds and determines that Chapter 15.09
YMC should be amended to add new section 15.09 210 as set forth below; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds and determines that such amendment is in the
best interests of residents of the City of Yakima and will promote the general health,
safety and welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
Section 1. Chapter 15.02 of the Yakima Municipal Code is hereby amended
to add new definition to section 15 02 020 to read as follows:
15.02.020 — Definitions
"Retaining Wall" means a wall made of wood, stone, cement, steel or
other products intended to support, retain or stabilize earthen or gravelly
materials at either natural or finished grade.
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Section 2. Chapter 15.09 of the Yakima Municipal Code is hereby amended
to add new section 15.09.210 to read and provide as follows.
15.09.210 Special requirements for retaining walls.
Retaining walls may be made of any material commonly used for this
purpose, such as block, timber, stone or concrete, except that the
following materials are prohibited
1. Materials not manufactured for, or customarily used on,
retaining walls.
2. Ecology blocks of any style or design.
Section 3. Except as amended above, Chapter 15 09 YMC shall remain
unchanged.
Section 4. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect 30 days after its
passage, approval, and publication as provided by law and by the City Charter.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, signed and approved this 1 day of October, 2013.
ATTEST. Micah Cawley, Mayor
City Clerk
Publication Date
Effective Date
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