HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/05/2008 04A Draft Minutes 03-25-2008 Adjourned Meeting•
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YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
ADJOURNED MEETING
MARCH 25, 2008
AIRPORT BOARD ROOM
1. Roll Call
*- A
Present:
Council: Mayor Dave Edler, presiding, Assistant Mayor Micah Cawley, Council
Members Kathy Coffey, Rick Ensey, Norm Johnson, and Bill Lover
Staff: City Manager Zais, and City Clerk Moore
Absent: Council Member Neil McClure
County: Commissioners Rand Elliot, Ron Gamache, and Mike Leita
Airport: Chairman Bill Wheeler, Board Members Jim Adams and Les Flue;
Airport Manager Buck Taylor
2.. Presentation by the Yakima Air Terminal Board on the Airport Overlay
Airport Manager Buck Taylor gave the presentation.
The Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) requires
- Identifying airports as essential public facilities
-Adopt and /or amend the Comprehensive Plan provisions and development
regulations that affect local airports
- Cities and counties must discourage the siting of incompatible uses adjacent
to general aviation airports.
The Yakima Air Terminal has three goals
- Maintain compatibility with the community
- Reduce potential safety hazards
-Boost economic benefits
History of Growth
-The Yakima County Airport officially began in June 1936.
-In 1938, the County laid out the east/west runway and the
southwest/northeast runway.
-The U.S. Government took over the airport for the war effort and in, 1944 the
Corp of Engineers built the basic configuration that we have today.
-Early on, most development was north of Nob Hill Boulevard and east of 401h
Avenue.
-The airport now crosses over Wide Hollow Creek and has increased build -
out in the surrounding areas.
-There is still a fairly large amount of open space.
MARCH 25, 2008
Airport Overlay — Study Session
Now is the time to make decisions to protect, not just the safety of the airport
operation, but the quality of life for all those that live around the airport. The airport
creates a large economic impact for the City, the County, and the community as a
whole. Through zoning, we can continue growth and ensure the protection of the
vitality of the airport today and 50 -70 years from now through zoning.
• Zoning
Mr. Taylor projected a colored map showing the existing zoning around the airport:
- Industrial or light industrial (compatible to the airport)
- Residential, density residential (R -2 duplexes, up to 11 -12 units per acre).
-High density residential
- Commercial
The presentation contained an aerial view showing the impact of aircraft flying in /out
of Yakima Airport and one showing proposed zoning. He then spoke about zoning
changes that will provide both safety and use compatibility. The zoning districts
would begin at the end of the runway, move away from the runway on a centerline,
and create different zones. Mr. Taylor explained that ADZ 1 is the airport; and ADZ 2
is owned by the airport. The intent is to keep the area as clear as practical and yet
allow property owners use and development of their land. Compatible uses are:
ADZ 3: Agriculture, industrial and limited commercial
ADZ 4: Agricultural, industrial, commercial, rural housing
ADZ 5: Deed declaration of airport activity
On both ends of the runway ADZ -4 has been fairly well developed. ADZ -5, with the
exception of any new specific construction development, they propose to have a
deed declaration to the property owner that they are in the vicinity of airport activity.
Commissioner Leita commented that it seems like the most critical zones are ADZ -2,
3 & 4. For all practical purposes, the airport already owns ADZ -2; therefore, the
critical areas are 3 & 4. He didn't think there was enough definitive clarity. The City
and the County have greater definition in their zoning requirements. It would be
important to blend this zoning with current City zoning designations such as R -1 and
R -2. Mayor Edler suggested a cross - reference table as well as. showing the
proposed Airport Safety Overlay over the color coded zoning map. He also asked
what zoning is currently there that does fit into the proposed plan and what doesn't?
Les Flue, Board Member, agreed to the need for a cross - reference table for better
clarity as to what would and would not work, but Bill Wheeler, Board Chair, pointed
out that City Planning does not have language for clustering. They have spoken with
one the major land owners about clustering and they seemed to agree with it.
Clustering needs to be defined; it is not just so many units per acre, but an area of
the land that is left bare with the few units per acre located on the outer edges.
Mr. Flue commented that it would be helpful to have staff put together a matrix so
they can see where the issues are and try to mitigate them now. Jim Adams, Board
Member, commented that there is an underlying zoning for which they will get a
cross reference; however, the airport overlays that and, basically, overrules the
zoning to the extent that it's a little more restrictive.
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MARCH 25, 2008
Airport Overlay — Study Session
i• General Discussion
Mayor Edler expressed concern about the runway extension that is part of the plan.
He thinks the necessity of it may be questioned. Chairman Wheeler responded that
they have had studies done to address that question. Without the extension, 737 -
traffic cannot take off with a full load of fuel and passengers. Buck Taylor spoke
about how the prevailing winds, the altitude of the runway, the height of Cowiche
Mountain, and ambient temperatures also impact the need for extending the runway.
Commissioner Leita confirmed the importance of this issue; when the land is gone,
we will never reclaim that corridor back. The progression of pictures in the
presentation show that the land has been developed significantly and that
development is accelerating. He said it is of paramount importance to preserve the
corridor for the future development of the airport. There are strong pressures on the
airport for surrounding development. The Commissioners are in favor of having the
airport move forward with a Master Business Plan in concert with the City.
Les Flue commented that 60% of airports in Washington are over capacity, or will be
in the near future. Although Yakima is not one of them yet, our runway length will
limit our capability of handling the capacity and also the transportation needs of our
community as we move forward. Already they have to restrict capacity in order to fly
out.
Chairman Wheeler said he was not aware of anyone being against the extension of
• the runway as the major landowner involved seems to be receptive if there's
justification. Mayor Edler clarified his concern relates to the fact that the land value
could go from $20 to $4 a square foot, which could result in the experts telling us we
don't need to expand it. Board Member, Jim Adams, expanded on the study referred
to earlier. He said they hired highly reputable airport planners to objectively tell
whether we can justify the additional length. Their conclusion was, for today's
aircraft, we are marginally okay, although there are some aircraft we couldn't allow
in. As we anticipate bigger and more demanding aircraft, we will not be okay. That
report has been submitted to the stakeholder's expert.
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Council Member Cawley asked if it was the Board's idea to secure the land around
the airport. Chairman Wheeler reiterated that, on the Union Gap side, it is already
zoned industrial /light industrial, which is acceptable. To the west, even though some
of it is zoned R -2 and some R -3, it is currently pasture; therefore, we have an
opportunity to do the overlay, which would restrict the zoning that is there. now. They
have been working with the major landowner to get their cooperation if we could give
them some cluster -type of zoning. We don't need to own more land, we just need
the zoning to be compatible with what safety and quality of life would dictate.
Council Member Cawley asked for comparison information with the Pasco Airport.
Council Member Lover commented that he thought they should be looking into
specification requirements on the new DreamLiner that, he understood, was
supposed to replace the 737.
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MARCH 25, 2008
Airport Overlay — Study Session
The discussion returned to zoning and density issues. R -1 zoning is normally seven
houses per acre. The property to the west is presently zoned R -2 and R -3. WSDOT
recommends looking at one house per 2.5 acres; or two houses for five acres. The
Board collectively decided that was not real and they couldn't consider it. They are
looking at a type of density to allow less restrictive development. R -1 at seven
houses, especially in ADZ -3, is a little too dense. That is when they began toying
with the idea of clustering. In that manner they could use that density, but instead of
putting it evenly around, cluster it to the outside areas, making it safer. It is fortunate
that there is only one major landowner making it easier to negotiate clustering rather
than having every acre owned by a different person.
Les Flue distributed a DVD titled "Local Airports, Access to America" put out by the
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. It explains the vital economics and benefits
airports provide to the community suggesting how we can work together.
Chairman Wheeler said the next step, from the airport's view, will be to obtain zoning
definitions from the County and City and develop a zoning matrix. They will then put
their recommendations on top of that. They will also prepare comparison information
on runway lengths and aircraft types that fly in and out of Pasco, as well as Pasco's
airport overlay. Once that is accomplished, it would be appropriate to reconvene this
group and include Union Gap.
3. Audience Comments
No one came forward to speak. •
4. Adjournment
CAWLEY MOVED AND COFFEY SECONDED TO ADJOURN. The motion carried
by unanimous voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY
COUNCIL MEMBER DATE
COUNCIL MEMBER DATE
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK DAVID EDLER, MAYOR
Minutes prepared by Linda Watkins. A CD and DVD of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office
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