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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/05/2008 04A Draft Minutes 03-25-2008 Adjourned Meeting• • 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. 2 is 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. • 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. 3 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 • 4