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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 03/28/2007 ~ORT.ANGELES WAS H I N G TON, U. S. A. AGENDA PLANNING COMMISSION 321 East Fifth Street March 28, 2007 6 p.m. I. CALL TO ORDER Pledge of Allegiance led by Chair II. ROLL CALL III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Regular meetings of February 28, and March 14,2007 IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. STREET VACATION PETITION - STV 06-05 - FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH: Portion of Bye Avenue and the Bye Avenue/Race Street Alley. --, . 2. MUNICIPAL CODE AMENDMENT - MCA 07-01 - CITY OF PORT ANGELES: Consideration of an amendment to the City's Short Subdivision Ordinance Section 16.04.070 allowing an exception to the regulations with regard to the dedication of public streets. V. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC VI. STAFF REPORTS VII. REPORTS OF COMMISSION MEMBERS VIII. ADJOURNMENT . PLANNING COMMISSIONERS Werner Beler (ChaIr), John Matthews (Vlce ChaIr), Kevm Snyder, Chene Kldd, Stanley Hams, Dave Johnson, Doc ReIss PLANNING STAFF Mark Madsen, DIrector, Sue Roberds, Plannmg Manager, Nathan West, Pnnclpal Planner, Scott Johns, AssocIate Planner . . . MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION Port Angeles, Washington 98362 March 28, 2007 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Members Present: Dave Johnson, Kevin Snyder, John Matthews, Stanley Harris, Werner Beier, Doc Reiss, Cherie Kidd Members Excused: None Staff Present: Nathan West, Sue Roberds Public Present: Phil Edin, Jim Drennan, Dave Moffitt CALL TO ORDER Salute to the Flag was led by Chair Beier APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Reiss moved to approve the February 28, 2007, minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Matthews and passed 6 - 0 (Commissioner Kidd was not present at this time). Commissioner Snyder moved to approve the March 14, 2007, minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Johnson and passed 6 - 0 (Commissioner Kidd was not present at this time). PUBLIC HEARINGS: Chair Beier indicated that those who testify must sign the "Sign In" log and affirm that their testImony will be truthful to the best of their knowledge. STREET VACATION PETITION STY 06-05 - FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH. Bye Avenue and Bye/Race alley: Vacation of unopened right-of-way. Planning Manager Sue Roberds reviewed the Department's report recommending approval of the street vacation petition noting that the right-of-way under consideration was platted in 1890 and has never been opened. Chair Beier opened the public hearing. Phil Edin, 1624 Lower Elwha Road, represented the applicant. He had nothing to add but was available for questions. There being no further testimony, Chair Beier closed the public hearing. Following brief discussion, Commissioner Snyder moved to recommend approval of the street vacation citing the following findings and conclusion: . . . Planning Commlsszon Minutes March 28, 2007 Page 2 Findings: 1. A petition requesting vacation of Bye Avenue and the Bye A venuelRace Street alley located west of Race Street was submitted on November 7,2006. RCW 58.17 requires that a petition be submitted containing the signatures of two thirds of the abutting property owners in order for consideration of a vacation of rights-of-way. The subject petition is signed by 100% of the abutting property owners. The subject site is zoned RS-7 Residential Single Family and is developed with a church structure. Surrounding properties are zoned RS-7 and Public Buildings and Parks (PBP). The Olympic National Park Headquarters is found immediately south ofthe site with other surrounding uses being residential. Peabody Creek crosses the property from south to north. Development ofthat portion ofthe site containing the corridor will be reviewed under the City's development standards as they relate to environmentally sensitive areas. The City of Port Angeles' Real Estate Committee met on January 8,2007, and established a value for the unopened right-of-way. The vacating of a street is categorically exempt from a State Environmental Pohcy Act (SEPA) review per Section 197-11-800 (2) (h) of the Washington Administrative Code. On February 21,2007, the City Council set a hearing date for consideration ofthe petition by Resolution 5-07, as April 4, 2007, and referred the matter to the Planning Commission for a recommendation. Legal publication was provided with regard to the Planning Commission's consideration of the proposed vacation in the Peninsula Daily News on March 13,2007. No public comment was received as a result of the legal notification. The Port Angeles Planning Commission held a public hearing on the proposed street vacation on March 28,2007, and forwarded a recommendation to the City Council. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Conclusion: A. The vacation will not result in a change or disruption of the traffic in the area. The unopened rights-of-way serve no purpose to the current or long range transportation needs of the City. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Johnson and passed 6 - o. (CommisSlOner Kldd arrzved at 6:20 p.m.) MUNICIPAL CODE AMENDMENT - MCA 07-01 - DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Amendment to short subdivision regulations (Section 16.04.080 of the Port Angeles Municipal Code) allowing an exception to the street standards requirement for short plats in the Industrial Heavy zone. Planning Manager Sue Roberds reviewed the Department Report recommending amendment to the City's short subdivision regulations. She explained that the amendment would allow for the creation of additional lots within mdustrial areas, but that the amendment would only allow for the . . . Planmng CommISSIOn Minutes March 28, 2007 Page 3 relaxation of street standards within industrial sites, not exterior to or that would serve, such sites. Public streets serving as access to such sites would still be required to be developed and dedicated as public streets under the City's Urban Development Standards. The standard right-of-way width would be set aside for future dedication, with the private street developed within a standard right-of- way width to City standards, just not dedicated. This would allow private property owners within industrial areas to maintain their own streets relieving the City of that responsibility. Emergency access would be required at all times. Chair Beier opened the public hearing. There being no public testimony, Chair Beier closed the public hearing. Following brief discussion, Commissioner Reiss moved to recommend approval of the Municipal Code Amendment citing the following findings and conclusions: Findings: 1. The purpose of the City's short subdivision regulations is to provide uniform standards for the subdivision of lots while creating building sites that further the goals, policies, and objectives of the City's Comprehensive Plan. 2. The Land Use Element Industrial Goals, Policies, and Objectives of the City's Comprehensive Plan states: Goal G. - To create and maintain a healthy and diverse industrial sector for a balanced and stable local economy. Goal H - To provide opportunities for industrial development in a manner, which efficiently uses the communzty's various attributes and natural resources, has minimal impact on the environment, contrzbutes to the City's quality of life, and is compatible with the desired urban design of the City. Goal H, Policies: 1. Urban services should be avazlable for all mdustrzal areas as required by the Capital Facilities Element concurrency policy. 2. Infrastructure, whlch makes sites attractive and ready to develop, including transportation facilities and utilities, should be available at industrial parks. Industrial development should be encouraged to follow industrial park design concepts. 3. The City's short subdivision regulations allow provide the standards for the development of from one to four lots within the City limits. All newly created lots must abut on an improved, dedicated, City street to ensure that all lots will be developed to an expected urban standard. . . . Planmng CommISSIOn Mznutes March 28, 2007 Page 4 4. The City's lot division regulations have mainly been used to create residential or commercial building sites. Industrial areas located in the City limits are largely owned and operated by the Port of Port Angeles and are found along the waterfront area and in the airport area. The recent annexation of industrial property located within the City's western Urban Growth Area has identified a need to review the City's land division standards for this property that is unique to previous development in the City. 5. The City's land division standards for short subdivisions (1 - 4 lots) requires that newly created lots abut onto an improved, dedicated, City street. The proposed amendment is intended to allow for the short subdivision of properties specifically within the Industrial Heavy zone that will be served by private streets. 6. Activities expected within Industrial Heavy zoned sites often include the use of heavy equipment and machinery not permitted or desired on public streets. 7. Circulation patterns within industrial sites are intended to accommodate site employees and operators rather than the general public. 8. The City's Public Works and Utilities Department has stated that they have no desire to maintain streets within an industrial development that are not through streets. The City's Fire Department had no concerns with the proposal as long as the subject streets are developed to a minimum City standard with adequate turn a rounds, and are maintained for emergency access purposes satisfactory to the Department. Conclusions: 1. Circulation patterns within Industrial Heavy zoned sites differ from those expected within other zones. Traffic patterns in such areas are heavily impacted by and support the use of heavy equipment that is not permitted on standard urban streets in commercial or residential zones. Lots developed within such a site can be adequately served by private streets that are built to City standards but are not dedicated as a public street. The proposed amendment will allow for the creation of additional industrial sites where interior access streets are constructed to City standard but the responsibility of maintenance ofthe industrial streets are not the responsibility of the City as they do not act as a public thoroughfare. 2. The amendment will enhance the City's ability to provide flexibility in its land division regulations, and provide site development options that will foster the creation and infill of industrial development sites. .; . . Planmng CommISSIOn Mmutes March 28, 2007 Page 5 3. The amendment provides that, although streets within industrial subdivisions need not be dedicated as public, they will be designed and maintained in a manner that will allow for the future dedication of the streets, and will ensure that uninterrupted emergency access is provided to all lots within the short subdivision. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kidd and passed unanimously. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC None STAFF REPORTS Staff reminded Commissioners that a presentation on Smart Growth would be held on Friday, March 30th, in the City Council Chambers. REPORTS OF COMMISSION MEMBERS Commissioner Snyder reported that he will be moving from the area the end of May, and would be resigning at that time. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m. PREPARED BY: S, Roberds 120RTANGELES WAS H 1 N G TON, USA . PLANNING COMl\1ISSION ATTENDANCE KOSTEK AND TESTIl\10NY SIGN-UP SHEET PLEASE SIGN IN Meeting Agenda of: \. ~ -,( g -() 7 To help us provide an accurate record of those in attendance, please sign in. Your signature acknowledges your presence, If you plan to testify, by your signature below, you certify that the testimony given is true and correct under penalty of perjury by the laws of the State of Washington. Signature below DOES NOT REQUIRE you to testify. . 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