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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 10/09/1996 . . . HEARING DEVICES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE NEEDING ASSISTANCE. AGENDA CITY OF PORT ANGELES PLANNING COMMISSION 321 East Fifth Street Port Angeles) W A 98362 October 9) 1996 7:00 p.m. I. CALL TO ORDER II. ROLL CALL III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: September 25, 1996 IV. PUBLIC HEARING: 1. STREEIYACA TION PETITION - STV 96(10)06 - MARKLEY, Portion ofEunic_e-Btreet: Request to vacate that portion of the Eunice Street right-of- way adjacent to tax lot #1837, generally described as being north of Park Avenue. (The applicant has requested that this hearing be continued to the November 13 meeting.) V. PUBLIC MEETING: 1. REZ01SK.BRQ_UEST - REZ-.9-6(1DJ02- RALSION, Southwest corner of E.ar:k..AY.enu.f'LandRorteLStreet: Request for rezone of approxiately four (4) acres from RS-7 and RS-9 (Single Family Residential) to RMD, Residential Medium Density. VI. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC VII. STAFF REPORTS VIII. REPORTS OF COMMISSION MEMBERS IX. ADJOURNMENT PLANNING COMMISSION: Bob King, (Chair), Tim Gennan (Vice), Cindy Souders, BobPbilpott, Linda Nutter, Dean Reed, Mary Craver. STAFF, Brad Collins, Director, Sue Roberds Office S!",cialist, David Sawyer, Senior Planner. . . . All correspondence pertaining to a meeting or hearing item received by the Planning Department at least one day prior to the scheduled meeting! hearing will be provided to Commission members at the meeting. PUBLIC MEETING PROCEDURE: The Planning Commission may ask direct questions of the public regarding comments submitted during the public comment period. No public testimony will be taken. PUBLIC HEARING PROCEDURE: Spokesmen for the proponents and opponents will be given an opportunity to speak to the request. Information submitted should be factual, relevant and not merely duplication of a previous presentation. A reasonable time (10 minutes) shall be allowed the spokesman; others shall be limited to short supporting remarks (S minutes). Other interested parties will be allowed to comment briefly (S minutes each) or make inquiries. The Chairman may allow additional public testimony if the issue warrants it. Briefrebuttal (S minutes) for proponents and opponents will be heard separately and consecutively with presentation limited to their spokesman. Rebuttal shall be limited to factual statements pertaining to previous testimony. Comments should be directed to the Board, not the City Staff representatives present, unless directed to do so by the Chairman. . . . MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION Port Angeles, Washington 98362 October 9, 1996 7:00 p.m. ROLLCALL Members Present: Linda Nutter, Bob Philpott, Cindy Souders, Bob King, Mary Craver Members Excused; Dean Reed, Tim German Staff Present: Brad Collins, Sue Roberds Public Present: Loran Olsen, John Ralston, Joe Tshimperle, Mike Deeney. Mike Perzel APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Souders moved to approve the September 25, 1996, minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Nutter and passed 4 - 0 with Commissioner Craver abstaining. PUBLIC HEARING: STREET V ACA TION PETITION - STV 96(1 O).(l6-=..MARKLEY~.E.o.rtinn oiEunice Street: Request to vacate that portion of the Eunice Street right-of- way adjacent to tax lot #1837, generally described as being north of Park Avenue. (The applicant has requested that this hearing be continued to the November 13 meeting.) Chair King opened the public hearing and informed those present that the applicant could not be present but had requested that this item be continued to November 13 meeting. Commissioner Philpott moved to continue the hearing to the November 13 regular meeting, 7 p.m., or as soon thereafter as possible. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Nutter and passed 5 - O. PUBLIC MEETING: REZONE REQl1.EST - REZ-.9j)~1O)D2~SI.o.N,-.S.Q]lthw.e.sLcmneLO.f Eark Avenue-3l1Uorter...S.tre_el;-.Request forrezone of approxiately four (4) acres from RS-7 and RS-9 (Single Family Residential) to RMD, Residential Medium Density. Planning Commission Minutes - October 9. 1996 Page 2 . Chair King opened the public meeting and explained to those present in the audience that the Conunission could not take additional testimony at this time but those comments submitted during the public comment period would be considered in their discussion, following which a recommendation would be forwarded to the City Council, where there would be a public hearing and an opportunity to give oral testimony or additional written testimony. Planning Director Collins reviewed the Planning Department's staffreport recommending approval ofthe rezone as proposed. Staffprovided an overhead display of the proposed area and specific location for clarity. In response to Commissioner Philpott, Mr. Collins responded that he agreed with the statement made in a letter from a neighbor that there is approximately twice the mix of multifamily housing in this neighborhood than is average for neighborhoods in the City. Commissioner Nutter expressed doubt that Peninsula College would wish to obtain the property for additional college dormitory use given the low occupancy rates the dormitory has experienced over the past eleven years. Commissioner Philpott stated that it appears from infonnation provided by the applicant that this proposal is driven by an economic desire rather than from a change in circumstances in the neighborhood/City. . Commissioner Craver indicated that affordable housing opportunities should always be considered favorably. The location of this proposal is in its favor given its proximity to the college campus. Commissioner Nutter recommended caution in providing too much affordable housing property in one area. A gradual transition to high density from low density should be maintained to assure that neighborhood characteristics are not negatively impacted. Commissioner Souders noted that development in the area as proposed would finally bring the infrastructure level up to the level of service standards required by the City's Comprehensive Plan. The area (to the north) contains and was approved for additional medium density uses in the past. Commissioner Philpott stressed that it appears unfair to the existing neighborhood to rezone the property which would allow additional traffic and water runoff impacts in this area when testimony has indicated that existing uses south of the site have caused so much negative impact already. The applicant has not indicated any changes that would warrant this rezone. The subject neighborhood already contains a high density of mixed use at a greater density than is found elsewhere in similar neighborhoods in the City. The rezone as proposed cannot be identified as being in the public use or interest at this time. . Commissioner Nutter agreed with the public comments submitted that the proposal weakens the neighborhood character and increases the existing negative impacts associated with the multifamily uses that exist to the south of the site. . . . Planning Commission Minutes - October 9. 1996 Page 3 Commissioner Souders moved to recommend approval of the request as proposed citing the following findings and conclusions: Endings.: 1. The request is to rezone 4.4 acres from RS-7 and RS-9 to RMD south of Park Avenue and west of Porter Street in Lots 1-4 and the south 220 feet of Lot 5, Highland Acre Tracts. 2. The Comprehensive Plan designates the site as Low Density Residential and at the margin of Medium Density Residential. A number of policies have been identified as being most relevant to the proposal including Land Use Element Policies Al and 2 and CI-4. 3. The zoning on surrounding properties is RS-9 to the south and west, RMD to the north, and PBP to the east. 4. The site is currently vacant or in pasture. 5. Lots 1-4 of the subject rezone site were rezoned from RS-9 to RS-7 in 1993. 6. The City adopted a new Comprehensive Plan in 1994 and amended it in 1995 and 1996. 7. The City adopted revised Areawide Zoning in 1995. 8. The requirements of the State Environmental Policy Act have been met with the issuance of a Determination of Non-Significance and the adoption of existing environmental documents on September 27, 1996. 9. Park Avenue is a principal arterial, and Porter Street is a collector arterial. 10. The City has many fewer acres zoned and available for development of Residential Medium Density than Single Family Residential. 11. Three letters from neighboring property owners opposing the rezone proposal were received in a timely manner during the public comment period. Conclusions-=. A. The rezone is consistent with the policies of the Comprehensive Plan as referenced in Finding No.2. . . . Planning Commission Minutes - October 23. 1996 Page 4 B. The rezone could move the medium density residential neighborhood south and west of Crestwood Convalescent Center and Peninsula Community College. C. Circumstances have changed since the property was zoned RS-7 in 1993 with the City adopting a new Comprehensive Plan in 1994, amending the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map in 1995, and adopting revised Areawide Zoning in 1995. D. The rezone is in the public use and interest and is compatible with the surrounding zoning and land uses. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Craver, and passed 3 - 2, with Commissioners Nutter and Philpott voting in the negative for the reasons that were previously discussed. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC Loran Olsen, 1132 Highland Avenue, was dispirited at the rnanner in which the meeting proceeded earlier in the evening. He was anxious to correct an error in previously submitted letter, however, because the meeting was not open to public testimony, he was unable to note the correction. He felt that the Commission would have wanted the correct information for their discussion. Mr. Collins answered that the reason Mr. Olsen was directed that he could not speak. was due to the chance that additional testimony may have accompanied his correction. If there is an error in the written comment submitted prior to the meeting, the error can be corrected by stafIprior to transmittal ofthe required documentation to the City Council for the hearing. He explained that this method is not one the Planning Commissioners and staff prefer but one which must be followed. Commissioner Nutter agreed that the previous manner in which public hearings were held was much more thorough, and she apologized for the need to cause Mr. Olsen such frustration. Mr. Olsen suggested that the notification process be amended and expanded upon to include a mailing to surrounding property owners for each step in the new process, i.e., the development notice and the public meetinglhearing notice. Me. Conins thanked Mr. Olsen for his suggestion and agreed that a second mailing in the case of public hearings, although not specifically required, would be informative to the general neighborhood. Joe Tshimperle, 624 Vashon attended the meeting to speak to the first item on the agenda (Markley street vacation petition) only to learn that the applicant requested continuation of the item to November. He was disappointed that the meeting was continued but will attend . . . Planning Commission Minules - Oclober 13. 1996 Page 5 the November meeting to voice his concerns regarding the proposal. He also expressed his deep seated disappointment that the Planning Commission will not be conducting public hearings on matters such as rezones anymore. He agreed with Mr. Olsen's frustration that there would be no opportunity for public hearings before the Planning Commission. He has attended several Planning Commission hearings and found that the Commission goes to great lengths and takes a great deal of time to hear the public's concerns and find an appropriate if not always popular course of action for issues put to them. He doubted that the City Council would be able to spend the number of hours listening to many hours of public testimony and performing site visits to provide the public the same sense of thoroughness because the Council has so many other issues to deal with that take up so much time. The Commission took a break at 8: 15 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 8 :25 p.m. STAFF REPORTS Director Collins indicated staffs frustration in dealing with the new 1724 regulations and their resulting change in how business is processed in Port Angeles. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS Commissioner Nutter said that she would not be able to attend the October 23 meeting. Sue Roberds noted that Commissioner Reed had phoned to say that he would not be able to attend the October 23 meeting. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. ~ PREPARED BY: S. Roberds . . . PLEASE SIGN-IN CITY OF PORT ANGELES Planning Commi~on Attendance Roster Meeting Date: cO M.<, ~ /990 t>J4..