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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-05-25 PC MinutesMINUTES PLANI\II\G COMMISSION Port Angeleso Washington 98362 NIay 25,2015 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Members Present Elwyn Gee, Brian Hunter, Duane Morris, John Matthews, Andrew Schwab Chad Aubin, Matt Bailey Nathan West, Scott Johns, Ben Braudrick, Heidi Greenwood Dan Williams, John Ralston, Mat Spinks, Anne Murray, Randall Johns, Jacob Oppelt, Betsy Robins, Steve Bearman, Laurel Black, Young Johnson, Jerry Austin, John Yarbourgh, Jeff Bowman PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chair Hunter opened the regular meeting at 6:00 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Schwab moved to approve the Minutes of May 1112016. Commissioner Gee Seconded the Motion, and all were in approval. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. 2016 Comprehensive Plan Update Director of Community and Economic Development Nathan West opened by communicating the importance of the 2016 Comprehensive Plan Update and the involvement of the public in the process. He then introduced Ryan Hughes, a principal planner of Studio Cascade-the firm that was hired to lead the public process for the Comprehensive Plan Update. Mr. Hughes gave a presentation on the process, and the outcomes of the process. Associate Planner Scott Johns presented the Staff Report for the 2016 Comprehensive Plan Update. Director West added that the entire staff report is included as a part of the public record and copies were available for anyone in the audience. He mentioned that there was a remaining schedule which included two City Council Meetings on June 7th, the first reading of the ordinance, and June 2l't, the date for adoption of the ordinance. He reiterated that the recommendation from staff tonight was to recommend approval of the 2016 Comprehensive Plan Update to the City Council. He made it clear that there were other options should any Commission be concerned with moving forward tonight: Recommending approval, recommending denial, recommend that staff make changes to the document before moving forward, and another possibility might be that if there are controversial items that the Planning Commission is concemed that they could address them in the January 2017 tpdate. The hearing Members Absent: Staff Present: Public Present: Plann ing Co mmis s ion M inutes May 25, 2016 Page 2 can also be continued to a special meeting at a later date to give the Commission more time to reflect on the document. Commissioner Morris asked about new policy 18 in the Economic Development element that had a typo. Director West agreed that there was a typo. Commissioner Schwab asked if the comments not directly related to the policy development of the Comprehensive Plan were still captured. Director West answered that all comments had been documented. Associate Planner Johns added that there were hard copies available of all the public comment. Chair Hunter asked about a policy that was not included in the update that was developed through the public input related to fossil fuel use and storage in the harbor. He wanted to know about the possibility of expansion of those uses through conditional use or otherwise. Director West responded that any development that fell within 200 feet of the shoreline would require a Shoreline Development Permit or a Shoreline Conditional Use Permit. Chair Hunter responded that the document includes under the Economic Development Element Goal D Policy 2"ltlhe City should encourage and pursue economic development with positive environmental consequences." For conformance with the comprehensive plan we would have to take that into consideration in regard to fossil fuels. Commissioner Morris asked about the numbering and priority of the policy listing. Director West responded that there is no priority intended related to the numbering of policies. Chair Hunter opened the public hearing. Dan Williams,2416 Woodside Circle Spoke in support of the Port Angeles Aerial Tram project, of which he is a Senior Analyst. Jerry Austin, 1305 East l't Street Spoke in support of the development of a marina east of the site of the Red Lion Hotel, and housing downtown to support marina activity. John Ralstono PO 898 Port Angeles Mr. Ralston listed a series of minor corrections and grammatical inaccuracies he thought should be made. He felt that stormwater management portions of the Comprehensive Plan may be getting the cart before the horse when the Stormwater Management Plan has not yet been adopted. He questioned why, in reference to Transportation Goal B identifying Lauridsen Boulevard as a cross-town route, the city has not allowed for the analysis of other easVwest arterials as possible P lanning Co mmis sion Minute s May 25,2016 Page 3 route options He thought that there needed to be further public discussion on the topic before moving ahead with the current proposed route. He felt that the city did not have a tax base or personnel that would allow for creation of maintenance of either an archeological database or a Tree Management Plan. Jeff Bowman, 3753 South Canyon Circle Commented on the need for a better connection with the regional Olympic Discovery Trial between Valley Creek Estuary and the Tumwater Truck Route. The Olympic Discovery Trail should not only be located in the Transportation Element of the Comprehensive Plan. The Trail should also be identified as an important economic development, recreation, and public health feature for the community. Anne Murrayr 306 Lopez Street Felt the current plan for Lauridsen to be developed as a cross-town route is irresponsible. The route travels through two school zones, the local library, the Peninsula Housing Authority's family housing, as well as the proposed site of a new Boys and Girls Club. She wanted to know what the "desired urban design" was defined as in the context of Lauridsen being proposed as the cross-town route. She thought that the city and community could move beyond the over 25 year old proposal and find a new alternative to the current plan for Lauridsen. Commissioner Schwab asked what the repercussions for not meeting the deadline are. Director West responded that the City did request an extension from the Department of Commerce, but was not granted one. Being out of compliance would mean that the City would be limited in its ability to execute most state related grants. If the Planning Commission felt that it was appropriate to delay the decision and further review the Comprehensive Plan Update, the City would make due. It is important to note that there are opportunities to amend the Plan on an annual basis, and if there were any concerns with the contents of the document, they could be addressed beginning in January of 2017 . DÍrector West responded to two of the speakers. Mr. Williams and Mr. Ralston. Mr. Ralston had issues specific to trees, stormwater, and archeology. Policies related to those topics had been included into the Comprehensive Plan prior to the public input so that they could be reviewed throughout the public input process. Those decisions were taken in response to actions already taken by City Council. City Council and Planning Commission adopted a Tree Policy and adopted the Tree City USA Program. Those policies are intended to reflect those adoptions. In regard to stormwater, Port Angeles has a mandate from the State and a permit to complete as required by the State Department of Ecology which include policy creation to support the mandate. Some of the archeology policy is a result of a settlement agreement in 2006 with the Lower Elwha Clallam Tribe, Port of Port Angeles, and the Washington State Department of Transportation that included responsibilities related to archeology. The City currently has an Plann íng Co mm is sion Minute s May 25,2016 Page 4 archeological database that exists today. AssocÍate Planner Johns read two possible policies that could be included into the Comprehensive Plan to reflect upon transportation issues that Mr. Williams commented on. Commissioner Morris asked if it was staff recommendation to enter both of these in to the comprehensive plan. Associate Planner Johns responded that it was for the Commission to decide. Chair Hunter commented on the history of Lauridsen Boulevard. Director West responded that the crosstown route policies had a long history in the Comprehensive Plan. If you go back to the original plat of the City, almost to its origins, Lauridsen Boulevard is identified as a primary easlwest arterial within the City. Chair Hunter asked about permeable paving materials being identified by an earlier public comment, and wanted to know at what time that would be required and how it would be done. Director West responded that policy related to stormwater mitigation were included in response to the Washington Department of Ecology National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Phase II permit requirements that need to be updated and included by the end of 2016. The permit includes low impact development as the preferred alternative of development. Chair Hunter asked about the policies related to trails and climate change inclusions that are based on best available science. He made the point in regard to the State's position on climate change policy and best available science; specifically that the North Olympic Peninsula Climate Preparedness Plan meets those requirements for best available science. In his mind, this leads the City to be able to use that plan to make applicable policies. Director West agreed, and made the point that the Comprehensive Plan is a policy document that directs implementation of changes to code and how the City operates at the foundational level. Commissioner Schwab stated that he supported the reevaluation of policies like the Lauridsen Alternative Route and its continued applicability. In regard to the policies read by Associate Planner Johns, he felt there were ways to rephrase it to be more general. He felt the alternative route should be more general as well. Commissioner Matthews added that there are no plans for a cross-town route. There were plans existing as early as 40 years ago before current populations. He felt there was not feasibility for an altemative route, and there probably won't be one. In his recollection, Archeology wasn't placed into the Comprehensive Plan, and the Archeological Model that was created was limited. He is worried about specific language in the Plan and would like more time to sift through the document and change wording that might lead to stymied growth. Commissioner Schwab asked that he also be given more time to go through the document. Planning Commissíon Minules May 25,2016 Page 5 Commissioner Gee stated that it is a guide tool, and is subject to continued change. He had misgivings about small things like the words shall and will. It can and should be improved, but it is a guide document. Commissioner Morris. Agreed that the Comprehensive Plan is a guide aîd20 years is a long time. We do the best we can with what we have. The best available science is for today and things are subject to continual change, and we have the ability to amend the document. He stated that he would be in favor of an extension of another week, and appreciated the public comment that was heard today. Not much would be changed by the changing of specific words, and he added that he would be open to sending the document as it is to the City Council recommending adoption with the inclusion of the policy that was read by Associate Planner Scott Johns concerning economic development and the National Park. Chair Hunter stated that he was ready to hear a motion. Commissioner Gee made a motion that the Commission recommend approval of the Comprehensive Plan as written. Commissioner Schwab made a friendly amendment to include the changes that staff had suggested and with all grammatical changes that had been identified at the meeting, as well as the suggested new economic development policy concerning the National Park. Commissioner Morris seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Schwab made a motion that the staff arrange a meeting for the Jaruary 2017 amendment process to address the crosstown route proposed on Lauridsen Boulevard. Commissioner Gee seconded. Four Commissioners were in favor, with Commissioner Matthews opposed. 2. Proposed Amendments to City Wetlands Protection Ordinance Associate Planner Scott Johns read the staff report for the proposed changes for the Ordinance. Commissioner Morris stated that he was disappointed that both of these documents at the same time. The Commission reviewed the changes before they were included in entire document. Chair Hunter asked if there was a timeline similar to the Comprehensive Plan. Director West stated that the critical areas ordinances were reviewed by the Department of Commerce and should be up to date with the Comprehensive Plan. The Department of Commerce identified the wetlands ordinance as the only critical areas ordinance needing to be updated. Commissioner Gee commented that the State has dictated these changes and the City is doing its due diligence in adopting them to remain in compliance. There is not much to discuss because it is state mandated Commissioner Schwab agreed. Chair Hunter opened the public hearing Planning Commis sion Minutes May 25, 2016 Page 6 John Ralston, PO Box 898 Port Angeles Commented that he owns property on wetlands and did not find out about the proposed changes until reading them in the newspaper. There are changes which are not required by the state. He sent out the document to two of the wetland delineators in the City. He felt that changes are not all minor, and identified portions of the proposed changes that he felt needed fuither review. Commissioner Schwab asked for staff response. Associate Planner Johns stated that there is not a comprehensive list of wetlands in the city limits. There was a windshield survey that a lot of property owners would not allow on their property because it might be a determent to the properties ability to be developed. Because of this, not everyone can be contacted when regulations are changed. However, notice was posted as required through the State Environmental Policy Act, and this is really the only method the City has to notice public hearings. He clarified that intent on the comment about changes he made while presenting the Staff Report was in regards to having no major changes to the document since it was reviewed at the meeting two weeks ago. Chair Hunter asked if the definition of "Qualified Professional" was from the State or was developed by the City. Associate Planner Johns responded that he believed that it was a definition from the State, but that he had made a note to check on it. Commissioner Gee made a motion to accept what staff had presented. Chair Hunter seconded. The vote did not carry, with three opposed and two in support. Commissioner Morris moved to continue the conversation at the next Planning Commission on June 8th. Commissioner Morris asked if it would meet the same requirements as the Comprehensive Plan. Director West stated that it would not because there are two readings needed. CommissÍoner Matthews seconded and three were in favor with Commissioners Gee and Schwab opposed. Planning Commis sion Minutes May 25,2016 Page 7 COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC STAFF REPORTS Director West read a letter from Commissioner Bailey made to the Commission and Staff about the Comprehensive Plan Update in his absence: Fellow Commissioners and Stffi I apologize that I am unable to attend this crucial rneeting due to afamily commitment, but wanted to make the statement that I am very pleased with the amendments to the comprehensive plan thus far; especially in the øreas of sustainability, clean energy, and with the addition of the Tree Management Program. Throughout our continued discussions, public comments, and worlæhops, my personal visionfor thefuture of the City of Port Angeles is to promote our current natural and recreational assets which I feel will encourage development, telecornmuting, tourism, and job growth. I am ecstatic to see the amendment regarding promoting Port Angeles' beauty, amenities, and cultural history, under Goal A, policy 4, of the Conservation Element. I am also encouraged with the new Vision Statements and am lookingforward watching Port Angeles grow. Thankyouþr your time, Commissioner Bailey 5/2s/16 REPORTS OF COMMISSION MEMBERS Commissioner Schwab made mention of the waterfront meetings with NOAA and the Fiero Marine Life Center occurring later in the week. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m. Ben Braudrick, Secretary ß PREPARED BY: Ben Braudrick Bryan Hunter, Chair THT CrrY ",I)ORTI GEIES PLANNING COMMISSION ATTENDANCE AND TESTIMONIY SIGN IN ROSTER PLEASE SIGN IN \¡/ A S H I N G Ï O N, U.S IF you plan to testify, by signature below, you certiff that the testimony given is true and correct under penalty of perjury by the laws of the State of Washington. If you do not plan to testify, your signature only acknowledges your presence at the meeting. 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