HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes 2023-03-22MINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION
Hybrid Meeting – In Person and Virtual
City Council Chambers: 321 E 5th Street, Port Angeles, Washington 98362
March 22, 2023 at 6:00 P.M.
REGULAR MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Stanley opened the regular meeting at 6:05 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: Benjamin Stanley (Chair)
Andrew Schwab (Vice Chair)
Richie Ahuja
Tammy Dziadek
Marolee Smith
Commissioners Absent: James Taylor
Colin Young – excused
City Staff Present: Ben Braudrick (Senior Planner)
Chris Cowgill (Assistant City Attorney)
Holden Fleming (Housing Coordinator)
Zach Trevino (Assistant Planner)
Public Present: Mark Hodgson
PUBLIC COMMENT
Chair Stanley opened the meeting to public comment.
No comments were provided during the public comment period.
Chair Stanley closed the meeting to public comment.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Vice Chair Schwab moved to approve the minutes from the February 22, 2023 regular meeting of
the Planning Commission. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously through a consent
vote (5-0).
ACTION ITEM
1. Nomination and Election of Planning Commission Officers
Chair Stanley introduced the item, stating that he is currently serving as the Chair of the Planning
Commission. He asked whether any Commissioner who is not currently serving as the Chair or
Vice Chair desires to serve in either capacity. No Commissioner expressed such a desire. Chair
Stanley stated that he has no objection to serving as Chair for another term. Vice Chair Schwab
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stated that he has no objection to serving as Vice Chair for another term and is eligible to do so.
Vice Chair Schwab moved that the Planning Commission elect Chair Stanley as the Chair
for the 2023-2024 session of the Planning Commission. The motion was seconded and passed
(5-0) through a roll call vote.
Commissioner Dziadek moved that the Planning Commission elect Vice Chair Schwab as
Vice Chair for the 2023-2024 session of the Planning Commission. The motion was seconded
and passed (5-0) through a roll call vote.
WORK SESSION
1. Annual Legal Training for Planning Commissioners
Attorney Cowgill provided a training for the Planning Commission covering the Washington
Public Records Act, the Open Public Meetings Act, ethical principles, and conflicts of interest
considerations for Planning Commissioners. Following the presentation, the Planning Commission
asked questions of Attorney Cowgill regarding the material.
STAFF UPDATES
City staff provided the following updates to the Commission:
• Planner Braudrick announced that the amendments to Title 17 of the Port Angeles
Municipal Code had been approved by the City Council. Following the first reading of
the amendment by City Council, the proposed temporary housing standards were removed
from the draft ordinance for further consideration by staff in the near future. The
temporary housing amendments will not be presented to the Planning Commission again
because the intent of the proposed standards will remain the same. He noted that the City
Council thanked the Planning Commission for their role in the Pursuing Housing for All
process.
• Planner Fleming explained that a separate section of code will be needed to adequately
address temporary housing in the community. He provided an overview of what staff
intends to accomplish with this planned near-term PAMC amendment.
• Planner Braudrick stated that the City Council moved to direct staff to hold a joint
meeting between the City Council and the Planning Commission to discuss priorities. The
meeting will likely be scheduled for May 16th prior to the regularly scheduled City
Council meeting, so Commissioners should add that date to their calendars.
• Planner Braudrick announced that an RFP for a short-term rental inventory and
compliance analysis has been distributed. The result of this process will enable the City
to better regulate short-term rentals.
• Planner Braudrick provided a status update on the Race Street Construction Project,
which has commenced. Commissioner Smith suggested that a detour with proper
signage be established. Planner Braudrick stated he would discuss this suggestion with
the project’s construction managers.
• Planner Braudrick confirmed that the regular meeting of the Planning Commission
meeting will occur on April 12, 2023 and will involve discussion of next steps in the
City’s climate resiliency planning process.
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• Planner Braudrick explained that staff had attended the Port Angeles Home Show on
March 18th and 19th, with the City booth serving as a useful community listening station
for planning issues.
• Planner Braudrick confirmed that the Finance Director is working on preparing a white
paper in response to the Commission’s request for financial information made at the
previous meeting.
• Planner Trevino explained that he had attended the Natural Climate Solutions workshop
held by the Emerald Edge Program of The Nature Conservancy and the Strait Ecosystem
Recovery Network March 6th through 8th in Blyn, WA. The attendees will continue
meeting monthly to continue the collaborative planning process. The connections made
during this workshop may prove useful during the Climate Resiliency – Comprehensive
Plan Integration Process.
REPORTS OF COMMISSION MEMBERS
• Commissioner Ahuja announced that the International Panel on Climate Change has
released a synthesis report that he encourages the Commissioners to review. He
encouraged each Commissioner to read the report’s summary for policymakers.
• Vice Chair Schwab explained that House Bill 1337 would, if passed, allow for restrictions
to be placed on the use of ADUs as short-term rentals and allow for more flexibility in the
size of ADUs.
• Chair Stanley asked staff to display an image of the City-owned industrial waterline that
he took while running along the shoreline. Staff displayed the image, which depicts a leak
in the pipe. Chair Stanley clarified that the leaking line does not contain the City’s general
water supply, only water used by the paper mill. This line damage demonstrates the
importance of maintaining infrastructure for community resilience. He stated that climate
resiliency plan implementation will need to incorporate infrastructure improvement.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Stanley moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded and passed
unanimously (5-0).
The meeting adjourned at 7:59 P.M.
Zach Trevino, Secretary Ben Stanley, Chair
MINUTES PREPARED BY: Zach Trevino, Secretary
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