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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 03/27/2002 01 ~ ...~.~ . '. I. F.o. R. T.. .'PJ.N'G'E- LEi-'5' .. ; _. J. r .......... lJJ--~ mm~_1 '_ ru _____ ___m_ _ WAS H I N G TON, U. $. A. DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENDA PLANNING COMMISSION 321 East Fifth Street March 27, 2002 CALL TO ORDER 7 p.m. II. ROLL CALL III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Meeting of March 13,2002. IV. CONTINUED BUSINESS: Comprehensive Plan Amendments: Continued discussion of2002 amendments to Comprehensive Plan PROPOSED MUNICIPAL CODE AMENDMENTS - MCA 01-02 - CITY OF PORT ANGELES. City-Wide: Suggested changes to the City's sign, parking, environmental, subdivision, and zoning regulations (Titles 14-17). The changes were largely recommended by the Citizens Code Advisory Committee appointed by the City Council in 2001. (Continued from the March 13,2002 public hearing.) V. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC VI. STAFF REPORTS VII. REPORTS OF COMMISSION MEMBERS VIII. ADJOURNMENT . PLANNING COMMISSIONERS: Linda Nutter (Chair), Chuck Sehrnmm (Vice), Fred Hewins, Fred Norton, Bob Philpott, Mary Craver, Rick Porter PLANNING STAFF: Brad Collins, Director; Scott Johns, Assoeiate Planner; Sue Roberds, Assistant Planner. . . . MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION Port Angeles, Washington 98362 March 27 , 2002 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Members Present: Bob Philpott, Fred Norton, Fred Hewins, Chuck Schramm, Mary Craver, Rick Porter, one vacancy Staff Present: Brad Collins, Sue Roberds, Scott Johns, Lou Haehnlen Public Present: Len Rasmussen, ArIa Holzschuh APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Philpott noted that on page 7, Condition No.7 should be corrected to read "An L.I. D. No Protest Agreement ... in the event of future development shall be signed ..." The elections vote on page 11 should be corrected to signify that Commissioner Hewins voted in the negative when elected as Vice Chair. The sentence should read "The motion was seconded by Commissioner Norton and passed 62 - 81 with Commissioner Hewins voting in the ne~ative. Also on page 7, under Staff Reports, the third sentence was corrected to read "... when it was his turn to speak he let Council know..." Commissioner Philpott moved to approve the March 13,2002, minutes with the corrections as noted. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hewins and passed 6 - O. CONTINUED BUSINESS: Comprehensive Plan Amendments: Continued discussion of 2002 amendments to Comprehensive Plan Director Collins introduced the discussion by noting that the deadline for submittal of amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Map for 2002 is March 31, 2002. He responded to several questions regarding the proposal by City staff to independently, or through public/private partnerships, develop property owned by the City of Port Angeles located on Del Guzzi Drive. Commissioner Porter wished to reveal that he is on the Cascadia Theater for the Performing Literary Arts board and is counsel to the group. Mr. Collins responded that Commissioner Porter may still act on Comprehensive Plan amendment issues because the issues are legislative in nature. Aria Holzschuh, 1051/2 East First Street, Port Angeles, Executive Director of the Port Angeles Downtown Association was present to represent the Port Angeles Downtown Association's (P ADA) proposed amendments that were outlined specifically in a letter from the P ADA dated March 22, 2002. Ms. Holzschuh spoke about the P ADA's vision of a Downtown promenade which would include improvements along the Port Angeles waterfront. It is suggested that the walkway along the north side of Railroad Avenue between Lincoln and Oak Streets be widened to allow such Pla/l/ling Commission Minutes March 27,2002 Page 2 . a promenade use. Ms. Holszchuh responded to questions regarding the purchase of art works on display in the Downtown and also noted that Port Angeles is a certified National Mainstreet Community, which designation is becoming more and more difficult to achieve. The Downtown Association is proud to announce that there have been 54 new businesses established within the Central Business District with 460 new employees since 1997 for a total employee count of 1500. This is a significant improvement to the area which has experienced a down slide for many years. . . PROPOSED MUNICIPAL CODE AMENDMENTS - MCA 01-02 - CITY OF PORT ANGELES. City-Wide: Suggested changes to the City's sign, parking, environmental, subdivision, and zoning regulations (Titles 14- 17). The changes were largely recommended by the Citizens Code Advisory Committee appointed by the City Council in 2001. (Continued from the March 13,2002.) Director Collins reviewed proposed changes to Section 14.01.090 of the Municipal Code. Lou Haehnlen, Building Official, explained that a factor in the revision of the wording is to make the appeal section more understandable. At present it is often difficult to make people aware that while they can appeal the Building Official's interpretation of a code, they cannot appeal the directives ofthe codes themselves. Conunissioner Norton, who also serves on the Building Code Board of Appeals, added that there is a very common misperception of the terminology "variance" versus "appeal". The misinterpretation of the terminology may never disappear, but the suggested amended wording should help. Aria Holszchuh, 105 1/2 East First Street, Executive Director of the Port Angeles Downtown Association, explained that although the Downtown's existing sign ordinance specifically prohibits A-frame signs in the Downtown, times have changed and the current sentiment is to allow A-frame signs within given parameters. Such signs have become a valuable method of advertising particularly in pedestrian-oriented areas. The use of A-frame signs should be under specific conditions. She presented pictures of A-frame signs from other conununities that were attached to the ground such that their locations were dependable. The Commission took a break at 8:50 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 8:55 p.m. Considerable general discussion on sign issues including the size of existing signs in the UGA and what their permissibility would be if in the City was discussed. Additional minor changes that are intended to be included in the amendments were outlined. It was noted that the proposed amendments to the sign regulations are mainly wordsmithing and rearrangement for logical reading. Director Collins noted that billboards are being recommended as larger than have been earlier allowed. Six hundred (600) square foot billboards are proposed as off-premise signs in the Commercial Arterial zone rather than the current maximum of 400 square feet which is permitted only in the Industrial Heavy zone at present. The CA zone is an automobile-oriented zone and amendments are intended to relate the intensity of the zone to the sign that is allowed. A suggestion was submitted by a conunercial sign business person that temporary signs be permitted for commercial events as well as for community-oriented events as is now permitted. Community-oriented activities such as the United Way blood drive or Arts n' Action are currently permitted as temporary community events. The proposal is to allow temporary signs, usually . . . Planning OJmmission Minutes ~mber P 70n 1_ 1\v..r~"2- "') I 'Z-oL' V Page 3 banners, to be placed for conunercial uses such as special sales for a specified duration of time and under specific circumstances. Discussion ensued as to what is a banner as opposed to a banner sign, pennants, and fluttering devices, and how they are designed and used. It was agreed that a new definition should be created clarifying what a banner is as opposed to what is a cloth sign. Commissioner Norton noted that moving readerboard signs, those with changing messages, are not addressed in the existing regulations except that it appears that such a sign would be prohibited as flashing, moving, and rotating signs are currently prohibited. At the Chair's direction and previous concurrence of the Commission, discussion ended due to the lateness of the hour at Section 14.36.080 Prohibited Signs to be continued at the April 10 meeting. Mr. Collins indicated that if specific issues are not finalized at the April 1 0 meeting, there is no specific deadline, and certain issues may be continued for discussion to Mayor beyond with no consequence. ~ ~ Commissioner Porter noted that one state flag and two nati al flags are exempt from sign regulations per site. He noted that many national flags are in th~ ape of a typical banner. Would they be prohibited? Mr. Collins answered that most flags areoanners while most pennants are banners that are shaped like flags but ifit's a flag, even ifin the shape ofa banner, it's a flag. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC None. STAFF REPORTS None. REPORTS OF COMMISSION MEMBERS Commissioner Norton stated that he will be unavailable until probably June. He asked to be excused for personal reasons, The Conunission agreed. Conunissioners Norton and Philpott attended the special City/County meeting on March 16, 2002, where new stormwater issues and regulations were discussed. They agreed that the regulations will appear onerous to most and controlling to others. Mr. Collins noted that he would arrange for the City's Public Works and Utilities Department to make an individual presentation to the Commission regarding the upcoming regulations and the City's intentions to establish a stonnwater utility. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m. ~~~ Brad Collins, Secretary (!Ju~s~~ Chuck Schramm, Chair PREPARED BY: S. Roberds . · FORTANGELES , .., WAS H J N G TON. U. S. A. PLANNING COMMISSION ATTENDANCE ROSTER AND TESTIMONY SIGN..UP SHEET .N Meeting Agenda Of:,~_4(' A .~ ?,;0o 2 PLEASE NOTE: IE. you plan to testify, by 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 - it only acknowledges your presence. 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