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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-04-12 PC MinutesMINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION Port Angeleso Washington 98362 April 12,2017 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Members Present: Members Absent: StaffPresent: Public Present: Matt Bailey, David Amoroso Duane Morris, Andrew Schwab, Steven Hopkins, Amy Powell Elwyn Gee Nathan West, Ben Braudrick Karen Rogers, Jackson Smart, Andrew PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chair Morris opened the regular meeting at 6:00 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance. CEREMONIAL EVENT Mayor Patrick Downie read a proclamation thanking the Planning Commission members for their efforts as volunteers for the City of Port Angeles. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Bailey moved to approve the March 2212017 minutes. Commissioner Schwab seconded, all were in favor. PUBLIC HEARINGS/ACTION ITEMS 1. Facade and Sisr Grant Application: No. l7-01 Ruddell Auto Assistant Planner Ben Braudrick gave a presentation on the façade grant application for Ruddell Auto. Chair Morris asked if the applicant would like to present the design to the Commission. Ms. Karen Rogers, the representative from Ruddell auto explained the reasoning behind the landscaped area. Landscape Designer Mr. Andrew May spoke about the horticultural aspects of the project, explaining that the landscape was design to coexist with the neighboring property, was designed to be slow growing, and stand on its own with or without signage. Sign Maker Mr. Jackson Smart presented the details of the proposed sign in the landscape area. The Commission asked further questions about details of the landscape. There were concerns about the validity of the grant match and the project being only landscape based. Staff replied that a landscape feature had been approved in the past and that the match could be a part of the project but remain only match and not be reimbursed. The project mentioned was attempting to P lanning Commis s io n Minute s April 12,2017 Page 2 use underground utilities as a match, which were not a portion of the project scope that provided public benefits. Commissioner Schwab moved to award Façade Grant 17-01 for the fulI amount of $10,000.00 Commissioner Bailey seconded, the motion passed 5-1, with Commissioner Amoroso dissenting due to his opinion that the proposal should be revisited once the proposal had been more specific and a clarification needed for a match. 2. Subcommittee Discussion Assistant Planner Braudrick opened up the discussion by explaining the reasoning and need for a subcommittee to review the City's sign code and start to develop a foundation for changes when staff has the opportunity to begin to make changes. Commissioner Bailey asked what the timeline for the sign code amendments were scheduled to take place. Director West replied that it's likely that sign code amendments would take place in 2018. The City Council's priority setting placed it in 2018. Commissioner Hopkins asked to be on the committee. He felt that signage plays a big role in showing a newcomer what a city wants to be. Commissioner Bailey he took was interested in sitting on the subcommittee, and disclosed that although he was a sign making professional, he felt this experience would assist the committee and he could act impartially. Commissioner Bailey mentioned that another local sign maker was in the audience, and in accordance with the bylaws, Mr. Smart could act as a member of the public on the committee. He asked Mr. Smart if he was interested in sitting on the subcommittee. Mr. Smart replied that in the past he had helped to rewriting the sign code for the Central Business District and would enjoy contributing to the subcommittee. Commissioner Schwab also voiced interest, and made reference to his platform for sign code change in a past bid for Council. Chair Morris asked what the procedure for creating a subcommittee; if making a motion for its creation was the best path. Director \ilest agreed that a motion would be the best path. Commissioner Schwab stated that the Commission should entertain two motions: one for the creation of the sub-committee and another for the appointment of members. The Commission agreed. Commissioner Bailey made a motion to create a subcommittee and appoint three commission members to modify the sign code. Commissioner Schwab secondedo all were in approval. Chair Morris made a motion to appoint Commissioners Baileyo Schwab, and Hopkins to the Committee. Commissioner Hopkins secondedo all were in approval Chair Morris appointed Commissioner Hopkins as the Chair of the Subcommittee, and Commissioner Hopkins accepted Planning Commission Mínutes April 12,2017 Page 3 STAFF UPDATES Director West updated the Commission on the Race Street Design RFQ and Assistant Planner explained the reasoning behind returning to the RFQ process. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS None. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC None. REPORTS OF COMMISSION MEMBERS Chair Morris asked the reasoning for the Human Services portion of the recent municipal code updates having been taken out of the final ordinance. Director West explained a day prior to the City Council's first reading of the ordinance, a group of professionals from local human service organizations approached staffand voiced concerns they had in regard to the code changes and discussions they had with attorneys from the ACLU. The Attomeys felt that the changes as staff had recommended them were not legal. The human services professionals also felt that before changes were made, staff could reach out and work with the local professionals in the field and verify the legality of the changes. A new memo was drafted for the meeting which removed those portions of the code relating to Human Services. He assured the Commission that staff does recognize that this is a community issue that needs to be resolved, whether through zoning or another type of regulation. He let the Commission know that if they ever had any questions or issues that staff was available to answer those concerns, whether at ameeting, in the office, or through email. Commissioner Amoroso asked about consistency in the building inspector and engineering division and why an applicant might be getting two different answers to the same questions. Director West responded that the new stormwater changes could have been a factor in different messages, but that without knowing the who, what, where and how of the situation it would be difficult to give a specific reason. He advocated that anytime a member of the public approached a Commissioner about permitting difficulties that the Commissioner drill down to the reason for the issue and bring it to Stafls attention. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Schwab moved to adjourn. Commissioner Powell seconded. The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m. Ben Braudrick, PREPARED BY: Ben Braudrick David Amoroso, Co-Chair