HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes 2022-05-25MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION
Virtual Meeting
Port Angeles, Washington 98362
May 25, 2022 6:00 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chair Stanley opened the regular meeting at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: Richie Ahuja, Tammy Dziadek, Steve Luxton, Andrew Schwab
(Vice-Chair), Marolee Smith, Benjamin Stanley (Chair), Colin
Young
City Staff Present: Emma Bolin (Manager)
Ben Braudrick (Associate Planner)
Chris Cowgill (Assistant City Attorney)
Public Present: Brian Mattuch
PUBLIC COMMENT:
None
Chair Stanley closed public comments
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Vice Chair Schwab moved to accept the minutes from the May 25, 2022 meeting. Commissioner
Dziadek seconded, all were in approval.
ACTION ITEMS
1. Action: PZ 22-35 Comprehensive Plan Amendment Continued Public Hearing
Planner Braudrick presented the Public Comment for the Draft Climate Resiliency Plan to date
with staff’s response.
Chair Stanley reopened the public comment period.
Brian Mu
Commended staff for responding to the public comment in the matrix. Voiced concerning over who
would be defining “critical areas” and any person applying for a position as “resiliency plan
coordinator” being an environmental activist that would act in an unchecked manner to reduce the
potential for development within the city. He stated that project number one could likely be
declaring the waterfront a high-risk area and disincentivize development.
Chair Stanley asked for any discussion from Commissioners. Discussion between Commissioners
followed. Conversation included:
• The usage of the term “disincentivize”.
• The plan not incentivizing people to relocate to Port Angeles.
• The length of the document.
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Planning Commission Minutes
May 25, 2022
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• The potential for the Plan to push development outside City limits.
• The need to focus more on transportation as the majority driver of greenhouse gas
emissions.
• The positive push to hire a climate resiliency coordinator.
Vice Chair Schwab asked staff how “high-risk areas” would be defined. Chair Stanley responded
that a sea level rise vulnerability assessment would assist with defining risk. Interim-Director
Bolin reminded the Commission that the City is due to perform a Comprehensive Plan Update in
2025 that would include an update to the environmentally sensitive area, or “critical areas”,
ordinance. This could include updates to the Shoreline Master Program.
Chair Stanley proposed that the Commission remove Action 46. Commissioner Smith made a
motion to eliminate Action 46 from the Plan. Commissioner Luxton seconded the motion.
Discussion followed. The motion passed 7-0.
The Commission discussed Action 47. Commissioner Young made a motion to strike Action
47. Vice Chair Schwab seconded the motion. The motion passed 7-0.
The Commission continued discussion of the Plan, its legal standing, and the multicriteria analysis
that was performed.
Commissioner Luxton made a motion later rewritten by Commissioner Ahuja: “For the
action items outlined for consideration in the Climate Resiliency Plan, the Commission
recommends a shortlist of actions be prioritized and a cost benefit analysis be conducted to
confirm the viability for implementation and to identify trade-offs”. Commissioner Young
seconded the motion. The Commission discussed the specific language of the motion. The
motion passed 7-0.
After further discussion Commissioner Young made a motion to replace the term carbon
neutral with the phrase “reduction of greenhouse gas emissions”. Commissioner Smith
seconded the motion. After discussion the motion passed 4-3.
Vice Chair Schwab made a motion that the Planning Commission recommend approval of
the 2022 Annual Comprehensive plan Amend (Application No. 22-35) citing the Appendices
A – K and 3 conclusions in support of that action and include:
1. Additional changes to the Climate Resiliency Plan approved by the Planning
Commission; and
2. Allowance of any minor changes based upon continued public comment and staff
input.
Commissioner Dziadek seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-2, with Commissioners
Young and Smith dissenting due to concerns with the Plan’s length and ability to implement.
STAFF UPDATES
Interim Director Bolin updated the Commission that the City Council would be reviewing the
letter sent to them by the Commission on June 7th. She thanked the Commission for their hard work
on the Climate Resiliency Plan. Senior Planner Braudrick seconded the thank you for all the hard
work.
REPORTS OF COMMISSION MEMBERS
Vice Chair Schwab let the Commission know that there is a housing forum on eviction laws and
resources available to the public being put on by Clallam/Jefferson Pro-bono Lawyers later in the
week.
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Planning Commission Minutes
May 25, 2022
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ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Young made a motion to adjourn, Commissioner Dziadek seconded. All were
in favor.
The meeting adjourned at 8:38 p.m.
Ben Braudrick, Secretary Ben Stanley, Chair
PREPARED BY: Ben Braudrick, Secretary
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