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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes 2023-04-26MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION Hybrid Meeting – In Person and Virtual City Council Chambers: 321 E 5th Street, Port Angeles, Washington 98362 April 26, 2023 at 6:00 P.M. REGULAR MEETING CALL TO ORDER Chair Stanley opened the regular meeting at 6:07 P.M. ROLL CALL Commissioners Present: Benjamin Stanley (Chair) Tammy Dziadek Marolee Smith Commissioners Absent: Andrew Schwab - excused Richie Ahuja - excused James Taylor Colin Young – excused A quorum was not present at this meeting. City Staff Present: Ben Braudrick (Senior Planner) Shannen Cartmel (Community Services Deputy Director / CED Manager) Norman Gollub (Interim Director of Community and Economic Development) Zach Trevino (Assistant Planner) Public Present: Tom Sanford 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 No motion was made regarding the approval of the April 12, 2023 meeting minutes due to a lack of quorum. DISCUSSION 1. 2023 Comprehensive Plan Amendment Planner Braudrick and Planner Trevino introduced the item as the first discussion of specific DocuSign Envelope ID: DA20A68C-6784-4F84-9EED-D5DFDCCF7FCF Planning Commission Minutes April 26, 2023 Page 2 proposed amendments to the Port Angeles Comprehensive Plan following the work session focusing on the Washington State Growth Management Act that occurred on April 12, 2023. Planner Braudrick presented an overview of key comprehensive planning milestones in the City’s history, beginning with the 1976 Comprehensive Plan and covering relevant updates through the 2022 Comprehensive Plan Amendment incorporating the Climate Resiliency Plan. Planner Trevino presented the proposed changes to the Comprehensive Plan that are being considered during the 2023 Comprehensive Plan Amendment process. He announced that the first public hearing would occur on May 10, 2023, with anticipated City Council adoption on June 20, 2023. Following the presentation, the Planning Commission discussed the proposed changes and asked questions of staff. The Planning Commission discussion that followed staff’s presentation included the following points: • The dewatered human solids should be removed from product sold at the Regional Transfer Station. Staff noted that a new dewatering facility is under development at the Regional Transfer Station. • The need for another Citywide tree survey was identified. Staff noted that a survey was conducted over a decade ago around 2010. A policy could be added to the Comprehensive Plan that would promote establishment of a tree board if the Commission identifies the need for such a policy. It was noted that numerous policies, including Policy P-3J.04, already address preservation of urban trees. Policies P-7B.15 through P-7B.17 also address conservation of urban trees and the establishment of an urban tree management program. • Greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles should be addressed more explicitly. Staff stated that the Comprehensive Plan already addresses this, but several proposed climate resiliency policies are intended to reduce transportation emissions. As an example of these policies informing action, the City is considering purchasing electric vehicles as part of its 8-year vehicle replacement plan. • Regional ferry service was identified as desirable, which would require partnership with regional agencies. A Port Angeles-Seattle route has been considered by WSDOT in the past. • Madison, Wisconsin was provided as an example of a City that has been updating its transportation policy to facilitate safety improvements and active transportation. • Proposed Policy P-8E.01 could be expanded to emphasize that reuse of materials is often more efficient than energy-intensive recycling. • Poverty is the fourth leading cause of death in the USA, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. Poverty should be a focus for the City in future actions to ensure resiliency beyond just the consideration of climate impacts. • The way “climate change” is referenced in the proposed policies should be made more consistent by ensuring the language that is used is standardized. For example, the specific climate change impacts listed in proposed Policy P-3P-05 should be replaced with a reference to a standard and accepted definition for “climate change.” This will ensure that there is no confusion about what the Comprehensive Plan means when using the term “climate change.” Referencing the 2015 NODC Climate Preparedness Plan for the North Olympic Peninsula would be a way to do this. DocuSign Envelope ID: DA20A68C-6784-4F84-9EED-D5DFDCCF7FCF Planning Commission Minutes April 26, 2023 Page 3 • To ensure that the plan appeals to all community members, hazar d mitigation should be considered for impacts beyond climate change, such as earthquakes. Staff noted that several policies address earthquakes in the City. STAFF UPDATES City staff provided the following updates to the Commission: • Planner Braudrick stated that the joint meeting between the Planning Commission and City Council will be held on June 6, 2023 at 5:00 PM. This joint meeting would replace the Commission’s regular meeting that would have been scheduled for June 14, 2023. • Deputy Director Cartmel introduced herself to the Planning Commission, noting that she worked as a Planning Supervisor and Lead Associate Planner in Jefferson County prior to joining the City of Port Angeles. • Planner Braudrick announced that Interim Director Gollub is retiring and expressed gratitude from staff for his service to the City. • Planner Braudrick announced that he had been promoted from Senior Planner to Principal Planner. • Planner Trevino urged the Commissioners to communicate with Planning Division staff frequently to ensure that issues such as meeting attendance are resolved appropriately. REPORTS OF COMMISSION MEMBERS • Commissioner Smith announced that the book she wrote is selling. Due to travel, she will likely join the next Planning Commission meeting virtually. ADJOURNMENT Chair Stanley announced that the meeting was adjourned at 7:38 PM. No motion was made regarding adjournment due to a lack of quorum. Zach Trevino, Secretary Ben Stanley, Chair MINUTES PREPARED BY: Zach Trevino, Secretary DocuSign Envelope ID: DA20A68C-6784-4F84-9EED-D5DFDCCF7FCF