HomeMy WebLinkAbout061063 Min Packet i
June 10, 1963
PORT TOWNSE D PLANNING C WISSIMINUTES
The regular meeting; of the Planning Commission scheduled for
this date could not be convexed by the Chairman due to the
absence of a quorum. Members present were: Mr.Hall, Mr.CopDs
and fir. Dei ts. Mayor Sullivan was a visitor.
The Chairman decided to proceed unofficially.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read by the Secretary.,
The regular meeting of May 13th was postponed because the Mayor
and the scheduled speaker could not be present.
There were no communications to be read..
The Chairman submitted a report of his expenditures from
December 6, 1962 to June 1 ,, 1963 - totalling $119.8'7, copy of
which is attached.
Unfinished business - none.
New business - Mr. Deits asked what steps can next be taken b the
Commission* Mr. Mall replied that the state offered to sena a
man up at any time une our request.
The Chairman reported on his attendance to the national conference
of the American Society of Planning Officials , copy attached.
Following an explanation the Chairman announced his resignation
from the Planning Commission effective at once this was confirmed
in writing to the Mayor on the f oll owin day) * He suggested tha t
the Mayor consider Gorden Papritz and Claude DeCory as possible
successors. The Mayon asked that he contact Mr*DeCory which he
agreed to do,
All the books and publications regarding the Planning Commission
were turned over to the Ticeehair an r.Deits by Mr. Hall,
,
Under the circumstances and f or personal reasons it seemed
appropriate to the secretary that she resin which she proceeded to do.
The meeting terminated and those present were reminded that the
next regular meeting date was July 8th,
Jean Bradley
Secretary.
a `
June 10, 1963
REPORT NT�'N AN 71 AT Tir C0RqTRFNGF of THE AITRICAN SOCIETYF PLANTING OFFICIALS
May 6th & 'nth
1 7hcn May 6 th & 7th -
Attendance: About 300 Age g oup 30 to 5 "r few rcmen and vr-r r few may hairs
Where: Olympic Hotel
17ha� High level conference with top flight speakers covering numerous topics
with overlapping schedules.
attended those pe taining to Zoning and the use of Consultants.
F To beCin with, City Planning is the most miser .bl a job in the world.
It consists of sellin, new ideas whinb no one s =s to want to listen to.
The Planner is continuously faced with the job of trying to fit a size 7 plan into
a size 5 ouunc-1
The A B GIs of. Zon n" stands forV-7t.YS BE CONCT,-RIMOI R&T 4 'TIDO AN
1NTAY SFR 3
Zoning is t only way in which the individual property orner can protect himself
from the infringement o other interests.
Pl .nning Commissions ishould always be open,-minded, recenti.ve to new Ideas in zonin. q.
Zoning o din nc s cc n always be an-ornd-d to V-1ccomodate nes ideasas well a3 to plug
loop—holes and provide for other types of corrective actJ on o
One way in which to avoid much local criticism and complaint at the outset, is to TJOT
zone by Districts, but to zone for entire areas with limitations on expansion of
e istin z areas and defend thea, requiring special permits when variance is sought.
Property offers tend to resist zoning for fear of downward changes in -valuation, but
this is generally due to a lack of understanding. Actually, zoning tends to increase
0
rather than decrease values because of hhe protection it offers ggainst infioltration
of lower class construction and certain types of business- such as service stations*
Zoning sees to have folloird the a.ge,,old custom f placing industry in the least
desirable areas commercial along highways, and hold the single—family rs idenc
, ., . - be rile, hood not be the case today due t new ideas, new
concepts and nc w trends, -
Zoning is intended to permit or providc for development in proper sec uence
ML
Relief from znning restrictions can bo obtained thru the uca oma` a Board oll, 7-riances.
Applications from relief should be considered on thn basis of economic hardship to
the individual. However, once you tae dawn the gars or open the gate to variances
In a given area, you can gcncrallly expect a flood of such applications and the ::*ood
are literally full of champions rho can raise more issues., throw up more smoke screens,
and becloud the basic facts.. that it behoves the Board to keep in rind the issues and
bases upon v hick the zoning restrictions were ori in .11 placed.
'lost of us tend to approach plarming vrithout thinldng it thru hoping that sono miracle
will happen to iron out the difficulties without a* effort on their pant, hoping also
that a friendly WITCH will happen by and turn their p oblem into a motel or somet? ng
equally simplo,,
Our approach rr st be flexible, couched in easily understood language applied to such
specific requirements and avoid such phrased as "you cant do this" or"you can do that'
in dravaing up our zoning ordinances thereby avoiding public thru Mi sunder•standing
and/or rc a tin nt. But check the State Enabling Act before doing anything.
The Planning CoTmmission, after carePal study and research, should prepare the draft of
the zoning ordinance for the City Council as a part of the overall or chens
lan which of course rust be dra*in up First.
Avlid roqucsts for rezoning especially if th-- underlying purpose appears to be
speculative in -nature. The 21a*dt."u.sc part of the coraproh nsive plan should govern.
Spot,,tonin.- is sore times feasible but i usu^11y bads t trouble. Gas stations
for e i-npl , but they can be limited byo. .n g for di stance and safety factors.
Prepare special maps for each zone and be sure they are tied in with the maps included
in the c r-prehen ive plan.
Planning riust work with politics., the local kdministnation and the Public.
The P .p.nning Commission is a legitimate function of civil- goverment and should be
protected fro- illadvilsed Council Members. It is a btaff Departmant., advisonr in
cap,ci y and not autonomous. 1t can only be advanced by respect and confidence.
The comprohan ive plan should be under continuous revi ::r with changes beim m d
keep pace with a pansion and other tnfluencing factors,
odi 'i_cat on off' tb City -. nine ;s a b?sic rp uirernt that will pay or itsse '.
USF OF C 1,TkNT
The use of consultants by most all branches of the citr government is a un: verspl
precticr:. Insofar P.s planni s converned, they are generally called upon to
pr pare all or a most i porkant parts of ter! comprehansive plan, to make sad;P.s
to pr pare gaps, to determine administrative costs and to codify crdinances to name
fes.
Consultants are used to supplement the pl nning staff and not as a substituto therefor.
Consultants should be e toyed by contract only,
Such contracts should include:
Area to be coveted, description of the area, list of services to be performed,
reports he is to submit, perf ormance sched rle, visits he is to make, personnel t
be assigned by the city, c omple ti on date, conditions and method of payment -- partial
or full, provisions for changes, miner in which changes e made, local facilities
to be made available, responsibility of agency planning, and the repr. sentative of
the city and the c onsultartt to handle problems as t hey arise.
In interviewing a consultant prospectively., ask him: How the problem should be solved,
what should be covered, hoer it should be done, and what it should cost, Require
adequate references. Visit cities or counties in which the consultant has done work.
It is better to be safe than sorry. However, in taking advantage of the Federal ' l
Program which most cities and counties do, the State is the agency which handles the
details and they will specify the consultant or contractor to be used and also handle
the supervidion,, but the Plannin Commission mays make recommendations to the State
as to who they would like to have do the work. The State has all the information
on this program and can advise lahen to use a consultant, hoer to select a consultant,
how to determine his qualifications, and what is reasonable cost.
Projects must be tailored to fir the city and the cost tailored to fir the project,
Other uses to which consultants may bc pug ares rc c l am tin o tide lar ,
Water
adequacy of budgets, -- source - storage rmnd di p r al .w.zere - installation,
treatm nt and disposal wysttsm .
NOTE, The panel system of presenting plans to civic groups or pe oplo with the use of
dither nates, written outline or d tail n.d written pre senna t�on has been found lost useful*
cue wsay f ro the conference rrith a jl.eclingof i
To: The Port Townsend PlanninaCo .s ion,
Pelcu is listed the expenditures made in furtherance of the Commissionts efforts
during the period December 6 1962 and June 1.0th 1963:
Postage, envelopes and stationery 2.00
Office supplies -- folders and fasteners 5*10
Bib]i cations: 7*10
Public Administration Service 3 copies Mr Plan. Corr. 3.5o
5 do 5,o
1 copy Land use manual 6,00 14o50
American 'Society Planning Offioial.s I copy Modea. Ordihance 2#50 .50
University of Washington Press 2 copies Muni.. &ft, 10.60 1 .60
American Society of Planning Off icials Conference:
(per request the Commission
Registration fee 20*00
Hotel. 8.77
Meals and tips 8.00
36.77
Transportation:
Dec. 162 Trip to Port Angeles (City Mgr) per M y or's request 10.00
Jan. 163 Trip to Bremerton (CityEngineer) 100,00
April. t63 Trip to Seattle (Workshop on Restoration old Bldgs, 10.60
May 163 Trip to Seattle (ALPO Conference) 10000
Dec. 162 to June '63 Intra-city travel 8.
48.40
amqw
TOTAL EXPENDITURES TO DATE $x-9.87
a
Chairman