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Home My WebLink About062316 CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION OF JUNE 23, 2016 CALL TO ORDER The Port Townsend Planning Commission met in regular session on June 23, 2016, in the City Council Chambers at 540 Water Street. Chair Frick called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Commissioners present at roll call were Kirit Bhansali, Nan Evans, Douglas Frick, and Rick Jahnke, with Monica MickHager, Dwight Nicholson, and Paul Rice excused. Staff members present were Planning Director Lance Bailey, Planning Manager/Senior Planner Judy Surber, City Attorney Steve Gross, Public Works Director Ken Clow, City Engineer David Peterson, and Deputy Clerk Amber Long. ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA Motion: Kirit Bhansali moved to accept the agenda. Rick Jahnke seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 4-0 by voice vote. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JUNE 9, 2016 Motion: Rick Jahnke moved to approve the minutes of June 9, 2016. Kirit Bhansali seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 4-0 by voice vote. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT Todd Wexman asked about the involvement of Eric Toews in the Comprehensive Plan update process. Commissioners and staff provided a response. OLD BUSINESS GMA Periodic Update — Continuation of Public Hearing and Planning Commission Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations Continued Public Hearing The public hearing was resumed. Chair Frick stated that the public testimony portion had been closed and no additional testimony would be taken, but the record had been left open until 3 p.m. on June 23rd. Deputy Clerk Amber Long listed the comments that were received by the cutoff time. Planning Manager/Senior Planner Judy Planning Commission Meeting June 23, 2016 Page 1 of 4 Surber responded to written comments and discussed the meeting handouts, which included comments by Commissioner Evans, an errata sheet, and the recently adopted strategic plan. The Commission discussed the written comments and asked questions about the staff response to these comments. Commissioner MickHager joined the meeting at 6:46 p.m. Motion: Rick Jahnke moved to change Policy 5.3(a) of the Transportation Element to read. "Physically separating pedestrian and vehicle (including bicycles) traffic." Monica MickHager seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 5-0 voice vote. The Commission generally agreed to make the following changes: Introduction, pages 2-1 or 2- 2: Add another bulleted item under the Why Plan? section that will read: "How can we best prepare and adapt to a host of future conditions including changes in our climate?" Introduction, page 2-5: Reword the 10th sentence of the How Will the Plan Be Implemented? section to read: "Some of the short-term actions include reviewing the City's municipal code (e.g ., zoning and subdivision ordinances) to ensure implementation of the vision, goals, and policies of the Plan." Introduction, page 2-14: Include a bullet under Uncertainty of Assumptions similar to the language on page 4-7 (for example, "The projected population growth may not accurately represent changes in population trends due to currently unknown factors, such as climate change.") Transportation Element, page 6-5: Replace the third sentence (starting "This leaves...") under Transit Access and Availability with: "Improved service frequency and coverage in Port Townsend would be desirable as a way to reduce auto travel and improve the quality of service for transit-dependents." Transportation Element, page 6-5: In the last sentence under Transit Access and Availability, add the phrase "as well as other ways" after "supportive amenities." Transportation Element, page 6-30: Change the second sentence (starting "Since the City...") of the second-to-last paragraph to read: "Since the City is not a provider of transit, it must work closely with Jefferson Transit to help improve transit service in the community." Glossary: Add definitions listed in the comments from Commissioner Evans, only if definitions already exist in City code or State statute. There was extensive discussion about Land Use Element Policies 8.1 through 8.9. Motion: Nan Evans moved to separate out "climate change adaptation"from the discussion of air quality management, greenhouse gas reduction, and climate change mitigation, creating two separate categories. Monica MickHager seconded. Vote: motion failed, 1-4 by voice vote. Planning Commission Meeting June 23, 2016 Page 2 of 4 Nan Evans moved to add a new subpolicy to Policy 8.8 of the Land Use Element, reading: "Consider including some of the land use recommendations and approaches identified in the North Olympic Peninsula Resource Conservation & Development Council Climate Preparedness Plan." Commissioner Evans amended the motion to start with the word "Consider..." and follow with key items from the appendix to the NOP RC&D Climate Preparedness Plan. After discussion, Ms. Evans withdrew her motion. Staff explained the Commission's options regarding the public hearing and providing a recommendation to City Council. There was consensus to close the public hearing and forward the proposed changes in the recommendations to City Council. Motion: Nan Evans moved to adopt all items (#1-4) on the errata sheet; Kirit Bhansali seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 5-0 voice vote. The public hearing was closed. Planning Commission Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations Ms. Surber gave an overview of the draft Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations, which are organized by element as agreed upon by the Commission at the previous meeting. Editorial corrections from the Commission included: Finding 22 (page 4): add a comma after "natural disasters" Finding 23 (page 5): add "of' between "inclusive" and "other" Criteria 5 and 6 (page 12): in the second sentence of the non-italicized language, delete the word "to" after "cites" and add "that" as follows: "...and climate change that all point to large scale..." Motion: Nan Evans moved to approve Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations. Monica MickHager seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 5-0 voice vote. Short-Term Rentals/Vacation Rentals/Transient Accommodations Code Revisions Planning Director Lance Bailey explained that the SpeakUp discussion on short-term rentals has been extended through July, and members of the public may also submit written comments. For the next meeting, staff expects to be providing the Commission with a summary of information from Hovee study related to short-term rentals, data on number of beds for vacationers in Port Townsend, and staff recommendations. Public comment: Jeff Randall spoke about affordable housing and against commercial use of residential properties. He shared information about regulations in Chicago. Public comment: Fred Nussbaum spoke in favor of allowing owner-occupied short-term rentals and consolidating the related code. There was a discussion of what "owner-occupied" means, and staff confirmed that the Planning Commission Meeting June 23, 2016 Page 3 of 4 term will need to be addressed during the code consolidation process. Mr. Bailey clarified the process of providing a recommendation to Council. There was also a discussion of grandfathered properties; staff will provide more information at the next meeting. NEW BUSINESS - NONE OTHER BUSINESS - NONE UPCOMING MEETINGS The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 13th. COMMUNICATIONS - NONE ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:13 p.m. Attest: Pla ping Commission Chair City Clerk's Office Planning Commission Meeting June 23, 2016 Page 4 of 4