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Home My WebLink About08311995 Min Ag . .. . City of Port Townsend Planning Commission 540 Water St., Port Townsend, WA 98368 206/385-3000 PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA (Revised) Business Meeting I. ROLL CALL II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: August 10, 1995 m. COMMUNICATIONS: Current mail IV. OLD BUSINESS A. S1. Herman of Alaska Eastern Orthodox Church Variance Application #9507-05 1. 2. 3. 4. Staff Report (Judy Surber) Public Testimony Committee Report (WelchIThayer) Commission Discussion and Conclusions B. Text Amendment to PTMC 17.50, SIGNS (#9506-Q4) 1. Staff Report (pam Kolacy) 2. Public Testimony 3. . Commission Discussion and Conclusions V. NEW BUSINESS VI. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Next Scheduled Meetings August 31, 1995 S~tember 14. 1995 Parkview Preliminary Plat (#9009-03), Request for one-year extension S~tember 28. 1995 Hamilton Heights PUD #9409-05, Ken McBride, Proponent (EnarsonlWe1ch) VII. ADJOURN - · · · - . City of Port Townsend Planning Commission 540 Water St., Port Townsend, WA 98368 206/385-3000 PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA Business Meeting I. ROLL CALL II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: August 10, 1995 m. COMMUNICATIONS: Current mail IV. OLD BUSINESS A. S1. Herman of Alaska Eastern Orthodox Church Variance Application #9507-05 1. 2. 3. 4. Staff Report (Judy Surber) Public Testimony Committee Report (We1chlThayer) Commission Discussion and Conclusions B. Text Amendment to PTMC 17 .50, SIGNS (#9506-04) 1. Staff Report (Dave Robison) 2. Public Testimony 3. Commission Discussion and Conclusions C. Parkview Preliminary Plat (#9009-03) Request for one-year extension 1. Staff Report (Dave Robison) 2. Public Testimony 3. Commission Discussion and Conclusions V. NEW BUSINESS VI. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Next Scheduled Meetings S~ptel11~er 14. 1995 S~tember 28. 1995 VII. ADJOURN August 31, 1995 ......... · · · . . . City of Port Townsend Planning Commission 540 Water St., Port Townsend, WA 98368 206/385-3000 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES August 31, 1995 I. ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Chair Lois Sherwood. Other members in attendance were Mark Welch, Ian Keith, Cindy Thayer, Lisa Enarson, and Karen Erickson. Staff members present were Judy Surber and Pam Kolacy. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the August 10, 1995 meeting were unanimously approved as written. III. COMMUNICATIONS There were no communications. IV. OLD BUSINESS A. St. Herman of Alaska Eastern Orthodox Church Variance Application #9507-05 1. Staff Report (Judy Surber) Surber described applicant's proposal to construct a church with an onion dome and cross mounted on top of its bell tower resulting in an overall height of 44 feet in an R-l zone. The Port Townsend Municipal Code restricts height to 30 feet in the R -1 zoning district; therefore a variance is required for the proposed tower. She noted that the church roof excluding the dome and cross would not exceed the height limit and that several churches in the City have bell towers or steeples which exceed 30 feet in height. A tower of up to 50 feet in height would be allowed by the Uniform Building Code. Planning Commission August 31, 1995 Page 1 ';i "'"t · · · . , . Surber stated that Finding of Fact #6 in the Staff Report should be modified. The tower is actually on the west side of the building, not internal to the site, and is set back 7 feet from the property line. She noted also that the church is quite small in area, and the scale and design would be compatible with the surrounding neighborhood. Surber stated that one letter in support of the project had been received. Staff recommends approval of the variance and that the one condition in the Draft Findings and Conclusions be deleted. 2. Public Testimony Father Nicho~as Kime, the project proponent, was present to speak in favor of the project. He brought building plans and an additional elevation for the Commissioners to see. Commissioner Erickson entered the meeting at 7:09. Father Kime noted he understands why height restrictions exist, but said he has talked with several people in the area and has found no one who does not support the building project. He stated that everyone to whom he has spoken feels it will be a pleasant visual addition to the neighborhood. Enarson asked if there is any intention to use the church for other functions. Father Kime stated there was not. The church is designed with an interior loft which is just big enough for a combination office, baby crying room, and storage. There will be no basement, parish hall, or living quarters. Enarson asked how often the bell would be rung. Kime replied it would be rung at least every Sunday before services, and probably Saturday night, and occasionally during the week before special services. He noted the bells are not amplified. Surber reminded the Commissioners that the ringing of the bell was not regulated by any ordinance and was not a part of the variance application. There were no further questions, and no other public testimony. 3. Committee Report (Welch, Thayer) Welch stated his opinion that the church would be less aesthetically pleasing without the tower. Thayer agreed and also recommended that the Condition be deleted. She moved to recommend for approval to City Council without the condition and with changes as suggested by staff to Finding No.6 and the addition in Finding No.8 that one letter was received. Welch seconded. There was no Commission discussion. The motion passed with five in favor, one abstention. Planning Commission August 31, 1995 Page 2 v __.... · · · . " B. Text Amendment to PTMC 17.50, SIGNS (#9506-04) 1. Staff Report (Pam Kolacy) Keith noted that he had a potential conflict of interest because he is a candidate for office and part of the proposed amendment relates political signage. He offered to remove himself from the proceedings, but there was no objection to him remaining. Kolacy described the changes proposed to the Sign Code. The amendment to PTMC 17.50.070(F) was accompanied by a memo from City Attorney Tim McMahan, explaining his recommendation that the City ordinance be changed to conform to a recent Washington Supreme Court ruling which struck down restraints on duration of political sign display. The present condition in the PTMC requiring that political signs be displayed "no earlier than 30 days prior to the election" would be eliminated. The other proposed amendment to the sign code would allow more square footage for multiple-business directory signs. This would allow each individual business on a directory sign enough room to display its name in a manner that can easily be read by passing motorists. Additional square footage is also proposed to allow and encourage the name of the business complex to be displayed without using any of the area allotted to individual business names.. Staff recommends approval of both proposed sign code amendments, noting that the Code would continue to carry out its designated purpose, while allowing more flexibility for business owners and encouraging the erection of directory signs for multiple-business complexes. 2. Public Testimony There was no public testimony. 3. Commission Discussion and Conclusions Commissioners questioned the difference between single business and multi-business monument signs and asked for clarification of the distance signs need to be set back from property lines. Kolacy noted that Commissioners did not receive a copy of the entire section regarding freestanding signs. 17.50.060 (E)(1) deals with single-business monument signs and an exception under 17.50.06O(E)(4) was not included. The exception notes that alternate placement approved by the Director may be allowed as part of a streetscape improvement project under the Gateway Plan. Kolacy said these parts of the Code would be added for City Council's information. Planning Commission August 31, 1995 Page 3 -~ · · · . " ~ Some discussion of enforcement ensued. Enarson noted she would like Council to consider Planning Commission's recommendation that sign code enforcement be pursued more vigorously in the future. Thayer moved to recommend to City Council that the Text Amendment to PTMC 17.50 be approved. Welch seconded. All were in favor. V. NEW BUSINESS There was no new business. VI. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Next Scheduled Meetings September 14. 1995 Parkview Preliminary Plat (#9009-03). Request for one-year extension. There is not likely to be a quorum for this meeting. Surber contacted Dave Robison by phone to ask whether delaying this item would affect any deadline applicable to the extension application. Robison said it would not. The item will be rescheduled. September 28. 1995 Parkview Preliminary Plat (#9009-03), Request for one-year extension Hamilton Heights PUD #9409-05, Ken McBride, Proponent (Enarson/Welch) VII. ADJOURN The meeting was adjourned at 7:58 PM. QanJtZ CÞ{ t-f~ Pamela Kolacy . Administrative Assistant Planning Commission August 31, 1995 Page 4 11; ._/~" -.". '" 6 . . e e Guest List Meeting o.t A¡¿¡./1/,A//A/Q COAl'Æ1/5510//'/' ~~~se: Sf. II~JJ/ /i_/JU/<;Jq- -I- SlOAt Coo~ ~rr /!/J1U/JAf6yr Name (pleue print) Address T p-~timonv? VF~ ~ - - ..__.__._~."--.--.--