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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05261994 Min Ag r, . .- t. City of Port Townsend Planning Commission 540 \Vater St., Port Townsend, \VA 98368 206/385·3000 PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA Business Meeting May 26, 1994 I. ROLL CALL II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: April 21, 1994 III. COMMUNICATIONS: Current mail IV. OLD BUSINESS A. Jefferson General Hospital (Conditional Use Permit Application #9401-11 (Rezone Application #9401-09 J. 2. 3. 4. Staff Report (Bloomfield) Public Testimony Committee Report (Enarson/Baird) Commission Discussion and Conclusions V. NEW BUSINESS VI. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Next Scheduled Meetings June 9. 1994 VII. ADJOURN " . e- e City of Port Townsend Planning Commission 540 \Vater St., Port Townsend, WA 98368 206/385·3000 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Business Meeting May 26, 1994 I. ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order at 7;04 p.m. by Chair Lois Sherwood. Other members in attendance were Karen Erickson, Lisa Enarson, Mark Welch, Bob Rickard and Cindy Thayer. Ernie Baird was excused. Staff members present were Darlene Bloomfield, Michael Hildt, and Pam Kolacy. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: April 23, 1994. The minutes from the meeting of April 23, 1994, we~e approved as corrected. III. COMMUNICATIONS: Current mail - Two additional letters were distributed that had not been received in time for the packets. IV. OLD BUSINESS - - A. _ Jefferson General Hospital (Conditional Use Permit Application #9401-11 and Rezone Application #9401-09) ThayeF noted before the staff report that she -lives in the neighborhood of the Hospital project and had one ex partê communication with a neighbor some time ago, but stopped that communication as soon as she realized its substance. Rickard suggested that public testimony would be easier if the rezone and conditional use permit applications were examined in tandem. He also noted that administrative SEP A lIas ~een approved and asked what relationship that would have to the Commission's :recommendations. M:-Hì.1dt noted- that the Planning Commission cannot edit the SEP A report, but if a decision is made that is at odds with the SEP A determination, the City Council would need to make an adjustment or remand the determination to the Director. He also noted that a threshold decision on SEPA does not constitute an approval of the project. 1. Staff Report (Bloomfield)- Rezone Application - Bloomfield reviewed the Staff Findings and Conclusions regarding - the rezone. The applicant has proposed to rezone the entire area owned by the applicant currently zoned R-l and R-3 to a P-l zone. The conclusion of staff is that the rezone would provide for an expansion of the existing hospital which is in the public interest, and would be consistent with the adjacent property which is already zoned as P-l. In answer to a question by Erickson, Bloomfield noted that clinics are currently not allowed outright in a P-l zone, but office and professional office buildings are allowed with a conditional use permit. Planning Commission Minutes May 26, 1994 Page 1 · · · Staff Report (Bloomfield) - Conditional Use Application Bloomfield distributed a memo regarding the proposed helipad showing three alternative placements. She noted that the FAA had withdrawn their previous approval of the helipad location pending the receipt of more details. This withdrawal affected the original staff findings and a copy of updated findings was distributed. Staff recommends the permit be granted with two conditions: (1) that the uses established on the subject rezoned P-l property shall be limited to medical related offices or other hospital related buildings; (2) that all future expansions of the hospital shall be subject to a conditional use permit and reviewed by the Planning Commission and City Council. Enarson questioned the discrepancy in off-street parking spaces. Bloomfield confirmed that the City is recommending a condition of 154 off-street parking spaces rather than the 140 proposed by the applicant. Rickard questioned the last sentence in findings of fact #34, and requested that "power lines" be added. 2. Public Testimony Tony DeLeo, Hospital Commissioner, Warren Tyler, Architect, and Vic Dirksen, Administrator, spoke for the applicants, summarizing the project and noting the last minute communication received from the FAA; Tyler also noted the hospital would like to include 15 parking spaces on improved 7th Street in the total parking credit. Dirksen noted the applicant's best .effort to meet all factors and responsibilities was before the Commission. Mrs. Joy Brydon deferred to Attorney Erwin Jones to address concerns about the proposed placement of the helipad. Jones noted concerns including whether the proposed size of the pad will be adequate for larger aircraft that the August 109; that during bad weather, a time most likely to lead to accidents, the helicopter path would be through the corridor next to the Brydons' residence; and whether the Hospital's recent designation as a trauma center will increase the number of flights from the current projected number. Jones encouraged the Commission to consider placement of the helipad on top of the hospital. He suggested that a subcommittee be formed to study this issue and make a recommendation to the whole Commission. Mr. Robert Brydon deferred to Paul Asmus who identified himself as a former owner and operator of helicopters with more than 35,000 flight hours. He passed out several documents to the Commission. His comments included an analysis of the adequacy of the safety zone for takeoff and landing from the proposed site, noting that the top of the hospital is in the flight path. He encouraged a rooftop location for the pad. Mark Hansen, Safety Director of Airlift Northwest which serves the hospital, noted that he had been contacted prior to speaking by both Mr. Tyler and Mr. Asmus. He considers the eastern approach corridor a good path and noted that the northwest approach is steeper than anticipated; therefore the eastern approach would probably be used more frequently than previously thought. He noted concerns with the western side because of the smokestack and lighting plus overall approach and climbing requirements. He also expressed concerns about overflying the parking lot. In answer to a question from Erickson, he noted that until this time, all patients have been flown out from the hospital rather than being brought to the hospital from other sites. He urged the Commission not to Planning Commission Minutes May 26, 1994 Page 2 - · · · make a decision without all the information on the table. Welch asked Hansen if he would be better served by a rooftop helipad. Hansen replied that in a perfect world he would always prefer being able to take off into the wind and this would be possible from a rooftop. He also noted that there were other safety factors to consider from rooftop helipads as well. Thayer asked Hansen to compare the proposed site with the present helipad site. He noted that an Eastern pad gives the helicopter more options, that his main concerns with the new site are the need to overfly more cars, that the overfly fan is limited, and that more buildings need to be overflown; however he also noted that they have looked at area thoroughly and believes NW Airlift can operate safely from the proposed helipad. At this point, Vic Dirksen, Hospital Administrator, requested that the Commission consider the rezone and conditional use applications with the exception of the helipad. He indicated that in light of the public testimony, hospital representatives would like to consider the helipad alternatives in more depth; he also noted that a temporary helipad might have to be arranged. Bob Gibson and Byron Swigart spoke against rezoning the present R-l and R-3 areas to P-l. Mr. Swigart also believes the drainage plan should be discussed further; he is concerned that the pond will not be drained dry as understood in the text of the Environmental Checklist Review but not in the Mitigating Conclusions. He is also concerned about a 12" pipe carrying all drainage and maintenance of the drains by the City. Hildt clarified that the applicant retains responsibility for all requirements spelled out in the SEP A process documents. It is intended that the applicant shall retain responsibility for all requirements drawn from the research and comments that resulted in the mitigation and determination and also that final design be approved by the Public Works Director. He also noted that the City Attorney has addressed the issue of zoning and found that parking areas and drainage detention ponds are accessory uses to' the hospital and must be in same zone as the expansion.. Pat Fuhrer, a licensed professional engineer retained by the hospital clarified that drainage would be contained by ditch retention and biofiltration. He also noted that all engineering calculations show that a 12" pipe will be adequate to handle the flows leaving the site.. All drainage plans are also subject to City Public Works guidelines. 3. Committee Report (Enarson, Rickard) Enarson presented the committee report as committee chair. Regarding the rezone application, the committee recommended that all hospital properties be .rezoned to P-1 as requested. She noted that public testimony has been in support and the public on the whole supports the expansion as evidenced by voter support for the construction bond. She noted that if the rezoning is accomplished the only future expansion of the area will be related to medical functions and that all applicants requesting conditional use permits will be required to go through full public process. If the areas were retained as residential, the property could be sold and taxpayers would have no Planning Commission Minutes May 26, 1994 Page 3 · · · review over what would be built there, no control over draininge, lighting, etc. She noted that the hospital has done much to mitigate the concerns of the neighborhood. Rickard added that by doing a rezone to a restricted P-l, it is clearer which uses may be considered in the future; that many uses, i.e., tourist homes, nursing homes, will not be allowed. Motion by Erickson to recommend approval of rezone application to City Council with the following changes: (I)Conclusion #5 changed to read "Because of the increase in population and the need to update current hospital facilities to meet hospital development requirements, and because Jefferson County voters have verified the need for increased services, a change of circumstances which justifies the rezone exists." and (2) to strike Conclusion #2 which references the helipad. Seconded by Enarson. All in favor. Commission members requested staff opinion on the practicality of proceeding with conditional use permit recommendation with the exception of the helipad. Hildt noted that it would be ideal to wrap it all up at the same time; however, the applicant has important concerns about getting construction underway in order to avoid extra costs to the hospital and taxpayers; there has already been a substantial delay because of SEP A appeals; Hildt suggested that the Commission make the recommendation excluding the helipad to keep application on track for City Council meeting on June 20. He noted that the Commission could ask the applicantal to come before the Commission again either with an amended application or an entirely new application. Enarson, as the committee chair, presented the committee report on the Conditional Use Application and recommended that Commission approve the application. Enarson noted that the language of Condition 2 may be sufficient to cover the helipad issue since the location of the helipad site would depend upon FAA approval. Thayer suggested that the recommendation should go forward with the exception of the helipad location which would be considered at the next meeting. It was also noted that the construction and use of a temporary helipad may be necessary. Rickard asked if there were any other aspects of the Conditional Use Application that the committee wished to discuss before voting. Thayer noted that she would recommend approval of the 154 parking spaces recommended by staff. There was no further discussion. Motion by Rickard that the Planning Commission recommend to City Council the approval of Conditional Use Application 9401-11 with the exception of all conditions relating to the placement and construction of the helipad. Welch seconded. Unanìmous approval. The next meeting of the Commission will be on June 16 for consideration of the applicant's final helipad proposal. IV. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 on a motion by Welch, seconded by Enarson. 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