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HomeMy WebLinkAbout041212 CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION BUSINESS MEETING OF APRIL 12, 2012 CALL TO ORDER The City of Port Townsend Planning Commission met in regular session the 12th day of April 2012 in the City Council Chambers of City Hall, Chair Steven Emery presiding. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Commissioners present at roll call were Steven Emery, Monica Mick-Hager, Jerauld Fry, and Gee Heckscher with Sarah Bowman excused. Staff members present were Planning Director Judy Surber, and City Clerk Pam Kolacy. ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA Motion: Jerauld Fry moved to approve agenda as presented. Gee Hecksher seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 4-0 by voice vote. Mr. Emery stated that Cate Comerford has resigned from the Commisson due to time contraints which prevent her from devoting enough time to the Commission and thanked her for her service. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - NONE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT There was no general public comment. Mr. Heckscher commented that he watched the last meeting via webstream and asked that Commissioners remember to use microphones and speak clearly. He did not hear the motions that were made and asked for clarification. He also asked who has been appointed to the Parks Plan subcommittee. He was advised that the approved motion was to recommend to City Council that items 2.5 and 2.6, Kah Tai policy language, be placed on hold pending resolution of the lawsuit with the Port of Port Townsend. In answer to his question about appointments to the Parks Functional Plan subcommittee, appointees are Monica Mick-Hager, Sarah Bowman, Rosemary Sikes and Lys Burden. NEW BUSINESS - NONE SCHEDULED OLD BUSINESS - 2011 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DELIBERATIONS, FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS (CONTINUED FROM MARCH 22, 2012) Planning Commission Consideration of Draft Findings & Conclusions Regarding Recommendation to City Council to Remove the Following from the 2011 Planning Commission Meeting April 12, 2012 Page 1 of 4 Comprehensive Plan Docket Item 2.5: Kah Tai Lagoon Park Policy Item 2.6: Kah Tai Lagoon Park Policy Alternative Language Item 3: Adoption of Amendments to Port Townsend Parks, Recreation and Open Space Functional Plan Planning Manager Judy Surber reviewed the packet materials, noting that three public comment letters received since the last meeting are included. The recommendation has two parts: 1) for Council to place both Items 2.5 and 2.6 regarding the Kah Tai policies on hold pending resolution of the lawsuit with the Port of Port Townsend; 2) for Council to remove Item 3, Park Plan update, from the 2011 Docket to allow additional time for public input The Planning Commission would then work with the sub-committee on Draft 3, release it for additional public comment and assess next steps at that stage. She reviewed the draft Findings and Conclusions document and noted that it contains some background material to refresh the Council on the docket as they have not seen it in some time. She reviewed each docket item in the report. Ms. Surber stated that once the Council determines whether the three items recommended will be placed on hold, Planning Commission can finalize action on the remaining docketed items. She summarized the background and rationale, including changed circumstances, for the items that Planning Commission is suggesting being removed from the docket She also noted a correction to the findings and conclusions, that both the vote records should be 5-0-0 rather than 6-0-0. Ms. Surber reviewed in detail the Findings and Conclusions regarding Items 2.5 and 2.6. Ms. Surber reviewed in detail the findings and conclusions for Item 3. She noted that tonight's public comment should focus specifically on the draft findings. Public comment: David Goldman commented on the establishment of the subcommittee. He believes that members of the Parks, Recreation and Tree Advisory Board should not be considered "members of the public" because they were appointed to the committee by the City Council and therefore are not community representatives. Julie Jaman agreed with Mr. Goldman's comments. She also objected to Item 2.4 going forward on the 2012 docket. She believes the Friends of Kah Tai language editing the goals and policies should have been included. Planning Commission Meeting April 12, 2012 Page 2 of 4 There was no further public comment. Ms. Surber commented that staff in no way wishes to discourage public participation. It is encouraged at the sub-committee level. The third draft will be released for public comment as well. She added that the rationale for appointing Parks Board members is that they have extensive history with the plan and expertise in the issues that will be addressed. She stated they are citizen representatives and not elected officials. Ms. Surber stated, in regard to Item 2.4 being removed from the docket, that the goals and policies are very administrative and very straightforward and can be inserted into the Comprehensive Plan at this time. Staff does not believe they need to wait for the Parks Functional Plan process to catch up. She added there will be opportunity for comment on this and other docketed items at the Council level but staff believes 2.4 should go forward at this time. In response to a question, staff clarified that the action at the last meeting was to determine the Commission's recommendations on the final docket and to instruct staff to bring forward the findings and conclusions with associated rationale for the recommendations to the City Council. Mr. Fry noted that the Council still has the option to make changes after considering the recommendations. Ms. Surber explained that because Council's decision will be simply whether or not to docket the items, there will not be a lot of additional information forwarded to the Council with the findings and recommendations. More background information is provided at the time the decision on whether or not to approve the amendments is considered. She said the packet for Council would probably include Exhibit B. Ms. Mick-Hager stated she is comfortable with the Findings and Conclusions. She also said that she is comfortable with the make-up of the sub-committee. She noted all meetings of the subcommittee will be open, less formal than the Planning Commission, and that a great deal of public comment will be gathered. She stated that there will be considerable dialogue at the meetings. She also commented that she considers those who volunteer to serve on boards and commissions do not lose their status as community members and should be credited for stepping forward to serve. It would be unfortunate to feel that volunteering made you less a member of the public. She also noted that she and Ms. Sikes have many years of service on the Parks Board and a great deal of background through that process and so will be excellent representatives. Motion: Jerauld Fry moved to approve findings and conclusions to Council as drafted and that the Council also receive the packet of community comments with the document. Gee Hecksher seconded. Planning Commission Meeting April 12, 2012 Page 3 of 4 Vote: motion carried unanimously, 4-0 by voice vote. Ms. Surber noted that public comment on Draft 2 has been open since last October. If comment is closed now, the subcommittee can concentrate on Draft 3 rather than continuing to see comments on Draft 2. She also noted that any letters received after comment is closed would not receive staff response or be included in future packets. Staff would let anyone who commented know that comment is closed and notify them of any further opportunities for comment, for example, when the issue comes before the City Council. Motion: Gee Hecksher moved to approve close public testimony on Item 3, Draft Parks Functional Plan update at this time. Monica Mick-Hager seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 4-0 by voice vote. UPCOMING MEETINGS APRIL 26 - CANCELLED MAY 10 - CONTINUED HEARING ON THE 2011 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOCKET - FINALIZE RECOMMENDATION, FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS ON THE BALANCE OF THE 2011 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOCKET The upcoming meetings schedule was reviewed. On May 10, if Council has approved the findings and conclusions, staff will bring forward the balance of the docket with draft findings and conclusions for those items. COMMUNICATIONS ADJOURNMENT Motion: Jerauld Fry moved to adjourn . Monica Mick-Hager seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 4-0 by voice vote. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:26 p.m. Attest: /PI nnin Cori rr�i io Chair 1 � m City Clerk's Office � Planning Commission Meeting April 12, 2012 Page 4 of 4