HomeMy WebLinkAbout17-012 Related to the 2017 Annual Update of the City’s Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations, Initiating a Comprehensive Plan Amendment Related to the Howard Street and Sims Way CorridorsResolution 17-012
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RESOLUTION NO. 17-012
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND,
WASHINGTON, RELATED TO THE 2017 ANNUAL UPDATE OF THE CITY'S
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, INITIATING A
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT RELATED TO THE HOWARD STREET
AND SIMS WAY CORRIDORS
WHEREAS, on July 15, 1996, the City of Port Townsend ("City") adopted its 20 -Year
Comprehensive Growth Management Plan through Ordinance 2539 in order to meet the goals
and requirements of Chapter 36.70A of the Revised Code of Washington ("RCW")(the "Growth
Management Act," "Act," or "GMA"); and
WHEREAS, the City adopted its current Zoning Code as Title 17 of the Port Townsend
Municipal Code ("PTMC") on April 7, 1997 (Ordinance 2571) to comply with the GMA and to
implement the Plan; and
WHEREAS, as permitted and required by the GMA, the City has considered and
adopted several amendments to its Comprehensive Plan and development regulations through the
annual update and mid-cycle amendments; and
WHEREAS, the City imposed interim land use regulations for the area in the vicinity of
6th and 10th Streets and Howard Street and Discovery Way, which interim regulations have been
extended for 4 additional 6 -month periods in order to allow for the completion of the Hovee
economic study, and for staff to make recommendations related to that study; and
WHEREAS, on October 3, 2016, Council approved Ordinance 3514, adopting the 2016
GMA Periodic Update to the Comprehensive Plan. The update included revisions to reflect the
working vision for the Howard Street Corridor and directed staff to consider revisions to Land
Use Policy 10.9 to reflect the "working vision statement" for the Howard Street corridor and to
consider contracting with a land use consultant to formulate a subarea plan to implement the
recommendations of the Economic Feasibility Study; and
WHEREAS, on November 21, 2016 the City Council adopted Resolution 16-049, stating
that for the 2017 Comprehensive Plan annual update the City would only consider those
Comprehensive Plan amendments required by PTMC 20.04.035(B), and possible updates to the
City's Critical Areas Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, at the time Council approved Ordinance 3514 and Resolution 16-049, staff
anticipated only needing to make changes to the City's development regulations, which changes
would not require amendments to the Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, as a result of staff's review of the Hovee study, the 2007 Makers study, the
2010/11 BergerABAM analysis, and the 1993 Gateway Development Plan as well as its research
and interviews with property owners, Jefferson County Chamber, Jefferson's Economic
Development Council, and stakeholders, staff will be recommending that the City Council
consider new zoning classifications as well as development regulations in a study area that is
expanded from that in the Hovee Study and that is more consistent with the boundaries in the
Resolution 17-012
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Makers study and the BergerABAM analysis; the proposed study area will include both Howard
Street and the portion of Sims Way from Mill Rd. to Sheridan St.; and
WHEREAS, the consideration of new zoning classifications necessarily requires a
change to the Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, notwithstanding Resolution 16-049, PTMC 20.04.030A(1) allows the
Council to initiate amendments to the Comprehensive Plan during each annual amendment cycle
provided it makes a finding that waiting until the next scheduled annual amendment process
would be detrimental to the public's interests; and
WHEREAS, the proposed zoning classifications and development regulations, if
approved by Council, would replace the Interim Regulations; and
WHEREAS, if Council does not initiate a Comprehensive Plan amendment for the 2017
Annual Update cycle, the Interim Regulations will have to be extended at least two more times in
order to add consideration of these changes to the 2018 Annual Update Cycle, which would be
contrary to Council's direction to bring the subarea plan forward in 2017.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Port
Townsend:
The Council finds as follows:
a. that, with the completion of the Howard/Rainier Street project, there is a
pressing need to review and, if necessary, update the Comprehensive Plan.
b. that creating a study area expanded from that in the Hovee Study by utilizing
and integrating the various planning documents created over time allows for a
more comprehensive and coordinated planning process.
C. that extending the interim regulation for the Howard Street area without a long-
term solution is not an efficient use of City Resources.
d. That delaying consideration of these Comprehensive Plan amendments until
the 2018 annual amendment cycle would be detrimental to the public's interest.
2. Based on these findings, and as provided for in PTMC 20.04.030A(1) and
notwithstanding the limitation on suggested amendments in Resolution 16-049, the
City Council hereby initiates a Comprehensive Plan amendment for the 2017 annual
update cycle that includes the Howard Street study area as described in the Hovee
Study as well as the Sims Way Corridor from Discovery Road to Sheridan Street.
3. Staff is directed to draft a proposed final 2017 annual Comprehensive Plan docket as
provided for in PTMC 20.04.020B and submit the docket to Council for approval.
The final 2017 docket should include updates to the Critical Areas Ordinance, this
Council -initiated amendment, and any other amendments required under PTMC
Resolution 17-012
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20.04.020B.
ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend, Washington, at a regular
meeting thereof, held this 21St day of February, 2017.
Deborah S. Suns `
Mayor
Attest:
Joan��� Sanders, CMC
City Clerk
Approved as to form:
Steven L. Gross
City Attorney