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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10182001CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL SESSION OF OCTOBER 18, 2001 The City Council of the City of Port Townsend met in regular session this eighteenth day of October, 2001, at 6:30 p.m. in the Port Townsend Council Chambers of City Hall, Mayor Geoff Masci presiding. ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Councilmembers present at roll call were Allen Frank, Vern Garrison, Geoff Masci, Syd Lipton, and Alan Youse. Joe Finnie and Bill Wolcott were excused. Staff members present were City Manager David Timmons, City Attorney John Watts, BCD Director Jeff Randall, Assistant Planner Jean Walat and City Clerk Pam Kolacy. CHANGESTOTHEAGENDA Mr. Masci noted that the third item, regarding the home occupation ordinance, was mistakenly identified as a public hearing and would be placed under "Unfinished Business". CITY MANAGER'S REPORT Mr. Timmons noted that the preliminary budget would be completed for distribution by noon on Friday. PUBLIC HEARINGS ORDINANCE 2778 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF CHAPTER 19.04 OF THE PORT TOWNSEND MUNICIPAL CODE, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TO INCREASE THE SEPA CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION TO NINE DWELLING UNITS, AMENDING CHAPTER 18.12 PTMC ON SHORT SUBDIVISIONS, AND AMENDING CHAPTER 20.01 PUBLIC NOTICE PROVISIONS FOR 5-9 DWELLING UNIT MULTI-FAMILY DESIGN REVIEW Mr. Masci opened the legislative public hearing. He asked whether any council members had any financial or property interests in the matter at hand. There were none. Staff presentation City Council Special Meeting Page 1 October 18, 2001 BCD Director Jeff Randall presented the issue. He noted the proposal would raise the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) threshold in the Port Townsend Municipal Code from four dwelling units to nine dwelling units. The exemption may be raised through a "flexible threshold" process permitted under state law. He noted that the Planning Commission held a public hearing on August 30 and unanimously recommended the exemption threshold be raised to nine. The Commission also recommended that a notice of application and 20-day comment period be provided for multi-family projects of 5-9 dwelling units to replace the notice that would normally occur through the SEPA notice. The notice would include direct mailing to neighbors within 300 feet and posting of the site. Applicants would pay an additional fee to cover the notice costs. Staff and Planning Commission noted that short subdivisions are already exempt from SEPA for up to nine units and here are several other review regulations in place that already deal with possible environmental impacts. The floor was then open to the public for comment. Nancy Dorgan. Stated that on the surface it doesn't seem like a huge change but to someone living next to a wooded area the erection of such a project can be a shock and notice should be required. She added that transportation issues are consistently falling through the cracks in required review. The council posed questions to Mr. Randall. He clarified that the Engineering Design Standards are in place to deal with environmental questions if the nine units are single family homes. Mr. Masci asked that since the Planning Commission simply voted on the suggested revision and did not provide their own findings and conclusions since this is a legislative matter, that an explanatory note to that effect be added to the staff memo. Mr. Masci asked if the audience had any clarifying information to add. There was none. Public testimony was then closed. There was brief council discussion. Motion. Mr. Frank moved to suspend council rules and that the first reading be considered the second reading and the third reading be by title only. Mr. Garrison seconded The motion carried unanimously, 5-0, by voice vote. Ms. Kolacy read the ordinance title Motion: Mr. Frank moved for adoption of Ordinance 2778. Mr. Youse seconded The motion carried unanimously, 5-0, by roll call vote. City Council Special Meeting Page 2 October 18, 2001 ORDINANCE 2779 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF CHAPTERS 17.08 (DEFINITIONS)AND 17.78 (WIRELESS FACILITIES) OF THE PORT TOWNSEND MUNIC9IPAL CODE TO EXPAND THE TYPES OF PERMITTED WIRELESS FACILITIES Mr. Youse stated he wished to recuse himself because of his employment with Qwest. Mr. Masci asked if any other council members had property or financial interest in the outcome of this matter. There were none. Mr. Youse left the chambers. Mr. Randall presented the ordinance, stating that the proposed amendments are being sought to exempt certain tyPes of next generation wireless antennas from review under the city's zoning code. Currently no distinction is made very small, low-powered antennas and the considerably larger traditional cellular phone antennas and equipment. Without the amendment, the code will hinder the creation of wireless networks for the distribution of Internet data. The Planning Commission held workshops regarding the amendments on October 12, 2000 and January 25, 2001. A public hearing before the Planning Commission was held on August 30, 2001 where the A public hearing was held before thePlanning Commission on August 30, 2001 and a unanimous recommendation made to council for adoption. Public comment: Dana Roberts spoke in favor of adoption. There was no further public comment. Mr. Lipton suggested incorporating more flexibility into the ordinance. Motion: Mr. Frank moved to suspend council rules and consider the first reading the second and the third by title only. Mr. Garrison seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 4-0, by voice vote (Mr. Youse recused). Ms. Kolacy read the ordinance by title. Motion: Mr. Frank moved for adoption of Ordinance 2779. Mr. Garrison seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 4-0 by roll call vote (Mr. Youse excused). Mr. Youse returned to' the meeting. UNFINISHED BUSINESS RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH A CITIZEN'S ADVISORY GROUP TO STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT REGULATING HOME OCCUPATIONS IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES City Council Special Meeting Page 3 October 18, 2001 Assistant Planner Jean Walat presented the issue. She stated the Planning Commission has reviewed and discussed staff-proposed changes to the municipal code section regulating home occupations at two Planning Commission meetings. The Commission was unable to reach consensus on proposed changes and recommends that a citizen advisory group be convened to study the regulation of home occupations and to recommend changes to the municipal code as necessary. Public comment Nancy D0rgan stated this is a good topic for broader community meetings. Motion: Mr. Frank moved to establish a citizen advisory board on home occupations to include seven citizen members, with two Planning Commissioners as advisory liaisons to that committee and that the committee be tasked to report back to both the Planning Commission and City Council within 45 days from the date of the appointment of the committee members. Mr. Garrison seconded The motion carried unanimously, 5-0, by voice vote. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m. Attest: Pamela Kolacy, CMC City Clerk City Council Special Meeting Page 4 October 18, 2001