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HomeMy WebLinkAbout030926 City Council Workshop (Joint PC) Meeting PacketPORT TOWNSEND CITY COUNCIL AGENDA CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 540 WATER STREET Workshop Meeting with Planning Commission 6:00 p.m. March 9, 2026 • Attend in person or virtually via computer or tablet at 11.gp,s,.//zoomus/j/98187633367 enter the Webinar ID 98187633367 • Phone only (muted - listen -only mode) United States: Local Dial In — 1(253)215- 8782„981876333674 Submit public comment to be included in the meeting record to: 1�tt / ubliccomment.lillout.com/cit of t * If you are experiencing technical difficulties, please attempt all methods listed above before reporting any issues to: clergy. ort cr,citpt.us • Council Chambers room capacity is limited to 70 people. We will ask that you join online if room capacity is met and if virtual attendance is available. Thank you L Call to Order/ Roll Call IL General Public Comment (regarding items not on the agenda) A. Public Comment B. Staff or Council response, as needed III. Joint Executive Session with Planning Commission — Pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i)) Discussion with legal counsel about current or potential litigations (Approximately 20 minutes) IV. Discussion Items A. Scoping Annual Work on Development Regulations and the Comprehensive Plan -Joint Discussion with Planning Commission i. Staff Presentation ii. Public Comment iii. Council and Planning Commission Discussion V. Adjourn Americans with Disabilities Act In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, those requiring accommodation for this meeting should note the City Clerk's Office at least 24 hours prior to the meeting at (360) 379-5083. /§ !k`§:5{ /#t:f!« ;o f lo \ \ \ \ \ \\ \ �4 w 6 \ \ \ \\ \ \\ | 2 2 !_ w EE - m m \o ) ow ow \ § - \w �! \) ] f§ § ) - » -� f\ {\ } §2 _ - o§K ® f ) -/ ) )/ )\ _ : }§ (§ )o _ o \ : ! 3 £ t § o lo _- { \ �F \{ \ \ \ \ \ \ � w \ (\_ _§ :: } K! _ \ ) (t \ 0 l k ( - (! - §- ow o Z 0\\ §0 ; f 2 \ a /i _ z : _ : 2 ( \\ \ 0 \ E\ E\ [ 2 # ! § : w- ; §2 f _ 2 k Z$ #f) _ \{\) (� =J /ko \\\ }/\ §f¥ § //\§ 5y\ \i)/\ {o }\ k\ \) \ \\ \\\\\\}} \\)\\\}} o o \ \ { o 1 ) / { ) (: ( ( \\ \ 3\ Emw ;o § \} ) o \) \ \ \\ \ \: §\lw oo /: / // \ � \} Im o Xw j Fj \ « K \\ \ \o \y g 42 )) { ) ~ /E \ E - 2 ) f \ { E / { o \} ! / ) ! )>om # \} /\ E §o / o o f ( ; \ 2 / f ) ) /( : C }/\ \\\ \ mo /o \ mo /o �l \�` m{o': : }± \\ \\\(D m- \\)\\\}} ty0fah lOwnsen Agenda Bill: AB26-025 Meeting Date: March 9, 2026 Agenda Item: IV.A ❑ Regular Business Meeting X Workshop/Study Session ❑ Special Business Meeting Submitted By: Adrian Smith Date Submitted: 03/04/2026 Department: Planning & Community Development Contact Phone: (360)-379-4423 SUBJECT: Joint meeting of Port Townsend City Council and Planning Commission on scoping annual work on development regulations and the Comprehensive Plan CATEGORY: BUDGET IMPACT: ❑ Consent ❑ Resolution Expenditure Amount: $0 ❑ Staff Report ❑ Ordinance Included in Budget? Yes ❑ No ❑ ❑ Contract Approval ® Other: Discussion Item ❑ Public Hearing (Legislative, unless otherwise noted) ❑ 3-Year Strategic Plan: 1 - Build small town quality of life Cost Allocation Fund: 010-021 GF - Planning SUMMARY STATEMENT: On Thursday, February 26, 2026, during a regular meeting of the Port Townsend Planning Commission, the Commission requested a joint meeting with City Council to discuss the scope of Planning Commission's annual work, particularly the contents of the 2026 docket. Items highlighted for joint discussion include: • In the 2026 annual docket, prioritizing expanding the Multifamily Tax Exemption by amending Port Townsend Municipal Code Chapter 3.15 and its referenced MFTE Target area map. • In the 2026 annual docket, identifying one additional tool supporting the creation of affordable housing and adopting supportive regulations into the development regulations • Beginning to scope future years workplans around engagement and outreach on regulations to support affordable housing • Consideration of if additional Planning Commission or Council -initiated amendment topics can be feasibly completed during the 2026 workplan. Background: As required by Port Townsend Municipal Code Chapter 20.04 Port Townsend Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations Amendment Process, the Planning Commission is considering the scope of amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations, including potential Commission or Council -suggested amendments. Most amendments are processed through the annual docket, which contains "site -specific formal applications, timely filed and filed and accompanied by a filing fee; Time sensitive mandated amendments as determined by the director of planning and community development; and Amendments necessary to address a deficiency in the Comprehensive Plan or development regulations identified during project review (pursuant to RCW ,;,;;Q.,A„4;7,a(3)), Port Townsend Municipal Code Page 2/2 provided, if resources are unavailable, the amendment could be carried over" (PTMC 20.04.020.B). Docket items are processed together to consider cumulative impacts. The docket is recommended by Planning Commission and adopted by City Council, and the process is scheduled for completion within the same calendar year as the docket is adopted. This is to ensure amendments are timely and to ensure projects that are initiated can actually be completed. On the morning of February 20, 2026, PCD Director Emma Bolin sent a memo to Planning Commission and City Council detailing the limited capacity for large-scale amendments and recommending the docket not include Council -initiated code amendments in 2026 without deferring funded/grand obligated work and risking timely permit review. On the afternoon of February 20, 2026, the City received a petition of appeal to the adopted 2025 Periodic Review of the Comprehensive Plan. Responding to the petition and working with the Growth Management Hearing Board for their review of the appeal is an additional project that must take priority in 2026, and further limits staff capacity for amending the Development Regulations and Comprehensive Plan in 2026 as well as completing grant funded work. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Director's Memo 2. February 26, 2026 Planning Commission Staff Presentation slides on the contents of the 2026 docket STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Discuss the potential contents of the 2026 docket, in consideration of deadlines and limited capacity noting that Planning Commission and City Council hold respective hearings at a later date relating to setting the docket. ALTERNATIVES: 0 Take No Action ❑ Refer to Committee 0 Refer to Staff 0 Postpone Action ❑ Remove from Consent Agenda ❑ Other: The Port Townsend Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 3328, passed January 2, 2024. 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Staff recommend a constrained 2026 workplan focused on (1) legally required code maintenance and (2) priority cleanup of specific permitting processes to streamline permitting and align the 2025 code updates with efficient procedures. Any additional long-range initiatives can be reconsidered for a 2027 docket by Council initiating or by inviting suggested amendments from the public in January 2027. Why this Prioritization Is Necessary • Staffing & Risk: After retirements and a death, the department lost all full-time planning staff between late 2024 and early 2025. Recruitment remains difficult due to housing and Port Townsend's location; onboarding is prolonged given Washington and Port Townsend's unique statutes. Remaining staff are covering multiple roles to meet statutory permit review timelines —errors or delays expose the City to legal risk. The Long Range Planner FTE sunset on January 1, and while we trained for succession (e.g., Adrian), the net loss of three planners (84 combined years of experience) has materially reduced capacity. • Interdepartmental Load: Even with consultants, long range projects still require PCD, Clerk, Legal, and Engineering time that is not currently available. • Work Already in the Pipeline: The 2025 Comprehensive Plan update and development code changes laid the groundwork, but additional state required updates and housekeeping must still be completed to maintain compliance and functionality. -required updates and housekeeping must still be completed to maintain compliance and functionality. 2026 Must -Do Items (Statutory/Compliance & Critical Housekeeping) 1. State -Driven Code Updates (to avoid preemption and maintain compliance): o Lot splitting (deadline Spring 2027; 2026 legislative changes may expand scope) o Conversion of commercial to residential provisions o Updates to local listing of historic properties o Any additional 2026 legislative changes impacting local codes 2. Permit Streamlining "Housekeeping" Updates: o Multifamily Tax Exemption (MFTE) code update o Lots of Record and Subdivision/Lot Line Adjustment amendments o Historic Preservation Commission housekeeping 3. Paramount Priority —Subdivision Process Cleanup: Code changes to clean up the subdivision process are essential to uncomplicate permit review and align our new codes with efficient procedures. This is the single greatest lever to reduce cycle time, relieve workload pressure across PCD/Engineering/Legal, and protect the City from avoidable errors undercurrent staffing conditions. 2026 Funded & Grant -Obligated Work (Capacity Required Even Without Code Text Changes) • Budgeted Projects: Property surplus inventory; Cherry St. disposition; Affordable housing incentive and fee study Grant -Related Projects: o Shoreline Master Program (SMP) Periodic Update —Dept. of Ecology review & response (lingering items may require additional funds to finish) o Urban Forestry Plan & Tree Conservation Ordinance update (docket item) — federal funding Feb —Sept 30 positions the City to advance this if staff capacity is preserved Capacity Reality With the above workload, there are effectively no staff hours available for additional long-range projects in 2026. Any surge in permit applications will further constrain delivery. Permit review, continuing state preemption, and vacancies are the controlling factors for project execution this year. Policy Choice & Tradeoffs for Council • If Council adds Council -initiated amendments to the docket in 2026, staff must set aside the following projects: o the Affordable Housing Incentive and Fee Study, and o the Urban Forestry Plan/Tree Conservation Ordinance update (even though grant -funded, it still needs staff time). Grant payments insecure during o SMP periodic review state comment response could require additional funds If Council instead prioritizes compliance and subdivision cleanup, staff can: o keep the City current with state law, o materially streamline permitting and reduce risk, and o honor existing budgeted and grant -funded commitments. "March 6, 2026 Update With the Petition for Review in front of the Growth Management Hearing Board relating to the Comprehensive Plan review and the Associate Planner position becoming vacant this week, resources for 2026 budgeted items are further constrained. The department will be positioning all existing resources and incoming ones later this month towards statutory requirements and operations; however, delays and additional costs to customers are possible. Completion of the workplan and any additions will require additional full-time equivalent staffing to the department and time for staff to onboard and train. �oO I 0 X Z • .f 4— u 4— O N O 3 v °1 0- 0 LO d > w a1 C: Q � a1 L �O > Q N X +-' +� E O L a1 a1 E . 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