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Home My WebLink About04272003 Min Ag · I. II. III. IV. V. VI. · VII. CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA WORKSHOP City Council Chambers, 7:00 pm Call to Order Roll Call Acceptance of Agenda Approval of Minutes - April 10, 2003 General Public Comment (limited to 3 minutes per person) City Council Liaison Report Unfinished Business A. Tree Ordinance Workshop (Continued) BCD Staff & Citizen Advisory Committee Members B. C-II Desien Standards BCD Staff VIII. New Business A. None Scheduled. VII. Upcoming Meeting - May 8 IX. Communications . IX. Adjournment · April 24, 2003 · · · CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES April 24, 2003 I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Cindy Thayer called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. II. ROLL CALL Members answering roll were Lyn Hersey, Frank Benskin, Richard Berg, Bernie Arthur, James Irvin, Alice King, Michael Hyland and JeffKelety. Also present were BCD Director Jeff Randall and BCD Planner Jean Walat. Members of the Tree Ordinance Advisory Committee were also present. III. ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA Mr. Hyland made a motion to accept the agenda; Mr. Irvin seconded. Chair Thayer noted public interest in the Tree Ordinance on the agenda, stating that she and Mr. Randall agreed this ordinance is not ready for its final workshop and public hearing. She stated, however there were items Mr. Randall wished to cover at this meeting. There was discussion regarding allowing more time for general public comment in meetings to encourage public participation. Eight were in favor of the motion, Ms. Hersey opposed. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Irvin made a motion to accept the minutes of April 10, 2003 as written; Mr. Hyland seconded; the minutes were discussed and modified. Mr. Irvin made a motion to accept the minutes as modified; Ms. Hersey seconded. All were in favor. V. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT Although there was no public comment, Chair Thayer stated there is common consent among her fellow realtors that when things come to public hearing, everything has already been completed. She urged that Planning Commissioners listen and attempt to change the public perception that everything is a "done deal" before finalizing issues. Suggestions were made including eliciting written public comments before discussion. Mr. Randall explained that the format of public hearings is set, but workshops could be more flexible. Mr. Benskin asked for more courtesy during meetings; that people not interrupt but raise their hands when wishing to speak and to address the chair. Chair Thayer raised the question of influx of e-mail traffic among Planning Commissioners in relation to violation of the Open Meetings Act. Mr. Randall stated City Attorney Watts had advised that questions regarding non-quasi-judicial matters could be asked by phone, in person and bye-mail including copying to other members. Mr. Watts cautioned that the danger exists when it becomes a dialogue. VI. CITY COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT -- There was none VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Tree Ordinance Workshop (continued) BCD Staff and Citizen Advisory Committee Members Mr. Randall discussed some changes to the tree ordinance that had occurred since the last meeting. He noted requests at the previous meeting for mapping, and he stated that since staff working with GIS was unavailable he did not have the material ready but noted a map Mr. Arthur had brought. Planning Commission Minutes, April 24, 2003 / Page I · Discussion rel!ardinl! Chanl!es: Page 5 -- Addition, definition of Priority trees; deletion of Significant trees. Mr. Irvin questioned the use of "significant habitat value," and as a property owner did not want to be burdened with it. Suggestions: Add a definition; give BCD Director discretion; make room for property owner discretion. Pages 6 & 7-- Applicabilitv: 1) "or vegetation" (will be removed). Exempt Activities: Tree removal. Committee will revisit. Forest Land Conversion: Mr. Arthur questioned relationship to GMA. Mr. Randall noted this was copied from another location in the ordinance. Page 8 -- # 1 Brush removal: Suggestion: Remove; we are dealing with trees. Threshold of 2", what about rhododendrons? Suggestion: Remove reference to 2". Clearing and grading questioned. Committee will revisit. #2 Reforestation and forest management: Suggestion: Maybe address spraying. Removal of trees: Suggestion: Committee rework; keep it simple. Regarding 12" -- take a standard in an area. #3 Residential Landscaping and yard maintenance: Commission request for the number of 40,000 s.f. parcels -- not many in the built up areas; approximately 75% in undeveloped Tier III areas. Commission also asked for options. Suggestions: Remove reference to merging lots of record. Option a, "20,000 square feet" -- take back to committee. Option b, check for possible loopholes. Mr. Berg reported the number of trees remaining on his Tree House project: Phase 1 -- 43 tree units (80 per 40,000 s.f.) Phase 2 (in progress) -- 50 tree units (66 per 40,000 sJ.) He said he now thinks 40,000 square feet may be unrealistic, that it may be harder on other developments. He said as a designer putting houses on lots, he is not sure it makes sense to require 40,000 everywhere in town and gave the example of a prairie house. Ms. Hersey suggested considering continuity of the neighborhood. · Other sU22estions: Provide hard copies Provide graphic illustrations of 12" and 24" trees Provide several scenarios Tree removal -- keep it simple Separate Forest Practices from Residential in ordinance Mr. Randall concluded that this ordinance would be brought for discussion again. He noted significant reorganization in the C-II Design Standards and said he also wanted to give time for that discussion. B. con Design Standards BCD Staff Ms. Jean Walat noted this is a first touch to the C-II Design Review Standards ordinance. Her overview made reference to her memo dated April 17, 2003, the draft revision of the ordinance, draft Design Review Process and draft revision of PTMC Table 17.20.030, Commercial Zoning Districts -- Bulk, Dimensional and Density Requirements. She pointed out that the review process started with an interim ordinance approved by City Council in 1999 and included discussion three times with the Community Development Land Use Committee. She highlighted the review process of the proposed two track approach, and the need for discussion of the Bulk, Dimensional and Density Table. Ms. Walat suggested ajoint meeting with City Council for a group discussion. It was suggested that Staff provide a hard copy with pictures and invite Councilmembers to a Planning Commission informational/educational workshop May 8th. VIII. NEW BUSINESS -- There was none IX. UPCOMING MEETING · May 8,2003 -- C-II Design Standards (continued) May 29,2003 -- Tree Ordinance (continued) Planning Commission Minutes, April 24, 2003 / Page 2 · · · x. COMMUNICATIONS -- There were none X. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Mr. Berg and seconded by Mr. Irvin. All were in favor. The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. ~~ Sheilá Avis, Minute Taker Planning Commission Minutes, April 24, 2003 / Page 3