Minutes - 01/13/2005Spokane Valley Planning Commission
Approved Minutes
Council Chambers -City Hall 11707 E. Sprague Ave.
January 13, 2005
CALL TO ORDER
Planning Commission Chair Crosby called the meeting to order at 6:30
p.m.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Commission, audience, and staff recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
III. ROLL CALL
Fred Beaulac - Present Bill Gothmann - Present
Bob Blum - Present Ian Robertson - Present
David Crosby - Present John G. Carroll - Present
Gail Kogle - Present
IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Ms. Sukup asked that the Spokane Transit Authority presentation be
delayed until their representative arrives.
Commissioner Beaulac moved that the January 13, 2005 agenda be
approved as amended. Commissioner Kogle seconded the motion.
Motion passed unanimously.
V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Robertson recommended that a change be made on Page
5 of the December 9, 2004, meeting in the "For the Good of the Order"
section. The fourth sentence should read: nCommissioner Robertson will
speak at the December 1710' Chamber meeting on the topic "Season of
Sharing."
It was moved by Commissioner Gothmann and seconded by
Commissioner Blum that the minutes of the December 9, 2004
Planning Commission meeting be approved as amended. Motion
passed unanimously.
Commissioner Carroll was not present at the last meeting when the
November 18th minutes were approved as presented. He proposed
replacing the existing summary of his thoughts in the fourth paragraph on
Page 3 with the following: "Commissioner Carroll is greatly concerned
that if our City does not respect past decisions or is not consistent in its
land use decisions, businesses or other investors may not feel confident
enough in our government to commit to long term development plans."
It was moved by Commissioner Carroll that the November 18, 2004
minutes be amended to contain his suggested correction.
Commissioner Robertson seconded the motion. Motion passed
unanimously.
VI. PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
VII. COMMISSION REPORTS
Commissioner Crosby explained that during his term of office he will act
as Chairman and Commission meeting facilitator. As such, he will direct
and help the Commission move the meeting forward, but he will not
propose motions or vote on motions unless there is a tie vote.
VIII. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
The Planning Commission will meet with City Council on Tuesday,
February 1, 2005 from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. for a Joint Meeting/Study Session
on core values as they apply to the Comprehensive Plan. Deputy City
Manager, Nina Regor, will facilitate the meeting.
Ms. Sukup announced Ms. Alley's resignation, effective January 21, 2005.
The Commission and staff and wished her well in her new position as
Executive Assistant to the President at Spokane Community College.
Commissioner Gothmann moved that the Planning Commission
express their appreciation and commend Ms. Alley for her work. The
motion was seconded by Commissioner Blum. Motion passed
unanimously.
IX. COMMISSION BUSINESS
A. NEW BUSINESS:
The Commission delayed this section until representatives of the
Spokane Transit System arrived.
B. OLD BUSINESS:
Commission Consideration: Findings of Fact for 2004
Comprehensive Plan Amendments and Greenacres Area-Wide
Rezone.
Chairman Crosby recommended that the Commission decide upon
a method for handling the Comprehensive Plan Amendment and
Greenacres Area-Wide Rezone Findings of Fact.
A motion was made by Commissioner Beaulac to handle all
Comprehensive Plan Amendment Findings together and the
Planning Commission Minutes Page 2
January 13, 2005
Greenacres Area-Wide Rezone separately. Commissioner
Kogle seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. McCormick presented a brief overview of the Comprehensive
Plan process to date. Comprehensive Plan Amendment
Application Nos. 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, and 08 were presented to
City Council at a study session on November 30, 2004, and then
forwarded to first ordinance reading on December 14, 2004. The
ordinances were then forwarded to second reading on December
21, 2004, at which time the Council was advised by the City's
Deputy Attorney that formal Findings of Fact were required to be
formulated and signed by the Planning Commission. These
Findings of Fact will establish a written record of Planning
Commission recommendations. The Council remanded the
amendments back to the Planning Commission to review and sign
Findings of Fact, and set January 25, 2005, as the date to receive
the Commission's Findings.
Chairman Crosby requested comments from the Commissioners on
Findings of Fact for each Comprehensive Plan Amendment
Application. No comments or changes were proposed.
- Commissioner Gothmann moved that the Planning
Commission adopt the Findings of Fact and recommendations
for Comprehensive Plan Amendments CPA-01-04, CPA-02-04,
CPA-03-04, CPA-04-04, CPA-05-04, CPA-06-04, and CPA-08-04
as presented. Motion seconded by Commissioner Kogle.
Motion passed unanimously.
Chairman Crosby requested comments from the Commissioners
relative to the Findings of Fact for the Greenacres Area-Wide
Rezone Application REZ-17-04. Mr. Gothrnann recommended
elimination of the word "from' from #6 at the top of Page 3, so it
reads: "The Commission heard significant testimony in
support........ "
Commissioner Beaulac moved to approve Mr. Gothmann's
amendment to the Findings of Fact for REZ-17-04.
Commissioner Robertson seconded the motion. Motion
passed unanimously.
It was moved by Commissioner Beaulac, and seconded by
Commissioner Blum, that the Planning Commission adopt the
Findings of Fact and recommendation for the Greenacres
Area-Wide Rezone Application (REZ-17-04) as amended.
Motion passed unanimously.
Planning Commission Minutes Page 3
January 13, 2005
f
Continued Public Hearing: Stormwater Ordinance.
Ms. Sukup provided the Commissioners with an update regarding
the proposed Stormwater Ordinance. Planning Commission heard
public testimony at its last meeting on December 9, 2004, and
moved to continue the Public Hearing to January 13, 2005. Mr.
John Hohman, Senior Engineer, took the Planning Commissions
recommendations from the December 9ht hearing and incorporated
them into a revised ordinance. Some changes were also made by
the Deputy City Attorney.
The Planning Commission asked questions regarding aesthetics,
thresholds and property-owner responsibility for maintaining private
property drywells. Ms. Sandra Raskell, Associate Engineer,
assisted Ms. Sukup in responding to the Commissioners' questions
and concerns.
Commissioner Gothmann moved that the Planning
Commission recommend approval of Ordinance No. 04-007:
"An Ordinance of the City of Spokane Valley, Washington,
establishing Section 9.08 Stormwater Management regulations
or the Spokane Valley Uniform Development Code, repealing
regulations in conflict, providing for severability and effective
date" to City Council. Motion seconded by Commissioner
Beaulac. Motion passed unanimously.
A. NEW BUSINESS:
Ms. Molly Meyers, Communications Expert at Spokane Transit
Authority (STA), introduced herself. Last year, STA was trying to
figure out how to cut services to match a potentially large budget
cut. This year, thanks to sufficient voter-approved funding, they are
working with neighborhoods, passengers, community groups,
planning commissions and stakeholders of every variety on a
revamped and improved system. Ms. Meyers handed out a copy of
the STA newsletter "Crossroads", Volume 2, Issue 5 (December
2004-January 2005) which contained a draft of the STA's Draft
Long Range Service Plan.
Spokane Transit Authority has acknowledged that the Spokane
Valley has historically been underserved. That is why Ms. Meyers
asked to meet with the Planning Commission tonight. STA is
proposing an increase of transit service to the Spokane Valley
through the use of smaller buses, greater connectivity and more
frequent service on improved routes. She asked the Planning
Commission to review the draft plan carefully and provide STA with
any comments or recommendations in the near future. A public
Planning Commission Minutes
January 13, 2005
Page 4
hearing will be held in early winter 2005. STA Board approval of
the new service plan is anticipated for March 2005. A final plan is
slated to take effect September 2005.
Commissioner Kogle thanked Spokane Transit Authority for its hard
work on this draft long range service plan. Commissioner
Robertson commended STA for its work with the elderly and
handicapped citizens of the community.
B. OLD BUSINESS:
Continued Public Hearing: Comprehensive Plan Amendment
Application No. CPA-07-04.
Mr. McCormick provided the Commission with a brief overview of
this application, and introduced Ms. Raskell as the City's Public
Works representative who could answer questions. At this time,
the Applicant is requesting another continuation of the hearing to
February 10, 2005, in order to review documents that City Public
Works staff collected from various agencies. However, Planning
and Public Works staff members recommend denial of another
continuation as well as the proposed amendment. Mr. McCormick
reminded the Commission that hearing on this Comprehensive Plan
Amendment has already been continued to two previous meetings:
l October 14, 2004 and November 18, 2004.
After a brief discussion regarding how to proceed with the matter,
Chairman Crosby suggested that the Public Hearing be open to
further testimony, so the Commissioners can decide whether to
move forward or continue the hearing to February 1&
Public Hearing for Comprehensive Plan Amendment Application
No. CPA-07-04 was opened at 7:30 p.m.
The Public Testimony section was opened at 7:32 p.m.
Commissioner Crosby asked participants to come forward and
state their case within a reasonable time limit.
Todd Whipple Whipple Consulting Engineers/Applicant.
13218E Sprague Spokane Valley. WA 99216
Mr. Whipple explained to the Planning Commission that the traffic
impact analysis his firm prepared for the City Public Works
Department was submitted in October 2004. It is a 500-page
document, and he is surprised by the lack of technical analysis
review done by area agencies before recommending denial of the
application. The Developer is seriously considering withholding a
significant amount of money from the Pines/Mansfield road project
because of these responses to the application. Mr. Whipple
Planning Commission Minutes Page 5
January 13, 2005
proposed a series of meetings between now and February 10,
2005, in order to come to a clearer understanding with the City of
Spokane Valley Public Works Department, Spokane Valley Fire
District #1, and other public agencies who have responded to his
application.
There being no further testimony, the Public Testimony portion of
the hearing for CPA-07-04 was closed at 7:45 p.m.
Commissioners were concerned that the Applicant and Public
Works staff may not be fully prepared to conclude the hearing by
February 10, 2005. Both Mr. Whipple and Ms. Raskell assured the
Commission that they would meet regularly and be fully prepared to
conclude the hearing on CPA-07-04 at the February 10, 2005,
Planning Commission meeting.
A motion was made by Commissioner Gothmann to continue
Public Hearing on Comprehensive Plan Amendment
Application No. CPA-07-04 to February 10, 2005. Motion was
seconded by Commissioner Kogle. All in favor of the motion:
Commissioners Beaulac, Blum, Gothmann, Kogle and
Robertson. All opposed to the motion: Commissioner Carroll.
Motion passed 5-1.
Mr. McCormick and Ms. Raskell will work with Mr. Whipple to
provide him with the resources he will need to make his
presentation on February 10, 2005.
The Commissioners took a five-minute break between 7:50 and 7:55 p.m.
Public Hearing for an Ordinance of the City of Spokane Valley,
Washington, establishing Section 7.09: Sign Regulations of
the Uniform Development Code, repealing Section 14.804
Signage Standards of the Interim Development Regulations
adopted pursuant to Ordinance 03-053 Interim Development
Regulations; providing for severability and effective date.
The Public Hearing was opened at 7:55 p.m. Ms. Sukup provided a
brief PowerPoint overview and update regarding the work of the
Ad-Hoc Sign Committee and its review and revisions of the existing
Sign Code Ordinance. She explained that although the committee
spent a great deal of time discussing Aesthetic Corridors and the
present moratorium on new Billboards, proposed revisions of these
topics will be held in reserve until the Valley's Comprehensive Plan
is adopted. At the December 9, 2004 meeting, the Planning
Commission made several suggestions to clarify the Revised Sign
Planning Commission Minutes Page 6
January 13, 2005
\1
Code Ordinance. Those suggestions were incorporated into
tonight's discussion draft, as well as several changes
recommended by the Deputy City Attorney.
The Public Testimony portion of this hearing was opened at 8:11
p.m. Because he served as Chair of the Ad-Hoc Sign Committee,
Mr. Crosby turned the Public Hearing over to Commission Vice-
Chair Carroll so that he could answer Sign Code questions without
creating confusion.
Denny York S 2617 McCabe, Spokane Valley, WA.
Mr. York served on the Ad-Hoc Sign Committee as a Spokane
Valley Business Community representative. He works for a chain
of grocery stores in the Spokane region. The Committee met every
two weeks between June to November, 2004. Meetings were open
to the public, and were posted on the City's website well in advance
of the meeting date. The 'Definitions' section of the Revised Sign
Code Ordinance took five meetings to complete, and then the
Committee worked through the requirements and put them into
easy-to-read charts. One Committee goal was to assure that the
new City regulations would allow for continued economic growth.
Therefore, many of the revisions for signage pertained to B-2 and
greater zoning designations. He is satisfied that the Committee did
its best to provide a good set of signage guidelines, and asked that
the Planning Commission recommend the Revised Sign Code to
City Council for approval and adoption.
Bob Boyle, Hanson Industries 15807 E. Indiana, Spokane
Valley, WA.
Mr. Boyle asked the Planning Commission to approve this proposal
and get it to City Council as quickly as possible. He thanked the
Ad-Hoc Sign Committee for doing an "amazing" job. Signage is a
key component to business success, and the proposed Revised
Sign Code gives local businesses a matrix to work with.
Duane Halliday, 1015E Cataldo Spokane, WA.
Mr. Halliday works for Lamar Outdoor Advertising, and served as a
Sign Industry representative on the Ad-Hoc Sign Committee. He
believes that a great deal of thought was put into the proposed
Revised Sign Code, and asked that the Planning Commission
recommend it to City Council.
Vice-Chair Carroll submitted an email letter for the public record
from:
Planning Commission Minutes Page 7
January 13, 2005
Susan Scott, 2312 Bolivar Road, Spokane Valley, WA.
Ms. Scott wrote to urge the Planning Commission to accept the Ad-
Hoc Sign Committee's proposal. She believes that utilizing
monument signs as the primary source of marking business
locations is "not a real user friendly method". Ms. Scott believes
the Committee's proposal hits the right balance for signs in the
Spokane Valley.
There being no further testimony, the Public Testimony section of
the Public Hearing was closed at 8:20 p.m.
The Commission discussed specific questions related to Aesthetic
Corridors, Billboard Cap and Replace Policies, the reasoning for
sign location setback changes, wall sign size, murals, requirements
for signage support structures, and the wisdom/reasoning for a 36-
month deadline to remove obsolete signs.
Commissioner Robertson moved that the Planning
Commission forward a recommendation for approval to City
Council for an Ordinance establishing Section 7.09 Sign
Regulations of the Spokane Valley Uniform Development
Code, repealing Section 94.804 of the Interim Development
Regulations, providing for severability and effective date and
amending of the Sign Regulations. The motion was seconded
by Commissioner Kogle. All in favor of the motion:
Commissioners Carol, Kog/e, Gothmann and Robertson. All
opposed to the motion: Commissioners Beau/ac and Blum.
Motion passed 4-2.
Commissioner Gothmann believes that it is essential for the City to
have good signage, and he thanked the Ad-Hoc Committee for their
good work. He believes his concerns were met satisfactorily.
Commissioner Robertson pointed out a typographical error at the
bottom of Page 3, and recommended that the definition for'Use(s)"
be changed to read Institutional Serni-Public includes a
churches, public park,........". Ms. Sukup agreed to make the
change before it is submitted to City Council.
Commissioner Blum agreed that the tables and the definitions are a
great plus, but he has a problem with lowering the distances
between signs and increasing the size of signs. He thinks it would
be nice if we have a clear and distinctive community.
Commissioner Beaulac thinks the proposed Revised Sign Code will
create more "visual spam" in the Valley. He was hoping to see the
Committee make more improvements on the County Sign Code.
Planning Commission Minutes Page 8
January 13, 2005
r ,
J Commissioner Carroll warned that because this Revised Sign Code
doesn't address support structures, we may have people finding
"creative" ways to use support structures for signage purposes.
Chairman Crosby thanked the Planning Commission for its
consideration, and the Ad-Hoc Sign Committee for its hard work.
Public Hearing on the proposed Revised Sign Code for the City of
Spokane Valley was closed at 8:45 p.m.
X. FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER
Commissioner Beaulac will be unable to attend the Planning Commission
meeting on Thursday, February 24, 2005.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
SUBMITTED: APPROVED:
k00AA
Debi Alley, Administrative Assistant David Crosby, Chairman
Planning Commission Minutes Page 9
January 13, 2005