Minutes - 04/08/2004i
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Spokane Valley Planning Commission
DRAFT Minutes
Council Chambers- Cite Hall 11707 E. Sprague Ave.
April 8, 2004
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II.
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CAIN,. TO ORDER
Planning Commission Chair Gothmann called the meeting to order at
6:33 p.tn.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Commission, audience, and staff recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Fred Beaulac - Present
Bob Blum -Present
David Crosby - Present
Gail Kogle - Present
Bill Gothmann - Present
Ian 1obertson - Present
John G. Carroll - Present
1V. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Commissioner.Robertcon moved that the April 8, 2004 agenda be approved as
presented, Commissioner Blum seconded the motion. Motion passed
unanimously.
V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
It was moved by Commissioner Crosby and seconded by Commissioner
Robertson that the minutes of the .March 11, 2004 Planning Commission
meeting be approved as presented. .4f6ti-on passed unanimously.
VI. PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
V11. CONINHSSION REPORTS
Conunissioner Carroll suggested that staff develop a pamphlet explaining the
Comp Plan Community Meeting process; including subject matter, length of time,
number of participants, etc. The pamphlet could be given to citizens who are
trying to determine if.their meeting facility would be suitable for our purposes.
He also suggested that staff contact Pastor David at Christ Lutheran Church on
the corner of Broadway and McDonald.
Commissioner Blum attended a City Council meeting recently where a new
Couplet option, #2A, was discussed. The discussion was moved to the April 27"'
Council meeting.
Commissioner Robertson commended staff on the excellent results of the first
Comp Plan Community Meeting at Redeemer Lutheran Church on March 25t'.
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Commissioner Kogle attended the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce Local
Government Committee meeting last Tuesday. Spokane Transit Authority spoke
to the Valley about the importance of an increase in sales taxes to keep the transit
system functional. On Monday night, she attended the Light flail Citizens'
Advisory Committee meeting. A dimensional computer display of how the
consultant's Light Rail project would be designed to interact with a City Center in
the University area was previewed.
Commissioner Beaulac attended a Spokane Building Blocks meeting at the
Spokane City Hall on April 37d. The future of land use, including everything from
open spaces to alleyways, was discussed. Next month's meeting will focus on the
environment.
Chairman Gothmann encouraged Commissioners to access minutes from the past
several City Council meetings on the Valley's new website. He attended a Weed
& Seed meeting at Pratt Elementary for the Edgccliff neighborhood and learned
of some interesting new concepts in neighborhood crime prevention.
Commissioners were encouraged to pass out flyers in advance of the next Comp
Plan Community Meeting at Pratt Elementary on Wednesday, April 21".
VIII. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
Ms. Sukup notified the Commission of several upcoming events scheduled for
their participation:
Wednesday, April 14rh, 3:00 p.m. - "Conversation with the Community" at
the Spokane Valley Senior Center.
Tuesday, April 20", 12:00 noon - "State of the City" address at Percy's
Decades Banquet Room, $20.00 per person for the luncheon, R.S.V.P.
(Commissioners Gothmann and Iio~de R.S. V P'd with Ms. Sukup)
Tuesday, April 20`h, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. -Community Meeting: Wastewater
Issues Open House. Held in the Central Valley School District Board Room.
Wednesday, April 21", 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. - Comp Plan Community Meeting.
Pratt Elementary School on the comer of 4`h and Coleman.
Thursday, April 29`h, 12:00 noon -Joint Planning Commissioner's Regular
Luncheon. Public Health Building.
Tuesday, May 18`1h, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Media Training Session with City
Council. Spokane Valley City Council Chambers.
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The City Council has approved the formation of an Ad Hoc Sign Committee. It
will consist of two members who are representatives of the sign business
community, two members representing the general business community, two
members representing the citizens of Spokane Valley, and one Planning
Commission member. Commissioners Kogle and Crosby are interested in serving
on this committee. The Commission will appoint its member at the nest meeting.
A hearing was held on Monday, April 5`h, regarding Liberty Lake's charges that
the City of Spokane Valley didn't follow proper procedures for adoption of the
2003 Comp Plan Amendments. A second public hearing at the City Council level
will be held on the seven Comp Plan Amendments in the near future.
IX. COMMISSION BUSINESS
A. OLD BUSINESS:
There was no Old Business.
B. NEW BUSINESS:
Study Session on street vacation request #STV-01-04.
Current Planning Manager, Kevi.n Snyder, presented an overview of the
City's first street vacation application. File Number S`I'V-01-04 is a
request by KLLrt and Mandee Vigessa (Parcel No. 35243.1041) and Gene
and Lana Balch (Parcel No. 35243.1014) to vacate a portion of the 15`'
Avenue public right-of-way abutting their parcels. Application was
originally submitted to Spokane County in December 2002, and the
applicants have been extremely patient during the transition of land action
applications from the County to the City of Spokane Valley during the
past year and a half. This presentation was intended to be the
Commission's introduction to the application. A public hearing will be
held at the May 13, 2004 Planning Commission meeting.
Street vacation applications return public right-of=way property to the tax
roles. City Ordinance ##04-002 states that abutting private property owners
can be charged for the return of the land to private property. Cost of land
is determined by the City on a case-by-case basis. Initially, one half of the
property will go to each landowner. After the applicants purchase their
share of the property, then they can privately decide how to divide it. If
desired, a lot line adjustment can be filed.
The Planning Commission will act as a recommending body to the City
Council on street vacation matters.
The Commission held a break from 7:23 to 7:37 p.m.
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Public Hearing - Section 9.05 Uniform Development Code, Grading
& Excavation.
Tom Scholtens, City Building Official, provided a brief update on this
draft ordinance for regulation of earth work in the City of Spokane Valley.
A Grading Ordinance establishes the base line for the preparation of
building sites, parking lots and earthen berms. It complements the City's
Stonnwater and Flood Plain Ordinances as well.
The draft ordinance has been reviewed by the City's Senior Engineer.
John Hohman, P.E., and was sent out to numerous public agencies for
review and comment. Mr. Scholtens received a response Prom Mr. George
Twiss (a copy was distributed to Commissioners at the meeting and is
attached as part of the public record), Administrator for the Board of
Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors for the State
of Washington, suggesting some clarifications and changes to the
proposed ordinance. Mr. Holtinan has agreed that Mr. Twiss'
recommendations be incorporated into the draft ordinance before City
Council review. In addition, Mr. Scholtens wishes to add a septic tank
elimination program as an exception to requiring a permit in Section
9.05.03, #7. Commissioner Gothmann suggested the following edits and
changes:
Section 9.05.03 Exempted Work, #3: Change the statement to read:
" ...do not exceed t#ari three foot in depth and are fully lined with an
approved synthetic pond liner."
Section 9.05.05 HAZARDS: Delete the typo at the end of item "a".
Section 9.05.06 DEFINITIONS: Change the definition of SLOPE to
read: "SLOPE is an inclined ground surface the inclination of which is a
ratio of heFizentaI vertical distance to venieal horizontal distance,
expressed as a percentage.
The Commission discussed details of the proposed ordinance with Mr.
Scholtens, but decided not to make further changes.
There was no public continent on the proposed ordinance.
Commissioner Kogle moved that the Planning Commission approve the
proposed Grading & E.vcavation Ordinance as presented, inclusive of
the additions and corrections proposed by Mr. Twiss, Mr. Scholtens and
Mr. Cothmann, for recommendation to City Council. Commissioner
Blum seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
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Discussion of Comprehensive Plan Natural EnAronment Chapter
Draft.
Long Range Planning Manager, Greg McConnick, presented an overview
of the first draft of the City's Comp Plan Chapter 8: Natural .environment.
Throughout the next several months, staff plans to brie; the first draft of
each Comp Plan chapter to the Planning Commission for review of the
dominant issues in each element, and to identify important issues that may
not yet be addressed. In August, staff will complete a working draft of die
plan. Additional Comp Plan Community Meetings will be scheduled in
August and September for feedback on the working draft. Then a hearing
draft will be brought back to the Planning Commission and the final draft
of the Comp Plan will be completed through the public hearing process.
Ms. Sukup encouraged the Planning Commission to work with priorities at
this stage.
Mr. McCormick explained that the maps pertaining to this chapter are
missing, and are presently being constructed by a part-time G.I.S.
specialist for inclusion in the working draft.
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Some environmental issues the Commissioners wish to have the plan
address:
• Preservation of private forests and native trees in the Spokane
Valley;
• Logging of private land;
• Keeping up with the latest environmental sciences;
• The mention of specific geographic areas, e.g. Chester Creek,
• Joining with contiguous areas to preserve the environment;
• Mention of the gravel pit - possibly under the implementation
strategy. Staff could include a special section that indicates its
knowledge that the gravel pit is something the City will have to
deal with within the scope of this plan.
X. FOR THE GOOD OF T RE ORDER
Nothing was discussed.
XL ADJOURIMM.E.NT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
SUBMITTED: APPROVED:
Debi Alley, Administrative Assistant
William H. Gothmann, Chairman