Minutes - 10/09/2003Spokane Valley Planning Commission
Approved Minutes
Council Chambers -City Wall 11707 E. Sprague Ave.
October 9, 2003
CALL TO ORDER
Bill Gothmann, Planning Commission Chair, called the meeting to order at
6:30p.m.
ll. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Commission, audience, and staff recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
III. ROLL CALL
Fred Beaulae - Present
Bob Blum - Present
David Crosby - Present
Gail Kogle - Present
Bill Gothmann - Present
Tan Robertson - Present
John G. Carroll - Present
IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Community Development Director Marina Sukup requested that Items number 3
and 4 under "New Business" be switched.
Commissioner Gothmann moved that the aA_"enda he approved as amended.
' Commissioner Robertson seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
V. APPROVAL OF M MUTES
It was moved by Commissioner Pâșogle and seconded by Commissioner Blum
that the minutes of the September 25, 2003 Planning; Commission meeting be
approved as amended Motion passed unanimously.
VI. PUBLIC COMN1 ENT
There was no public comment.
W1. COMMISSION REPORTS
Commissioner Blum reported on the October 7th City Council meeting. The
Comp Plan Amendments were presented and will be further discussed on October
28"'. 'f'ile Council also heard a presentation on the Comp Plan Housing element,
and discussed right-of-way and cross circulation possibilities for the Appleway-
Sprague Couplet.
Commissioner Gothmann asked Mayor DeMeming, who was present, for an
update on the Christmas Tree Fund. The Mayor reported that the City has
received S16,000 in pledges to date - another $2,000 is needed to purchase the
tree. Commissioner Crosby personally handed Mayor DeVleming a donation.
Commissioner Goth.mann also gave a brief report on the recent meeting of the
Transportation Committee for the Spokane Valley Business Association. The
main topic of discussion was the Appleway-Sprague Couplet.
Vill. A NI-tNISTRATIVE REPOR`f
Director Sukup announced that a joint meeting with the City Council and the
Plarming Commission will be held on "November 6, 2003 at 6:00 p.m. in the
Council Chambers.
A joint meeting of the Spokane Area Planning Commissions will be held in City
Hall on Thursday, October 23 at 11:30 a.m. It is a luncheon meeting.
Commissioners Kogle, Blum, Beaulac, Goth manul, Robertson and Crosby
confirmed their presence. Commissioner Carroll will be unable to attend.
I\. COf14M1SSION BUSin11ESS
A. OLD BUSINESS:
There was no old business.
B. iNEW BUSINESS:
Public Hearing - Adult Retail Uses Code Revision
The Chair opened the Public Hearing to Consider a Proposed City
Ordinance to Amend Chapter 14.508 of the Zoning Code -
Alonconforming Provisions - Interim Spokane Valk p Zoning Code,
deleting thejive-year amortization requirement for nonconforming
C/ Adult Retail Use establishments at 6:41 p.m.
Members of the public were briefed on standard public hearing procedures
by Commissioner Gothnmann.
Staff Presentation:
Scott Kuhta, Associate Planner, provided a brief background of the issue.
Staff recommends deletion of the entire first paragraph of Chapter
14.508, Section 040 of the Interim Spokane Valley Zoning Code
pertaining to Nonconforming Provisions. This will allow existing Adult
Retail Use establishments to remain where they are as "Nonconforming
Businesses". New Adult Retail Use establishments will be required to
conform to code and operate only within the three zones which provide
required buffer areas.
Public Testimony:
Planning Commission Vice-Chairman Robertson stated that the
Commission received five (5) letters from the following citizens who are
in favor of the amendment:
Desiree Russell, 631.1. E. Sprague, Spokane Valley, WA
Tammera Woodall, 6311 E. Sprague, Spokane Vallee, WA
2
Loyal Cowles, 6311 E. Sprague, Spokane Valley, WA
Rudy Krager, Address Unknown, Spokane, WA
Aleeta Ferguson-Krager, Address Unknown, Spokane WA
The Commission received one (1) letter from the following citizen who is
opposed to the amendment:
Kimberly Drake, P.O. Box 369, Moses Lake, WA 98837
The following citizens ui attendance testified at the meeting:
Penny Lancaster, 14816 E. Farwell, Spokane, WA
Ms. Lancaster is neutral about the amendment. She provided the
Commission with a letter and backup documentation regarding the impact
Adult Retail Use establishments have on the neighborhoods in which they
are located. She appealed to the Commission to regulate the hours of such
businesses, changing them to 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m. only.
K.im Arrotta, 18318 E. Riverway, Spokane, WA
Ms. Arrotta is neutral about the amendment. She read from a report
regarding the adverse secondary effects that Adult Retail Use
establishments have on neighborhood residents. She would like the
Comtn_ission to limit the hours of operation to 5:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m. only.
Director Sukup explained to the Commission and audience that the City
Attorney develops the licensing requirements for Adult Retail Businesses,
which include hours of operation. The Commission does not handle that
aspect of City business.
The following citizens in attendance did not speak, but are in favor of the
amendment:
Alex Texmo, 6311 E. Sprague Avenue, Spokane Valley, WA
Desiree Russell, 6311 E. Sprague Avenue, Spokane Valley, WA
Chairman Godunatui closed the hearing to further public testimony.
Conintissioner Gail Kogle moved that the Planning Commission approve
and forward the proposed amendment to Chapter 14.508, Section 040 to
City Council for further action and adoption. The motion was seconded
by Commissioner Crosby. 11fotion passed unartisrously.
Commissioner Carroll asked staff if they visited the three locations which
have been zoned for future Adult Retail/Entertainment Business locations
to see if they were viable. Mr. McCormick confirmed that staff has visited
these zones and there are bona fide places to build within each zone.
Chairman Gothmann closed the Public Hearing at 7:00 p.m.
Economic Development Element Presentation
Director Sukup provided the Commission with a slide show presentation
on the Economic Development Element of the Comprehensive Plan
process.
Chairman Gothmann explained to staff that the Economics Department at
Eastern Washington University had been a great help in gathering
information for the economic study prior to Spokane Valley incorporation.
Commissioner Beaulac asked whether the Spokane Valley is located in an
"Enterprise Zone". Director Sukup explained that there are only six (6)
Enterprise Zones in the state of Washington, and Spokane is one of them.
She hopes the Valley may be able to utilize the City of Spokane's zone in
order to attract new businesses with tax breaks and other savings.
Unified Development Code Overview
Director Sukup provided the Commission with a slide show presentation
regarding the Uniform Development Code.
Reference was made to the schedule for completion of this task. Director
Sukup mentioned that the City Council has asked her to complete the
transportation element related to the App] eway-Sprague Couplet within
the next five or six months.
Preliminary Discussion of Proposed R-1, Estate. Residential Zone
In the future, Director Sukup and the Planning staff will be proposing a
number of new zones and zoning changes to be incorporated into the
Comprehensive Plan. The R-1 "Lone, is called a Single-Family Residential
Estate District. It will be limited to single-family detached dwellings on
estate lots of not less than 40,000 square feet. This is an area where large
animals can be kept, with some exclusions (e.g. swi.ne). The City will first
focus on rezoning the two platted subdivisions of Rotchford Acres and the
Ponderosa.
Commissioner K.ogle asked how the City intended to handle the matter of
large animals kept at residences not zoned R-1. Director Sukup responded
that if people have historically kept large animals on their property and the
use was allowed under previous zoning regulations, and provided that they
were properly confined and did not generate complaints from neighbors,
then they will be allowed to keep them.
Following discussion of the allowed uses in the R-1 Zone, including the
number of animals per square foot, electric fences in residential
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neighborhoods, the effect of livestock waste on the aquifer and the
Valley's overall quality of water, Commissioner Gothmann complimented
the station putting together an impressive document.
In response to Conu»issioner Crosby's question concerning a landowner's
right to subdivide, iAr. Kuhta responded that if any lot were smaller than
40,000 square feet, it would require a zone change, with notice to adjacent
property owners and a public hearing.
The draft document was provided to the Homebuilder's Association. She
would like for Planning Commissioners to send her their thoughts about
the new zones being proposed.
X. FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER
Commissioner Blum asked about Commission terms. Ms. Sukup
explained to him that the City Council will be discussing this matter on
Tuesday, October 44`h. She will have an answer for the Comm-ission at its
next meeting.
Mr. Kuhta is working on registration of Planning Commission members
for the APA Conference in Spokane next week.
A letter from Ms. Barbara Green, regarding her thoughts about the future
of University City, was entered into the public record.
Commissioner Beaulac plans to attend the Transit-Oriented Development
meeting on October 22'd from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Decades.
Professor Scarfo from Washington State University will make a
University City design presentation at the October 22°d Planning
Commission meeting.
Xi. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
SUBMITTED:
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Debi Alley, Administrative Asst' ailt
APPROVED:
Bill Gothmann, Chairman