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2021-07-08 PC SIGNED APPROVED MINUTESMeeting Minutes Spokane Valley Planning Commission Council Chambers — City Hall July 8, 2021 I. Planning Commission Chair Bob McKinley called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was held remotely via ZOOM meeting. II. Administrative Assistant Taylor Dillard took roll and the following members and staff were present: Fred Beaulac Erik Lamb, Deputy City Attorney Karl Granath Jenny Nickerson, Building Official Walt Haneke Chaz Bates, Senior Planner Bob McKinley Arielle Anderson, Housing & Homeless Coordinator Nancy Miller Taylor Dillard, Administrative Assistant Paul Rieckers Marianne Lemons, Administrative Assistant Sherri Robinson III. AGENDA: Commissioner Robinson moved to approve the July 8, 2021 meeting agenda as presented. There was no discussion. The vote on the motion was seven in favor, zero against and the motion passed. IV. MINUTES: Commissioner Beaulac moved to approve the June 24, 2021 minutes as presented. There was no discussion. The vote on the motion was seven in favor, zero against and the motion passed. V. COMMISSION REPORTS: There were no Commission reports. VI. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: Building Official Jenny Nickerson stated that City Council has returned to in -person meetings with a hybrid format and hopes that Planning Commission will be able to move to that format for the July 22, 2021 meeting. Ms. Nickerson also mentioned that the City email server was recently updated and it has caused issues with the Commissioner email addresses. She stated that IT is working to correct the issues and staff will email or call once the problem is fixed. VII. PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no public comment. VIII. COMMISSION BUSINESS: a. Public Hearing: 2021 Comprehensive Plan Amendments The public hearing was opened at 6:09 p.m. Senior Planner Chaz Bates gave a staff presentation regarding the 2021 Comprehensive Plan Amendments. He explained that local jurisdictions are allowed to make amendments to the 07-08-2021 Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 of 5 Comprehensive Plan once each year. The amendments are initiated by property owners, residents, or by the City. The application deadline to submit is October 30tn. Notice was published 60 days prior to October 15t and sent to agencies, organizations, and adjacent jurisdictions. The amendments were docketed by the City Council and then sent to the Planning Commission for consideration. He explained that the purpose of the meeting is to hold the public hearing and create recommendations for the City Council. Findings of Fact documenting the recommendations will be presented on August 12, 2021 for approval. Public hearing notices were published twice in the newspaper, posted on the properties, and mailed to property owners within 400 feet of the site -specific map amendments. Mr. Bates outlined the four amendments to be heard during the 2021 cycle. CPA-2021-0001: Request to change the .68 acres from Multiple Family Residential (MFR) to Corridor Mixed Use (CHL9. Mr. Bates stated that this amendment is privately initiated for the property located at 22 N. Skipworth Road. It is owned by Homtomi Partners. The request is to rezone the property from Multi -Family residential (MFR) to Corridor Mixed Use (CMU). The property to the east, south, and west are all zoned CMU. The property to the north is zoned MFR. Findings show there are no critical areas on the site, the site would support the redevelopment and infill of the parcel, would support the increase of housing opportunities, is supported by the transportation network, and is compatible with the surrounding uses. Commissioner Miller commented that she was concerned about the fire access for the proposed expansion so she contacted Traci Harvey with Spokane Valley Fire Department and was told that the access is most likely adequate for the proposed change based on a preliminary review. Commissioner Haneke asked if the property is at the max capacity for development based on the current MFR designation. Mr. Bates answered that the MFR designation allows fifteen units and the property currently has fourteen units. Mr. Haneke asked how many units would be allowed if the property was rezoned to CMU. Mr. Bates answered that it would only be restricted by Title 24 of the International Building Code. The item was opened for public comment. Chairman McKinley read the guidelines for public testimony. Lindsay Goodman, Glendale, CA stated that he is a managing partner of the applicant and an architect. He explained that the Skipworth Apartments have been owned by his family for thirty years. He stated that there is a lack of affordable housing in Spokane Valley so they requested the change to the zoning of the property so they can add four additional studio units and carports to the apartment complex. Commissioner Miller asked the applicant if they are committed to keeping the apartment complexes. The applicant stated that they are planning to keep them and are not planning to tear them down. No additional public testimony was offered. CPA-2021-0002: Request to change 5.56 acres from Corridor Mixed Use (CMU) to Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (P/OS). 2 07-08-2021 Planning Commission Minutes Page 3 of 5 Mr. Bates explained that this amendment is City initiated for the property located across the street from City Hall on Sprague Avenue and the future proposed use is to expand Balfour Park. The City owns this property and requests to rezone the property from Corridor Mixed Use (CMU) to Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (P/OS). The property to the west (Balfour Park) is zoned P/OS, the property to the west and south is CMU, and the property to the north is MFR. The property is currently vacant. Findings show there are no critical areas on the site, the site would support Park Level of Service, is supported by the transportation network, is compatible with the surrounding uses, and implements the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Commissioner Beaulac asked if the Appleway Trail will be connected to Balfour Park. Mr. Bates answered that work is being done to extend the trail along Appleway Boulevard from University Road to Farr Road. There will also be a portion of the trail running along Dartmouth Road to Sprague Avenue. The City is currently seeking grant funding to improve the crossing on Dartmouth and Sprague to allow trail users to get to Balfour Park. There was no public comment offered. CPA-2021-0003: Request to change 46 acres from Industrial (I) to Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (P/OS). Mr. Bates stated that this amendment is City initiated for the four parcels located between the Spokane River and Union Pacific railroad east of Flora Road (the property is unaddressed). The City owns the property and requests to rezone the property from Industrial (I) to Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (P/OS). The properties to the north, west, and east are all zoned I, and the property to the east is zoned P/OS. Findings show that the proposal would support Park Level of Service, it is a newly acquired property purchased specifically for park land, and is compatible with surrounding uses. Commissioner Beaulac asked about access to the property via the Union Pacific railroad crossing and if there are proposed improvements to make the railroad crossings safer for the residents. Mr. Bates answered that there are approximately nine trains per day that utilize that railroad crossing. There has not been any discussion regarding the improvements yet but he explained that he anticipates that will be in the long-term master planning process as the development moves forward. There was one written public comment read into the record from Tom Rees in support of the land use change. There was no additional public comment offered. CPA-2021-0004: Add goals, policies, strategies, and background text related to homelessness. Housing and Homeless Coordinator Arielle Anderson explained that the text amendment is City initiated to add goals, policies, and strategies to formalize the City's position on community resources ranging from homeless services to housing instability. She stated that the Comprehensive Plan currently lacks goals, policies and strategies for people who are unsheltered and facing housing instability. The proposed text amendment formalizes the City's commitment to a regional approach to reduce homelessness and address the lack of guidance in the development of zoning regulations regarding site housing and homeless services. The proposed amendments ensure that current publicly funded programs are equally accessible by City residents, formalizes the City action to develop implementing regulations to build out services in the community, supports continued regional cooperation, 3 07-08-2021 Planning Commission Minutes Page 4 of 5 and ensures that all facilities sited in the City have commensurate on -site support. She explained that the amendment is non -site specific and does not detail where services will be located but it will address an identified deficiency within the Comprehensive Plan and support the development of a Homeless Response System specific to the needs of the City. There was no public comment offered. The public hearing was closed at 6:46 p.m. Discussion and recommendation regarding CPA-2021-0001 Commissioner Haneke stated that he is opposed to this amendment because there is no restriction that would keep the owners from tearing down the affordable housing units. Commissioner Miller, Rieckers, Granrath, Beaulac, McKinley, and Robinson stated that they are in support of the amendment because the change is appropriate with the surrounding uses and the proposed plan will add additional housing units that are needed within the City limits. Commissioner Miller moved to recommend approval of CPA-2021-0001 and forward it to the City Council. There was no additional discussion. The vote on the motion was six in favor and one against, with Commissioner Haneke dissenting. The motion passed. Discussion and recommendation regarding CPA-2021-0002 There was no discussion. Commissioner Miller moved to recommend approval of CPA- 2021-0002 and forward it to the City Council. The vote on the motion was seven in favor, zero against and the motion passed. Discussion and recommendation regarding CPA-2021-0003 There was no discussion. Commissioner Miller moved to recommend approval of CPA- 2021-0003 and forward it to the City Council. The vote on the motion was seven in favor, zero against and the motion passed. Discussion and recommendation regarding CPA-2021-0004 There was no discussion. Commissioner Miller moved to recommend approval of CPA- 2021-0002 and forward it to the City Council. The vote on the motion was seven in favor, zero against and the motion passed. IX. GOOD OF THE ORDER: Building Official Nickerson stated that anyone who wishes to apply for appointment to the Planning Commission should contact City Clerk Chris Bainbridge for application deadlines. X. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Beaulac moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:19 p.m. There was no discussion. The vote on the motion was seven in favor, zero against, and the motion passed. 4 07-08-2021 Planning Commission Minutes Page 5 of 5 Bob McKinley, Chair Marianne Lemons, Secretary f/i 31z4 Date signed