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Minutes - 07/10/2008 Spokane Valley Planning Commission Approved Minutes Council Chambers — City Hall, 11707 E. Sprague Ave. July 10, 2008 I.CALL TO ORDER Chair called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm. II.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioners, staff and audience stood for the pledge of allegiance III.ROLL CALL Commissioners Robertson, Beaulac, Kogle, and Sands were present. Chair Robertson noted the absence of Commissioner Carroll was previously excused. Commissioner Eggleston arrived at 6:03 p.m. and Commissioner Sharpe arrived at 6:04 p.m. Staff attending the meeting: Greg McCormick, Planning Manager; Christina Janssen, Assistant Planner; Carrie Acosta, Deputy City Clerk. IV.APPROVAL OF AGENDA It was moved by Commissioner Beaulac, seconded by Commissioner Robertson, and unanimously agreed to accept the July 10, 2008 agenda as presented. V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES There were no minutes to approve. VI. PUBLIC COMMENT There were no Public Comments. VII. COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Robertson reported he is still meeting with the Panhandling Committee and they will meet again ne� week. He stated everything is moving along fine. VIII. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS Planning Manager Greg McCormick reminded the commission of the Special Council Meeting scheduled with Michael Freedman on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. He also reminded them of the Joint Meeting scheduled with the City Council on July 29, 2008 at CenterPlace to receive a presentation on the Regional Collaboration Grant. Commissioner Kog/e stated she wi// not be ab/e to attend the Ju/y 29, 2008 meeting. IX.COMMISSION BUSINESS New Business — Public Hearing Street Vacation STV-01-08 Commissioner Robertson opened the public hearing at 6:02 p.m. and welcomed Assistant Planner Christina Janssen to give her presentation. Ms. Janssen informed the commissioners she will be presenting the staff report and recommendations for STV-01-08 which consists of the vacation of 140 feet of alleyway located approximately 145 feet north of the intersection of Trent Avenue and Avalon Road. She presented photos of the property indicating property lines and adjacent properties. She stated Alan Schneider is the owner of all the adjacent properties. She reported that following the issuance of the staff report on June 30, 2008, the City's Traffic Engineer reviewed the proposal and discussed it with the Department of Transportation. Ms. Janssen stated the five criteria the Planning Commission must consider in making their findings and recommendations 07/10/2008 Planning Commission Minutes Page 1 of 3 to City Council as follows: 1) Whether a vacation of the alley will better serve the public; 2) Whether the alley is no longer required for public use or access; 3) Whether a substitution of a new and different public way would be more useful to the public; 4) Whether conditions may change in the future as to provide greater use or need than presently exists; and 5) Whether objections to the proposed vacation are made by owners of private properry abutting the street or alley or other governmental agencies or members of the general public. With regard to these considerations, she reported that relevant to the first item staff feels access to Trent Avenue should be limited because of its status as a State highway. Any future development to this properry should be accessed from Avalon Road, stating if this occurs the impact from the development will be mitigated. Relevant to the second criteria, Ms. Janssen reported the alley currently provides access to the properties of the owner. Future development can be accessed by Avalon Road without the alley. With regard to the third criteria, Ms. Janssen noted the condition is not applicable to this situation. Relevant to the fourth criteria, she reported the Washington State Department of Transportation indicated no further access to Trent Avenue will be granted other than what is already in place. She also stated that if the vacation were to be approved, Spokane Valley Public Works Department requested the condition be placed limiting access to a single driveway on Trent Avenue and a joint access agreement for its use. Ms. Janssen reported that in regard to the fifth criteria, staff received no comments from surrounding property owners and verification from all service utilities was provided stating that there is no infrastructure located in the area to be vacated. Ms. Janssen reported it is the recommendation of staff to forward this street vacation to City Council with a recommendation for approval with conditions. Commissioner Robertson invited questions from the Planning Commission; no questions. Commissioner Robertson invited the public to comment: Alan Schneider, 3475 Ave. #5E, Yuma AZ, 85367: Mr. Schneider stated he is the property owner, currently living in Arizona. He has owned the property since the early 1990's and stated there are four parcels, three of which are on Trent Avenue and range from 40 — 50 feet wide. He said he cannot sell the properties individually. He indicated the concern from the State seems to be that because there are 3 properties on Trent Avenue, they would develop in the future with 3 individual accesses. He stated this could not happen because the properties are not big enough to allow it. Commissioner Robertson asked if Mr. Schneider wants to keep the a//ey or if he wants it vacated. Mr. Schneider stated he is in favor of the vacation, indicating it has never been used as an alley. He said he uses it for parking and the previous owner used to have buildings on it. Commissioner Robertson seeing no one else that wished to testify closed the public hearing at 6:14 p.m. Commissioner Beaulac made a motion to recommend approval of STV-01-08 to the City Council with the conditions recommended by staff, Commissioner Kogle seconded the motion. There was no further discussion. Vote on the street vacation STV-01-08 was unanimous favor. Motion passed. Study Session UDC Code Amendment of Height Restrictions in Non- Residential Zones: Assistant Planner Christina Janssen presented a proposal for an amendment to Title 19 of the Spokane Valley Municipal Code that would allow for approval of certain structures to exceed the height requirement in commercial, mixed-use, office, and industrial zones. The application for the amendment was received on May 5, 2008 by Stan Schultz on behalf of Wolfe Enterprises, LLC. Currently the code limits structure heights. She said the proposed language is very specific in the structures that would be permitted to exceed the height structures in specified areas. She stated the amended 07/10/2008 Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 of 3 te� would be in chapters 19.60.010, 19.70.010, and 19.70.020. She reported that there are two criteria to consider when proposing amendments: that they are consistent with the applicable provisions of the Comprehensive Plan and that they bear a substantial relation to the public health, safety, welfare, and protection of the environment. She said that staff feels the amendment give developers and business owners more flexibility to operate in Spokane Valley and also allows exceptions for enhancements that provide aesthetics to the environment. Commissioner Beaulac asked if signage is permitted on parapet walls. Ms. Janssen confirmed signage is permitted. Commissioner Robertson noted the public hearing on this matter will be in two weeks, on July 24, 2008. Planning Manager McCormick asked if the commissioners would like more information from staff regarding the size of signage on the parapet walls, to which Commissioner Beaulac agreed more information would be helpful. Commissioner Robertson invited Mr. Schultz to comment: Stan Schultz, 425 Alpine Dr., Liberty Lake: Mr. Schultz stated he proposed the amendment to mirror the provisions currently in residential zones. He said it appears the provisions were overlooked in the industrial and commercial zones and he thinks it would provide for more flexibility in zones that need more flexibility. He also stated the major protection is the provision to meet height limits in the airport overlay zone and also that we cannot have any living facilities above the height limit in the zone which it addresses. Commissioner Robertson invited questions from commissioners, no questions. X. GOOD OF THE ORDER Nothing for the Good of the Order. XI. AD70URNMENT The being no other business the meeting was adjourned at 6:24 p.m. SUBMITTED: APPROVED: Carrie Acosta, Deputy City Clerk Ian Robertson, Chairperson 07/10/2008 Planning Commission Minutes Page 3 of 3