PC APPROVED Minutes 03-08-12.pdfSpokane Valley Planning Commission
APPROVEDMinutes
Council Chambers –City Hall,11707 E. Sprague Ave.
March 8, 2012
I.CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Batescalled the meeting to order at 6:00p.m.
II.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioners, staff and audience stood for the pledge of allegiance
III.ROLL CALL
Commissioners Bates, Carroll,Higgins,Neill, Sands, and Stoy were present.
Commissioner Stoy made a motion to excuse Commissioner Hall from the March 8 meeting,
which was approved unanimously.
Staff attending the meeting:John Hohman, Community Development Director; Scott Kuhta,
Planning Manager; Mike Basinger, Senior Planner, Kelly Konkright, Deputy City Attorney;
Cari Hinshaw, Office Assistant;Deanna Griffith, AdministrativeAssistant.
IV.APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Commissioner Stoy made a motionto approve the March 8, 2012 agenda as presented. This
motion was passed unanimously.
V.APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Neill made a motion to approve the August 25, 2011; September 22, 2011,
February 9, 2012; February 16, 2012 and February 23, 2012 minutes as presented.This motion
was passed unanimously.Commissioner Higgins recused himself from voting on the minutes
from 8-25-11 and 9-22-11 since he was not a commission member at that time.
VI.PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
VII.COMMISSION REPORTS
Commissioner Neill stated he attended the Washington State Geological Licensing Board
Meeting. Commissioner Bates stated he attended City Hall at the Mall.
VIII.ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
Community Development Director John Hohman shared that the Shoreline Master Program
would once again be moving forward through the Planning Commission and City Council. Mr.
Hohman reminded the Commission the City had retained special council to assist in legal
aspects of the SMP requirements. Mr. Hohman stated that if the Commissioners should have
questions regarding the SMP, they should be routed through Mr. Kuhta or Ms. Barlow.
Planning Manager Scott Kuhta covered the additional items which had been added to the
advanced agenda, code text amendments: schedule of permitted uses, changed of use and some
miscellaneous clean up items.
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IX.COMMISSION BUSINESS
A.UnfinishedBusiness: Deliberations 2012 Annual Comprehensive Plan Amendments:
Sr. Planner Mike Basinger made a short recap of the 2012 Annual Comprehensive Plan
Amendments public hearing. Mr. Basinger reminded the Commissioners at the last
meeting all of the Comprehensive Plan amendments had been approved except CPA-05-12
which had been continued for further deliberations. Mr. Basinger stated between last
meeting and today the Commissioners had requested and received a copy of the recorded
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Developers Agreement for the development on 4Ave., a copy of the residential
development standards chart and the Type I landscaping requirements.
Commissioners had questions regarding those restrictions which were incorporated into the
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Developers Agreement for the 4Ave. property, setbacks, landscaping, height limits
buffering. Staff stated every agreement would beunique and would not necessarilybe the
same for this project, if one should be developed for this property. CommissionerStoy
asked where the height is measured from,the eve of the building is where the height is
measured.Planning Manger Kuhta explainedwhy thedevelopmentagreement came into
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place for the Crapo Apartments on 4Ave. It was discussed how the developer met with
the neighbors and worked out a solution to mitigate some of their concerns.
Commissioners wanted to know how to proceed, would they make a recommendation to
City Council to work with the developer. Mr. Basinger stated it would be a good idea to do
just that, if the Commissioners wanted. Mr. Kuhta reminded the Commissioners if an
agreement was developed the public would be allowed to comment on it at that time.
Commissioner Carroll made a motion to amend the original motion which was to
recommend approval of CTA-05-12 to the City Council. The amendment is to recommend
approve subject to the following conditions:
Parcel 45133.0109 be designated as Community Commercial; and
The successfulnegotiationof a Development Agreement that includes:
An expanded landscape buffer between the proposed development and the
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adjacent residences on Moore, Alki and Sonora streets; and
Appropriate restrictionson density and height tobetter blend the two
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neighborhoods.
Commissioner Higgins asked what would be the standard requirements for this
development. Mr. Basinger replied a six foot high site obscuring fence, a five foot wide
buffering landscaping strip, and standard five and ten foot setbacks. Commissioner Neill
wondered if garages could be put along the edges of the property. Mr. Basinger explained
this is one thing that typically a developer will do is put the garages or recreationrooms on
the outside of a development so the bigger buildings will not be up against the fences. The
difference with a development agreement is it will set in stone what they can do.the
agreement will set in stone what will happen.
Commissioner Bates stated Development Agreements are new but ifwe continue to use
them, why don’t we just change the regulations to make sure these things are taken care of
regularly. Commissioner Sands stated she felt the Development Agreements were
important to be able to protect surrounding neighborhoods. Commissioner Carroll agreed
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and stated if this project were against commercial property it would not be necessary to
impose extra precautions.
After the discussion, Chairman Bates asked for the vote on the amendment, the vote is 6 in
favor, 0 against.Motion passes
Vote on the amended motion, 6 in favor, 0 against, motion passes.
B.New Business:
There was no new business.
X.GOOD OF THE ORDER
Commissioner Sands expressed her concern that people do not understandthe Open Public
Meetings Act. She stated she was concerned there could be a perception of decisions being
made behind closed doors.She shared shehopedthe Commission would be able to rise above
the reputation and serve thecommunity withintegrity and openness.
XI.ADJOURNMENT
The being no other business the meeting was adjournedat 6:38p.m.
SUBMITTED:APPROVED:
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Deanna Griffith, SecretaryBill Bates, Chairperson
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