PC APPROVED Minutes 03-14-13 Spokane Valley Planning Commission
APPROVED Minutes
Council Chambers — City Hall, 11707 E Sprague Ave.
March 114, 2013
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Bates called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioners, staff and audience stood for the pledge of allegiance
III. ROLL CALL
COMMISSIONERS CITY STAFF 11111111111.1.11111.
BILL BATES-CHAIR SCOTT KUHTA,PLANNING MGR,AICP
JOE STOY—VICE CHAIR LORI BARLOW,SENIOR PLANNER
STEVEN NEILL CARY DRISKELL,CITY ATTORNEY
MICHAEL PHILLIPS
KEVEN ANDERSON
CHRISTINA CARLSEN
ROBERT MCCASLIN CART HINSHAW,SECRETARY
Chair Bates welcomed and congratulated Mike Phillips for being appointed to the Planning
Commission.
IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Commissioner Stoy made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. This motion was
passed unanimously.
V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Neill made a motion to approve the February 28, 2013 minutes as presented.
This motion was passed unanimously.
VI. PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
VII. COMMISSION REPO
Commissioner Carlsen was invited up to Mead High Schools Medical Program. Ms.Carlson
stated that she invited the students to come and check out a Planning Commission meeting in
the future.
On March 6, 2013 Chair Bates attended the Mayors State of the City presentation out at the
mall. Commissioner Bates also attended the Open House on Monday March 11, 2013 for the
proposed Appleway Trail. Chair Bates stated that the turnout was standing room only and it
seems that people are really interested in the project.
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VIII. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
Planning Manager Scott Kuhta shared that the city is looking at doing a shared use path
between University and Evergreen. Ideas from the community were such things like: linear
type parks, community gardens, rocks and benches for kids, and dog parks.. Mr. Kuhta
reminded the Commission about the City's ten year anniversary which is March 31, 2013. The
celebration would be on Saturday March 16, 2013.
IX. COMMISSION BUSINESS
Chair Bates called the Public Hearing at 6:12 p.m.
Public Hearing: The Public Hearing was addressed by Senior Planner Lori Barlow. Ms.
Barlow did a highlight and overview of CTA-2013-0002, an amendment to the Spokane Valley
Municipal Code, to update SEPA Categorical Exemptions. Proposed changes include
increasing the flexible threshold for minor new construction in the Categorical Exemptions
Section of SVMC 21.20.040, consistent with WAC 197-11-800.
Ms. Barlow shared that thru the course of the review, there were some carry over effects in
Chapter 24.50, some minor housekeeping changes and that on April 11, 2013 there will be a
separate public hearing for those proposed changes.
Chair Bates asked if there were any questions:
Commissioner Neill asked if there has been any negative feedback. Senior Planner Lori Barlow
and Planning Manager Scott Kuhta stated that there have been no negative feedbacks here. Mr.
Kuhta explained that through the committee he was involved in over in Olympia at the
Department of Ecology Head Quarters there were some groups that had concerns about
increasing the thresholds. This is fairly straightforward for Spokane Valley. Mr. Kuhta stated
that Spokane County and the City of Spokane did not attend the meeting in Olympia. Mr.
Kuhta discussed that the Department of Ecology appointed the committee members and the
Association of Washington Cities provided the names. If someone from the cities wanted to go
they could have contacted the AWC. Mr. Kuhta was the lone city representative from eastern
Washington. Mr. Kuhta has attended three meetings in Olympia.
Commissioner McCaslin was wondering if any past projects have been denied due to SEPA.
Ms. Barlow stated she did not think historically there has ever been a project denied, but shared
that we are over the aquifer and potentially as a single source aquifer. Should a project be
proposed that would have negative impacts too our aquifer than a jurisdiction could use the
SEPA tool as the authority to deny that project. Mr. Kuhta explained that transportation
concurrency requires the City to look at impacts of a development on intersections which have
an established level of service, specifically how much delay there is at an intersection. If the
level of service at an intersection drops below the City's standards as a result of a development
and there is no fix for that intersection then legally the City cannot approve that development.
Ms. Barlow reiterated that the Chapter 24.50 will come as a separate item on April 11, 2013
and it will be merged together in the council review process.
Chair Bates closed the Public Hearing at 7:00 p.m.
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Commissioner Stoy moved to recommend CTA-2013-0002 to the City Council for approval.
This motion was passed unanimously.
X. GOOD OF THE ORDER
Chair Bates handed out a booklet to the Planning Commission titled Suggestions for
Successful Municipal Leadership from the Association of Washington Cities. Mr. Bates
stated that there are some good suggestions in the booklet and thought the Planning
Commission might enjoy taking a look at it.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
The being no other business the meeting was adjourned at 7:02 p.m.
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Bill Bates, Chairperson
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Planning Commission Minutes Page 3 of 3