PC APPROVED Minutes 07-11-13 Spokane Valley Planning Commission
APPROVED Minutes
Council Chambers — City Hall, 11707 E. Sprague Ave.
July 11, 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 Present Absent CITY STAFF
Bill Bates -Chair I Scott Kuhta,Planning Manager
Joe Stoy—Vice Chair i r Lori Barlow, Senior Planner
Steven Neill i� Erik Lamb, Deputy City Attorney
Kevin Anderson l I-
Mike Phillips
Robert McCaslin
Christina Carlsen Cari Hinshaw, Secretary
IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Commissioner Stoy moved to approve the agenda as presented, a second was made and the
motion passed unanimously.
V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Neill moved to approve the June 27, 2013 minutes as presented, a second was
made and the motion was passed unanimously.
VI. COMMISSION REPORTS
There were no reports.
VII. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Planning Manager Kuhta provided an overview of the PC advance agenda.
VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
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IX. COMMISSION BUSINESS
A. Unfinished Business:
Findings of Fact CTA-2013-0005, Outdoor Lighting Standards.
Commissioner Stoy moved to approve and forward to City Council CTA-2013-0005 as
presented. A second was made.
Discussion: None
Planning Commission vote was to forward to the City Council as presented, the motion was
passed unanimously.
B. New Business:
Study Session: Shoreline Management Program Update.
Senior Planner Lori Barlow presented an overview of the following supporting technical
documents prepared by the SMP team. They are as follows:
• No Net Loss Report: The report demonstrates how the updated City's SMP will
meet the required no net loss of ecological functions (NNL) requirement within
shoreline areas. The report is intended to summarize documents prepared
throughout the current SMP update process to demonstrate how each supporting
element combines to achieve NNL.
• Shoreline Buffers Report: The report provides background information and the
rationale used to establish shoreline buffers sufficient to achieve the "No Net
Loss of Ecological Functions" requirement. Shoreline buffers protect the
shoreline ecological functions necessary to sustain shoreline natural resources
and are an important regulatory tool that help the City comply with the "No Net
Loss" standard.
• Cumulative Impacts Analysis: The Cumulative Impacts Analysis is intended to
be a model of cumulative impacts on shoreline ecological functions within the
City and is based on a variety of inputs filtered through the draft environmental
designations and their applicable level of land use restrictions. The analysis
ensures that shoreline environmental designations and proposed SMP regulations
will be protective of shoreline functions even when considering incremental
actions that cumulatively have the potential to negatively impact those functions.
Findings of this model may result in modifications to the draft SMP regulations if
it is determined that cumulative impacts could result in a net loss of shoreline
ecological functions over time.
Commissioner Carlsen had a question about undeveloped parcels. She quoted from the
document that"the maintenance of existing yards or gardens except that pruning and
thinning activities within the buffer areas must comply with all of the section". She wanted
to know what is laid out for the new development. Ms. Barlow stated that everything in the
buffer would be intended to remain undisturbed, and that they may be able to do some
pruning or thinning if they are able to meet the requirements. New yard would occur
outside of the buffer area. Ms. Carlsen then asked about the diagram showing the
relationship between a house and the shoreline buffer setbacks. Ms. Barlow stated that in
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the Coyote Rock area it's possible to have a house placed 95 feet from the water's edge. In
an area west of Millwood it's most likely a house could be placed 70 feet from the water's
edge, because in that area it is only a 50 foot buffer. Shelly Lake would also be less than 95
feet because it is a 50-foot buffer.
Commissioner Carlsen stated that it does not address new yards because it's specific to
maintenance of existing yards. Ms. Barlow stated that land within the buffer area is
intended to remain in a natural state. Should somebody propose a subdivision or a building
permit, the buffer would remain undisturbed.
Commissioner Bates asked if there are very many current residents that the setbacks and
buffers are going to be a problem. Ms. Barlow responded there are areas based on the new
regulations that the existing structures will be non-conforming. They have been addressed
in the development regulations and the Shoreline Management Act itself provides the
opportunity for jurisdictions to make the determination that those single-family structures
are not considered non-conforming.
Commissioner Anderson asked if Planning Commission input was appropriate on this
Shoreline Master Program Update packet. Ms. Barlow stated this is an informative Study
Session and that these documents are the technical support documents linking the science
based resources to the development regulations and other required elements. A public
hearing will not be conducted for the review of these documents since they are
informational only. Commissioner Anderson discussed the legal definition of non-
conforming as far as property value in the future for financing or resale and how somebody
changes the rules for the property after the property was established. Commissioner
Anderson stated he had never seen it addressed. Eric Lamb Deputy City Attorney stated
that in the draft development regulations there is a section on non-conforming uses.
Planning Manager Kuhta stated, if you have a property and the entire property is in a buffer
area and the house burns down, we couldn't prohibit a new house from being built. You
have to have an allowable use on that property. Ms. Barlow noted that the regulations
provide options for all foreseeable conditions associated with a non-conforming structure
and whenever possible mimics the existing nonconforming regulations implemented
citywide.
X. GOOD OF THE ORDER
There were no comments.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no other business the meeting was adjourned at 7:28 p.m.
Bill Bates, Chairperson
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Cad Hinshaw, PC Secretary
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