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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-03-27 Planning Commission Minutes Approved1 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes for March 27, 2019 This is not a verbatim transcript of the meeting and is written in an attempt to capture the general spirit of the discussion based upon notes and video observation by the author. To view the video recording of this meeting, click here, or go to https://www.anacorteswa.gov/700/Watch-Meetings. Chair McNett called the meeting of March 27, 2019 to order at approximately 5 p.m. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners Moffitt, Graf, MacKenzie, McNett, Cleland-McGrath, Mount and Doll Minutes No Minutes were presented for approval at this time. Correspondence None New Business Public Hearing – Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Plan Amendment Chair McNett announced the public hearing for the Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Plan Amendment. Ms. Libby Grage, Planning Manager, provided a brief presentation on the proposed updates on the two plans and that these updates correspond to proposals in the 2016 Comprehensive Plan. Ms. Grage then introduced Jonn Lunsford, Parks & Recreation Department Director, to provide an overview of the changes being proposed. Mr. Lunsford thanked all the volunteers that helped the Parks Department achieve many goals and the generous budget provided by the City Council. Mr. Lunsford outlined the public process on the development of these plans to date and included updates to the comprehensive plans are necessary in order to qualify for grants from the state. Questions from the Commissioners included whether any substantive changes to the plans have been made since the beginning of the process to which Mr. Lunsford provided that there have been none. With no further comments, Chair McNett opened the public hearing. Martha Hall, 2617 16th Street, Anacortes. Ms. Hall does not believe the two plans adequately protect the important critical areas such as significant wetlands, Salish Sea and lake shorelines, fish and wildlife habitat, and steep, unstable slopes and suggests stronger language is needed in both comp plans to protect important critical areas and require compliance with laws such as the Anacortes Critical Areas ordinance and the Shoreline Master Program. With no further public comments, Chair McNett closed the public hearing. 2 Commissioners discussed funding sources for the parks, priorities, endowment funding, Guemes Channel Trail access, and concerns regarding permitting for projects. Chair McNett then called for a motion to forward the Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan to City Council for review. Commissioner MacKenzie made a motion to forward the current Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan to City Council with a second by Commissioner Cleland- McGrath. Vote was unanimous on the motion. Public Hearing – Anacortes Community Forestlands Comprehensive Plan Amendment Chair McNett then introduced the public hearing on the Community Forest Lands Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Lunsford provided responses to questions from the Commissioners including trail management and the requirements of permits for different types of trails and review processes. Chair McNett then opened the hearing for public comments. Kevin Foss, 2219 28 Street, Anacortes. Mr. Foss expressed his support for riding on trails in the forest, a bike park and a bike skills park and the size of park to accommodate riders. Julie Gold, 3102 I Avenue, Anacortes. Ms. Gold expressed her support for a bike park and the positive aspects of bringing youth into the forest lands through bike riding. Brian Wetcher, 814 26th Street, Anacortes. Mr. Wetcher supports the Community Forest Comp Plan and urged the Commissioners to approve the plan be forwarded to City Council as is. Thomas Conroy, 4307 Jeanette Road, Anacortes. Mr. Conroy provided his support of the work performed by the Forest Advisory Board and the City staff. Jake Verschuyl, 2210 21st Street, Anacortes. Mr. Vershuyl provided his support for the mountain bike park and the bike park within the community. Ian Lujan, 14379 Rosario Road, Anacortes. Mr. Lujan provided his support of a skills park at the proposed dump site. Josh Gates 3808 W 4th, Anacortes. Mr. Gates support the trails for mountain bike riding and the skills park. Chad Sage, 2024 L Avenue, Anacortes. Mr. Sage provided his support of the bike park. Cooper Nichols, 5677 Patricia Lane, Anacortes. Mr. Nichols provided his support of the bike park and asked all in attendance to stand up and show their support which included a majority of the room. Ms. Stacia Doyle, 700 Haddon Road, Anacortes. Ms. Doyle supports the bike park. Eric Adam, 1902 Copper Pond Place, Anacortes. Mr. Adams provided his support of the bike park. 3 Adam McCoy, 2314 33rd Street, Anacortes. Mr. McCoy provided his support for the mountain bike trails and the bike park to provide a place for kids and adult to learn and expand their skills. Jeff Perkins, 509 4th Street, Anacortes. Mr. Perkins provided his support for a bike park. In response to questions from the Commission regarding clarification of the proposed skills park, Mr. Lunsford invited Kevin Foss to provide clarification of the proposed park to which Mr. Foss outlined the difference between a contractor driven project and a volunteer process for development of a park of this type. Catherine Houck, 2318 20th Street Anacortes. Ms. Houck requested the suggestion on page 8 of the 2014 Comp Plan be removed and replaced with a bike park. Martha Hall, 2617 16th Street, Anacortes. Ms. Hall expressed concerns that the regulations are not being followed when developing trails in the forest lands. With no further public comments, Chair McNett closed the public hearing. Commissioners discussed the comp plan development including the bike skills park, if anything had changed since the plan was first developed. Commissioner Moffitt then made a motion to recommend the plan be approved for submittal to the City Council with the amendment to change the dog park to a bike park. Motion seconded by Commissioner Cleland-McGrath with the following votes: Ayes – Graf, MacKenzie, McNett, Cleland-McGrath, Moffitt; Nayes – Mount, Doll. Motion passed. A large contingent of citizens expressed desire to speak in support of the improvements to the skate park. As the project had already been voted on by the Commissioners to forward to the City Council, Chair McNett allowed the individuals to express their support and informed them this would not be included in the record. Chair McNett called the meeting to a close at approximately 8 p.m.