HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-11-25 City Council Minutes Approved c,1 Y o
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City Council Study Session Minutes— November 25, 2013
At approximately 7:00 p.m. Mayor Dean Maxwell called the regularly scheduled Anacortes City Council
study session of November 25, 2013 to order. City Councilmembers Eric Johnson, Ryan Walters, Erica
Pickett, Brad Adams, Bill Turner, Cynthia Richardson and Brian Geer were present.
2013 Development Regulation Amendments
Planning Director Ryan Larsen reviewed with Council the six development regulation amendments that
Council had previously docketed as part of the 2013 Amendment cycle. Mr. Larsen reported that the
Planning Commission held a public hearing on these six items at its October 9, 2013 meeting and
subsequently recommended approval of Exhibits 5 and 11 and denial of Exhibits 6, 7, 9 and 10 with the
intention that the latter four would be reviewed as part of the 2016 Comprehensive Plan update process.
Mr. Larsen advised that these six items would come back before Council at the December 2, 2013 regular
meeting for further consideration and action but invited councilmembers to discuss and ask questions at
the present meeting.
Councilmembers had no feedback on Exhibit 5.
Councilmembers discussed Exhibit 6, originally proposed by Mrs. Richardson, which would revise
definitions relating to private and public parking under AMC 17.06.687 and 17.06.713. The Planning
Commission had recommended denial with the intention of revisiting the topic during the 2016
Comprehensive Plan update. Several councilmembers suggested that this topic might be better
addressed as part of the 2013 amendment cycle and discussed various alternatives to the proposed
language. Mr. Larsen and Mrs. Richardson pointed out that if Exhibit 6 were approved the corresponding
topic would need to be removed from the package of edits to Title 17 proposed by the City Council
Planning Committee at the November 18, 2013 meeting.
Councilmembers discussed Exhibit 7, originally proposed by Mrs. Richardson and Ross Barnes, which
would add new language to establish criteria for approval of increase in maximum height under AMC
17.18.090 in the Guemes Channel LM zone. Mrs. Richardson reviewed the rationale for the proposed
amendment. Mr. Walters asked that staff identify where the southern boundary of this zone lies.
Councilmembers discussed Exhibit 9, originally proposed by Mrs. Pickett, which would disallow new curb
cuts under AMC 17.28.110 and 17.34.110 in the R3 and R4 zones. Mrs. Pickett reviewed the rationale for
the proposed amendment. Mr. Larsen reviewed the alternative wording proposed by staff.
Councilmembers discussed how the proposed amendment could foster a more walkable community and
also preserve on street parking and whether alley access was a feasible alternative to curb cuts or
driveways onto streets.
Councilmembers discussed Exhibit 10, originally proposed by Mr. Adams, which would require a
conditional use permit for facilities over 300,000 SF in the Industrial, MS, LM, CM, CM1 and CM2 zones
and for facilities over 1,000,000 SF in the LM1 zone. Mr. Larsen displayed maps illustrating the scale of
300,000 SF and 1,000,00 SF buildings in the named zones. He also displayed maps illustrating the scale
of the current largest building in each zone. Councilmembers discussed whether 300,000 SF was the
appropriate threshold. After considerable discussion councilmembers generally agreed that this Exhibit
should move forward as part of the 2013 cycle. Mr. Walters suggested clarifying whether the size limit
was on building footprint or usable square feet.
Councilmembers briefly discussed Exhibit 11, originally proposed by the Samish Indian Nation, which
would revised AMC 17.19.020 to allow for gas stations with attached stores and/or attached drive up food
and beverage facilities. Mr. Larsen reviewed the alternative language proposed by staff.
Mr. Larsen requested that councilmembers retain their packets from this study session for continued
discussion at the December 2, 2013 regular meeting.
Anacortes City Council Study Session Minutes November 25, 2013 1
Triangle Property Project Update
Parks and Recreation Director Gary Robinson introduced Jack Darnton from the Chamber of Commerce
Beautification Committee. Mr. Darnton, chairman of the Beautification Committee, reported that with the
help of partners City of Anacortes, Anacortes Sister Cities and Simply Yards the group had completed the
flag pavilion and landscaping at the Ferry Terminal Road triangle. He said they were now working on
completing the project with a lighted welcome sign. The group put out a call to artists earlier in the year
and received a dozen strong responses from regional artists from which a jury selected four finalists. After
artist presentations in late September the jury recommended the proposal from artist Kevin Pettelle. Mr.
Robinson displayed a model of the stainless steel sign to councilmembers and the audience. Mr. Darnton
described the intended size and location of the sign and said the Committee now had a big fundraising
job ahead to raise the$35K-$50K to build and install the sign. Mr. Darnton complimented the Anacortes
Arts Commission and city staff for their expertise and assistance with the process.
There being no further business, at approximately 8:15 p.m. the regularly scheduled Anacortes City
Council study session of November 25, 2013 adjourned.
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