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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-01-23 City Council Minutes Approved C.) I( 0etri`:: t9c w City Council Minutes—January 23, 2012 At 7:00 p.m. Mayor Dean Maxwell called the regularly scheduled Anacortes City Council study session of January 23, 2012 to order. Roll call found present: Eric Johnson, Ryan Walters, Erica Pickett, Brad Adams and Bill Turner. Cynthia Richardson and Brian Geer were absent. Discussion on Partial R.O.W. Vacation and Property Exchange— Fidalgo Bay RV Park Mayor Maxwell continued this item to a future meeting due to some outstanding title issues on the Samish property. Discussion on Process of Review for AMC Titles 16, 17 and 18 and New Title 19, Options A and B Planning Director Ryan Larsen discussed with Council the process for reviewing the proposed changes to AMC Titles 16, 17 and 18 and new Title 19, Options A and B. He recalled that the Planning Commission had asked Council for guidance and Council requested that Planning Commission move the documents forward to the City Council for review and consideration. Mr. Larsen said that at its January 11, 2012 meeting the Planning Commission moved to forward the proposed changes including Titles 16, 17, 18 and Title 19, Options A and B to City Council for review and consideration. At that same meeting the Planning Commission also moved to support proposed Title 19, Option B as the preferred alternative. Mr. Larsen said that four commissioners voted in favor of the latter motion and the two newest commissioners, who had not been on the Commission during most of the meetings on the matter, abstained. Mr. Larsen said now that the documents were coming back before City Council staff would like to know how to schedule them for consideration. He said staff recommended that Council first review proposed Titles 16, 17, 18 and 19, Options A and B, instruct staff to make any changes Council would like, then send the document to an attorney for review for consistency with applicable state law and planning practices, then bring the document back to Council for review of any changes or edits suggested by legal counsel, then schedule and advertise a public hearing to accept public comment on the draft, then after the public hearing is complete and closed Council could deliberate and finally, if Council so desired, pass an ordinance to get any approved changes incorporated into the City code. Mr. Larsen asked if Council was generally in agreement with that plan and what study session schedule Council would prefer, how many study sessions Council would like to hold, if they would like to schedule extra back-to-back study sessions, when they would like to begin, and so on. Mr. Larsen noted that Mr. Geer, who was not present at the meeting, was in support of the general concept just laid out by Mr. Larsen. Mr. Adams asked when Council would get packets with all the Planning Commission testimony and the revised chapters. Mr. Larsen said he hoped to have complete binders assembled by end of next week. The mayor added that Councilmembers would have the notebooks a couple of weeks before they begin review. Mr. Walters requested a written copy of the proposed schedule Mr. Larsen had just outlined. Mr. Larsen said he'd email it out in the morning. Mr. Walters said the schedule sounded fine but asked if Council could add additional study sessions if it determined they were needed along the way. Mr. Larsen said yes. The mayor and Mr. Johnson discussed the option to schedule back to back meetings on consecutive nights as has sometimes been done in the past. Mr. Turner said staff's proposed sequence of steps sounded fine to him and his only concern was that there be enough time to deliberate and for public testimony because he didn't see any reason to be in a hurry. He asked to see the packet and have time to look at it. Mrs. Pickett suggested scheduling specific titles on specific nights so the public would know what would be discussed each night. Mayor Maxwell agreed that would be a good idea. Mr. Larsen summarized that staff would assemble and distribute the binders at the end of next week or shortly thereafter, then begin scheduling study sessions to consider the material in March. Mr. Walters asked if the binders would contain what was currently posted on the City website or also additional material. Mayor Maxwell said the binders would include the full record. Mr. Larsen said that would include all the written public testimony, the existing and proposed changed language, and a matrix prepared by staff summarizing the public comments and how they were addressed in the revisions. Mr. Walters said that if all that material was currently on line he didn't need paper a paper copy. The Mayor said there might be additional material just received and that all councilmembers would receive a complete binder for reference during the discussions. Mr. Walters asked if there would be a public hearing. Mr. Larsen Anacortes City Council Study Session Minutes January 23, 2012 1 said yes, after the study sessions and the attorney review of the draft, probably not before June. Mr. Walters asked if there would be any new code proposals as part of the package. Mr. Larsen said no. Mrs. Pickett cautioned that the public may be confused by Council deliberating before the public hearing since it's an unusual pattern but that she did not object to it. Mr. Turner confirmed the planned sequence of review. Mr. Adams confirmed that after the public hearing Council could still make revisions to the proposed titles. Mr. Larsen said absolutely. Discussion on Process of Review for Proposed 2011 Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations Changes Mr. Larsen briefly summarized the status of the six proposed amendments to the development regulations and two proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan that are part of the 2011 process. Mr. Larsen reported that at its January 11, 2012 meeting the Planning Commission made recommendations on Exhibits 1 through 4 and delayed making a recommendation on Exhibits 5 and 6 to allow staff and proponent Evergreen Islands to refine those two proposals. Mr. Larsen said he had been meeting with the proponent on one of those proposals already and that he hoped to have it ready for the first Planning Commission meeting in February. Mr. Larsen then reviewed the four exhibits on which the Planning Commission had made recommendations. Exhibit 1 was proposed by Councilmember Richardson. Mr. Larsen said it would add a new section (i) to AMC 16.12.020.E to allow for pedestrian connection to adjacent property and/or provide for future connection. As proposed by Mrs. Richardson, new section 16.12.020.E(i) would read: "Vehicular and pedestrian connections to adjacent areas. Where terrain or existing development precludes vehicular connections, provide pedestrian connections if possible. Where adjacent areas are undeveloped, provide for future connections." Mr. Larsen said staff suggested moving this proposed language to AMC 16.20.060, Streets and roads, where it fit better. He reported that the Planning Commission recommended slightly revised language and placing it as new item (13) in AMC 16.20.060.C: "Vehicular and pedestrian connections to adjacent areas. Where terrain or existing development precludes vehicular connections, provide pedestrian connections if possible. Where adjacent areas are undeveloped, provide for future connections for pedestrian and/or vehicular access designed to meet city standards." Mr. Larsen said the Planning Commission change was intended to make sure access meets city standards. Mr. Adams asked if this is intended for any type of development outside of the traditional grid, even a short plat. Mr. Larsen said yes. He added that City Attorney Brad Furlong had suggested another slight revision in the language to clarify that point and that Mr. Furlong's language would come before Council for consideration. Exhibit 2 was also proposed by Councilmember Richardson. Mr. Larsen said it would add language to AMC 17.34.050 regarding minimum lot size in the R3 zone to allow for lots not exceeding 12,000 SF and which have an existing single-family residence at least 20 years old to subdivide and create an additional lot of at least 4,000 SF and to be required to record a covenant against the property agreeing to not demolish the existing house for 15 years. Mayor Maxwell advised that the Planning Commission had recommended denial of this exhibit. Mr. Johnson asked if Mrs. Richardson could provide some background for this proposal. The mayor said she would have that opportunity when the exhibit came before Council for deliberation. Mr. Larsen advised that a public hearing on Exhibits 1 through 4 had been scheduled for the February 6, 2012 regular City Council meeting and that the council packet for that meeting would include all the supporting documentation. Exhibit 3 was also proposed by Councilmember Richardson. Mr. Larsen said it would add language to AMC 17.34.060 regarding minimum setback requirements in the R3 zone to allow single-family residences on lots 60 feet wide or less to reduce both side yard setbacks to five feet. Mr. Larsen advised that the Planning Commission recommended denial of this exhibit. Anacortes City Council Study Session Minutes January 23, 2012 2 Exhibit 4 was proposed by citizen Hal Rooks. Mr. Larsen said it would change AMC 17.18.090 regarding maximum building height in the LM zone to limit the height requirement to 35 feet along the Guemes Channel and eliminate the ability for a property owner to build to fifty feet. Mr. Larsen advised that the Planning Commission recommended denial of this exhibit. Mr. Larsen said staff has advertised a public hearing on Exhibits 1 through 4 for February 6, 2012. He said that after testimony, the public hearing would be closed and Council could deliberate and make motions as necessary. Mr. Adams asked when the council packet would be provided for that hearing. Mr. Larsen said next week. Mr. Adams asked staff to have it ready as early as was reasonable. Mr. Walters asked when Exhibits 5 and 6 would come before City Council. Mr. Larsen said the one he was currently working on should go to the Planning Commission on February 8, 2012 for study, then a public hearing would be scheduled, probably in March, then it would likely come to City Council with a recommendation in late March or early April. Mr. Walters asked if there would be any Comprehensive Plan amendments in either of the packets. Mr. Larsen said not in Exhibit 5 but there might be one in Exhibit 6. Mr. Johnson said it would be helpful to have the council packets for Exhibits 1 through 4 earlier than the Thursday before the public hearing. Mr. Larsen said he would try to have them ready earlier that week. Mr. Johnson said having the materials posted on line would be better yet. Mr. Johnson asked if there would be Council discussion of Exhibits 1 through 4 in the weeks after the public hearing on February 6. Mayor Maxwell said that's up to Council to determine, they can take action on February 6 or continue the discussion as long as necessary. Mr. Walters emphasized that City Council can deliberate and take action on each proposal separately. Mr. Larsen agreed. Mr. Walters inquired if the Proposed column in the matrix in the council packet presented the original language from the proponent or revised language from the Planning Commission. Mr. Larsen said the Proposed column contains the language submitted by the proponent and that the Planning Commission only modified language on one exhibit, Exhibit 1; the Planning Commission revised language appears in Exhibit 1 b. There being no further business, at approximately 7:26 p.m. the regularly scheduled Anacortes City Council study session of January 23, 2012 adjourned. Anacortes City Council Study Session Minutes January 23, 2012 3