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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/15/2011 MINUTESMinutes for City of Bremerton Planning Commission Regular Meeting February 15, 2011 L Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chairman Hoell at 5:30 pan. IL Roll Call Those present were: Commissioner Cockburn, Commissioner Jose, Commissioner Mosiman, Commissioner Streissguth, Commissioner Tift, Commissioner Warren, and Chairman Hoell. Quorum certified. Also present: Andrea Spencer, Lindsey Sehmel, and Pam Bykonen (DCD staff). III. Approval of Agenda Chairman Hoell introduced the agenda. A motion was made by Commissioner Jose and seconded by Commissioner Cockburn to approve the agenda as presented. It was agreed by general consensus to approve the agenda as presented. IV. Approval of Minutes The minutes of the Regular Meeting held on January 18, 2011 were presented for approval by Chairman Cockburn. A motion was made by Commissioner Streissguth and seconded by Commissioner Tift to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of January 18, 2011 as presented. Called for a vote: Commissioner Cockburn: Yes; Commissioner Jose: Abstain; Commissioner Mosiman: Abstain; Commissioner Streissguth: Yes; Commissioner Tift: Yes; Commissioner Warren: Abstain; Chairman Hoell: Yes. The motion carried. VI. Public Meeting A. Call To The Public (public comments on any item not on tonight's agenda). Chairman Hoell asked if there were any comments from citizens. Seeing none, she closed this portion of the meeting. 1. Workshop and Public Hearin —Zoning Code Amendment: Lindsey Sebmel, City Planner, gave a brief PowerPoint presentation on the topic of amending the Bremerton Municipal Code chapter 20.48 titled "Off-Street Parking Requirements" relating; to electric vehicle infrastructure within the city. During the 2009 legislative cycle, Washington State adopted House Bill 1481 which requires by July 2011 all growth Planning Commission Meeting February 15, 2011 Page 1 of 5 management cities and cities along major transportation routes to allow for electric vehicle infrastructure within their city limits in all zones except residential and city resource lands, specifically, zones where automobile oriented services are currently located. This requirement is compatible with the City of Bremerton's comprehensive plan Transportation element. Minor amendments to the zoning code would achieve the State's requirements for electric vehicle infrastructure availability. 'The amendments would include: • Amending existing definitions for Automobile Service & Repair, Gas Station, and Transportation Facility; • Adding new definitions for Battery Charging Station, Battery Exchange Station, Electric Vehicle Charging Station, Electric Vehicle Infi°astructure, and Rapid Charging Station; and • Including a new sub - section to BMC 20.48, Of f- Street Parking Requirements, to allow charging stations in parking lots that are within an approved zone. All charging stations would have to comply with City building codes and Labor and Industry (L &1) electrical codes. Lindsey noted that the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) and the Department of Commerce had created an educational packet for communities to refer to while undergoing this adoption process; Bremerton's approach was within these guidelines. Commissioner Cockburn asked about Level II (private) charging stations in residential zones. Lindsey said that private use charging stations were allowed in residential areas; the proposed amendments would affect commercial. properties and uses. Andrea Spencer, Director of Community Development, added that charging stations for private use is considered an accessory use to the property and would only require electrical permits. Commissioner Streissguth commented that the proposed amendments seemed to be a "minimalist" approach and felt that the Commission should be more aware of the guidelines set forth in the PSRC packet which she then passed out to the commissioners to review. Commissioner Streissguth asked if automobile dealerships would be included with automobile services and repair because it was feasible that a dealership that sells only used cars would not necessarily have service bays but may want to have charging stations. Lindsey said that if the dealership was in an allowed zone, charging stations would be considered an allowed use. Commissioner Jose asked if that would. include the rapid charging stations. Lindsey said that rapid charging stations would be allowed where gas stations are allowed. Commissioner Jose posed the scenario of the used car dealership installing a rapid charging station. Andrea stated that, as in the residential zones, charging stations are an accessory use to the primary use and in the near future it will be customary to have charging stations in conjunction with other auto - oriented services. Andrea added that limited staff resources have necessitated taking a "minimalist" approach in order to be in compliance with the State's regulations by the deadline of July Planning Commission Meeting February 15, 2011 Page 2 of 5 1, 2011. A more in -depth approach will be included with larger code amendments at a future date. Commissioner Tift asked if charging stations would be allowed at restaurants, such as Anthony's as an amenity to the restaurants customers, or in any parking structure. Lindsey said it would be allowed as part of the amendments to off- street parking as long as it is an allowed use in an allowed zone. Commissioner Jose questioned the differences in the amendments to definitions, specifically why services such as electric battery exchange were not allowed at all of the facilities listed. Lindsey explained that battery exchange facilities can be quite large; Commissioner Cockburn added that there is a safety issue when exchanging batteries and is too dangerous to have in a gas station because of sparking. Chairman Hoell expressed concern of limiting a business owner's ability to grow and run their facility by limiting what type of electric vehicle service they can provide. Commissioner Streissguth expressed discomfort at approving the proposed amendments without more detailed information regarding safety and other specifics of installing electric vehicle services. Commissioner Mosiman stated that public safety was beyond the responsibilities of a Planning Commission, but noted that there was quite of lot of information contained in the PSRC guidelines and it could not be adequately covered in one meeting. Ile acknowledged that there are times when a deadline is imminent it is necessary to adopt a "bare bones" proposal as a holding place so the requirement is technically met. Commissioner Mosiman asked where the concept and language contained in the proposed amendments originated from. Lindsey said the language, specifically the new sub - section to BMC 20.48, came from the PSRC guidelines. The amendments to the definitions was a result of staff analysis of existing cones and uses and what would be the most appropriate locations for electric vehicle services. Commissioner Jose felt that the Commission should be open to many electric vehicle service infrastructure possibilities in the interest of encouraging entrepreneurship within the city and avoiding premature restriction of a still - developing market. Commissioner Tift asked if any permits for charging stations had been approved. Andrea said that there have been no proposals submitted, but noted that businesses such as the Nissan dealership would not need a building permit, only an electrical permit through L &1 because a charging station is an accessory use. She added that the zoning code does not regulate safety measures; those standards are set through building, fire, and electrical codes. Commissioner Tift asked to what businesses or locations desiring charging stations as a secondary use would the proposed amendments apply. Andrea explained that the amendments were to clarify the zones that allow car related services would also allow electric vehicle related services. For example, even though the Manette Center Core (MCC) has a commercial element, auto - oriented services are not allowed, therefore, electric vehicle charging stations or battery exchange facilities are not allowed. Planning Commission Meeting February 15, 2011 Page 3 of 5 Commissioner Warren asked how long a Director's interpretation would take to make a decision on where electric vehicle services could be located. Andrea said it would take about two weeks and she would use the proposed zoning codes included in the amendment as a guide to what is most compatible. Commissioner Mosiman acknowledged the need to adopt the proposed amendments to the zoning code to be compliant with the State, but asked for more time to truly understand what the impacts on the community would be. Commissioner Streissguth asked about allowing charging stations in parking areas in the public right -of way. Andrea explained that the zoning code has been developed to regulate private property and does not have authority over public right-of-way. She added that charging stations could be allowed in the public right -of -way but the zoning code would not be the governing document. Commissioner Streissguth requested staff verify the accuracy of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) cited in the proposed amendments and to provide additional information on ADA accessibility and public safety for charging stations within parking structures. Several commissioners felt that additional information regarding allowed locations, design guidance, and Planning Commission authority was needed before this item could be put to a vote. Staff will provide the commissioners with the link to the PSRC website page that contains the electric vehicle guidelines. Commissioner Cockburn commented that much of what was included in the proposed amendments dealt with technology that has yet to be fully developed which will allow time to make changes if needed. A motion was made by Commissioner Streissguth and seconded by Commissioner Jose to continue the Public Hearing to amend BMC 20.42 and 20.48 to the March 15, 2011 meeting. Called for a vote: Commissioner Cockburn: Yes; Commissioner Jose: Yes; Commissioner Mosiman: Yes; Commissioner Streissguth: Yes; Commissioner Tift: Yes; Commissioner Warren: Yes; Chairman 1-loell: Yes. The motion carried. VI. Business Meeting A. Chairman's Report: None. B. Director's Report: Andrea Spencer, Director of Community Development, reported that the Shoreline Master Program shoreline designations will be presented to the Commission at the March 15, 2011 meeting. There will be open houses for the Pacific Avenue Redevelopment project on February 17` and the SKIA Sub -Area Plan in April. Andrea welcomed Kelli Warren as the newest member of the Planning Commission. flapping Commissions Meeting February 15, 2011 Page 4 of 5 F - a 77, 711 w. S M w F,