Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/20/2005 MINUTESMinutes for City of Bremerton Planning Commission Regular Meeting December 20, 2005 I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Streissguth at 5:31 p.m. II. Roll Call Those present were: Commissioner Cockburn, Commissioner Friedberg -Nerf, Commissioner Kosusko, Commissioner Kennedy, and Commissioner Streissguth. Quorum certified. Also present: Chris Hugo, Andrea Spencer, Nicole Ward, and Pam Wilson (DCD staff); Mike Mecham, City Engineer; Dick Bruskrud, Mithun Architects. III. Approval of Agenda Commissioner Streissguth introduced the agenda. It was agreed by general consensus to approve the agenda as presented. IV. Approval of Minutes The minutes of the Regular Meeting held on November 15, 2005 were presented for approval by Commissioner Streissguth. A motion was made by Commissioner Friedberg -Nerf and seconded by Commissioner Kennedy to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of November 15, 2005, as presented. Called for a vote: Commissioner Cockburn: Yes; Commissioner Friedberg -Nerf: Yes; Commissioner Kennedy: Yes; Commissioner Kosusko: Yes; Commissioner Streissguth: Abstain. The motion carried. V. Public Meeting A. Call To The Public (public comments on any item not on tonight's agenda). Commissioner Streissguth asked if there were any comments from citizens. Seeing none, she closed this portion of the meeting. B. Public Hearing: 1. Continued deliberation on the East Park Sub -area Plan: Andrea Spencer, Planning Manager, reminded the Commissioners there was no staff report as this was a continuation of deliberation from the last meeting. There was a revised `Findings and Planning Commission Meeting December 20, 2005 Page 1 of 5 Conclusions' that had been distributed to the Commissioners before the start of the meeting. Mike Mecham, City Engineer, reported that his staff had met with Mithun Architects, the architects of East Park, after the last Planning Commission meeting on November 15, 2005, and discussed road standards. Because of the nature of the development, it was decided that a deviation of the road standards would be necessary to achieve the proposed outcome. The agreed upon changes were: • For the "Neighborhood Street" change the drive lane from eleven feet (11) to twelve (12) feet for better access; • For the Magnuson "Country Lane" a four -foot concrete strip would be added to next to the drive lane for pedestrian circulation and to provide cleaner drainage into the bio- swale. This four -foot section is in addition to the twelve -foot drive lane for a total of sixteen feet and provides a transition from the more urban areas to the forested areas; • The queuing lane will be maintained at 16 feet; A list of the recommended changes was distributed to the Commissioners before the start of the meeting. Mithun Architects will revise the East Park document with additional text and drawings to reflect these changes. Commissioner Friedberg -Nerf asked if the building heights in the mixed -used areas were consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Chris explained that, because East Park is part of the PSRS and has a sub -area plan, the building heights are determined by what the community and City Council deems is desirable during the sub -area planning process. Commissioner Streissguth recommended including this point in the Staff Report that will be submitted to City Council. Commissioner Friedberg -Nerf wanted to know about open spaces for East Park as defined by the Master Development plan. Andrea referred to the map of East Park, noting the areas that are designated as open space and are part of the Master Development plan. Dick Bruskrud noted two changes to be made to the Staff Report: Section D4 should reference page 35 and Section D5 should reference page 50. Also, on the section that refers to the reduced -width roadways, it should be referred to as "reduced -width fire apparatus access roadways ". He continued, noting that in the areas of higher density, there may be a need to change from attached dwelling units to detached dwelling units, but assured the Commissioners that, although the density might be lower than originally planned, it would never be higher. Commissioner Friedberg -Nerf asked for clarification on the number of dwelling units in the mixed -use area; it was her understanding that the number of dwelling units would be 66, but the East Park document listed 75. She wanted to know if they were including accessory dwelling units to achieve the higher number. Dick explained the difference in numbers was due to the plans not being finalized; Mithun was leaning toward having three buildings with 24 units in each which would bring the number of units closer to the higher count. He reminded the Commissioners that the sub -area plan would determine the final density of that area. Planning Commission Meeting December 20, 2005 Page 2 of 5 Commissioner Friedberg -Nerf asked for additional information on the passive solar characteristics mentioned in the East Park document. Dick explained that by using the southern and southwestern exposure, there is an opportunity to use specific materials, textures, and colors that will increase heat absorption and retention. Commissioner Friedberg -Nerf wanted to know about the use of the term "affordable" in the documents and if City Council had any input on the use of that term or if a definition had been established. Commissioner Streissguth said since this item had not yet gone before the City Council it would not be appropriate for them to give any feedback at this time. She also noted that, during the community meetings regarding the development of East Park, citizens who live in that area felt it was more important for East Park to offer a wider variety of housing than to have areas set aside for "affordable" housing. She felt that at some point in the future, inclusionary zoning may be more appropriate, but not at this time. Commissioner Kosusko cautioned against using the term "affordable housing" because what was being proposed for East Park did not follow the federal definition of "affordable housing ". Chris pointed out the language on page 8, ". . . Promote access to quality, affordable homes for all Bremerton residents, regardless of their economic capabilities or special needs..." He felt the goals listed on page 7 which referred to the variety of housing types and density were more in line with what the East Park plan and the public interest are trying to achieve. Commissioner Kennedy reminded the Commissioners that when there was a low - income element included in the proposal by Mithun, the neighboring citizens rejected it and it was removed. She stressed the need to redistribute the number of low- income housing units throughout Kitsap County so they are not as concentrated within the Bremerton city limits. Commissioner Cockburn suggested removing the word "affordable" from the document and focus instead on the variety and density of the proposed housing. A motion was made by Commissioner Kennedy and seconded by Commissioner Friedberg -Nerf to recommend to the City Council an amendment to the Bremerton Comprehensive Plan by adding the East Park sub -area plan and an amendment to the proposed Title 20, zoning code chapter 20.80, to activate the development regulations of the East Park sub -area plan with revisions shown in Attachment 2. Called for a vote: Cockburn: Yes; Friedberg -Nerf: Yes; Kennedy: Yes; Kosusko: Yes; Streissguth: Yes. The motion carried. 2. Staff Draft of the Critical Areas Ordinance Update: Andrea Spencer, Planning Manager, reported that a draft of the Critical Areas Ordinance had been distributed to the Commissioners before the meeting. The December 1" deadline for the update had passed, but staff is planning to hold a public hearing on the CAO at the January meeting. The public hearing will be advertised in the local newspaper, as well as being posted on the City of Bremerton web site and on BKAT. Andrea then gave an overview of the changes being made to the Critical Areas Ordinance including the addition of Best Available Science. Commissioner Kennedy asked if it was the same as the County's CAO. Andrea explained that there were parts that were like the County's CAO, but there were other sections that were unique to the City of Bremerton. Planning Commission Meeting December 20, 2005 Page 3 of 5 Commissioner Streissguth asked about the citizen's groups that were formed before the current staff came on board, and wondered if the current CAO draft had been reviewed by those groups. Andrea replied that the drafts would be mailed to the citizen's who had participated in the groups and encourage them to attend the public hearing. Depending on the response, another workshop may be scheduled. Commissioner Streissguth closed the Public Meeting. VI. Business Meeting A. Chairman's Report: Commissioner Streissguth asked the other Commissioners who had attended the Housing Summit on December 19, 2002, in the Norm Dicks Government Center what their impressions of the meeting were. Commissioner Friedberg -Nerf had attended and enjoyed the different opinions that were presented. Commissioner Kosusko and Chris Hugo also attended; they were slightly disappointed in how speakers who were not from Bremerton often portrayed it as a place where there is not much land available for development. Commissioner Kosusko stressed the importance of Bremerton creating its own employment base to counter the outside area's view that Bremerton is a bedroom community and should not be taken seriously. Chris reported on the increase in the number of new developments within the city limits and how it is opposite of what people outside of Bremerton think. B. Director's Report: Chris reported that the Pleasant/Highland Design Guidelines project has begun. The City Council has placed a moratorium on structures higher than 40 feet along Pleasant Avenue and Highland Avenue and has directed staff to conduct a quick process to develop design guidelines. It is hoped to have the stakeholder process fully designed and individuals appointed, and to have a Commissioner attend the meetings as a representative of the Planning Commission. Commissioner Kosusko was then selected by Commissioner Streissguth to act as the representative. Meetings have been scheduled for December 29, January 9, and February 7. Staff is trying to boost attendance through flyers and signs posted in the Pleasant/Highland neighborhoods. Chris gave an overview of how he plans to conduct the meetings to reach the goal of neighborhood design guidelines. Staff will go to City Council with their findings and most likely hold a public hearing on this item by February S, 2006. It is hoped to have the process completed by March 15, 2006. Chris had not heard any further news from the Mayor's office on appointing a new member to the Planning Commission. C. Old Business: None D. New Business: 2006 Elections. Commissioner Kennedy nominated John Cockburn for the position of Chairman. Commissioner Kosusko seconded the nomination. The vote was unanimous in favor of Commissioner Cockburn being the Chairman of the Bremerton Planning Commission for 2006. Commissioner Kosusko nominated Judy Friedberg -Nerf for the position of Vice - Chairman. Commissioner Kennedy seconded the nomination. The vote was Planning Commission Meeting December 20, 2005 Page 4 of 5 unanimous in favor of Commissioner Friedberg -Nerf being the Vice - Chairman of the Bremerton Planning Commission for 2006. Chris asked the Commissioners to consider the possibility of adding two more Commissioner positions to the Planning Commission for added diversity. VII. Adjournment Meeting was adjourned at 6:49 p.m. The next Regular Meeting is scheduled for January 20, 2005. John Cockburn, Chairman V Planning Commission Meeting December 20, 2005 Page 5 of 5 Approved by: