HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/19/2008 PACKET(DRAFT) AGENDA
Regular Meeting - Bremerton Planning Commission
(Subject to PC approval)
February 19, 2008
5:30 P.M.
th
345 – 6Street
Meeting Chamber – First Floor
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. ROLL CALL (quorum present)
III. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
IVAPPROVAL OF MINUTES:
January 15, 2008 Regular meeting.
o
V. PUBLIC MEETING
A. Call to the Public:
Public comments on any item not on tonight’s agenda
B. Public Hearing
1. Public hearing for amendments to BMC title 20, the Zoning Code related to
setbacks and landscaping requirements for commercial properties adjacent to Low
Density Residential zones.
C. Workshop
1. Downtown Traffic Analysis
2. Historic Transfer of Development Rights Program
VI. BUSINESS MEETING
A. Chair Report:
B. Director Report:
Andrea Spencer.
C.Old Business:
D.New Business
VII. ADJOURNMENT: The next regular meeting of the Planning Commission is
March 18, 2008
Planning Commission meeting packets are available on-line at www.ci.bremerton.wa.us
DRAFT FOR APPROVAL ON 2/19/08
Minutes for
City of Bremerton Planning Commission
Regular Meeting
January 15, 2008
I. Call to Order
Chairman Cockburn
The meeting was called to order by at 5:30 p.m.
II. Roll Call
Those present were: Commissioner Kennedy, Commissioner Kosusko, Commissioner Mosiman,
Commissioner Streissguth, Commissioner Wheeler and Chairman Cockburn. Commissioner Hoell
was excused. Quorum certified.
Also present: Andrea Spencer, Nicole Ward, and Pam Ransier (DCD staff).
III. Elections
Commissioner KosuskoCommissioner
nominated Bill Mosiman for the position of Chairman.
Kennedy
seconded the nomination. The vote was unanimous in favor of Commissioner Mosiman
being the Chairman of the Bremerton Planning Commission for 2008.
Commissioner Streissguth
nominated Greg Wheeler for the position of Vice-Chairman.
Commissioner Kennedy
seconded the nomination. The vote was unanimous in favor of
Commissioner Wheeler being the Vice-Chairman of the Bremerton Planning Commission for 2008.
IV. Approval of Agenda
Chairman Mosiman
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 20, 2007 were presented for approval by
A motion was made by Commissioner Streissguth and seconded by
Chairman Mosiman.
Commissioner Wheeler to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of November 20, 2007 as
presented.
Called for a vote: Commissioner Cockburn: Yes; Commissioner Kennedy: Yes;
Commissioner Kosusko: Abstain; Commissioner Streissguth: Yes; Commissioner Wheeler: Yes;
Chairman Mosiman: Yes. The motion carried.
VI. Public Meeting
A. Call To The Public.
(public comments on any item not on tonight’s agenda)
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Chairman Mosiman
asked if there were any comments from citizens. Seeing none, he
closed this portion of the meeting.
B. 1. Workshop – Commercial Corridor Setbacks:Nicole Ward, City Planner
,
explained that the purpose of this workshop was to get input from the commissioners
regarding upcoming zoning code amendments. She outlined how there are several setback
requirements for commercial areas throughout the city, focusing mainly on “Commercial
Corridor” zoned areas along Kitsap Way that have 60’ setbacks from residential zones which
render several properties undevelopable by current zoning standards. She also discussed the
need to revisit the landscaping standards to ensure consistency between them and the setback
requirements. Using aerial photos of the sites most impacted by the setback requirements,
Nicole demonstrated how the development standards prohibited any kind of new construction
on several lots within the commercial zones. Pictures of landscape screening or buffering
along with pictures of a 60’ tract with no landscaping and offering no visual barrier
illustrated the need to revise the landscaping requirements when there are commercial uses
adjacent to residential areas.
Nicole had surveyed other jurisdictions (Everett, Poulsbo, & Olympia) to compare their
landscaping requirements with Bremerton’s. She suggested using landscaping instead of
setbacks to buffer incompatible commercial uses that are adjacent to residential areas. She
asked the commissioners how much the setback requirement should be reduced, if the current
screening requirements were adequate, and if the any changes made should apply to the
Wheaton Way Redevelopment Corridor as well.
Chairman Mosiman
asked if there were any comments from citizens on this item.
John Taylor, John L Scott Real Estate Agent representing the Dobson Estate [submits
Exhibit #1]:
“I would like to commend the Department of Community Development,
specifically Nicole Ward, for recognizing and taking responsibility for resolving this setback
issue that I’m going to show you. For my client, this problem was created when the adjacent
land, which was zoned Duplex, was changed in 2005 to Residential. That’s when the
problem was created. You may recall, you had a major zoning changes done, I believe it was
in December, 2005. The Dobson property tax account number is 018; the Dobson family has
been trying to get their parent’s estate settled since February ’04. As noted on my plat map,
the entire depth of the subject property is approximately 70 feet. If you look at the plat map
th
and you take your eye down to the 9 Street red box at the bottom of the page, there’s a box
th
Street. If you go right up above that box you’ll see the depth of is 69.63 feet.
that says 9
We presently have a 60 foot setback which doesn’t allow the property to be developed.
That’s the problem that we’re trying to get resolved. It wasn’t a problem when the adjacent
property, where it has the house listed – those are duplexes, there’s five units there on that
property. But, the Duplex zoning went away and we would support the first option of a 10
foot setback which is on your printout. Nicole has listed four different options for you, and
it’s the first one. On the colored map, I drew in an arrow that shows you where the Dobson
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property is – it’s basically on the corner of 9 and Adele, right across the street from the VA
Doctors Clinic and adjacent to a nursery. The rest of the property on Adele is commercial.
That’s, basically, we’ve just been waiting for this to get resolved, hopefully, so they can get
their estate settled. We certainly support the 10 foot [setback] with the screening. Any
questions? Thank you very much.”
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Chairman Mosiman
asked if there were any additional comments from the public. Seeing
none, he closed this portion of the meeting.
Commissioner Cockburn
recalled that the intent of the restrictive standards in the
Commercial Corridor was to push development to the Centers and not the [Wheaton Way and
Kitsap Way] Corridors.
Commissioner Kosusko
agreed that having a larger setback did not always guarantee
adequate buffering. He suggested options based on lot size or depth. Commissioner
Kosusko agreed that a 60 foot setback was too much and that the buffering fence requirement
should be consistently six feet in height throughout the zoning code.
Commissioner Streissguth
agreed with Commissioners Cockburn and Kosusko that the
Commercial Corridor was created to deal with commercial uses that are not pedestrian
friendly such as drive through windows, etc, and to direct commercial growth toward the
Centers. She acknowledged how restrictive the 60 foot setback was and agreed it should be
corrected. Commissioner Streissguth liked the Type I and Type II Screening Requirements
used by Everett and how Olympia’s landscape requirements for buffering or screening were
tied to the height and bulk of the commercial structure. She suggested looking at the
Downtown Sub-Area Plan for guidance.
Commissioner Cockburn
noted that the large developments that are currently taking place
in Bremerton are not in Centers but along the commercial corridors. He acknowledged that
development along the commercial corridors is easier because of the traffic flow and the
existing condition of building sites, but expressed concern about how to move new
development to the Centers.
Commissioner Kosusko
suggested using a range of setback requirements based on the lot
size so smaller lots within the commercial zone can be developed.
Commissioner Kennedy
agreed that there should be visual buffering between commercial
and residential uses. She liked the idea of options that a developer could choose from to meet
the buffering requirements and setback requirements that are determined by lot size.
Chairman Mosiman
stressed the importance of topography and other variables when
determining setback requirements and asked if setback/landscaping requirements could be
incorporated into a review process. Nicole suggested a variance process as a design review
process could become a lengthy and cumbersome process for the applicant.
Commissioner Wheeler
also agreed that a 60 foot setback requirement is unreasonable and
liked the suggestion of taking topography and lot side into consideration before determining
setback and buffering, but would like to have a standard.
Andrea
summarized the deliberation: Staff will revisit the landscaping requirements;
explore options based on lot size and/or building size, using the Downtown Sub-Area Plan as
a guide; and set standards for fencing requirements. A Public Hearing on these items will be
held at the next Regular Planning Commission Meeting in February.
Commissioner Kennedy
asked if similar changes should occur in the Wheaton Way
Commissioner Kosusko
Redevelopment Corridor. agreed, adding the Freeway Corridor and
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suggesting that higher standards be set for zones that have greater impact on residential areas.
Other comments included increasing the percentage of evergreen trees to deciduous, what
side of the fence landscaping should be on, and landscape maintenance requirements.
Staff will run various setback scenarios on GIS and present the findings at the next meeting.
Chairman Mosiman
closed the Public Meeting.
VI. Business Meeting
A.Chairman’s Report:None
.
B.Director’s Report: Andrea Spencer, Director of Community Development,
reported that
City Council had adopted the Downtown Regional Center Plan, the Non-motorized
Transportation Plan, and the Parks Plan on December 19, 2007. Council also adopted
changes to the Multi-Family Tax Exemption, expanding the boundaries and including
apartment buildings.
The Manette Sub-Area Plan is underway with a budget of $50,000.00; DCD is looking for a
consultant to work on this project with the City. [Commissioner Kosusko agreed to
participate in the consultant selection.]
DCD has received a $125,000.00 grant from the Washington Department of Community,
Trade, and Economic Development (CTED) to fund a cooperative program with Bremerton
School District to locate a site for a new middle school.
In 2008, Staff will begin negotiations with Kitsap County regarding Growth Management
agreements as well as working toward more Urban Growth Areas assigned to the City of
Bremerton.
Andrea will be attending the Mayor’s Directors Retreat at the end of January, focusing on
better communication with citizens.
C. Old Business:None
D. New Business: None.
VII. Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m. The next Regular Meeting is scheduled for February 19, 2008.
Respectfully submitted by:
_______________________________________
Andrea Spencer, Executive Secretary
Approved by:
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_______________________________________
Bill Mosiman, Chairman
Planning Commission Meeting January 15, 2008 Page 5 of 5