Planning Commission Minutes

CITY OF VICTORIA
REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
FEBRUARY 20, 2007
 

Pursuant to due posted and mailed notice thereof, the Victoria Planning Commission met on February 20, 2007, at 7951 Rose in the Council Chambers.

Chair Simanton opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Members Present: Chair Gordy Simanton; Commissioners James Donadio III, Bud Hiivala, and Tom Vogt.

Members Absent: Commissioner William Mead VI.

Others Present: Holly Kreft, City Planner; City Councilmember Jim Paulsen; and Tanya Schmieg, Recording Secretary.

A. Adopt Agenda

A motion was made by Hiivala, seconded by Vogt, to adopt the agenda as presented. Vote: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion Carried.
 

#2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

A. Minutes of the February 6, 2007, Planning Commission Meeting.

The following revisions were requested to the February 6, 2007 meeting minutes:

Commissioner Vogt said on page 5, the 7^th paragraph, should say Commissioner Vogt said the message that has to be communicated is the new parking ordinance doesn’t solve all the problems and doesn’t solve them forever. He said the new parking ordinance is not a panacea.

A motion was made by Simanton, seconded by Donadio, to approve the Minutes as corrected above. Vote: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

B. Review Minutes from the February 8, 2007, City Council Workshop Meeting.

The above minutes were reviewed.

C. Review Minutes from the February 8, 2007, City Council Meeting.

The above minutes were reviewed.
 

Chair Simanton reviewed the process that would be followed tonight during the public hearings.

A.  Review and recommend Conditional Use Permit for Kelly Green Irrigation for Outdoor Storage in the Central Business District – Steiger Lake Lane (former CH Carpenter Warehouse Site)

1. Agenda Statement No. 07-10
2. Exhibits: Application, Site Plan, Floor Plan, Misc.

Ms. Kreft showed a map of the former warehouse. She stated the applicant is proposing to leave the building in its current condition with some interior changes. The outdoor storage is proposed to be on the north end of the building. The applicant is also proposing also remove and replace the existing fence on the south side of the property.

Commissioner Donadio asked what the fence is made out of. Ms. Kreft said it is proposed to be 6 foot chain link and the gate will also be replaced.

Ms. Kreft noted the building will need to be sprinkled. She said staff has reviewed this and is recommending approval with the eleven conditions as noted in the staff report.

Commissioner Hiivala asked about the outdoor storage being limited to the north side of the building. Ms. Kreft said the storage would mainly consist of PVC pipes and it would be limited for aesthetic reasons.

Chair Simanton talked about the drainage and asked if curb and gutter would be going in. Ms. Kreft said curb and gutter is proposed to be on the east side and the existing gravel area would be left as is.

Mr. Duggan Kelly, Kelly Green Irrigation, said this is a family business and they want it to look nice.

Commissioner Vogt asked if anything would be done to the exterior of the building. Mr. Kelly said they would like to keep the natural tones and paint the building.

Commissioner Vogt referred to "The Downtown Design Standards from the Downtown Master Plan address facades within the downtown; however, they are not in ordinance format, so they serve as guidelines and are not enforceable" in the staff report. Ms. Kreft said to make that an ordinance there would need to be an ordinance amendment for the Central Business District. Chair Simanton noted this should be reviewed before the west side starts.

Commissioner Donadio asked if the storage on the trail side is shielded. Mr. Kelly responded that this is not a storing area and there will not be stacks.

Chair Simanton asked when this will be open. Mr. Kelly said the season starts the first week of April. The office space would probably not be up and running until June.

Chair Simanton opened the Public Hearing at 6:53 p.m.

Chair Simanton closed the Public Hearing at 6:53 p.m.

Commissioner Donadio asked how many trips per day there would be with the trucks. Mr. Kelly said they have seven or eight trucks in the morning. He also noted they are seasonal.

A motion was made by Simanton, seconded by Hiivala, to approve the Request for Conditional Use Permit by Kelly Green Irrigation at Steiger Lake Lane with the eleven conditions. Vote: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

Chair Simanton stated the Planning Commission would like staff to pursue the ordinance update for the Downtown Design Standards.
 

A. Information – Change in Minutes Format for City Council and Planning Commission.

1. Agenda Statement No. 07-11
2. Exhibits: City Council Agenda Statement No. 07-38

Ms. Kreft provided an update from the February 8^th City Council meeting.

Commissioner Vogt asked if someone could request something be put in to the record. Ms. Kreft said they can request that verbatim minutes be kept.

Chair Simanton commented on the names being referenced.

B. Review and recommend First Reading of Revisions to Article V, Off-street Parking and Loading of Chapter 30.

1. Agenda Statement No. 07-12
2. Exhibits: Revised Ordinance

Ms. Kreft gave a brief overview of a flow chart for off-street parking requirements in the Central Business District.

Commissioner Hiivala asked who would analyze the shared parking. Ms. Kreft said it would be a licensed engineer or a landscape architect.

Commissioner Donadio expressed concern of how the parking spots are going to be kept track of.

Commissioner Vogt asked about the conditional use permit. Ms. Kreft said there wouldn’t be an actual use; it would allow the City to attach conditions.

Ms. Kreft stated the Meuwissen project has withdrawn the request for variance for off-street parking with the intent to go under this ordinance. Chair Simanton noted they would be twelve short with a restaurant.

Chair Simanton asked about the outcome of the February 8^th meeting. Ms. Kreft said a moratorium could be called up until the March 8^th meeting and with that there would have to be a specific timeframe and a goal.
 

Councilmember Paulsen noted that he is opposed to this and referred other Cities ordinances.

Councilmember Paulsen asked if the Planning Commission is in full support of the draft ordinance. The Planning Commission responded yes. Chair Simanton talked about the new projects. Commissioner Vogt commented on the City Hall area and it being essential for parking. Commissioner Hiivala noted this is a compromise in the right direction.

Ms. Kreft said staff is working on a downtown financial plan that ties in municipal parking here and that will be presented on March 6^th. It will be a draft version with numbers and costs.
 

A. Communications.

Ms. Kreft handed out information on classes that are being offered.

B. Other.

Ms. Kreft noted the first comp plan task force meeting is tomorrow night.
 

A motion was made by Donadio, seconded by Simanton, to adjourn the meeting at 7:30 p.m. Vote: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Tanya Schmieg
TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.