The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About04 - Minutes April 1, 2025CITY OF PORT ORCHARD Planning Commission Minutes 216 Prospect Street, Port Orchard, WA 98366 Phone: (360) 874-5533 • Fax: (360) 876-4980 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes April 1St, 2025 Hybrid Meeting — Council Chambers/Zoom Teleconference COMMISSIONERS: Present: Annette Stewart (Vice Chair), Stephanie Bailey, Paul Fontenot, Joe Morrison, Wayne Wright Absent: Tyler McKlosky (Chair), Tiffiny Mitchell STAFF: Principal Planner Jim Fisk, Associate Planner Connor Dahlquist 1. CALL TO ORDER: Commissioner Stewart called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance. 2. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were no members of the public present in the chamber and none attending remotely. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM MARCH 4TH 2025: Commissioner Stewart asked if the other commissioners reviewed the minutes from the March 4th, 2025 meeting and if anyone had any issues or proposed amendments. Seeing none, a motion was entertained to approve the minutes. Commissioner Wright moved to approve the minutes and Commissioner Fontenot seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 5. BUSINESS ITEMS A. DISCUSSION: 2025 Comprehensive Plan Amendments Principal Planner Fisk introduced the Comprehensive Plan amendments for the 2025 cycle. As required by Port Orchard Municipal Code 20.04.070, the Planning Commission must provide City Council with recommendations before June 30th, 2025. The first three amendments on the docket are city -initiated text amendments and the last three are applicant -initiated amendments. The first amendment is the Sherman Avenue Stormwater Park Master Plan. Staff started the planning process with the park's steering committee and public engagement with a survey and analysis, staff proposes to add it to Appendix B to prepare for its adoption later in 2025. The second amendment is an amendment to the Capital Facilities element. The city -initiated amendment is to correct an error in water expenditures table which misallocated costs between two water infrastructure projects. The revision will create more accurate cost projections. The third amendment is to the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) to include new roadway, transit, and active transportation projects, along with additional funding sources. The TIP is updated annually to reflect the City's evolving transportation priorities. Completed projects are removed from the six -year TIP and possible Tier 2 projects are moved into the six -year window. The fourth amendment is an applicant -initiated map amendment which has been withdrawn by the applicant. The applicant originally requested a rezone between Hull Avenue and Sherman Avenue but adjusted their proposal to be a site -specific rezone which will go through a public hearing instead. The last amendment is a map amendment for 13 parcels southwest of SW Old Clifton and Lloyd Parkway. The applicant -initiated amendment is seeking to change the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Designation from Light Industrial to Medium Residential 3 to allow for residential development. The proposal is consistent with the City's long-term land use policies. The parcels are small, not central in meeting the City's employment targets, and are encumbered by steep slopes and a stream on the southeast side creating difficulty in industrial development. The Planning Commission was asked to review the proposals and consider whether they align with the City's land use goals and infrastructure capacity. Staff intends to provide notice for public hearing on the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendments before the Planning Commission provides recommendations to the City Council. Commissioner Wright thanked staff for providing an informative overview of the proposed amendments. Wright asked staff about the amended costs relative to the Transportation Improvement Program and asked for clarification on funding sources as they were not clear within the provided tables. Principal Planner Fisk shared that a lot of the funding will rely on federal grants that are available, or has already been allocated, and that additional funding sources are always being sought. Fisk shared that although some projects are within the six -year TIP, funding may not be fully secured just yet. Commissioner Fontenot shared their support in rezoning the Light Industrial parcels to Medium Residential 3 to provide additional housing options for that portion of the city as well as feasibility with developing residential instead of industrial with the present critical areas. Commissioner Morrison shared their initial concerns with the rezone as it is a common occurrence for industrial lands to be rezoned for residential in the Greater Seattle area. After discussion with staff, Morrison better understood the physical context of the parcels which would create difficulty in industrial development. Morrison still shared their caution of rezoning industrial to residential as available industrial land, which creates employment, is not as available as people might believe. B. DISCUSSION: Middle Housing Model Ordinance Principal Planner Fisk introduced the model ordinance to Commissioners. Staff is presenting an interim ordinance, based on the Department of Commerce's ordinance, to comply with HB 1110, a state law to increase housing options. As a Tier 3 city, Port Orchard must comply with tier 3 requirements by June 30th, 2025 to avoid having the POMC superseded by the Department of Commerce's Middle Housing Code. The City Council voted to comply with Tier 2 city Page 2 of 4 requirements as a proactive measure to address housing needs for a population that will soon be within the Tier 2 threshold. This interim ordinance will bring the city into compliance as staff continues to work through Tier 2 requirements for adoption later in 2025. The interim ordinance will allow staff to create thoughtful long-term regulations which will guide future housing development for years to come. Commissioner Wright asked staff about their timeline on adopting the Tier 2 city standards. Principal Planner Fisk shared that to be in compliance, the updated ordinance must be adopted by June 30th, 2025. The model ordinance will supersede the City's code if not brought into compliance. Commissioner Fontenot shared their support for HB 1110 and the proactive approach to plan as a Tier 2 city. Commissioner Morrison reemphasized Commissioner Fontenot's comment and shared their support in the City's approach. C. DISCUSSION: Unit Lot Subdivision Principal Planner Fisk reintroduced the Unit Lot Subdivision discussion, which was first presented to Commissioners in February. Fisk shared that a few minor changes have been made since first introducing the ordinance which aims to improve clarity and strengthen the proposed regulations. The first of the revisions involve parent -lot requirements, which now clearly state that a unit lot subdivision only apply to legal lots of record. Next, language now shares that unit lot subdivisions can occur in mixed -use areas where middle housing is permitted. Development standards were also enhanced to allow for more flexibility in lot standards for unit lot subdivisions, while the parent lot must still meet the existing zoning designation standards. Decision types were also updated to be based on the number of unit lots. Lastly, consistency across that code was also improved to better improve references and navigability. Staff asked Commissioners for review of the new language before a public hearing is scheduled before moving to a recommendation to the City Council in June. Commissioner Wright shared their support for the changes and the staffs intentions. Commissioner Fontenot sought clarification on POMC 20.87.060, requirements of the parent lot, which refer to legal lot of record. Principal Planner Fisk explained that for any lot that utilizes this provision of the code, that the lot was created legally. D. DISCUSSION: DIRECTOR'S REPORT Principal Planner Fisk shared that there is no report to share. ADJOURN: Commissioner Stewart adjourned the meeting at 6:31 pm. Tylcr . cKlosky, Chair Page 3 of 4 Nick Bond, Community Development Director Page 4 of 4