November 5, 2019, Planning Commission Meeting MinutesPlanning Commission Meeting Minutes
City Council Chambers, City Hall
November 5, 2019
Commissioners:
Present: Stephanie Bailey (Acting Chair), David Bernstein, Phil King, Suanne Martin Smith, Trish Tierney
Absent: Annette Stewart (Chair), Mark Trenary, Kathleen Wilson
Staff Present:
Long Range Planner Keri Sallee
1. Call to Order:
Acting Chair Bailey called the meeting to order at 6:08 p.m. and led the pledge of allegiance.
2. welcome – planning commissioner phil king. The Planning Commission welcomed new Commissioner Phil King, who replaced Marcus Lane in August. King has lived in Port Orchard for over
45 years and has raised his family here. Long Range Planner Sallee encouraged King, and all Planning Commissioners, to let DCD staff know if there are any specific planning topics that
they would like to receive training on in 2020. The City of Poulsbo will be hosting the Department of Commerce’s Short Course in Planning in February 2020.
3. audience comments. A member of the public who did not give his name asked the Planning Commission about their role and responsibilities, and asked about decisions that had been made
by City Council and other agencies, such as approval of the Kitsap Transit fast ferries.
4. approval of minutes from September 3, 2019. Since a quorum of Commissioners present at the September meeting was not present at this meeting, approval of the September minutes was
tabled until the next meeting.
5. Business items:
A. Public Hearing/Discussion and Recommendation: Title 20 “Housekeeping” Amendments. Sallee gave a recap of the 2019 Title 20 “housekeeping” amendment package, which had been previously
discussed at the September meeting. The housekeeping amendments are a collection of all the minor errors, inconsistencies and omissions that were noted in the code throughout the year,
and which are intended to be cleaned up in one ordinance. The amendments do not involve substantive changes to the code.
Acting Chair Bailey opened the public hearing. No comments were received. Bailey closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Tierney made a motion to recommend that the City Council approve the Title 20 housekeeping amendments as presented. Commissioner Bernstein seconded the motion. The motion
passed unanimously.
B. Discussion: Potential Rezones. Sallee said that several property owners have recently approached the City informally about potential rezone requests. If the property owners apply
for rezoning, these requests will come before the Planning Commission for review. DCD is therefore asking for initial feedback from the Planning Commissioners, so that staff can advise
property owners of potential staff and Commission concerns prior to submitting their applications.
After discussion, the Commission agreed that the Lundberg rezone (single-family home on Harold Dr, from Commercial Mixed Use to Business Professional Mixed Use), which is intended to
obtain a conforming status for the existing residence, would be reasonable and not out of character with the current or future development of the surrounding neighborhood. The Commission
also agreed with staff’s assessment that a potential rezone of certain properties along SE Meline Rd currently zoned Commercial Mixed Use to Neighborhood Mixed Use could be a beneficial
compromise among the neighbors, who are divided between wanting to retain some commercial value and wanting to improve or expand single-family uses on this residential street with significant
access and infrastructure constraints. However, the Commission felt that the proposed rezone of the JWJ Property between Olney Ave and Park Ave from Residential 2 to Residential 3 would
create too much potential density on a highly constrained site that is located next to critical areas, with little existing access or urban infrastructure in the neighboring area, and
surrounded by rural-type development.
C. Discussion (contd. from September): Tree Canopy/Significant Trees Code. The Commission continued its discussion of potential code language to address tree canopy and significant
tree retention and replacement. Detailed comments on the draft code that had been provided by Bernstein prior to the meeting were also included in the deliberation. After considerable
discussion, the Commission decided to table the topic until the next meeting.
D. Discussion and Recommendation: Shoreline Master Program Update – Public Participation Plan and Work Plan. Sallee said that as required by state law, the City must update its existing
Shoreline Master Program (SMP) by June 30, 2021. The City has received a grant from the Department of Ecology to partially fund this update. The grant requirements include development
of a public participation plan, a tentative schedule, and a work plan, to be adopted by resolution by the City Council. The Planning Commission is requested to review the plan and provide
a recommendation to City Council.
Commissioner Martin Smith made a motion to recommend that the City Council approve the SMP public participation plan and work plan. Commissioner Bernstein seconded the motion. The motion
passed unanimously.
Adjourn: Acting Chair Bailey adjourned the meeting at 7:20 pm.
Annette Stewart, Chair
Nick Bond, Community Development Director