Planning Commission

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON THURSDAY WORK SESSION 7:00 P.M. January 19, 2017 CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS Video-taped www.cob.org CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Ali Taysi, Chairman of the Planning Commission. ROLL CALL: Tom Grinstad, Jeff Brown, Garrett O'Brien (VC), Ali Taysi (C), Phyllis McKee, Steve Crooks and Lisa Anderson Present: Ali Taysi, Garrett O'Brien, Tom Grinstad, Steve Crooks, and Phyllis McKee Absent: Jeff Brown and Lisa Anderson Staff Present: Kurt Nabbefeld, PCDD Development Services Manager; Brent Baldwin, PW Development Services Manager; Jason Porter, PW Storm and Surface Water Manager and Heather Aven, Recording Secretary. Guests: AHBL Consultants: Wayne Carlson and Colin Poff APPROVAL OF MINUTES No minutes submitted for approval. 15 MINUTE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD Tony Gallino, 511 E Magnolia Street wanted to know if there had been any consideration to integrate the Commercial Zoning of Downtown into the Residential Zoning of areas around Western Washington University. PUBLIC HEARING For the consideration of proposed amendments to the Bellingham Municipal Code incorporating Low Impact Development (LID) principles and ensure LID is the preferred and commonly used approach to site development. STAFF PRESENTATION: Kurt Nabbefeld introduced the agenda item and explained that the amendments focus on incorporating low-impact development strategies into the city's development standards. He noted that although most of the amendments are a direct result of the requirements included in the City's, State issued NPDES Permit, staff also took this opportunity to "clean-up" different sections of the Code in an effort to make it more clear, concise and user-friendly. CONSULTANT PRESENTATION: Wayne Carlson, AHBL spoke to the existing NPDES permit requirements, presented the proposed amendments and briefly explained the rationale for the changes. Final Copy - 1 PUBLIC COMMENT Mark Ambler, 4845 Guide Meridian expressed concern with some of the proposed amendments related to "hard surfaces". He stated that these changes would prevent him from being able to add LID infiltration improvements to his property and still lower his bi-monthly stormwater bill. He suggested that since Bellingham already complies with the LID standards, the definition of "hard surfaces" not be changed. Jason Porter, Public Works Department replied that the intent was not to change the billing incentives and stated that staff will review the definitions. Closed Public Hearing COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS / COMMENTS There was a conversation about how the new permit requirements will affect future infill development in the City of Bellingham. Staff pointed out that although the water quality treatment and detention standards are the same as what currently exists; the proposed amendments would require that the property be evaluated to determine if low-impact development techniques are feasible based on the criteria published by the Department of Ecology. Staff also reiterated that, in an effort to assist the public in determining which path they must take to develop their property, the City is compiling a map to indicate those areas that are known to be infeasible. There was a discussion about how an applicant would be able to determine if their property was feasible or infeasible for LID infiltration. Staff explained that the Department of Ecology Stormwater Manual identifies the guidelines. There were brief conversations related to:  How much these revisions would actually increase the cost of projects.  How the required maintenance of pervious surfaces, that are being allowed, will be monitored.  The different ways that the Growth Management Act and the proposed Low-Impact Development practices can be harmonized.  Parking stall sizes being different for single-family verses multi-family.  Flow control credits related to impervious surfaces. There was a brief conversation related to how the sizes required for parking stalls differ depending on the zoning and how this could potentially affect LID requirements. There was a discussion related to the interior landscaping of parking lots, and concern expressed that this would be a dramatic increase in the amount of landscaping being required; given the landscaping around the perimeter does not count. Staff will review this for consistency with other sections of the Code. It was suggested that, the section related to "fees in lieu of parking program" be modified to include language that clarifies it is not a program that currently exists. MOTION: GO/SC moved to approve the Findings of Fact, Conclusions and Recommendations as drafted in the January 19, 2017 staff report. VOTE: Motion Passes, 4-1 (Grinstad opposed) Final Copy - 2 GENERAL BUSINESS Kurt Nabbefeld announced that February 2, 2017 is the public hearing on the proposed Marijuana regulations. NEXT MEETING - February 2, 2017 ADJOURNED: p.m. Minutes prepared by: _____________________________ Heather Aven, Recording Secretary Minutes edited by Planning Commission members and various Planning Staff. Final Copy - 3