Planning Commission

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON Thursday 7:00 PM June 20, 2019 City Council Chambers Video Recorded www.cob.org Call to Order / Roll Call Present: Ali Taysi (Chair), Mike Estes (Vice Chair), Lisa Anderson (Commissioner), Steve Crooks (Commissioner), Iris Maute-Gibson (Commissioner), Phyllis McKee (Commissioner), Garrett O'Brien (Commissioner) Approval of Minutes Public Comment Period Opportunity for citizens to speak informally to the Planning Commissioners on any subject not listed on the agenda. Speakers are allowed a MAXIMUM of three (3) minutes to address the Commission. Speakers will not be required to disclose their address. No public comment. PUBLIC HEARING (6/20/2019) 2019-2020 Annual Comprehensive Plan Docket Consideration of four requests to docket amendments to the Bellingham Comprehensive Plan for review in 2019-2020. The amendment proposals include a request to add new food policies to the comprehensive plan, a request to update the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan, a rezone request in the Birchwood Neighborhood, and a request to amend the sub-area language for Area 1 in the York Neighborhood. STAFF PRESENTATION Staff provided an overview of each of the applications submitted for review and reminded the Commission of the review criteria that each proposal must meet according to BMC 20.20.030. Staff indicated that they believe all four proposals meet the docketing criteria and should have a recommendation of approval. REZ2019-0001: Food Access Policies Staff clarified that this docketing item would allow policies to be added to the Comprehensive Plan and the implementation strategies would follow at a later date. There was a brief discussion on how a community is considered under-served neighborhoods. REZ2019-0002: Update to the Parks and Recreation and Open Space (PRO) Plan Staff stated that this would be a full update to the plan and it would include all land within the UGA as well as the city limits. There was a brief discussion on how the proposed annexations might affect the process. REZ2019-0003: Birchwood Neighborhood Plan, Area 1 (Site Specific Proposal) Staff clarified that this application process is to determine if the rezone is appropriate in this area, not if the project is appropriate. There was a discussion about how the city ensures that distribution of units happen throughout all the city’s neighborhoods and does not just occur in one single area. There was also a brief conversation about how often site-specific rezones occur. REZ2019-0004: York Neighborhood Plan, Area 1 Staff clarified that the proposal is to include policy language to the Comprehensive Plan to help guide future decisions. PUBLIC COMMENT Greg Robinson noted that he does not have a specific concern related to the application; however, he spoke to “over-building” in general. He expressed concern over development done without quality and at the expense of our city and neighborhoods. He suggested that quality building be considered when making both development and environmental recommendations. Laura Herson stated that additional infrastructure must be required if more units are going to be developed in the Maplewood area (Birchwood Neighborhood). She commented on the congestion and the dangerous intersection of Maplewood and Northwest. She also noted that the neighborhood still does not have a grocery store and worries about adding more people to the area without addressing some of these issues. Robin Adcox expressed concern over the potential increase of traffic so close to the middle school. She pointed out that there are no sidewalks in that area, which causes dangerous conditions for pedestrians, specifically students travelling to Birchwood Elementary and Shuksan Middle School. She also suggested that the requirement of a buffer be considered between the multi-family development and the existing single-family residences. Anne Mackie commented on the neighborhoods support for the proposed language being added to the York Neighborhood Plan. She explained the importance of guarding the Whatcom Creek waterway and expressed concern about the uses that are allowed along the creek. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS / QUESTIONS MOTION: Garrett O’Brien/Phyllis McKee moved to approve the Findings of Fact, Conclusions and Recommendations in the June 20, 2019 staff report and forwarded a recommendation of approval to the City Council to include the four proposals on the 2019-2020 Annual Docket. VOTE: CARRIED 7-0. Old/New Business Staff reviewed the calendar and announced that August 1st will be the next meeting. Steve Crooks provided a report from the Shoreline Committee Meeting. Adjournment Minutes prepared by: ____________________________________________ Heather Aven, Recording Secretary Minutes edited by Planning Commission members and various Planning Staff.