Planning Commission

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON Thursday 7:00 PM September 17, 2020 Online Zoom Webinar Video Recorded www.cob.org Call to Order / Roll Call Present: Ali Taysi; Mike Estes (Chair); Steve Crooks, Phyllis McKee, Makenzie Graham, Scott Jones and Rose Lathrop Absent: Approval of Minutes Minutes from July 16, 2020 were considered for approval. 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 testimony provided. Presentation Introduce an amendment to BMC 21.110 E 2 that would provide the Shoreline Committee the opportunity to hold a public meeting IF they feel that substantial environmental impacts or community concerns should be considered in a public meeting, rather than require a public meeting be held for every shoreline permit proposal - even if no environmental impacts are expected or community concerns raised. Steve Sundin presented the existing Shoreline Committee review process and explained that this proposed change would allow for the process to be more efficient. He clarified that this proposed amendment would not change any of the shoreline rules or requirements. He shared the Planned Permit process and suggested that the Shoreline Committee follow the same guidelines of only asking for the application to come before them when there is substantial public interest. He shared some examples that were reviewed by the Committee, but probably could have just been reviewed for a decision administratively. There was brief discussion about the changes that have occurred over the years with additional review agencies and more restrictive regulations in the City that were not in place when the decision to have every application reviewed by the Shoreline Committee was made. Members of the Committee spoke to the completeness of the staff report / packet, and many of the applications are an obvious yes. There was a comment on the amount of time staff spends doing the work, often with no public comment. Staff spoke briefly on the process that occurs after a decision on an application is made. Staff clarified that Department of Ecology receives every permit and has decision making authority on CUP and Variances, and appeal opportunity on Substantial Development Permits. PUBLIC COMMENT Jacquelyn Styrna, BIAWC stated that her organization feels the process efficiencies look fair and reasonable and they have no objections. MOTION: STEVE CROOKS / PHYLLIS MCKEE moved direct the PCDD to prepare an ordinance incorporating the proposed amendments 21.10.110(e)(2) for Council review and approval. VOTE: ALL AYES (Motion passes 7-0) Presentation A briefing and demonstration on the City’s new online public engagement platform, Engage Bellingham (engagebellingham.org) Kate Newell provided a brief overview of the new community engagement website, Engage Bellingham, that went live on July 30, 2020. She shared the reasons for including some of city sponsored projects, processes, and programs on this platform. She provided a brief demo of the site and highlighted some of the ways it allows for community engagement. There was a brief discussion about how the site is being promoted and specifically how outreach is occurring to those that may be underrepresented in the community. Work Session A discussion on the City Council’s directive to review the “Family” definition. Staff provided an overview of the process to date, a brief history of the definition, examples from other cities, code enforcement procedures and some approaches the city could take. COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION Suggestions:  Consider using the term “intimate association,” as it takes into consideration the new family  Allow an increased number of residents, but keep it limited by using an amount of space per occupant requirement  Broadening the definition could allow our neighborhoods to be more inclusive  Consider how the definition could help with affordability  Limit the impacts to historic neighborhoods  Consider changing “family” to “unit” – and not define family at all (what consequences, if any, would there be)  Retain it as is – City is not prepared to enforce any changes that are made  Consider using the approach of square footage to determine maximum number of residents Concerns:  Don’t make a change to the definition just because the current one is hard to enforce  The existing definition can inhibit the ability to implement community values (affordable housing, sustainability, multi-modal transportation and equity issues)  The existing family definition could cause (or enhance) segregation within the community  Make sure any square footage/person standard results in ACTUAL livable space, which is not 200’/person  The impacts on home-ownership / affordability for buyers Lisa Pool shared what the next steps would be. PUBLIC COMMENT Perry Eskridge stated that a hybrid approach would be best to consider, as a single approach could be challenged. He shared that this would not only apply to rentals, but also (potentially) mixed families. Dick Conoboy mentioned a couple things for the Commission and Staff to consider: 1) consider making the infraction civil vs. criminal; 2) will the update be completed prior to end of year; 3) should the property owners be subject to B&O or licensing; 4) will single-family and multi-residential start to resemble each other; 5) will we allow congregate living; 6) in his opinion, the difference between 5 room-mates and 5 family members living in a home, is supervision. Michael Chiavario stated that costs are affected by market pressures and supply and demand. He explained that more housing, that is separate from the market system needs to be considered to help address the challenges that staff has outlined. Old/New Business Upcoming Meetings  October 1, 2020: RM Project Briefing, York Neighborhood Plan Amendment and addition of Food Policies to the Bellingham Comprehensive Plan  This Fall: Applications for annual docket will be coming before Commission Adjournment Minutes prepared by: Heather Aven Heather Aven, Recording Secretary Minutes edited by Planning Commission members and various Planning Staff.