Planning Commission

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON Thursday 7:00 PM December 16, 2021 City Council Chambers Video Recorded www.cob.org Call to Order / Roll Call Present: Mike Estes (Chair), Ali Taysi (Vice Chair), Barbara Plaskett, Jed Ballew, Rose Lathrop, Scott Jones and Victor Crosetti Approval of Minutes No minutes to approve. 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. PUBLIC HEARING (12/16/2021) Annual Docket Process Greg Aucutt explained the existing annual docketing process and shared the reasons that staff has proposed the amendments before the Commission for consideration. Staff pointed out that the changes would cause less confusion for the interested parties and shorten the time an applicant needs to wait for their application to move through the legislative process. He pointed out that the application would still follow the Type VI legislative process which would require a neighborhood meeting, as well as public hearings before both the Planning Commission and the City Council. Staff recommended the Commission forward a recommendation of approval to shorten the docketing process to City Council. COMMISSION DISCUSSION There was a brief discussion on whether City Council would still hold a hearing on the docket itself and staff explained it would be up to the Council; however, it is the recommendation of staff that the docket be set at a City Council Committee meeting and then two public hearings would be held on the merits of the proposal. It was clarified that staff is not recommending any changes to the docketing criteria. There was general consensus that the proposed changes would make it easier for the community to be effectively involved in the process when they can actually hear and comment on the merits of any given proposal. MOTION: Ali Taysi / Rose Lathrop moved to accept the Findings of Fact, Conclusions and Recommendations contained in the December 16, 2021 staff report as written and forward a recommendation of approval to City Council. There was a suggestion to make the existing requirements in a table format so that it might be easier to understand exactly what is being changed. VOTE: CARRIED 7-0. Old/New Business Greg Aucutt reviewed some of the agenda items that will be coming before the Commission in 2022. - Mobile Home Park Preservation - St. Joes (Peace Health) Master Plan amendments - Barkley Village proposed Urban Village Plan - School District rezone request - ADU Ordinance amendments - Infill Toolkit amendments (Phase II) Staff shared a farewell message to Ali Taysi as this is his last Planning Commission meeting after 9 years. Adjournment Minutes prepared by: ____________________________________________ Heather Aven, Recording Secretary Minutes edited by Planning Commission members and various Planning Staff.