Planning Commission

SUMMARY MINUTES Regular Meeting Eugene Planning Commission Sloat Room–The Atrium Building–99 West 10th Avenue May 16, 2005 11:30 a.m. PRESENT: John Lawless, President; Jon Belcher, Rick Duncan, Randy Hledik, Phillip Hudspeth, Anne Marie Levis, members; Mike Sullivan, ex officio member; Susan Muir, Mike McKerrow, Steve Nystrom, Kurt Yeiter, Planning and Development Department staff; Gary McNeel, Public Works Department staff; Charles Biggs, Terry Connolly, guests. ABSENT: Mitzi Colbath. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS I. STUDY SESSION TO REVIEW THE AGENDA OF MAY 17, 2005 Land Use Code Amendments (CA 04-4) Staff: Steve Nystrom, 682-8385 II. ITEMS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF SUMMARY MINUTES – Eugene Planning Commission May 16, 2005 Page 1 Regular Meeting  MINUTES Regular Meeting Eugene Planning Commission Sloat Room–The Atrium Building–99 West 10th Avenue May 16, 2005 11:30 a.m. PRESENT: John Lawless, President; Jon Belcher, Rick Duncan, Randy Hledik, Phillip Hudspeth, Anne Marie Levis, members; Mike Sullivan, ex officio member; Susan Muir, Mike McKerrow, Steve Nystrom, Kurt Yeiter, Planning and Development Department staff; Gary McNeel, Public Works Department staff; Charles Biggs, Terry Connolly, guests. ABSENT: Mitzi Colbath. Mr. Lawless convened the Planning Commission at 11:31 a.m. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS There was no one wishing to speak. Mr. Duncan arrived at 11:32 a.m. I. STUDY SESSION TO REVIEW THE AGENDA OF MAY 17, 2005 Land Use Code Amendments (CA 04-4) Staff: Steve Nystrom, 682-8385 Mr. Nystrom reviewed the agenda packet and the proposed ground rules for completing the review process. He stated that the Planning Commission would conduct a public hearing on May 17, 2005 on minor code amendments that the Planning Commission had been working on for several months. He said no written testimony on the proposed amendments had been received. In response to a question from Mr. Lawless, Mr. Nystrom replied that as part of the deliberation process, the Planning Commission could raise issues with staff after weighing the public testimony. Mr. Nystrom confirmed that the public would have another opportunity to comment on the Planning Commission recommendation at the City Council public hearing. Ms. Muir noted this would be a good project to check in with City Council buddies following the public hearing. Mr. Sullivan arrived at 11:35 a.m. Referring to EC9.2760: Rowhouse lot standards, Mr. Lawless asked why 18 feet rather than 15 feet was the minimum lot width for R-1 rowhouse lots. Mr. Nystrom replied that staff have limited changes to the code to ensure they are considered minor. He said staff wished to maintain consistency, noting that the MINUTES – Eugene Planning Commission May 16, 2005 Page 1 Regular Meeting R-1 zone was previously identified as a concern, however all residential zones should be similarly modified regarding rowhouse lot widths. Furthermore, Mr. Nystrom said, when lots were reduced to as narrow as 15 feet wide, staff was believed other tools such as Planned Unit Developments (PUDs) or cluster subdivisions would offer viable options through a more discretionary process. Mr. Lawless submitted that when moving into the rowhouse realm, efficient use of the land became a real issue. He questioned whether there was any real detriment to 15 feet versus 18 feet, when considering six units. Mr. Belcher said that both the length and area should be considered in changing the lot size width. Mr. Nystrom said proposing the minimum width as 18 feet was a judgment call, but noted that the Commission could consider a lesser width if so desired. Referring to EC 9.0500, Lot width definition, Mr. Lawless, asked for clarification on measurement standards. Mr. Nystrom said the definition was geared towards lots with full street frontage rather than irregularly shaped flag lots, and explained how lot measurements were taken. Mr. Belcher asked if an average distance between lots could be used for flag lots. He added that it was difficult not to identify the flag lot issue as a major issue, in that there was a significant amount of public controversy associated with flag lots. Mr. Nystrom explained the term average had been dropped from the language as confusing and difficult to apply. He added that the list of flag lot related issues had been reduced considerably. Mr. Hledik asked for clarification regarding EC 9.5250, Farm Animal Standards, requiring a minimum of 20,000 square feet to allow large animals. Mr. Nystrom said the change was proposed to make the language consist within different sections of the City Code. Mr. McKerrow explained that 20,000 square feet was the minimum to have any large animals, and there was a requirement to have an additional 10,000 square feet for each large animal such as horses and cows, and a requirement to have an additional 5,000 square feet for each large animal such as sheep. He added that the issue rose infrequently and was generally interpreted conservatively. Referring to page 16, Substantial Improvement, Mr. Lawless asked who established the criteria of 50 percent of the market value, and what was the basis for the criteria. Mr. Nystrom said the language was mandated by changes in federal law related specifically to flood hazard standards. Mr. Duncan added that there was a federally accepted definition for market value that was universally used. The Planning Commission took a break from 12:05 p.m. to 12:10 p.m. Mr. Lawless asked for clarification how the figure 60 percent of all street facing facades in the GO district, EC 9.2171(5)(c), had been determined. Mr. Nystrom replied that a void in the code had been identified, which resulted in somewhat arbitrary and confusing code interpretations. He said that the C-1 and C-2 zones provided a range from which to establish a figure, and 60 feet provided a starting point for MINUTES – Eugene Planning Commission May 16, 2005 Page 2 Regular Meeting discussion. In response to a question from Mr. Lawless, Mr. Nystrom replied that the code allowed for adjustment review with the numbers in the code. Mr. Duncan recalled that when General Office (GO) was originally written, it was intended to be a buffer between residential and commercial, adding that there was not much GO zoned property. Mr. Nystrom added that GO was often adjacent to multi-family zoned property. II. ITEMS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF Ms. Muir said staff was working on scheduling a joint meeting with the City Council. She said staff would send an email to commissioners with available dates. Planning Commissioners discussed various topics and formats for the meeting. Ms. Muir said the Planning and Development Department (PDD) Budget was presented to the Budget Committee on May 11, 2005. She said the department submitted the following requests: • General Fund money for one new full-time equivalent position (fte) funded by increased land use planning fees. • General Fund money to supplement urban renewal agency (URA) work in the downtown area. • Funding to kick off the housing code program. • Funding to close out the weed and seed program. • Funding to maintain the current level of service at the Permit and Information Center (PIC) due to increased service demand. Ms. Muir said three of the requests were fee backed, while two were not. She said the Budget Committee and City Council asked for a revision of the City Manager’s recommendation to open Fire Station 9 that would likely eliminate the PDD requests from further discussion. Ms. Muir said there would be no staff reductions in the Planning Division. In response to a question from Mr. Belcher, Ms. Muir said the Planning Division did not have a goal of becoming 100 percent fee supported. The 2004 fee analysis resulted in fee recovery increasing from 24 percent to 50 percent by fiscal year 2008. Ms. Muir noted that one fte was eliminated during the last budget cycle. Mr. Lawless adjourned the Planning Commission meeting at 12:30 p.m. (Recorded by Linda Henry) m:\2005\planning and development department\planning division\planning commission\pc050516.doc MINUTES – Eugene Planning Commission May 16, 2005 Page 3 Regular Meeting