Planning Commission

SUMMARY MINUTES Regular Meeting Eugene Planning Commission Sloat Room—The Atrium—99 West 10th Avenue August 13, 2007 11:00 a.m. PRESENT: Rick Duncan, President; Randy Hledik, Vice President; Jon Belcher, member; Phillip Carroll, Ann Kneeland, John Lawless, Anthony McCown, members; Alissa Hansen, Lisa Gardner, Kurt Yeiter, Planning and Development Department; Gary McNeel, Public Works Department; Emily Jerome, City Attorney’s Office; Jim Spickerman, Robin Dehnert, Rick Satre, Ann Simas, Ed Russo, Tom Mitchell, Steve Barnes, Hovoshone Sirivath, Augustine Niber, Ken Grover, Jean Rubel, Anne Marie levis, Nohelani Graf, guests. ABSENT: Mike Sullivan, ex officio. PUBLIC COMMENT I. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: MCKENZIE-WILLAMETTE PLAN AMENDMENTS/ZONE CHANGE Staff: Alissa Hansen, 682-5508 Ms. Kneeland, seconded by Mr. McCown, moved to revise footnote 4 to read: A minority of the Planning Commission felt that the record before the Planning Commission was insufficient with regard to whether a hospital is such a use. The motion passed 6:1, with Mr. Hledik voting in opposition. Ms. Kneeland, seconded by Mr. Hledik, moved to make the following correction on page 20, paragraph 1, sentence 4: Based on ODOT’s conclusion that the proposed mitigation are sufficient to avoid further degradation of Beltline Highway, the Planning Commission concluded that this time difference did not amount to further degradation of the facility. The Planning Commission acknowledged that ODOT found that this time difference did not amount to further degradation of the facility. The motion passed unanimously 7:0. MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission August 13, 2007 Page 1  Ms. Kneeland, seconded by Mr. Carroll, moved to revise footnote 9, sentence 3 to read: The minority expressed concern about the nature and number of conditions that would be required (including the proposed trip cap), and about the lack of evidence in the record concerning the proposal’s effects on the local transportation system (including queuing per applicant’s TIA, Table 21) and emergency vehicle access. The motion passed unanimously 7:0. Ms. Kneeland, seconded by Mr. McCown, moved to add the following to page 30, paragraph 1, at the end of the paragraph: The Planning Commission found that the mitigations proposed by the applicant are not consistent with the City’s obligation to protect and manage the existing infrastructure because the increased hospital traffic significantly stresses the capacity of effected interchanges and because the of the City’s need to invest in capacity building projects is accelerated by the additional traffic. The motion failed 1:6, with Commissioners Belcher, Carroll, Duncan, Hledik, Lawless and McCown voting in opposition. Mr. Carroll, seconded by Mr. Belcher, moved to revise page 39, paragraph 1 be revised to read: The Planning Commission finds the evidence in the record as of May 29, 2007, insufficient inadequate to demonstrate the applications’ consistency with Metro Plan Policies E.4, F.10 and J.8. If no further evidence is provided to the City Council to demonstrate that demonstrates consistency with these criteria, the Planning Commission recommends that the City Council deny the applicant’s proposal. The motion passed unanimously 7:0. Mr. McCown, seconded by Mr. Duncan, moved to approve the recommendation in the Planning Commission Findings dated August 13, 2007, with the revisions accepted by Planning Commission at today’s meeting. The motion passed unanimously 7:0. II. PLANNING COMMISSION DISCUSSION: JOINT MEETING WITH CITY COUNCIL REGARDING PLANNING COMMISSION WORK PROGRAM Staff: Lisa Gardner, 682-5208 III. ITEMS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF A. Other Items from Staff MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission August 13, 2007 Page 2  B. Other Items from Commission MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission August 13, 2007 Page 3  MINUTES Regular Meeting Eugene Planning Commission Sloat Room—The Atrium—99 West 10th Avenue August 13, 2007 11:00 a.m. PRESENT: Rick Duncan, President; Randy Hledik, Vice President; Jon Belcher, member; Phillip Carroll, Ann Kneeland, John Lawless, Anthony McCown, members; Alissa Hansen, Lisa Gardner, Kurt Yeiter, Planning and Development Department; Gary McNeel, Public Works Department; Emily Jerome, City Attorney’s Office; Jim Spickerman, Robin Dehnert, Rick Satre, Ann Simas, Ed Russo, Tom Mitchell, Steve Barnes, Hovoshone Sirivath, Augustine Niber, Ken Grover, Jean Rubel, Anne Marie levis, Nohelani Graf, guests. ABSENT: Mike Sullivan, ex officio. Mr. Duncan convened the meeting. PUBLIC COMMENT There was no one wishing to offer public comment. I. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: MCKENZIE-WILLAMETTE PLAN AMENDMENTS/ZONE CHANGE Mr. Hledik stated he was absent from the August 6, 2007 Commission meeting, but had listened to a recording of the meeting. Ms. Hansen noted this was the fourteenth meeting on the McKenzie-Willamette Plan Amendments and Zone Change requests, including four work sessions, one public hearing during which over five hours of public testimony was given, eight meetings devoted to deliberating for a total of twenty-three hours. She acknowledged the participation by Commissioners, noting the work was completed with great diligence, dedication and consideration. Following a vote by the Commission, its recommendation would be forwarded to the City Council. Ms. Hansen said the Planning Commission Findings City Files MA 06-1, RA 06-1, and Z 06-8 dated August 13, 2007 had been distributed to Planning Commission members. The document contained the Commission’s findings and conclusions based its deliberations and under each of the applicable approval criteria from the Eugene Code (EC). During the course of deliberations, as noted in the findings, the Commission found that the applications met the bulk of the approval of criteria, with the exception of three Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan (Metro Plan) policies E-4, F-10, and J-8. As stated in the findings, the MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission August 13, 2007 Page 4 Commission found that the evidence in the record before the Planning Commission was insufficient to demonstrate that the applications were consistent with policies E-4, F-10, J-8. Following today’s action by the Commission, the City Council would conduct a public hearing on September 17, 2007, at which point the record would reopen for new evidence and testimony. The Planning Commission’s findings and recommendations would be forwarded to the City Council in advance of a City Council work session on September 10, 2007. Following the public hearing, the City Council would consider the Planning Commission’s recommendation, the entire record, as well as any testimony that had been received at any point in time on these land use applications. Ms. Hansen provided a copy of a motion prepared by staff to each Planning Commissioner. She stated that because the Commission would be voting on a motion, that if there were any revisions to the findings that the Planning Commission wanted to propose, specific replacement language must be provided in order for it to be incorporated into the motion. Commissioners noted several scrivener errors that were recorded by staff. Mr. Duncan noted consensus to accept the suggested corrections to the scrivener errors. Commissioners offered several minor content edits that were recorded by staff. Mr. Duncan noted consensus to accept the suggested changes. Ms. Kneeland, seconded by Mr. McCown, moved to revise footnote 4 to read: A minority of the Planning Commission felt that the record before the Planning Commission was insufficient with regard to whether a hospital is such a use. The motion passed 6:1, with Mr. Hledik voting in opposition. Commissioners “revisited” the tentative revisions made to the document at the August 6, 2007 meeting in order to allow Commissioners Belcher and Hledik, who had been absent, to include their opinions and suggestions on the changes made at that time to adequately reflect a minority opinion. Those minority opinions were recorded by staff for inclusion in the final draft. Ms. Kneeland, seconded by Mr. Hledik, moved to make the following correction on page 20, paragraph 1, sentence 4: Based on ODOT’s conclusion that the proposed mitigation are sufficient to avoid further degradation of Beltline Highway, the Planning Commission concluded that this time difference did not amount to further degradation of the facility. The Planning Commission acknowledged that ODOT found that this time difference did not amount to further degradation of the facility. The motion passed unanimously 7:0. Ms. Kneeland, seconded by Mr. Carroll, moved to revise footnote 9, sentence 3 to read: The minority expressed concern about the nature and number of conditions that would be required (including the proposed trip cap), and about the lack of evidence in the record concerning the MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission August 13, 2007 Page 5  proposal’s effects on the local transportation system (including queuing per applicant’s TIA, Table 21) and emergency vehicle access. The motion passed unanimously 7:0. Ms. Kneeland, seconded by Mr. McCown, moved to add the following to page 30, paragraph 1, at the end of the paragraph: The Planning Commission found that the mitigations proposed by the applicant are not consistent with the City’s obligation to protect and manage the existing infrastructure because the increased hospital traffic significantly stresses the capacity of effected interchanges and because the of the City’s need to invest in capacity building projects is accelerated by the additional traffic. The motion failed 1:6, with Commissioners Belcher, Carroll, Duncan, Hledik, Lawless and McCown voting in opposition. Mr. Carroll, seconded by Mr. Belcher, moved to revise page 39, paragraph 1 be revised to read: The Planning Commission finds the evidence in the record as of May 29, 2007, insufficient inadequate to demonstrate the applications’ consistency with Metro Plan Policies E.4, F.10 and J.8. If no further evidence is provided to the City Council to demonstrate that demonstrates consistency with these criteria, the Planning Commission recommends that the City Council deny the applicant’s proposal. The motion passed unanimously 7:0. Mr. McCown, seconded by Mr. Duncan, moved to approve the recommendation in the Planning Commission Findings dated August 13, 2007, with the revisions accepted by Planning Commission at today’s meeting. The motion passed unanimously 7:0. Mr. Hledik commended staff for their work on the project, and thanked the public for their forbearance and indulgence through the lengthy process. Mr. Duncan thanked Planning Commissioners for the enormous amount of time they devoted to the project. He thanked staff and the city attorney for all of their efforts. Responding to a question from Mr. Belcher, Ms. Hansen said a draft cover letter to the City Council would be circulated to Commissioners for their review. The Planning Commission took a short break. Mr. Duncan reminded Commissioners that the McKenzie-Willamette Plan Amendments/Zone Change requests may come back to the Commission in the future and they should refrain from ex parte contacts. MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission August 13, 2007 Page 6 Mr. Belcher commended the Planning Commission for its outstanding work on the project. He announced he would not apply for reappointment to the Planning Commission for another term. II. PLANNING COMMISSION DISCUSSION: JOINT MEETING WITH CITY COUNCIL REGARDING PLANNING COMMISSION WORK PROGRAM Ms. Gardner reviewed the Commission’s September and October meeting schedule, and solicited input from Commissioners on the Work Program development and outreach strategies in preparation of the October 24, 2007 joint meeting with the City Council. Commissioners offered suggestions for improving the work program: • Restructuring the work program format to more accurately reflect the work of the Commission and to be more useful to the public. • Recognize time and money constraints in the work program to more realistically set goals. • Have discussions on the aging refinement plans. • Need a more dynamic process through community empowerment. • Increase opportunities for public empowerment and public outreach. • Solicit input to evaluate if the growth management policies were still valid. • Look at what realistically can be accomplished in a year. • Provide multiple methods for public to provide input, including internet surveys and other more traditional methods of paper surveys, open houses, forums, public comment period during regular meetings, etc. • Develop a method for connecting with the City Budget Committee. • Developing alternate formats to advertise Planning Commission meetings, agenda items, and how to provide input. • Clarification of City Council direction for Opportunity Siting. Ms. Gardner announced that Allen Lowe was moving to the Community Development Division as of September 15, 2007, for a temporary assignment prior to his retirement in 2008. The projects he was working on in Planning would be assigned to other Planning staff. Mr. Duncan encouraged Commissioners to contact their Council Buddies prior to the joint meeting. III. ITEMS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF A. Other Items from Staff Ms. Gardner commended Ms. Hansen for her amazing work on the McKenzie-Willamette project, which was echoed by the Commissioners. B. Other Items from Commission Mr. Duncan adjourned the meeting at 1:35 p.m. MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission August 13, 2007 Page 7 (Recorded by Linda Henry) c:\documents and settings\cemnllh\desktop\linda\2007\08 august\pc070813.doc MINUTES—Eugene Planning Commission August 13, 2007 Page 8