Planning Commission Agendas
Regular MeetingMoses Lake, WA · October 14, 2021
Minutes
CITY OF MOSES LAKE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
OF October 14, 2021
Commissioners Present: Nathan Nofziger (Chair), Charles Hepburn (Vice Chair), Gary
Mann, Anne Henning
Commissioners Absent: Eric Skaug
Staff Present: Community Development Director Melissa Bethel, Planning Manager
Vivian Ramsey, Assistant Planner Amy Harris, and Planning Permit Tech Michelene
Torrey
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. Attendance was called by Secretary
Michelene Torrey. Commissioners discussed Erik Skaug’s absence from the meeting
and whether the absence would be excused.
Motion: Commissioner Hepburn motioned for Commission Skaug to be marked as
absent, seconded by Commissioner Mann. Motion carried.
Motion: Commissioner Henning moved to approve the minutes from the September 16th
and September 23rd meetings, motion seconded by Commissioner Mann. Motion
carried.
*Commissioner Henning corresponded with staff earlier in the week regarding a scrivener’s error on
September 23rd’s meeting minutes, the error was resolved prior to the Planning Commission Meeting.
Item # 1- Shoreline Master Program Update Presentation and Introduction
The City of Moses Lake is in the beginning stages of updating it’s Shoreline Master
Program. The current Master Program was adopted by Council in November of 2016
and by Ecology in January of 2017. The Shoreline Master Program is an appendix to
the Moses Lake Municipal Code that dictates use and preservation of the miles of
Shoreline within the City of Moses Lake’s boundaries. The commission was given a
presentation by Alicia Ayers and Sharese Graham with SCJ Alliance, the City’s
contracted consultants. The presentation centered around the updates to the program
that will take place and the presenters introducing themselves to the Commission. Alicia
and Sharese also introduced the other consultant, Twin Peaks, that will be working
concurrently with SCJ. The Shoreline Master Program’s update timeline was shared
with the Commission with a due date of June 2022. Several members of the current
planning commission previously worked on the Shoreline Master Program at its
inception, those commissioners requested more science and more analysis on critical
areas and a more streamlined process.
Planning Commission Questions and Comments:
Commissioner Henning resigned from the Planning Commission as she moved outside
of the City of Moses Lake and/or the Urban Growth Area. Commissioner Henning was
thanked for her service by staff and the commission.
The Commission was made aware that the next meeting was rescheduled to November
4th, as the regularly scheduled meeting fell on Veteran’s Day.) .
Meeting adjourned at 6:31 pm by Chair Nofziger.
Agenda
City of Moses Lake Planning
Commission Agenda
REMOTE ACCESS OPTION and IN PERSON UPDATE: Citizens can join this meeting remotely
by calling the numbers listed or via internet at https://cityofml.zoom.us/j/87291606205
Call In: 1 253 215 8782 ID: 872 9160 6205. Persons requesting to address the Planning
Commission from the remote option will need to complete the online speaker request form*
before 3 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Masks will be required for in person attendees.
Thursday October 14, 2021 @ 6PM
Council Chambers
401 S Balsam St., Moses Lake, WA
Call to Order – 6 p.m.
Roll Call
Agenda Items:
1. Approval of Minutes from September 16, 2021, and September 23, 2021
Meetings
2. Shoreline Master Program Update Presented by Sharese Graham - SCJ Alliance
A. Introductions
B. PowerPoint Presentation
C. Planning Commission – Survey
D. Q & A
3. Staff and Commission Questions and Comments
Adjourn
*Citizens who would like to address the Planning Commission can submit written comments to the Planning Commission
Secretary (Michelene Torrey) no later than 3 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Comments will be provided to Commission
electronically and recorded in the meeting minutes. Citizens who would like to speak on matters during the meeting will
need to complete the following form no later than 3 p.m. on the day of the meeting. There will be a five-minute limit per
speaker. https://lfweb.cityofml.com/Forms/Planning-Commission-Speaker-Request
**NOTICE: Individuals planning to attend the meeting who require special assistance to accommodate physical,
hearing, or other impairments, please contact the City Clerk at (509) 764‐3703 as soon as possible so that
arrangements may be made prior to the meeting time.
MOSES LAKE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
OF September 23, 2021
Continuation of September 16, 2021 Meeting
Commissioners Present : Nathan Nofziger (Chair), Charles Hepburn (Vice Chair), Gary
Mann, Eric Skaug, Anne Henning
Commissioners Absent: None
Staff Present: City Manager Allison Williams, Community Development Director Melissa
Bethel, Planning Manager Vivian Ramsey, Planning Permit Technician Michelene
Torrey
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.
Item # 1- Comprehensive Plan Public Hearing-
Kevin Gifford with Berk Consulting presented the Updated Elements of the
Comprehensive Plan to the Commission. The presentation included the updates to the
Capital Facilities Element as well as the Land Use Element. The changes were nominal
to the original elements provided to the commission.
Public Comments:
Mark Fancher –Spoke regarding infill development within the City.
Gil Alvarado –Spoke regarding Comprehensive Plan Procedures and Downtown Zone
questions.
Jim Warjone- Spoke regarding utilities within UGA
Rick Pennhallurick –Spoke regarding New Zoning and how the new Overlays would
affect his businesses.
Judy Madewell –Spoke regarding development within our Downtown/Retail and Traffic
Issues
Houston Aho –Spoke regarding Dune Lakes Master Plan UGA Denial
Debra Cromer – Spoke in favor of the UGA boundary amendments siting lack of
resources in the UGA areas.
Pete Staudenraus- Spoke regarding growth and history of the City.
Dustin Schwartz- Comments regarding Current Population within City of Moses Lake
being taken care of before UGA
Commission deliberated over the Urban Growth Area Boundary changes. Area 5 and 7
were focal points of the conversation as well as the “donut” within the city boundaries.
The “donut” being Area 11 within the UGA Boundary Amendments Appendix.
Motion: Commission Hepburn moved and Commissioner Mann second for
recommendation of approval on the overall comprehensive plan as presented by staff
except maintaining UGA Boundary Area 5 (North Mae Valley) and not including “donut
area” listed as Area 11 (Wheeler West).
Motion approved unanimously.
Planning Commission Questions and Comments:
Meeting adjourned at 9:51PM PM by Chair Nofziger.
City of Moses Lake
Shoreline Master Program
Periodic Update
October 14, 2021
Planning Commission
Team Members
Contact Info
Alicia Ayars
509-835-8311
alicia.ayars@scjalliance.
com
Rachel Granrath Alicia Ayars Sharese Graham Nate Hough-Snee
Senior Planner Project Manager Senior Specialist Senior Scientist - Ecologist
Shoreline Management
Act (SMA)
Shoreline Master
Program (SMP)
Shoreline
Management Act (SMA) - RCW 90.58
“…to prevent the inherent harm in an uncoordinated and
piecemeal development of the state's shorelines.” RCW 90.58.020
SMA Policy Areas:
• Environmental protection
• Public Access
• Water-dependent and preferred uses
The SMA mandates a schedule for the periodic review of your
SMP at least every 8-years
B
# of SMP counties +(cities) B
A 3 + (71)
A
B 10 + (39) D
C 9 + (58) C
D 17 + (71)
A B C D
GMA 2015 2016 2017 2018
Deadline: June 30 2022 SMA 2019 2020 2021 2022
GMA 2023 2024 2025 2026
(RCW 90.58.080) SMA 2027 2028 2029 2030
Conduct Review of the SMP for changes to:
1. Revised Code of Washington(RCW) &
Washington Administrative Code (WAC)
2. Comprehensive Plan & development
regulations
3. Local circumstances, new information,
improved data
Periodic Update
Considerations,
Process & Schedule
Use Ecology Checklist & Guidance to address
changes to RCW and WAC
Goals and Policies
• Economic
• Access
What is in a • Uses
• Conservation
Shoreline
Regulations
Master • Environmental designations
Program? • General, use-specific, and modification
regulations
• Critical area regulations
• Applicability and implementation (non-
conforming use, enforcement)
SMP Update Balances Multiple Objectives
Key Elements Considerations
Private Property Rights Protection Protection of private property rights
(avoid government takings)
Environment Designations Local land use plan consistency (i.e.
critical areas)
Vegetation Management
Public Involvement
Buffer Width Modifications Agriculture
Public Access U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and
other federal agencies
Shoreline Jurisdiction
Stream flows
greater than 20
CFS
Associated Lakes greater
Wetlands than 20 acres
Upland areas
Floodways /
200 ft. from
floodplain areas
OHWM
Moses Lake’s SMP
• How to manage growth?
• How to balance potentially
conflicting interests while also
preserving ecologically
sensitivity?
• How to preserve health and
water quality of the lake?
• How to maintain and/or enhance
water rights around the lake?
Baseline Data – Four Peaks
• Identify Existing Data
• Hydrologic Investigation
• Wetland Mapping with the
‘new’ Ordinary High-Water
Mark
SMP Timeline &
Public Participation
2021 2022
October January
SMP Website Launch Open House hosted by the Planning
Agency/Stakeholder Meeting Commission (SCJ/Four Peaks)
Planning Commission Workshop
Complete SMP Text Amendments
Desktop review & code writing Send Draft to DOE for 60-day notice of intent
Survey roll-out & public outreach to to adopt
stakeholders Issue SEPA Determination
Nov.–Jan. February
2022
March May
Joint Planning Commission/Ecology Public Submit Application for Final Determination
Hearing from Ecology
Final Ecology Approval and SMP Adoption
Finalize SMP Text Amendments
Submit Application for Initial Determination
with Ecology
City Council Workshop (SCJ/Four Peaks) City Council Adoption Final Plan via Ordinance
April June
Questions?
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