HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Planning and Economic Development Committee - 05/24/1993 KENT PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
May 24, 1993
The meeting of the Kent Planning Commission was called to order by
Acting Chair Heineman at 7: 00 pm on May 24, 1993 in the Kent City
Hall, Chambers West.
PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT:
Edward Heineman, Jr. , Acting Chair
Gwen Dahle
Kenneth Dozier
Raymond Ward
PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER ABSENT:
Christopher Grant
Albert Haylor
Kent Morrill
PLANNING STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Fred Satterstrom, Planning Manager
Chris Holden, Recording Secretary
APPROVAL OF MARCH 8 . 1993 MINUTES
MOTION MADE and SECONDED to accept the March 8, 1993 minutes as
presented. MOTION CARRIED.
ADDED COMMUNICATIONS:
Commissioner Dahle commented that the "Good Sam" club had requested
that they be able to use the rights of way on Willis Street for
overnight parking. Commissioner Dahle remarked she would be asking
the Public Works Department for an explanation.
Mr. Satterstrom informed the Commissioners that on Thursday,
May 27, there is an all-day continuing education session for
Planning Commissioners. It will be held in Seattle at the Sheraton
Hotel from 8: 30 to 4 : 30 pm. This program is being offered by the
APA and Planning Commission members are encouraged to attend.
Growth Management Update
Mr. Satterstrom gave a brief report on the status of the Growth
Management program. The State has extended the timeline for doing
the City's Comprehensive Plan to July 1, 1994 . However, the
timeline to bring the development regulations into conformance with
the Comprehensive Plan have not been extended.
1
Planning Commission Minutes
May 24, 1993
#ZCA-93-2 , Zoning Code Amendment relating to Nonconforming
Structures, Chapter 15.08.
The public hearing was opened. Assistant City Attorney Tom
Brubaker presented a brief summary of the proposed ordinance. The
ordinance will allow the Planning Director, under certain specific
conditions, to allow the re-construction of a nonconforming
structure in the event it is more than 50 percent destroyed by
fire, earthquake or other similar act of God. Mr. Brubaker
explained that developers have had problems with the ordinance as
currently written. Further, the Planning Director will have the
authority to consider the surrounding development as well as
require some modification of the re-construction to more closely
conform to the surrounding uses. In addition, the construction
must take place within one year of the Planning Director's
approval. This is consistent with other sections of the Code which
require re-construction of a destroyed building to be done within
one year of the event.
Fred Satterstrom explained further the Zoning Code current
requirement that if a nonconforming use was more than 50 percent
destroyed it must be rebuilt to a conforming use. This requirement
applies even if the use was grandfathered. Therefore, developers
are having trouble getting financing. Finance institutions don't
want to loan money to uses that could become nonconforming because
of possible zoning changes.
It was MOVED, SECONDED and APPROVED to close the public hearing.
It was MOVED, SECONDED and APPROVED to approve the Zoning Code
amendment.
#ZCA-93-3 , ZONING CODE AMENDMENT RELATING TO THE PROCEDURE FOR
ZONING MAP AND TEXT AMENDMENTS TO THE ZONING CODE, CHAPTER 15.09.
The public hearing was opened. Mr. Satterstrom explained the
request for the Zoning Code amendment. This amendment would have
all area-wide Zoning Map designations to be heard by the Planning
Commission while the site specific rezone proposals will be heard
by the Hearing Examiner. Because most area-wide zoning
designations usually involve policy, thus, it is preferable to have
a policy body like the Planning Commission to hold the hearings and
make the recommendations.
It was MOVED, SECONDED and APPROVED to close the public hearing.
It was MOVED, SECONDED and APPROVED to approve the Zoning Code
amendment.
2
KENT PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
May 24, 1993
The meeting of the Kent Planning Commission was called to order by
Acting Chair Heineman at 7: 00 pm on May 24, 1993 in the Kent City
Hall, Chambers West.
PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT:
Edward Heineman, Jr. , Acting Chair
Gwen Dahle
Kenneth Dozier
Raymond Ward
PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER ABSENT:
Christopher Grant
Albert Haylor
Kent Morrill
PLANNING STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Fred Satterstrom, Planning Manager
Chris Holden, Recording Secretary
APPROVAL OF MARCH 8. 1993 MINUTES
MOTION MADE and SECONDED to accept the March 8, 1993 minutes as
presented. MOTION CARRIED.
ADDED COMMUNICATIONS:
Commissioner Dahle commented that the "Good Sam" club had requested
that they be able to use the rights of way on Willis Street for
overnight parking. Commissioner Dahle remarked she would be asking
the Public Works Department for an explanation.
Mr. Satterstrom informed the Commissioners that on Thursday,
May 27, there is an all-day continuing education session for
Planning Commissioners. It will be held in Seattle at the Sheraton
Hotel from 8: 30 to 4: 30 pm. This program is being offered by the
APA and Planning Commission members are encouraged to attend.
Growth Management Update
Mr. Satterstrom gave a brief report on the status of the Growth
Management program. The State has extended the timeline for doing
the City's Comprehensive Plan to July 1, 1994. However, the
timeline to bring the development regulations into conformance with
the Comprehensive Plan have not been extended.
1
Planning Commission Minutes
May 24, 1993
#ZCA-93-2 . Zoning Code Amendment relating to Nonconforming
Structures. Chapter 15.08.
The public hearing was opened. Assistant City Attorney Tom
Brubaker presented a brief summary of the proposed ordinance. The
ordinance will allow the Planning Director, under certain specific
conditions, to allow the re-construction of a nonconforming
structure in the event it is more than 50 percent destroyed by
fire, earthquake or other similar act of God. Mr. Brubaker
explained that developers have had problems with the ordinance as
currently written. Further, the Planning Director will have the
authority to consider the surrounding development as well as
require some modification of the re-construction to more closely
conform to the surrounding uses. In addition, the construction
must take place within one year of the Planning Director's
approval. This is consistent with other sections of the Code which
require re-construction of a destroyed building to be done within
one year of the event.
Fred Satterstrom explained further the Zoning Code current
requirement that if a nonconforming use was more than 50 percent
destroyed it must be rebuilt to a conforming use. This requirement
applies even if the use was grandfathered. Therefore, developers
are having trouble getting financing. Finance institutions don't
want to loan money to uses that could become nonconforming because
of possible zoning changes.
It was MOVED, SECONDED and APPROVED to close the public hearing.
It was MOVED, SECONDED and APPROVED to approve the Zoning Code
amendment.
#ZCA-93-3 . ZONING CODE AMENDMENT RELATING TO THE PROCEDURE FOR
ZONING MAP AND TEXT AMENDMENTS TO THE ZONING CODE CHAPTER 15. 09.
The public hearing was opened. Mr. Satterstrom explained the
request for the Zoning Code amendment. This amendment would have
all area-wide Zoning Map designations to be heard by the Planning
Commission while the site specific rezone proposals will be heard
by the Hearing Examiner. Because most area-wide zoning
designations usually involve policy, thus, it is preferable to have
a policy body like the Planning Commission to hold the hearings and
make the recommendations.
It was MOVED, SECONDED and APPROVED to close the public hearing.
It was MOVED, SECONDED and APPROVED to approve the Zoning Code
amendment.
2
Planning Commission Minutes
May 24, 1993
ZCA-93-4. ZONING CODE AMENDMENT. ZONING CODE ENFORCEMENT
ORDINANCE. CHAPTER 15. 10.
The public hearing was opened. Assistant City Attorney Tom
Brubaker reviewed the necessity of amending the Zoning Code,
Chapter 15. 10. He explained that Chapter 15. 10 would be amended
and a new chapter, Chapter 1. 04 would be created. This new chapter
would allow the City to enforce Code violations through civil
process rather than criminal. For example, if a person would be in
violation of the City Code, the Director of the appropriate
department would notify the person of the violation. The violator
would have the opportunity to agree, by signing a violation
agreement, to rectify the violation. If the violator did not sign
the violation agreement or correct the violation, there would be a
hearing before the Hearing Examiner where fines could be assessed
against the property and violator. The City could then correct the
violation and file a lien against the property. Furthermore, if
the violator persisted in creating the violation, there could be
criminal charges filed against him and then the matter would move
on to court. However, with the civil proceedings, which would move
faster than criminal proceedings, the violations would be dealt
within a more timely manner.
There was discussion about the need for criminal charges. Another
matter discussed was the whether this was a revenue generating
ordinance or whether there were actually problems with violations.
It was observed that there could be unfairness to absentee
landlords in correcting a violation caused by others. It was
pointed out that the burden of correcting violations properly
belong to landowners.
It was MOVED, SECOND and APPROVED to close the public hearing.
It was MOVED and SECONDED to delete from the ordinance any language
regarding criminal charges. A general discussion followed.
Mr. Brubaker commented the proper procedure for administering the
violation ordinance would be to go through the civil procedures
first. However, if the violator still refused to correct the
violation, then, the harsher criminal procedures would be needed.
The criminal procedures provide an ultimatum in correcting the
violation.
MOTION FAILED for lack of a majority.
It was MOVED, SECONDED and APPROVED to approve the Ordinance as
written.
3
Planning Commission Minutes
May 24, 1993
Election of Officers
This item was postponed until more members can attend.
Mr. Heineman will be acting Chairperson until elections are held.
It was MOVED, SECONDED and APPROVED to adjourn the hearing at
8:50 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Ja s . Harris, Secretary
apc pcmm5.24
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