HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-04-2004
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
MAY 4. 2004
The regular meeting of the Planning Commission was held on May 4, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council
Chambers of the Auburn City Hall. The regular meeting was preceded by a study session that began
at 6:30 p.m. Those in attendance were as follows:
MEMBERS: Dave Peace, Renee Larsen, Yvonne Ward, Kevin Chapman and Joan Mason
The following members were absent: Ronald Douglass and Karen Ekrem
STAFF: David Osaki and Patti Zook
6:30 PM STUDY SESSION
. Zoning Code Amendment - Proposed Amendments to Auburn City Code (ACC) Chapters 18.32
(Light Industrial District) and 18.50 (Landscaping and Screening) related to Outdoor Storage
Community Development Administrator Osaki advised that this item may be a public hearing before
the PC in June. City Council directed staff to review the M1 zone outdoor storage requirements. He
provided a background on the matter. The allowable amount of outdoor storage is tied to the building
floor area and he reviewed three points. He spoke about the landscape and screening requirements in
the existing code. He reviewed Type I, Type II and Type III landscape requirements. He reviewed the
proposed changes to Chapters 18.50 and 18.32. There is a new section 18.50.080 which allows
flexibility for modifying landscape requirements if a superior design is presented. He referred to the
memorandum from Public Works related to storm drainage requirements for gravel storage areas.
Commissioner Ward arrived at 7:00 p.m.
Commissioner Peace suggested that staff prepare language so that the storage is only related to the
on-site business. In response to Commissioner Peace's inquiries, Community Development
Administrator Osaki pointed out page 9, which speaks to landscape requirements adjacent to zoning
districts. If PC wants to make changes to the landscape requirements, review and see if they want to
revise.
Commissioner Chapman spoke about other uses in M1 such as professional offices and restaurants,
and day care could be allowed with an administrative use permit. However, a day care on one property
next to a storage yard are not compatible uses. Commissioner Larsen thinks day cares are more likely
to be in other districts versus M-1.
Discussion occurred about the amount of available land zoned M1 and M2.
Commissioner Peace is concerned about a contractor leaving inoperable equipment on site because it
is too costly to remove and how to address this. It would be alright for contractor to move equipment in
and out, but not leave it there forever.
Commissioner Mason left at 7:15 p.m.
7:00 PM REGULAR MEETING
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
. Minutes of March 2, 2004
. Minutes of April 6, 2004
Commissioner Ward made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Larsen to approve the minutes. The
motion passed.
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MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
MAY 4. 2004
DISCUSSION (continued from study session)
. Zoning Code Amendment - Proposed Amendments to Auburn City Code (ACC) Chapters 18.32
(Light Industrial District) and 18.50 (Landscaping and Screening) related to Outdoor Storage
In response to Commissioner Ward inquiries, Community Development Administrator Osaki advised
that all administrative interpretations are appealable to the City's Hearing Examiner.
. Zoning Code Amendment - Off-Street Parking in Residential Zones
Community Development Administrator Osaki mentioned that this is an issue that PCDC have
discussed for over a year. Staff brought different proposals to PCDC and staff is seeking PC input
tonight which will be forwarded to PCDC. In single family residential zones there is no limitation on the
number of operable vehicles that can be parked in a single family dwelling's front yard. He reviewed
three questions:
1. In residential zones, where should vehicles be allowed to park?
2. Should there be surfacing requirements for parked vehicles associated with single family
dwellings?
3. Are any requirements needed for certain type of vehicles such as recreation vehicles, trailers,
boat trailers, etc?
Commissioner Ward never noticed this problem and wondered how big a problem. Commissioner
Larsen said this is a big problem in downtown neighborhoods. Cars park over the sidewalks and in
front yards because there is no parking spaces on the street. Community Development Administrator
Osaki said that some neighborhoods have covenants and are self policing, some neighborhoods have
lots of cars parking on the street and then cars park in the front yards.
Community Development Administrator Osaki said that generally each dwelling unit should have two
off street parking spaces. Commissioner Peace commented that some houses have four to five cars
with kids and family. He mentioned a business owner who has pick up trucks parked in the street in
addition to his personal vehicles.
Commissioner Ward prefers warnings to the property owners. If the City wants an ordinance with
penalties, change the law and then issue warnings first. For lower income neighborhoods, she wants
warnings and then tickets so that they can modify their behavior without financial penalty. People
should have the chance to change their actions first.
Commissioner Ward inquired about recreational vehicles and campers right next to houses.
Community Development Administrator Osaki commented that the PCDC talked about parking cars in
front yards and then touched on RVs and campers being parked right next to houses. He will ask
Code Enforcement how many complaints were received about this.
Discussion occurred about parking on approved surfaces so that gravel and mud are not tracked onto
City streets.
Commissioner Peace doesn't see a problem with parking an RV next to the house if the same setback
as the house is maintained. Commissioner Larsen spoke about doing something to fix the problem for
the whole City. Expensive developments have covenants and homeowner associations to prevent.
Commissioner Ward remarked that there needs to be a clear reason, whether for aesthetics or tearing
up yards, to make sure the City is not unfairly impacting certain areas and that the regulations are
applied evenly.
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MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
ADJOURNMENT
With no further items to come before the Commission the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
PC\AGND\MIN 05-2004
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MAY 4. 2004