Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutSigned Minutes 11-23-20 Joint Meeting with Planning and PARCMinutes of the Arlington City Council, Planning Commission and Parks, Arts, and Recreation Commission (PARC) Zoom Special meeting Monday, November 23, 2020 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Tolbert called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., and roll call followed. Council members present: Mike Hopson, Marilyn Oertle, Debora Nelson, Don Vanney, Jan Schuette, Jesica Stickles and Michele Blythe. Planning Commission members present: Tim Dean, Bruce Angell, Mike Thomas, Jan Berg and Yvonne Gallardo. Parks, Arts and Recreation Commission members present: Heather Logan, Barbara Butner, Brittany Kleinman, Clayton Conway, Jenner Egger, Jennifer Harrington and Steve Maisch. Staff Present: Mayor Barb Tolbert, Paul Ellis, James Trefry, Marc Hayes, Sarah Lopez, Tony Orr, City Attorney Steve Peiffle, and Ashleigh Scott Also Known To Be Present: Thirty -Seven YouTube viewers, Duana Kolouskova, Peter Condyles and John Wills. DISCUSSION ITEMS Planning Process City Administrator Paul Ellis reviewed the planning process, which revolves around the Comprehensive Plan. The Parks, Art and Recreation Commission serves as an advisory commission to the City Council with respect to the PARC facilities and programs within the City, as well as changes, expansion or new acquisition of both park's facilities and programs. The Planning Commission serves as an advisory body to the City Council, as well, on matters of zoning and planning and acts as the City's Design Review Board. The Planning Commission reviews new development projects for compliance with city codes and the comprehensive plan. Both commissions contribute to the development and implantation of the City Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Commission is primarily responsible for the development and implantation of the Comprehensive Plan. Minutes of the oint Meeting - Council Planning Commission and PARC November 23, 2020 The Comprehensive Plan is a long-range planning document that outlines the city's policies, goals, and implementation strategies for guiding future growth and development in the city over the next 20-year horizon, with updates every eight years. The plan covers 14 elements: urban growth, reducing sprawling, transportation, housing, economic development, property rights, permits, open space, parks and recreation, natural resource industries, environment, citizen participation and coordination, public facilities and services, historic preservation, and consistency with other plans. Arlington has a docketing process which allows the public (and City) to submit requests for plan amendments once a year. The process ensures that changing circumstances that warrant changes to policies, zoning or projects are adequately considered to keep the Plan vibrant. The Planning Commission is tasked with reviewing the docket submittals with staff support. Insuring the consistency with the goals and policies of the comprehensive plan, Arlington Municipal Code, and providing for public input during a public hearing process and coordination with other city commission. The recommendation of the Planning Commission is submitted to City Council in the form of Findings of Fact that is formally adopted by the Planning Cnmmissinn in a nuhlic meeting. Planning Commission Roles Chair Tim Dean gave an overview of the roles of the Planning Commission. The municipal planning commissions are authorized by state law under RCW 35.63. Arlington's Planning Commission was created in 1943, and codified in AMC 2.52.010. The responsibility is to advise council on legislation related to the City's Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Code. This responsibly has two parts; process and content. The process describes how things are done, and the content describes the intent of the proposed action. Mr. Dean elaborated more by stating that, except for emergencies, the process that they follow for the Comprehensive Plan and Land Use issues are always the same; staff prepares the necessary documentation related to the proposed action - whether it is a private or City request - and the proposed action is then forwarded to the Planning Commission along with supportive documentation. Items are typically first heard at the Commission workshop then deliberated at the next regular Commission meeting. Comprehensive Plan amendments and land use issue items require a public hearing at the regular commission meetings. Following that is a vote that is taken on the recommendation. The Commission then forwards its findings and recommendation back to staff and the staff forwards the Commission summary, findings of fact, and recommendations along with staff reports to Council for action. At that time, Council can affirm, deny, modify or remand the item back to Commission for further consideration. Affirming or remanding back decisions are clear to staff and do not require explanation. However, if the commission recommendation is denied or modified, it creates a difficult gap in their understanding of Council's intent. Without feedback loops, it becomes impossible for the Commission to anticipate Council's decision. In meetings, the Planning Commission's responsibility is to advise Council, and the most important function is to be the City's stewards of the Comprehensive Plan. It takes time, Page 2 of 4 Minutes of the joint Meeting - Council. Planning Commission. and PARC November 23 2020 effort and commitment to understand the planning landscape, concepts, and legal frame work, which is why commissioners and members serve six year terms. The State requires that land use regulations are reflective of and consistent with the approved Comprehensive Plan. There is a long list of planning documents that are part of the Comprehensive Plan by reference, including - Airport Master Plan and Airport Layout Plan, Shoreline Master Plan, Transportation Master Plan, Sewer Master Plan and the Water Master Plan. The State also requires local comprehensive planning across a minimum of the following seven elements - land use, housing, parks and recreation, capital facilities, transportation, utilities and economic development. The Planning Commission's job to make sure, from a citizen's perspective, that the City is moving in the direction determined by Council. The Commission's role is to advise Council on issues related to land use and the Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Commission does not carry out its responsibilities in a vacuum. They rely on the professional staff as the primary, but not the sole source of information and opinion. The Commission also looks to other planning agencies and jurisdictions across the country to see what they're doing to solve challenges similar to Arlington's. In this process, the Commission has discovered that there are a lot of very smart people grappling with problems very similar to Arlington's. The Commission pays careful attention to staff recommendations, but based on the insight gained from other jurisdictions and the Commission's experience, while maintaining the ability to question those recommendations. As a result of the time spent over a span of years, the Commission is able to examine the Comprehensive Plan and Land Use issues with a discipline borne of experience, research and ongoing professional staff input. Parks, Arts and Recreation Commission (PARC) Roles Chair Heather Logan gave an overview of the Parks, Art and Recreation Commission roles by stating that the City adopted the updated Arlington Comprehensive Plan in December 2015. This is the main planning document for guiding growth and development for the next 20 years. The Comprehensive Plan gives details for parks, arts and recreation from the Park and Recreation Master Plan. PARC is codified in section 2.04.050 of Arlington's Municipal Code. The planning process is detailed in the Park and Recreation Master Plan, which provides direction for the planning, acquisition, development of new facilities including parks, and renovation of parks, open space, recreation facilities and programs for the years 2016-2023. The role of PARC is as an advisory board to the Mayor and City Council; they are their research branch. PARC's responsibilities include making recommendations for improvements and changes to the 17 parks in 248 acres and eight miles of trails. The Commission also plans for future parks, recreational facilities and programs, monitors the 48 pieces of public art, makes recommendations for new public art and makes recommendations for the Public Art Strategic Plan. They also monitor the Heritage Tree program and the City's overall tree canopy and tree programs. They receive input from service area residents, identify needs for improvement, identify opportunities for partnerships, assess potential funding sources, and updates the master plan. Page 3 of 4 Minutes of the joint Meeting - Council Planning Commission, and PARC November 23, 2020 The PARC priorities, as detailed in the Master Plan, and approved by City Council, include renovating Haller Park (now completed), continue development of County Charm Park (currently on hold) and acquiring park and recreation space in Smokey Point. Acquiring park and recreation space has been a PARC priority since 2007. The work intersects with the Planning Commission in that the Comprehensive Plan specifies that new parks, especially neighborhood parks, be dedicated and constructed within development areas by implementing the requirements in the Land Use Codes. ADJOURNMENT With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:59 p.m. Barbara Tolbert, Mayor Page 4 of 4