Planning Commission Mid-Month Meeting

August 15, 2007

Planning Commissioners present: Blaser, Chaney, Eichhorn, Finkeldei, Harris, Hird, Jennings, Lawson, and Moore.

Also present: County Commissioners, Linda Finger, Craig Weinaug

Staff Present: Stogsdill, McCullough, S. Miller, Gock, Patterson, M. Miller, Corliss, Brown

City/County Subdivision Regulations (TA-05-08-07)

TA-05-08-07: Consider amendments to City/County Subdivision Regulations to address

concerns identified in the 3/1/07 work session with City & County staff. Initiated by Board of County Commission on May 2, 2007.  Deferred from the June 27, 2007 PC meeting for additional staff and commission input.

The County Commissioners inquired about who all was involved with this text amendment.

Ms. Sheila Stogsdill said that she and Staff had been working on these issues. Linda Finger had had previous discussions with a few people who were applying for a Certificate of Survey. Ms. Stogsdill went on to say that there was a public hearing held at the June Planning Commission meeting. The latest version had been to Planning Commission and posted for about a month.

Commissioner Finkeldei stated that some of the language had been tweaked but that the language had not changed.

Ms. Stogsdill stated that there were property owners patiently waiting for these text amendment changes.

County Commissioner Jones inquired if this was now an action that Planning Commission was going to vote on.

Commissioner Eichhorn replied that was correct.

County Commissioner Jones inquired about the committee members who worked on this text amendment vouching for it.

Commissioner Finkeldei said he would look to Commissioners Eichhorn, Harris, & Hird to vouch for it and then it could be forward it on to City Commission.

County Commissioner Jones said there needed to be a comprehensive discussion about traffic issues and there needed to be a safety valve to move traffic south.

Commissioner Eichhorn said that the Transportation 2030 plan was looking at that process.

Ms. Stogsdill stated that there were conservation easement developments within the UGA. The County Commission wanted to eliminate outside of the UGA. The original regulations required that for all property, but now it is only looking at those that are environmentally sensitive.

Ms. Linda Finger stated that the conservation easement was still included was because people would find a way to use it. It may not be a tax benefit at all but it would include the environmental benefit. Inside the UGA it is a requirement. The problem in the UGA is if the City will take it over.

PUBLIC HEARING

No public comment.

COMMISSISSION DISCUSSION

Commissioner Harris stated that she could not download the document so this was the first time she was seeing it, therefore could not vouch for language. She inquired about the first page, section 6, where it talked about meeting the frontage requirements. She wanted to know why access management standards were not used.

Ms. Finger stated that the access management standards were grandfathered in and allows those people through the door.

Commissioner Moore inquired about attorney Evan Ice’s take on conservation easement.

Ms. Finger stated that within the Urban Growth area that is how it was created. There was an environmental chapter. The reason for the wording “shalls” was because there would be a definitive about where they were. She stated the environmental features should be a seamless process to fit into the city.

Commissioner Harris said one of the intentions was to create a system for TDR’s.

Ms. Finger stated that Steve Chin helped develop this and he is active in environmental law, it is a troublesome feature but not indefensible because the property owner still has the right to use the land.

Commissioner Lawson was concerned about property value.

Mr. Eichhorn felt that some of the best property in the city are adjacent to parks.

Commissioner Moore stated he would be voting against this text amendment because of the conservation easement.

Commissioner Lawson said he would vote to support this issue because they have pushed so long for this and felt the conservation easement was an issue.

Commissioner Hird said he would probably vote to approve this also because this was a cleanup, not a policy change.

Motioned by Commissioner Eichhorn, seconded by Commissioner Jennings to adopt changes and forward to City & County commission w/ recommendation for approval

Motion approved 8-1, with Commissioner Moore in opposition. Commissioners Blaser, Chaney, Eichhorn, Finkeldei, Harris, Hird, Jennings, and Lawson voted in favor.