HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 1/ 8/2013City of Central Point
Planning Commission Minutes
January 8, 2013
I. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 6:00 P.M.
II. ROLL CALL
Commissioners Chuck Piland, Mike Oliver, Susan Szczesniak, Tim Schmeusser,
Tom Van Voorhees, and Craig Nelson, Sr. were present.
Also in attendance were: Tom Humphrey, Community Development Director,
Don Burt, Planning Manager; Connie Clune, Community Planner; and Didi
Thomas, Planning Secretary.
III. CORRESPONDENCE — Correspondence from the Oregon Department of
Transportation was distributed in connection with item A on the agenda.
IV. MINUTES
Tom Van Voorhees made a motion to approve the minutes of the
December 4, 2012 Planning Commission meeting. Craig Nelson seconded the
motion. ROLL CALL: Oliver, yes; Szczesniak, abstained; Schmeusser, yes; Van
Voorhees, yes; Nelson, yes. Motion passed.
V. PUBLIC APPEARANCES - None
VI. BUSINESS
A. Eastside Transit Oriented Development (TOD) District (File No.
12003) — Continued public hearing to consider adoption of an Eastside
Transit Oriented Development (TOD) District requiring amendments to
the Comprehensive Land Use Plan map designating an Eastside TOD
District; Zoning Map applying Transit Oriented Development District
zoning classifications; Transportation System Plan identifying a
neighborhood circulation plan for the Eastside TOD District; and zoning
ordinance section 17.65 TOD Districts and Corridors, Section 17.66
Application Review Process, and Section 17.67 Design Standards.
Planning Commission Chairman Chuck Piland stated that the public hearing in this
matter would be reopened this evening, having been continued from the December 4,
2012 Planning Commission meeting and asked if there were any conflicts or ex parte
communications to disclose. There were none.
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January 8, 2013
Page 2
Planning Manager Don Burt advised that he would be proceeding from where he left off
in December. Mr. Burt said that he would be addressing buildable lands in response to
questions raised at the December meeting. Additionally, he added that based on
comments made at the same meeting, amendments were made to the Transit Oriented
Development (TOD) ordinance that include criteria for what constitutes a Master Plan,
and clarifying the requirement to address adjacent properties and land uses. Other
changes to the proposed Eastside TOD include the removal of the urban reserve area (CP-
3) from the proposed plan, a letter from the Oregon Department of Transportation
addressing the impact of the Eastside TOD on the transportation system and the draft
Interchange Access Management.
Mr. Burt then proceeded to review the definition of "buildable" land as set forth in OAR
660 - 024 - 0050(2) as the infill potential of developed residential lots or parcels of one -half
acre or more may be determined by subtracting one - quarter acre (10,890 sq. ft.) for the
existing dwelling and assuming that the remainder is buildable. Existing lots of less than
one -half acre that are currently occupied by a residence may be assumed to be fully
developed. The location of existing dwellings was presented as part of a power point
presentation and the calculation of buildable land available in the study area as it relates
to the total area in the City of Central Point.
Mr. Burt reviewed proposed definitions of "development" and "master plan" as set forth
in the proposed language changes to the TOD standards, and discussed the required
submittals for a master plan to include the project site and adjacent lands as well. He
explained that this should address the concerns of the neighbors.
The Greater Bear Creek Valley Regional Plan was approved by LCDC on November 15,
2012, Mr. Burt said, but no final order has been approved to date. Therefore, urban
reserve area CP -3 is being removed from the TOD overlay and will be addressed at a
later date, i.e. UGB expansion, the project area has been reduced from 160 acres to
122.75 acres.
Mr. Burt said that the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) does not recognize
the modeling used in preparation of the Transportation System Plan (TSP) and used in the
Eastside TOD. It is ODOTs belief that the proposed TOD overlay will significantly affect
existing and proposed transportation facilities. In order to remedy this situation ODOT
recommends that the City modify the TSP to include the draft IAMP and address City
funding of necessary improvements to the I -5 interchange as identified in the draft
IAMP33 plan.
Peak trips at the current zoning versus zoning with a TOD overlay were reviewed and
based upon the criteria set forth in OAR 660 - 012 - 0060(1); Mr. Burt demonstrated that the
Eastside TOD would not cause a significant affect to transportation facilities.
In conclusion, Mr. Burt summarized that the TOD overlay would require an amendment
to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, properties would be pre- zoned, a basic street
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January 8, 2013
Page 3
pattern would be established, residential densities would increase, a variety of residential
dwelling types would be allowed and master plans would be required for properties in
excess of two (2) acres. What the proposed overly would not do is force annexation of
properties, reduce density, reduce or expand commercial acreage or expand the current
Urban Growth Boundary.
The public hearing was then opened
Thomas Guevara, Senior Planner with ODOT, came forward and requested that the letter
he submitted to the Planning Commission be entered into the official record as it states
ODOT's position of the proposed project. ODOT is an affected agency, Mr. Guevara
stated, and an infrastructure provider to the community. ODOT evaluates zone changes
to identify the potential for additional demands on available facilities and makes
recommendations based on the best available information. The proposed TOD overlay
will increase average daily trips and further degrade facilities with gridlock occurring at
the interchange and traffic backing up onto I -5. The City's TSP did not address future
improvements, Mr. Guevara said, and ODOT has identified the following
recommendations for the City: 1) that the City amend its 2008 TSP to incorporate the
draft IAMP 33 Alternative Land Use Scenario analysis and transportation improvements;
and 2) enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with ODOT to fund and
construct the needed transportation improvements; and 3) adopt a Condition of Approval
requirement the Exit 33 interchange improvements to be in place prior to City
authorization of development exceeding 1,649 PM peak hour trips in the project area.
Members of the audience came forward to express concerns about the continued
availability of ground water for their wells, protections for farmers in the area to include
agricultural buffering and the ability to continue to use their properties as they are using
them today, traffic concerns and increased densities. Tom Humphrey, Community
Development Director, explained that the TOD overlay would only affect properties upon
annexation for those people who were currently located in the county. Mr. Burt stated
that we can change the wording in code to reflect that Master Plans would the concern for
ground water by requiring an Environmental Plan as part of the master planning process.
The Environmental Plan will take into consideration the project site and adjacent
properties. Mr. Humphrey additionally explained to the audience and commissioners that
the existing Twin Creeks development would be used as a model for future development
on the Eastside.
The public hearing was then closed.
Mr. Humphrey apologized for an insensitive statement that he made to Mr. Mingus. He
realizes that people want to keep their properties. Staff is trying to plan for the future and
address the goals of the Regional Plan. Property owners won't be affected until their
properties are annexed into the City.
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January 8, 2013
Page 4
Mike Oliver said that he didn't know what the impact of the letter from ODOT is on the
discussion tonight and asked if there would be time for consideration. Don Burt
responded that ODOT was recommending that the City adopt IAMP 33 in draft form or
prepare another Transportation Impact Analysis prior to action on the Eastside TOD. Mr.
Burt noted that the City will have to address the IAMP and financing improvements at
some point, but that this should be separate from the Eastside TOD consideration, and
further noted that he did not appreciate the City being held hostage by ODOT.
Mr. Humphrey added that neighborhood meetings were held and the TOD overlay was
explained and input was obtained. Staff was not ignoring comments from adjacent
property owners. Findings will be prepared to include a circulation plan and it will be
brought back to the Planning Commission for final approval before being sent to City
Council.
Mike Oliver made a motion to direct staff to prepare a resolution of approval
with findings and amendments as discussed and with the Neighborhood
Circulation Plan, for consideration at the next Planning Commission meeting
on February 5, 2013. Craig Nelson, Sr. seconded the motion. ROLL CALL:
Oliver, yes; Szczesniak, yes; Schmeusser, yes; Van Voorhees, yes; Nelson, yes.
Motion passed.
VII. DISCUSSION
VIII. ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEWS
IX. MISCELLANEOUS
X. ADJOURNMENT
Susan Szczesniak made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mike Oliver
seconded the motion. Meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
The foregoing minutes of the January 8, 2013 Planning Commission meeting were
approved by the Planning Commission at its meeting on February 5, 2013.
Planning Commission Chair