HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-07-22 - Planning Commission MinutesCommunity Development Department
Planning Division Building Safety Division Environmental Soils Division
117 NW Lafayette Avenue Bend Oregon 97701-1925
(541)388-6575 FAX (541)385-1764
http://www.co.deschutes.or.us/cdd/
MINUTES
DESCHUTES COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
DESCHUTES SERVICES CENTER
1300 NW WALL STREET, BEND, OREGON, 97701
JULY 22, 2010 - 5:30 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Chair Chris Brown. Members present were:
Richard Klyce, James Powell, Todd Turner, Keith Cyrus and Merle Irvine. Absent: Vice
Chair Ed Criss. Staff present were Nick Lelack, Planning Director; Peter Gutowsky,
Principal Planner; Terri Hansen Payne, Senior Planner; and Sher Buckner, Administrative
Secretary.
Approval of minutes of April 22, 2010 was postponed due to questions from Commissioner
Powell.
IL PUBLIC COMMENTS
None.
III. PUBLIC HEARING (continued): — TA -10-4, initiated by Deschutes County, to amend
Deschutes County Code, DCC Chapter 2.28, Historical Preservation and Historical
Landmarks Commission. The amendments primarily revise existing restrictions in
DCC Chapter 2.28 - Peter Gutowsky, Principal Planner.
Peter summarized history and current status. Commissioner Powell said he appreciated
the amount of work on this. Chair Brown questioned how much duplicity we are dealing
with since the City of Bend is also working on the same project.
Heidi Slaybaugh, Landmarks Commission Chair, testified that they are dealing with Bend,
Redmond, Sisters, La Pine and the County. As a Commission, they have to use the
preservation code for each jurisdiction. Many years ago it was only the County; then Bend
and Redmond branched off with their own codes, etc. They are trying to come up with a
clear, cohesive code. They get a grant every two years and are doing this major revision
so it is clear in each jurisdiction. They started with the Bend code because that is where
the majority of their projects are. Nick added that the Landmarks Commission is a quasi-
judicial body. Chair Brown mentioned the Pilot Butte Inn and wondered what we are trying
Quality Services Performed with Pride
to do - are we trying to identify and protect resources and assets that add to the County?
Pat Kliewer felt that each jurisdiction should have its own codes, but there are also state
requirements that need to be met. Right now there is a lot of flexibility in the code for each
individual application, but there are also clear guidelines. Property owners have to want to
be included. There are currently about 60 properties in the County.
Commissioner Powell asked about the distinction between cultural and historical resources.
Pat said she would clarify the definition in the code. Cultural includes Native American,
prehistoric and religious sites, but they can also be European, Asian, etc. Peter Gutowsky
said that in the July 21 memo, the Commission made a recommendation to define a
historical/cultural resource. Commissioner Powell and Pat discussed the purpose of the
code. If a property is not designated and something is found, you would call the State
Historic Preservation Office or the State Police who know the procedures. The Historic
Landmarks Commission does not have the authority to deal with anything below ground.
Commissioner Turner asked about language saying that an applicant or the Commission
can select properties. What is the scenario if the owner is not in favor of the designation?
Heidi said that as of 1997 the property owner must sign off, and the designation runs with
the property. Commissioner Klyce asked if it was difficult to find people to serve on the
Landmarks Commission, and Pat and Heidi said usually not, although it is more
challenging in Redmond and Sisters because they do not have as many projects going on
and meet less frequently. Commissioner Klyce asked who looks at structures regarding
rehabilitation, for example. Heidi said that it may be someone at the City if it is regular
maintenance and repair. Commissioner Klyce asked about the definition of "structure,"
which Heidi said comes from the standards used by the National Park Service.
Commissioner Klyce thought that there should be a definition for "edifice," since the term is
used.
Motion: Commissioner Turner motioned to close the oral and written testimony and the
hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Powell. Motion passed unanimously.
Motion: Commissioner Turner motioned that the Planning Commission endorse the
proposal and forward it to the Board. Seconded by Commissioner Powell. Motion
passed unanimously.
IV. REVIEW OF REVISIONS TO SECTIONS 2.12 SURFACE MINING, 2.13 CULTURAL
AND HISTORIC RESOURCES, 3.3 RURAL HOUSING AND 3.4 RURAL ECONOMY
POLICIES — Terri Hansen Payne, Senior Planner.
Terri and Commissioner Powell discussed the Goal 5 inventory. Chair Brown asked if
ESEE should be referenced. Terri said it was referred to in Section 2.4. Commissioner
Powell mentioned friends who had moved to a rural area for the peace and quiet and then
a dirt bike racing establishment started up next door, on private land. What recourse
should someone have, or should there be recourse? Terri said it would be hard to put this
type of policy in, and this may fall under noise regulations in the County. Commissioner
Turner mentioned Goal 3.4.1(a) regarding certain operations and wondered whether
R & D projects require large, rural locations. Terri said that is from our current Plan; and
someone wanted to recognize that backyard rural use is allowed, but intensive industrial
use is not. It may be possible to be more general and allow appropriate economic
development activities in rural areas. Chair Brown and Terri discussed the definition of
"rural areas."
IV
Chair Brown, Commissioner Irvine and Terri discussed using the brackets in the draft
Comp Plan and whether the Commissioners should indicate agreement/disagreement for
each one. Commissioner Powell and Chair Brown discussed specificity of what was in the
brackets and whether there was strong disagreement at times between what the
Commissioners felt should be in the Comp Plan and what staff felt was necessary.
Commissioner Turner said he expected that we would end up with a draft that would
include the Commissioners' items and staff's suggestions in brackets for items they wish
to add, and the whole document would be forwarded to the Board. Commissioners Powell
and Turner discussed whether the brackets could be used to highlight examples and how
specific the Comp Plan should be.
Commissioner Irvine, Nick and Terri discussed timelines. Chair Brown said he would like
to be certain we complete important portions before Commissioner Cyrus' term ends. Nick
suggested the Commissioners attend the Board work session to talk about the schedule.
Commissioners Klyce and Cyrus felt that the Board had been contradictory in originally
telling the Planning Commission to take as much time as they needed, and then adopting
the current schedule. Chair Brown mentioned he will be absent from the August 12
meeting.
The Commissioners and Terri discussed requirements for sewer/onsite systems and rural
development, and use of the word "onsite."
Terri Hansen Payne, Senior Planner.
The Commissioners and staff discussed 3.5.1. Peter said that Deschutes County has a
pre -disaster natural hazards mitigation plan that has been approved by FEMA (fuel
reduction is an example of this in action). Nick suggested that anything adopted by
reference, such as the Bend Airport Master Plan, should be included for review in its
entirety. Commissioner Turner asked for a definition of natural hazard areas. Peter said
they include wildfire/high risk inventory areas, winter storm event areas, potential flooding
locations such as Tumalo and Wychus Creek, and moderate -risk earthquake areas (which
are less of a problem on this side of the mountains). Nick and Chair Brown spoke about
using simpler language.
Commissioner Turner mentioned the National Guard Armory having been built in a flood
plain as an example of how we might not want to use language restricting or requiring
mitigation. Chair Brown felt that the language is being repeated in more than one section
and can be combined or eliminated in some cases. Commissioner Klyce thought that in
some cases the language might prohibit someone rebuilding a house in a high risk area
that had burned down. Commissioner Turner suggested rewriting 3.5.5 in a more positive
way. Commissioner Powell did not think the policy was as prohibitive as some of the other
Commissioners and asked, for example, how "appropriate' would be determined if we
used language encouraging "appropriate" development.
Commissioner Powell and Chair Brown discussed personal property rights and community
responsibility, creation of defensible space, maintenance of vacant or unused lots which
may pose a fire danger to neighbors' properties. Commissioner Cyrus mentioned that
their fire district will contract with owners outside the district to mitigate risk.
3
Chair Brown thought that Section 5.6 should remain as is. Nick felt that staff could attempt
a redraft incorporating the Commissioners' suggestions. Commissioner Turner suggested
toning down some of the language and reworking 3.9 and 3.10 to be consistent with FEMA
guidelines; 3.5.16 and 3.5.17 are all reviewed by State Code adopted by the County and
do not belong in the Comp Plan.
The Commissioners, Peter and Terri discussed whether there should be specific language
about parks in the Comp Plan.
Terri spoke about the pending decision by the Board regarding destination resorts.
VI. PLANNING COMMISSION & STAFF COMMENTS.
Peter distributed documents regarding small wind energy systems for the August 26
meeting. Nick said the written record before the Board is still open until August 2 for the
Terrebonne Community Plan. Last night the City of La Pine Planning Commission and
City Council recommended approval of BioGreen's proposal.
VII. ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
it,5L
Sher Buckner, Administrative Secretary
NEXT MEETING — August 12, 2010, at 5:30 p.m. at the
Deschutes Services Center, 1300 NW Wall Street, Bend, OR 97701