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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-08-12 - 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 AUGUST 12, 2010 - 5:30 P.M. I. CALL TO ORDER Meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Vice Chair Ed Criss. Members present were: Richard Klyce, James Powell, Keith Cyrus and Merle Irvine. Absent: Chair Chris Brown, Todd Turner. Staff present were Nick Lelack, Planning Director; Terri Hansen Payne, Senior Planner; and Sher Buckner, Administrative Secretary. Minutes of May 13 were approved. The Commissions requested some revisions to the May 27, 2010 minutes and they will be resubmitted for approval. II. PUBLIC COMMENTS None. Terri explained that the Comp Plan is a working document and that not everything will be "final." Nick and Commissioner Klyce discussed the schedule. Terri said that staff has taken information they received from the Planning Commissioners and made some minor revisions; staff recommendations are indicated separately in brackets. Commissioner Irvine mentioned the bracketed items and felt that the Commissioners should look at those to decide whether they agree with them. If the Commissioners agree, the brackets should come off; if they disagree, the Board should be provided reasons and more information as to why the Planning Commissioners disagree. Commissioner Klyce thought that a couple of items were bracketed that he did not agree with, and he would prefer that they not be in the Plan at all. Commissioner Cyrus agreed and mentioned that the Board had said they would not just rubber stamp the document and the Planning Commission could have adequate time to work on it. Commissioner Powell felt that it document should show differences of opinion and different ways of looking at things; if the Commissioners indicate why they disagree with staff, then the Board has a clearer idea of the opinions and the process. The document should be a reflection of a willingness to work with community above all else. Commissioner Cyrus said that the more he sees at the Quality Services Performed with Pride state and local levels, the less it seems they are listening to us — they are going to do as they please. Nick felt it was valuable that in some cases, the Planning Commission did weigh in on certain sections and helped to modify them. In some chapters, a's, Us and c's were not supported. There is still the question of substance and whether some parts help describe policy. Staff went through the document item by item one day from 1:00 until 6:15; we see 95-98% agreement on the document and look forward to the Commissioners' comments. Commissioner Irvine said that he thought the subheadings were very useful. Commissioner Irvine asked if we could discuss the schedule again. Terri said we are looking at all of the goals and policies this evening. On September 9, we will have Chapters 1 and 4, and on September 23, Chapters 2 and 3. The Board would like the notice out on September 24. Regarding Policy 1.2.1, Commissioner Klyce asked if it was necessary. Terri said yes. Commissioner Klyce asked if it could be capitalized in Goal 1, which would accomplish the same thing, and Terri said she would think about it. Commissioner Irvine felt we should keep 1.2.1. The Commissioners agreed to remove the brackets from 1.2.2.c. Vice Chair Criss wanted to encourage more of the practice referred to in 1.2.3.d., regarding holding public hearings for the Comprehensive Plan and zoning text amendments in area -specific locations and at times convenient to area residents, as appropriate. Commissioner Irvine wanted to include something about property rights in connection with economic impacts, in Section 1.3. Terri said it could be added into 1.3.1. Commissioner Klyce asked if 1.3.9 was a restatement of the Goal, and Terri said it was slightly different because it refers to a statutory role in coordinating certain types of efforts. Commissioner Powell asked about 1.3.7 and whether it was the Big Look; Terri said it was. The House Bill went through the legislative process and was changed, so it does not completely reflect the Big Look's recommendations, some of which we wanted to capture. Commissioner Klyce spoke about the difficulty of developing land in South County and how it related to 1.3.11.c. and d. Nick thought that we should add the term "consider." Commissioner Klyce and Vice Chair Criss discussed people walking away from properties, which the County could foreclose on, because they couldn't pay their taxes and were told they couldn't develop. These properties are losing their value and in several instances have been sold at auction. There are a lot of subdivisions in South County where people need help, and the owners getting frustrated and walking away. The question isn't that these properties are sensitive lands - it's what we do with them. He is concerned about how the foreclosures are being handled. Commissioner Powell asked what would happen if the specificity was eliminated and instead a general reference inserted as to how the lands could be used, regardless of their location. There is property labeled open space along 97 to keep that vista open; maybe by broadening this a bit, we can incorporate other things besides streams and rivers. Nick suggested "encourage the use of properties containing significant wildlife, scenic, recreational or open space values as parkland." Staff will work on the language. Commissioner Irvine asked about a definition of agricultural lands. Terri said they come from State statute — Class 1-4 soils in the Valley, 1-6 here, 7 and 8 if they are irrigated or necessary for productive agricultural lands. Commissioner Klyce said that one of the problem we have with agricultural land is that the policies focus too much on the land rather than the farmer. If you take care of the farmer, the farmer will take care of the land, but that has not been happening in the last 20 years. He discussed his suggested revisions. 4 Commissioner Cyrus wanted to broaden some of the definitions in 2.2.6. Commissioner Powell suggested perhaps "traditional and non-traditional livestock." Use of the words "traditional and non-traditional poultry, crops and livestock" was discussed. Commissioner Klyce discussed wanting to support giving the County a reason to go to the State with suggested rezoning, by supporting HB2229 in the Plan. Terri mentioned broader language which appears farther along. Commissioner Klyce, Nick and Terri discussed 2.2.11.a. and whether there should be a specific reference to HB 2229. Terri said we were trying to be a little more general but can add a specific reference back to the section. Agricultural land in Deschutes County was discussed, as well as helping farmers, designation of agricultural land and preserving the use of the land. In Policy 2.5.3, Commissioner Cyrus recommended using the word "educational' instead of 'regulatory." The Commissioners talked about State law restrictions compared to County restrictions. Nick and Terri said they are trying to get background text ready for the Commissioners by the September meetings. Terri and Commissioner Klyce discussed the Interagency Report. The Commissioners talked about whether to reference this report in the Comp Plan Update. Commissioners Criss and Powell thought that it might be possible to use parts of the report. Terri said that staff felt it is important to include the report, even if we only refer to specific sections/recommendations and also mention the use of other sources. The Commissioners agreed that staff will redraft this section. Commissioner Powell will be redrafting a couple of the sections in 2.6 Wildlife Policies for consideration by the Commissioners. The Commissioners and staff discussed Section 2.7. IV. REVIEW OF COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REVISED SCHEDULE AND NEXT STEPS — Terri Hansen Payne, Senior Planner (combined with next agenda item). Nick discussed the next meeting, the first part of which is a text amendment proposed by BioGreen and a joint meeting with the Board. The Tumalo Community Plan public hearing is also on the schedule, along with Deschutes Junction Plan policies and small wind energy systems. Future Comp Plan meetings were considered. V. PLANNING COMMISSION & STAFF COMMENTS. See above. VI. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Respec ully submitted, Sher Buckner, A ministrative Secretary NEXT MEETING — August 26, 2010, at 5:30 p.m. at the Deschutes Services Center, 1300 NW Wall Street, Bend, OR 97701