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Home My WebLink About2014 03 19 RS City of Springfield Regular Meeting MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION MEETING OF THE SPRINGFIELD PLANNING COMMISSION HELD WEDNESDAY, March 19, 2014 The City of Springfield Planning Commission met in a regular session in the City Council Chambers, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at 7:00 p.m., with Commissioner James presiding. ATTENDANCE Present were Chair James, Vice Chair Nelson, Commissioners Moe, Vohs, and Salladay. Also present were, Current Development Manager Greg Mott, Senior Planner Andy Limbird, City Attorney Mary Bridget Smith and Management Support Specialist Brenda Jones and members of the staff. ABSENT Commissioner Bean – Excused Commissioner Kirschenmann - Excused PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Chair Greg James QUASI-JUDICIAL PUBLIC HEARING – 1. Establishment of the Willamette River Greenway Setback Line for Property in Glenwood Wildish Land Company proposes to establish the Greenway Setback Line on properties it owns in Glenwood. The applicant proposes to draw the setback line “at the upland extent of the riparian vegetation (Riparian Edge, or ten feet 10’) from top of bank, which ever is greater.” Wildish commissioned an environmental inventory of the site (Attachment 4), employing a wildlife biologist to address key standards found in SDC Section 3.3-325 for setback establishment. The applicant has submitted a statement (Attachment 3) responding to each of the standards in Section 3.3-325. In 2004, Salix Associates, an environmental consultancy, was contracted to recommend a Greenway Setback Line for Glenwood based on the standards found in SDC 3.3-325. The Salix report (Attachment 2) includes a series of aerial photos with the recommended setback line drawn in. Photos 14-20 are applicable to the Wildish property. The setback recommended by Salix for the Wildish site is consistent with the setback proposed by the applicant. In addition to protecting scenic values and habitat along the Willamette, the Greenway Setback is intended to allow appropriate public access based on the designated uses approved for the site. The Wildish properties are designated for employment uses by the 1999 Glenwood Refinement Plan. The applicant has dedicated a 20-wide strip of land along the river for a multi-use path as part of an annexation agreement which will allow for public access to the river. The Staff Report and Recommendation (Attachment 1), includes findings which support approval of the proposed Willamette River Greenway Setback Line as submitted. Mark Metzger Senior Planner presented the subject site is the location of the old Mt. Vernon Elementary School TESTIMONY FROM THE APPLICANT • Name, Address Testimony - TESTIMONY FROM THOSE IN SUPPORT • None TESTIMONY OF THOSE OPPOSED • None TESTIMONY OF THOSE NUETRAL • Name, Address Testimony - City of Springfield and Lane County Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes March 19, 2014 Page 2 SUMMATION FROM STAFF • REBUTTAL FROM THE APPLICANT • CLOSE OF THE HEARING • PLANNING COMMISSION DISCUSSION • MOTION TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OR APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS OR DENIAL OF THE REQUEST BASED ON STAFF REPORT AND ORAL/WRITTEN TESTIMONY. Listen to motion IT WAS MOVED BY COMMISSIONER Kirschenmann WITH A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER Moe TO APPROVAL. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 5 FOR AND 0 AGAINST 2 RECUSED. 5:0:2absent 2. Cell Tower Application – New Cingular Wireless PCSD, LLC TYP314-00002 & TYP214-00001 STAFF REPORT: The tower facility is proposed for the southwest corner of the Courtsports complex at 2728 Pheasant Blvd. The location is zoned Community Commercial. The surrounding properties are zoned for commercial and multi-family development. The tower is located about 140 feet from the nearest residential dwellings, a complex of duplex homes and The Pointe condominium development. Moderate Visibility tower facilities are permitted in the Community Commercial zone. The New Cellular engineers have provided evidence of a substantial service gap in the Gateway area (Attachment 2, .PDF page 80). They have also shown that collocation on other towers in the area would achieve their coverage objectives. The engineering report also tested the viability of constructing a 70-foot tower instead of the proposed 120-foot facility. The shorter tower would not provide the needed coverage. In work session, Commission members expressed concern about the appearance of the faux pine tree. Staff has contacted the New Cellular representative about possible alternative tree designs or other options for camouflaging the facility. Staff has scheduled time in work session on March 19th to brief the Commission on possible alternatives in advance of the hearing. Staff has prepared a staff report and recommendation (Attachment 1) based on the review criteria found in SDC Section 4.3-145 (F) and SDC Section 5.17-125. The findings presented by staff provide a substantive basis for approving the proposed tower installation as conditioned. No public comments have been received in response to the mailed notice to owners and residents within 300 feet of the proposed tower at this writing. The applicant’s packet is quite extensive. The following list of key elements is offered as a guide to the application and exhibits. The page numbers are “.pdf” document page numbers. Site Plan, pg. 55; Applicant’s Narrative in response to the approval standards, pg. 64; Exhibit 1—RF Justification showing service gap analysis, pg. 79; and Exhibit 8—Photo Simulations pg. 118. An updated Exhibit 1-RF Justification was recently received from the applicant (Attachment 3) which shows how collocation leaves gaps in service. Mark Metzger Senior Planner presented the subject site is the location of the old Mt. Vernon Elementary School City of Springfield and Lane County Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes March 19, 2014 Page 3 TESTIMONY FROM THE APPLICANT • Name, Address Testimony - TESTIMONY FROM THOSE IN SUPPORT • None TESTIMONY OF THOSE OPPOSED • None TESTIMONY OF THOSE NUETRAL • Name, Address Testimony - SUMMATION FROM STAFF • Greg Mott – The PC had a work session on November 19, minutes were not completed. REBUTTAL FROM THE APPLICANT • CLOSE OF THE HEARING • Hearing was closed by Commissioner ____________ PLANNING COMMISSION DISCUSSION • MOTION TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OR APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS OR DENIAL OF THE REQUEST BASED ON STAFF REPORT AND ORAL/WRITTEN TESTIMONY. Listen to motion IT WAS MOVED BY COMMISSIONER Kirschenmann WITH A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER Moe TO APPROVAL. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 5 FOR AND 0 AGAINST 2 RECUSED. 5:0:2absent ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Minutes Recorder – Brenda Jones ______________________ Greg James Planning Commission Chair Attest: ____________________ Brenda Jones Planning Secretary