The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2022 02 23 Planning Commission Minutes W_PPMinutes of the February 23rd Planning Commission Meeting Approved 7/19/22 1 Springfield Planning Commission Regular Session Wednesday, February 23, 2022 • Roll Call - City of Springfield Planning Commissioners: Chair Andrew Landen, Sophie McGinley, Michael Koivula, Kuri Gill, Andrew Buck, and Grace Bergen o Excused Absence: Vice-Chair Matt Salazar • Pledge of Allegiance • Approval of Minutes o January 4, 2022 – Lane County and Springfield Planning Commission Joint Public Hearing. o January 18, 2022 – Lane County and Springfield Planning Commission Joint Work Session. o February 1, 2022 - Springfield Planning Commission Regular Session. The Commission members motioned to approve Minutes for the three meetings without noting any amendments. Commissioner McGinley motioned to approve minutes for the 1/4/22 public hearing meeting, 1/18/22 joint work session, and 2/1/22 regular session seconded by Commissioner Gill. Roll Call for approval 6:0:1 Absent • Commissioner McGinley - Aye • Chair Landen - Aye • Commissioner Gill - Aye • Commissioner Bergen - Aye • Commissioner Buck - Aye • Commissioner Salazar - Absent • Commissioner Koivula - Aye Motion Carries unanimously. • Business from the Audience – None Discussion Item - Development Code Update Project Staff: Tom Boyatt, Community Development Director; Sandy Belson, Interim Planning Manager; Kristina Kraaz, Assistant City Attorney; Mark Rust, Interim Planning Supervisor, Arva Hussain, PSU Fellow Mark Rust, Interim Planning Supervisor Minutes of the February 23rd Planning Commission Meeting Approved 7/19/22 2 Kristina Kraaz, Asst. City Attorney read a brief statement regarding conflicts of interest. Springfield Planning Commission Potential Conflicts of Interest: • McGinley - Does not own any property, therefore, has no potential conflict of interest. • Landen - Potential conflict of interest because he owns property in Springfield. • Koivula - Potential conflict of interest because he owns property in Springfield. • Gill - Potential conflict of interest because she owns property in Springfield. • Bergen - Potential conflict of interest because she owns property in Springfield and is a practicing Real Estate Agent in Springfield as well. • Buck - Has two potential conflicts of interest: 1) owns property in Springfield and, 2) professionally sells insurance for residential property owners in Springfield. In this meeting Mark Rust - Senior project manager presented to the Planning Commission; staff report for the Development Code Update project that had the following agenda items for the PC deliberations. • Demolition of existing structures • Access to greenspace • Homeownership v/s rentals Planning Commission’s cumulative deliberations on the topic of demolition of existing structures, access to greenspace, and homeownership v/s rentals concluded with a motion. The motion for the Development Code Update project was adopted with few changes to the recommendations in the packet attachments. Commissioner McGinley motioned to adopt the recommendations seconded by Commissioner Buck. Roll Call for approval 5:1:1 Absent. o Commissioner McGinley - Aye o Chair Landen - Aye o Commissioner Gill - Aye o Commissioner Bergen - Aye o Commissioner Buck - Aye o Commissioner Salazar - Absent o Commissioner Koivula - Nye Motion carries. In this meeting, the Planning Commission suggested supplemental recommendations to the project for consideration to the City Council. The supplemental recommendations would be included separately as an addendum to the draft Development Code Update package. • Business from the Planning Commission Minutes of the February 23rd Planning Commission Meeting Approved 7/19/22 3 o Commissioner McGinley mentioned a free webinar on Incremental Development - a virtual educational training on the basics of small-scale housing development led by the Incremental Development Alliance - a national non-profit organization that helps locals strengthen their communities and neighborhoods with small-scale building projects. • Business from the Development and Public Works Department o Sandy provided a plug for the Housing Analyst job announcement which will be posted by the DPW department by end of the week; encouraged members to spread the word for the job availability. o The staff reminded the Planning Commission to check the SpringfieldOregonSpeaks website where they can access the PC meeting calendar and agenda packets. The staff would be happy to post any relevant meeting/training information for the Planning Commissioner's interest if intimated ahead of time by the Commission members. Adjourned- 8:05 PM Springfield Development Code Update Project Planning Commission Deliberations February 23, 2022 Purpose •The purpose of the Development Code Update project is to change the Springfield Development Code to support efficient, timely, and clear development review. The updated Development Code will support Springfield’s economic development priorities and will honor Springfield’s home town feel now and in the future. 2 Objectives 1.Quick review of development applications 2.Easy to understand, clear, and user-friendly format 3.Straight forward processing path 4.Supports/furthers economic development 5.Beautiful city, encourage investment, and improve image 6.Complies with mandatory regulatory requirements 7.Implement the City’s adopted policies 3 WE ARE HERE 4 Supplemental Recommendation •Consider additional strategies to discourage demolition/promote rehabilitation of existing single-unit dwellings when redeveloping a site with middle housing. •Consider ways to incentivize high density housing developments to locate closer to green space areas or to provide additional green space, such as through land banking. •Continue to promote homeownership, including ownership opportunities for middle housing units and other “work-force” housing. •Through future changes to the City’s stormwater system standards and policies, prioritize efficient use of lot area for single unit dwellings, middle housing, and other types of residential development, when developing lot coverage or impervious surface coverage standards. •Provide a density bonus for affordable housing? Within ¼ mile of transit? 5 Access to greenspace •The topic of access to greenspace is not specifically within the scope of the Development Code Update Project, which looks to implement existing policies except as necessary to implement new statutes around middle housing. •The Willamalane Parks and Recreation District has the primary responsibility for planning recreational access to open space and green space in Springfield. •The Commission may consider a recommendation to the City to examine code changes or other programs to incentivize access to greenspace outside of the Development Code Update Project. 6 Incentivize home ownership •The proposed code updates facilitate greater opportunities for homeownership of middle housing through the proposed Middle Housing Land Division process in SDC 5.12.200, which implements the requirements of SB 458 (2021). •The City Council identified a number of strategies, outside of the Development Code Update Project, to promote opportunities for homeownership in Springfield, as part of its most recent Housing Strategy. •Strategies to increase affordability and homeownership opportunities will need to be considered as part of the City’s upcoming housing capacity analysis update required under HB 2003. 7 DISCUSSION/ QUESTIONS 8