MEETING MINUTES
Lopez Village Planning Review Committee (ad hoc)
October 22nd 2009
Meeting Room, Lopez Library, Lopez Island
Called to order at 4:05
Members Present: Clive, Sandy, Nancy, Dan
Members Absent: Jamie, Madrona (joined at 4:55pm)
Guests: Holly B, Sylvia Tatman, Travis English (both urban planning students here to do
a project on pedestrian access)
County Staff in Attendance: Colin Maycock, Bob Myhr
Minutes from last minutes were approved with one change (Eberet to Everett)
Chair's report:
Nancy reported on presentation to the County Council meeting on Monday.
She had requests for the committee to consider:
Rip Van Camp has requested a flashing light at the crossing between LOHO and the post
office.
Brian Kvistad has asked for a crosswalk connection between Village Rd and Blossom.
Requests for "rumble strips" (mini speed bumps) on some stretches of road in the village
Some business owners have asked for signage indicating a "village center" at the
southwest end of the village.
Requests for tree planting.
Nancy handed out some illustrations from Telluride including a remote parking plan with
paid parking in the village.
Updates:
Sandy proposed a community meeting to include discussion about the old LVM and the
sub-area plan (village or island wide).
There was a lengthy discussion about the relative merits of sub-area plans for the village
or the whole island.
Bob encouraged us to look at a sub-area plan that extends beyond the UGA boundary, for
example as far as the Galley.
Discussion of the relative merits of extending the sub-area plan boundary beyond the
UGA boundary.
Sandy asked about the correlation between junior taxing districts and sub-area plans.
Colin said that no correlation exists.
Madrona arrived and took over note taking from Clive. Sandy, Sylvia and Travis left.
Bob suggested that the sub-plan could include the reserve areas around the UGA.
The discussion of the cellular tower ordinance led Bob to consider an expanded
boundary.
There was a discussion of why the West side of the village, along San Juan Channel, is
not included in the UGA. It is served by the sewer district. It could be included in a subarea plan.
The UGA boundaries were determined through a political process, and do not necessarily
represent natural or service area boundaries. The committee can take a broader approach.
There was a discussion of an upcoming public meeting.
Clive would like the meeting to focus on providing information to the community about
what a sub-area plan is and how it can bring more local control in planning to Lopez.
Dan pointed out that a sub-area plan supercedes the County Code and can be both more
restrictive and more permissive.
Colin quoted the passage 1810050G “Where conflicts occur between this code and any
regulation of the sub-area plan the sub-area plan shall control”
Nancy will check in with Jamie to see whether he’d like to see the sub-area proposal
include areas outside of the current UGA.
We’ll put together a draft list topics for the public meeting.
Bob suggested that we provide the public with a detailed report on the process that the
committee has gone through and the direction that its been going.
There was a discussion of how specific the committee should be about a sub-area plan
and whether we should focus mostly on the idea and asking for input or provide specific
examples of items that could be included.
It was agreed that showing the power of a sub-area plan is the most important thing. That
we should take the community through the steps to get there and that it is really the only
way that we’d have authority to do any planning.
Dan suggested the following topics for discussion about inclusion in a sub-area
Parking
Pedestrian access
Lighting
Lot coverage
Mixed use
Setbacks
Flashing crosswalks
Bicycle racks
Signs
Nancy suggested that we have a way for people to provide feedback, such as having dots
that they can put up on different issues.
Colin reminded the committee that substantial community support is required to submit a
sub-area plan. Feedback is important.
The meeting could be split into many hot topics with lots of conversations going on
simultaneously.
Sandy had suggested having a portion of the meeting devoted to a discussion about the
old market.
We’d like to have the meeting in mid November.
A basic outline for the meeting would be: a history of how we got here, including the
UGA, how the committee agreed on a sub-are plan, what a sub-area plan is, how it
provides a tool for governance and what it can include, asking for feedback.
Nancy will send out possible dates and an agenda for our part of the meeting.
The vision for this meeting is a way of generating interest for the process, starting to
develop consensus about what should be in a plan, and hopefully getting a new member
for the committee.
The next meeting will be November 5th.
The meeting adjourned at 5:30.