Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

It is 6:00 and I call the October 7th, 2025 regular meeting of Franklin County Planning Commission to order. Will staff please call role and announce whether or not we have a quorum. Mike Corales here. Mike Vincent here. Remy Daru here. Mark Derrder here. Manny Gutierrez absent. Lacy Knifton absent. Melinda Ndier absent. Uh chairman we have a quorum. Thank you. I will now lead us in the pledge of allegiance.

Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to theublic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I will entertain a motion to approve the agenda for tonight's meeting. I move to approve uh the agenda as presented. Second. It has been moved by Commissioner Daru and seconded by Commissioner Vincent. All in favor?

I. All opposed. Motion passes. I will entertain a motion to approve the meetings from the to approve the minutes from the September 2nd, 2025 meeting. I would move that we approve the minutes for the se September 25 September 2nd, right? Yes. Okay. 25 meeting. Second. It has been moved by Commissioner Vincent and seconded by Commissioner Derutter. All in favor signify by saying I. I. I. All oppose. Same sign. Motion passes. Will staff in attendance please introduce yourselves. Wes McCart, director of planning and economic development. Jen Bellammore, planner 2.

Sam Albby, planner one.

Thank you. It is now time for the public hearing portion of our meeting. Good evening and welcome. Here are the ground rules for tonight's hearing. One, in-person public testimony will go first. Each person will be called upon to speak during their allotted in-person public testimony section. Please state your name for the record. Two, emailed comments received during the public hearing will be read into the record by staff after the in-person testimony section of the hearing. Three, all comments shall be addressed to the planning commission and should be relevant to the application. for each speaker shall have five minutes to provide testimony and shall speak into the microphone. Please avoid repetitive comments. Please be respectful of each speaker. Avoid personal attacks or disruptive behavior. Are there any questions regarding the public hearing ground rules? Turning for for a moment to our commission members. Let us keep in mind that we are prohibited by law from communicating with members of the public on the subject matter of these hearings except in these hearings. We also may not participate in discussions in which there is an appearance of conflict of interest to the average person. So let us take a minute to consider as to the matters which are before us for hearing today. Whether we have had any exparte communications, whether we have any ownership interests in the properties, whether we have any business dealings with proponents or opponents of the matters, or whether we have business associates or immediate family who may be either benefited or harmed by a decision in these matters. Are there any commission members who have a declaration at this time regarding any of the items on the agenda?

Let the record show there were no declarations. Is there anyone in the audience this evening who would object to any commission member hearing any of the items on the agenda? Let the record show there were no objections. The order of the hearing shall be as follows. One, planning staff shall provide staff report. The commission may ask questions of staff. Two, the applicant or applicants representative presentation. Three, in-person public testimony. Four, email public testimony read into the record by staff. Five, final staff comments. Six, close the public testimony and planning commission discussion, deliberation of the proposed action. Are there any procedural questions before we begin the public hearing? Item one is public hearing for file ZC 2025-1 sea 2025-15 port of Pasco AP2021 2 zone change the parcel is split zone between agricultural production 20 acres AP20 and general industrial that's I2 I2. The proposal is to reszone the 18.3 acre portion of the parcel from AP20 to I2. I declare the public hearing for CZ 2025-1 sea 2025-15 to be open at 605. May we have staff present the staff report, please?

Good evening, commissioners. This is Jambellar planner 2 and I am presenting zoning change for um ZC 202501 SEPA 202515. This par uh this property is located at um 8924 North Railroad Avenue parcel number 12468045. It is currently split zone between AP20 and I2. Um the comp plan uh designation for this is rural industrial lamard type three. The proper property size is approximately 161.13 acres. The request is um to reszone the AP20 portion of the parcel into I2. So the um general zoning of the entire parcel will be I2. Here is a picture of the property. Um I will go into detail on which section of the property is in the AP20 and I2 zone in a little bit. Um here is a little bit of history of what happened. Um on April 12, 2023, a boundary line adjustment application was submitted to the planning department um from the department state department of natural resources and port of Pasco. The purpose of the boundary line adjustment was for the port of Pasco to purchase 18.33 acres of land from DNR so they um can ensure access from Railroad Avenue into the port's Reman Industrial Center. However, when the BLA was done and approved, a zone change did not occur, which ended up um creating a lot that is splitzoned. The Port of Pasco and JUB engineers requested a preapp meeting with our current planning staff to discuss future plans of the Reman Industrial Center

subdivision. And then during the meeting, we were able to find out that the current parcel is splitzoned and we uh informed the port and JB that a zone change must be done before we can proceed with the um subdivision of the property. Um the port requested to have both applications to be done in concurrence with each other. The planning staff explained that a long subdivision will be conditioned upon the approval of this zone change from the planning commission and the board of county commissioners. Um this request is consistent with the Franklin County comprehensive plan. Reszoning this to I2 is also consistent with the surrounding areas. uh properties on the north, northeast, and south of this property are already zoned I2. Allowing this reszone will also eliminate the split zoning issue of the property and will allow for it to have one consistent zone zoning designation of I2. Here is the current zone uh current site and the surrounding properties. Um these greenish areas are AP20. This is the section of the property. This triangular section is zone AP20 and the rest is zone I2. This is already I2. Um these um properties up here are I2. This portion here is zoned I2 already. So reszoning this triangular section will um be consistent with its surrounding properties and will also make it easy for the entire parcel to just be I2. Um, here is a picture of the natural resource lands map or the agricultural lands of long-term commercial significance. As you can see, all those that are colored green and colored red are um natural resource designated

lands. This is the site and as you can see um this site does not have any natural resource lands on the property. This is the comp plan designation. Um it is currently designated as rural industrial lamard type three. This is um the north pasco industrial area. The pro um the parcel is located in this lamard. So it is con um consistent with the comp plan designation is and is also designated as um industrial in inside a lamard in the Franken County comp plan. On September 18th, 2025, a SEPA determination of non-significance was issued for this project by the lead agency. Comments were due until October 2nd, 2025. Um, when we posted the SEPA, it was posted as a combined SEPA for a project under the long plat subdivision and a non- project for the zone change. SEPA mitigation measures um only will only apply to the long plat subdivision conditions of approval. Regarding agency and public comments, we did not receive any significant comments from agency regarding the zone change of the application, but we did we did receive comments regarding the subdivision portion, which we'll go into detail later. Um we didn't receive any comments from surrounding property owners or residents in the county regarding this proposal as well. Regarding the findings of fact, um this proposal is in accordance with the goals and policies of the comprehensive plan. This is currently um the Franklin County Comprehensive Land Use Designation is rural industrial lammer type three under the North Pasco Industrial Area reszoning the portion of the parcel from AB20 to I2 is consistent with the underlying comprehensive plan

designation. Uh the effect of uh the proposal on the immediate v vicinity will not be materially detrimental since the surrounding properties are also within the north pasco industrial area lamard and industrial uses already exist close to this property. There is merit and value in the proposal for the community as a whole. Um, reszoning this property into I2 is in conjunction with the eight lot reman industrial center subdivision which will encourage the development of businesses and industries within the county conditions are not being imposed um in order to mitigate any significant adverse impacts from impacts from the proposal. So there will not uh there will not be any conditions of approval for regarding the zone change but there will be for the subdivision. Um a a conccommatant agreement is not being entered into between the county and the petitioner and if so the terms and conditions of such agreements. Um there's no development agreement or conccommittant agreement that's being um agreed upon between the county and the port regarding this zone change. Our suggested motion states that I move to forward zone change 2025-01 SEPA 202515 to the board of county commissioners with a positive recommendation based on the five suggested findings of fact. Thank you.

Thank you. Does any commissioner have any questions of staff? Does the applicant or applicants representative wish to speak or give a presentation? on this one. Is there any in-person public testimony? I don't think so. Any email public testimony?

Uh, no. No. Does staff have any final comments? No final comments. I will entertain a motion to co close the public comment. Move to close public comment. Second. Has been moved by Commissioner Daroo and seconded by Commissioner Vincent. All in favor signify by saying I. I. I. All oppose. Same sign. Motion passes. Is there any discussion from the planning commission members? If not, I will entertain a motion.

Mr. Chairman, I would move to forward ZC205-01/EPA 2025-15 to the board of county commissioners with a positive recommendation based on the five suggested findings of fact. Second. It has been moved and seconded to forward ZC 2025-1 SEPA 2025-15 to the board of county commissioners with a positive recommendation based on the five suggested findings of fact. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, may we have a roll call vote, please?

Mike Corales. Yes. Mike Vincent, yes. Remember, yes. Mark Dutder, yes. Manny Gutierrez, absent. Stacy Nton, absent. And Melinda, absent. Uh, chairman, the motion has passed. Thank you. I will entertain a motion to close the public hearing on item number one. Move to close the uh hearing on item one. Second. It's been moved by Commissioner Daroo and seconded by Commissioner Vincent. All in favor signify by saying I. I.

All oppose. Same sign. The public hearing is closed. Item two is a public hearing for file SUV 2025-4 SEPA 2025-14 Port of Pasco remain industrial center subdivision. The project is for a long subdivision to subdivide the 161 acre parcel into eight industrial center with access from Railroad Avenue. Approval of this long plat subdivision is contingent upon approval of the zone change application ZC205-1. I declare the public hearing for SUB 2025-4 SEPA 2025-14 to be open at 6:16. May we have staff present the staff report?

Good evening commissioners. I will present SUV 202504 and SEPA 202514. Um the same site descriptions apply to this property as um the zone change earlier. The request is for a long subdivision to subdivide 161 acre parcel into an 8 lot industrial center with access from Railroad Avenue. This project includes developing infrastructure for the lots including approximately 9,000 lineal feet of roadway improvements or network 11,000 lineal feet of 16 in water man 5,000 lineal feet of 12in water man and water connection to the city of Pasco electrical and broadband connections to the Franklin PUD communication systems connections to Century Link and on-site septic systems Approximately 8,300 track feet of rail spur will be connected from the connection point with BNSF's existing um yard trackage in into and through the Reman Industrial Center which includes approximately 4,800 lineal feet of trackside access road. The rail spur project includes a signalized railroad crossing where the proposed trackage crosses railroad avenue. Approval of this long plaid subdivision is contingent upon the approval of the zone change application. Here is another picture of the vicinity map for the property. And as mentioned earlier um this is not located in any natural resource designated lands. It is also located um inside the north pasco industrial area. Okay. Here is the um preliminary plat.

We have eight lots proposed. Um the smallest lot being 2.5 acres and the largest one being 41.31 acres. The approval of this subdivision is contingent upon the approval of the zone change application was which was mentioned above. If the zone change application goes through and is approved, the parcel will have a consist consistent zoning designation of I2, the subdivision of this parcel will allow for more commercial and industrial businesses in the county and will provide for more job opportunities for its residents. Like I mentioned earlier, a sepa DNS was issued for this project and it was issued as a combined SEIPA uh for a project and non-p project action for both the zone change and the long plat subdivision. Based on the findings of the sea um sepha mitigation measures for this proposal were determined. One, best management practices shall be used during construction to minimize dust and air airborne particullet and comply with Franken County clean air and dust control ordinances. An IDP shall be prepared and implemented for the project through all phases. Best management practices to minimize dust during construction shall be used such as watering the site in accordance with local air quality requirements. Vegetative cover or uh trackifier shall be provided as soon as practical following clearing and grading. Dust control shall comply with applicable local standards. The applicant shall meet and comply with all necessary air and water quality standards required by the department of ecology. Compliance with this these standard standards shall occur at all times. Storm water shall be retained on site during and after construction. Construction shall avoid disturbance of

virginous hawk breeding habitats, Washington ground squirrel colonies, and burrowing owl nesting sites where feasible. Should disturbance be unavoidable, consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife shall occur prior to ground disturbance. Disturbed areas not permanently developed shall be hydro seedated with um a dryland grass mix or similar approved vegetation method to prevent erosion and discourage noxious weeds. Regarding agency comments, we received a comment from DAP. DAP concurs that no further direct archaeological supervision is required based on the negative survey results from their um cultural resource survey. Implementation of a standard IDP during all ground disturbing activities is recommended and DAP should be uh contacted by the applicant if scope or location location location changes for further review. The Washington State Department of Transportation commented and said direct access to US 395 is prohibited. Access to US 395 is available via the Foster Wells Road and Vineyard Vineyard Drive intersections. Washd recommends the county and the proponent to anticipate turn restrictions being implemented at the US 395 Foster Wells Road and US 395 Vineyard Drive intersections. Skiibbid um originally commented that the um applicant needs to contact the US Bureau of Reclamation to request an abandonment and relocation of the existing easement shown on the plant. However, various utility easements shown that cross both existing easement and the proposed relocated easements. Um, and they originally mentioned that they should not cross the USBR easement and to remove those utility easements.

Um, and then their other comment is regarding the Bureau Bure Bureau of Reclamation section um signature line. However, Skiibbid did um submit another comment to update their original comment um requesting that um the USBR be contacted and request um abandonment and relocation of the existing easements. Um any utilities um that cross the USBR easement will need to be permitted by Skiibbid prior to construction and they are good to go with um the the applicant putting in their utility easement as long as a crossing permit is received by skippid for them to be able to put that on the plow. Um, comment A from September 29, 2025 shall supersede comment A from the previous one on September 24th, 2025. Uh, we receive a comment from public works department. Um, final pla shall be accompanied with closure notes. They put um a comment regarding notes that they are going to require on the final plaque. Um, regarding approach permits, no lots of this subdivision shall have direct access to North Railroad Avenue except lot 8. The the lot owners are responsible for drainage ditches, swales, and other alternate alternate drainage system being installed. Um, public works also um put in a comment that there shall be um landscaping within unimproved portions of the ride ofway. Um public works mentioned that all utilities the um serving the subdivision must be installed underground. Permanent control monuments shall be installed in accordance with Franken County standard

plans. Um culde-sacs shall be designed to have um 40 47 foot minimum radius per Franken county design standards. Um, every lot corner, beginnings and endings of curves and angled points shall be marked. The development shall comply with the comprehensive plan. Uh, comp Frank Franklin County comprehensive parking ordinance regarding on street parking. Um, prior to final plat approval, all roads must be completed to county standards. Uh there is a current franchise agreement that allows for sanitary water, sewer, and irrigation in county right ofway within the UG. Proposed utilities outside the UG will need to be addressed. Um roads road approach access to North Railroad Avenue from law 8 shall meet the required corner clearance from the dis uh clearance distance as measured from the edge from travel way from road B. And then a signature from public works uh office is required um and must be obtained for final approval. Franken county planning and economic development um put in comments um for the conditions approval of this long plan is contingent upon the approval of the zone change. The city of Pasco intends to provide municipal water service for this proposed subdivision. However, should water manes not be expanded to serve the lots within this subdivision, each lot must be served by each lot must be served with a municipal group A water system prior to development. Lots may not use water from exempt wells. Perk tests must be done by the Benton Franklin Health District prior to the development of this subdivision. An approval letter from the Benton Franklin Health District for lots within the

subdivision must be submitted to the planning and economic development prior to final approval. Sewer connections from the city of Pasco cannot be extended on site until such time that this subdivision is in the Pasco UG. Um some of the other comments are regarding plat notes regarding utility easements approach permits and approval of this land subdivision not guaranteeing approval and issuance of future building permits. Um there is a plat note for um fire suppression system and fire hydrant requirements and setbacks for fire safety and just a few um comments regarding the plot notes and corrections on the plat. Um the applicant will need to submit a geotechnical report at the time of a grading permit submittal. The applicant must submit the final plat to the planning and economic development for final pre-approval review prior to gathering signatures. Um within 5 years of the approval of a preliminary long plat, the subdivision shall prepare and submit approval for um for approval of final long plat for recording purposes. Um this details the steps in which the final long plat approval must follow. The board of county commissioner shall have sole author authority to approve final long plats. This comment from the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. We have that right now as up for discussion. This is what um we got from them. There is a small patch of shrubstep, a priority habitat located in the northwest corner of the proposed parcel. Located within this habitat patch is a

location of a burrowing owl burrow, a priority species. WDFW recommends avoidance of this habitat patch approximately 3 acres to protect both the priority habitat and the priority species and such a condition be listed in the MDM MDNS. Should the project be approved to protect the habitat at the time of construction, WDFW recommends that the habitat boundaries be carefully delineated and that an occupancy survey for burrowing owls be conducted in the spring, April to May before clearing. If the burrow is found active, WDFW recommends consulting with us to discuss adequate protection measures to ensure that the owls are not disturbed during clearing of the site. Um,

so so Mr. Chairman, if I can just uh kick in here just a little bit for this one. So under the sea mitigation we did put in uh you know construction shall avoid disturbance of varus hawks uh Washington ground squirrel collies and buring owls. That was a condition we did put in here. The reason I I had Jim put this up for discussion is this seemed to go above and beyond. It is a critical area. The shrubstep habitat is something we we do have to protect. All they're really asking for is the survey. It is consistent with our critical areas ordinance that a survey be done um during the construction. We've talked to the applicant about this and staff is suggesting that this be a condition that we include. Uh it's really no more erroneous other than the actual survey and that again is consistent with our critical areas ordinance. So, just want to bring that to your attention because it's kind of repetitive, but it's not uh in that they're asking for the survey to be done if there's work in the April to May time frame.

Thank you.

We also have um site photos for where the shrub step is. Um these are uh we did a site visit. These are um the the photos for the shrubstep. It's um basically a dip on the property on the northwest corner with shrubstep. Um and I also included a picture. This is where it's located. They are proposing the relocation of the USBR drain easement up here. And there is track A above there that's not going to be used. So, this is where it's going to be on the on lot four of the um proposed subdivision. Planning and economic development department received no comments for from surrounding property owners and residents within the county. These are the recommended findings of fact. Adequate provisions have been made for the public health safety and general welfare and for open spaces, drainageways, storm water retention and detention, roads, alleyways, um roads, alleys, sidewalks, other public ways, portable water supplies, sanitary ways, parks, playgrounds and recreation, and other public needs. The public health will not be negatively impacted by this proposal as current state requirements require compliance with septic standards. The applicant stated that the proposed lots will be served by the city of Pasco, a condition is being imposed that should the city of Pasco water main expansion to serve lots within this subdivision um not go through, each lot must be served with a municipal group A water system. Proposed lots will have access from North Railroad Avenue. The applicant is required to comply with Benton Franklin Health District standards and perk tests must be done prior to development of the lots. Number two, um the proposed subdivision does contribute to the orderly

development and land use patterns in the area and assures for safe walking conditions for students. This part the entire paro is currently split zoned. Um approval of the zone change will allow it to be generally zoned I2. If the zone change application is approved, um the entire parcel will be I2 and will be consistent with surrounding land use patterns in the area. The public use and interest will be served by permitting the proposed subdivision. A sea review was done and completed for this development. Approval of this subdivision will allow for creations um of lots for the purpose of commercial and industrial business use and will provide for more job opportunities for its res for the residents of the county. The proposed subdivision does conform with the general purposes of any applicable policies or plans which have been adopted by the board of county commissioners, including but not limited to the comprehensive plan and its natural um and its resource land designations, critical area protections and zoning requirements, including zoning overlays. Um, the proposed subdivision compo conforms the minimum lot size requirements of the Franklin County zoning ordinance, which in the I2 zone there is no minimum lot size requirement. The proposed subdivision comp conforms to the requirements of the Franken or Franken County subdivision ordinance including the minimum lot dimensions, lot requirements, and width to death standards. A SEPA review has been completed for this development. The proposed subdivision does conform with the comprehensive plan and zoning requirements. This is um in the rural industrial lamard type three, the north pasco industrial um lamard. There is no minimum lot size for the I2 zone. The development

conforms with both the I2 zoning designation and the comprehensive plan. The proposed subdivision does conform to the general purposes of this chapter. This development does comply with the purpose of the um county subdivision code. Uh the purpose of the code is to regulate the division of land within uninccorporated Franken County and to implement the goals, objective and policies of the Franken County comprehensive plan. These are the recommended conditions of approval for this project. All sea conditions are um listed from 1 to six including the portion about the figenous hawk breeding habitats, Washington ground squirrel colonies and the buring owl nesting sites. Um, we added the condition of um, comply with the requirements of the Washington Fish and Wildlife regarding their um, requ recommendation for habitat boundaries to be um, surveyed during um, the spring. Um, comply with the requirements of Skiibid where um, the first part portion of it has been changed to their updated comment. um comply with the requirements of the Franklin County Public Works Department. Comply with the requirements of the Franken County Planning and Economic Development um department. All statements that are required to be on the face of the PL shall either be recorded as a restrictive covenant on each applicable parcels or described in detail in the developer covenants that are um recorded and provided to each law owner. Um the applicant shall coordinate coordinate with um planning and economic development and the county E911 GIS coordinator for designation of addresses and road names for the development. Both addresses and road names shall be shown on the final plat.

The applicant needs to coordinate with USPS regarding centralized box units locations for the development. This preliminary PL approval will be valid for five years following the approval of the board of county commissioners. Um the next condition states um that within five year five years approval of a preliminary long plat. The subdivision shall prepare and submit for approval a final long plat for recording recording purposes. Um the board of county commissioners shall have the sole authority to provide to approve final long plats. Um any changes and approved to the approved preliminary plat must be reviewed by the planning and economic development director to determine whether it is a major or minor adjustment. Should the planning and economic development director determine the changes to be a major adjustment, a new application for a preliminary PL is required and shall be processed as a new and separate application as proposed. This will be a um singlephase um project and not a phase development. Prior to obtaining the um county treasurer's signatures and final PL, the applicant shall visit the county assessor's office to receive a treasurer's verification form for the property. And then the last condition talks about the long pl uh final long plot requirements in which it needs to be um developed by a state license surveyor and shall be developed um according to the county ordinance um for subdivision. Um and it states all the signature blocks and the last five signatures that are required for final long pl app approval. The suggested motion is I move to forward SUB 202504 CPA 202514 to the board of county commissioners with a positive

recommendation based on the six suggested findings of fact and 20 conditions of approval. Thank you. Thank you. Does any commissioner have any questions of staff? Does the applicant or applicants representative wish to speak or give a presentation? M Mr. Chair, before you get that, if I may just interject, your proposed motion that you have there Je has the findings of fact and the 20 conditions of approval and that doesn't include the SEPA conditions. They'll need to add the SEPA conditions. The 20 conditions of approval includes the sea conditions. Okay. Thank you. Yes.

So we don't need to amend anything. Okay.

Good evening. I'm Stephen McFaten. Excuse me. Am I on? Yes.

There we go. Director of economic development for the Port of Pasco. Most recently also deputy executive director for the Port of Pasco. Couple of things I wanted to add for you kind of as an update. The health district perk tests that are required, they've already been completed. Those were completed on the 2nd of October. We have not received the certificate yet, but we were informed by those doing the testing for the health district that there were no issues determined at that time. We filed an application with the Bureau of Reclamation for the re the abandonment and the relocation of that federal drain about six months ago. That is going to be a long process. Those two particular lots where that drain travels will likely stay um undeveloped until we're able to move to that abandonment and relocation of that drain. and we have been working directly with Skippid with regard to the easements for the utilities that will need to lie on the perimeter of the property. Additionally, just so you're aware, when we did the phase one of the Ryman Industrial Center, which is where Darold currently sits, we actually extended the city's water line 16 in ductal iron man in the east in the right of way of railroad avenue all the way to our northwest property line. So all along the frontage of this 160 acre piece of ground. Um Jim, do you would you be able to go back to the the lot layout that you had early in your presentation? Just just so you know where we are in terms of the potential development, three of these lots are already spoken for by private industry and they will be ready to go as early as 2026, assuming that we're able to advance this long plat subdivision to approval. That would include lot one, lot three, and lot

five. And then also potentially lot eight which would be made available to Franklin Peud to support their brand new substation which is currently powering the Ryman and Deragold and will power all of the new entities that locate there. All of them are industrial companies and all of them will make large private investments and create a significant number of jobs for Franklin County. That's really all I have. Thank you. Thank you. Is there any more inperson public testimony? No. Is there any email public testimony?

Uh, no sir, there is not. Does staff have any final comments? No final comments. I will entertain a motion to close the public comment portion. So moved. Second. Been moved by Commissioner Dutder and seconded by Commissioner Daroo. All in favor signify by saying I. I.

All oppose. Same sign. Motion passes. Public testimony portion of the public hearing for SUV 2025-4 SEPA 2025-14 is closed. Is there any discussion from the planning commission members? Seeing none, I will entertain a motion.

I move to forward uh SUB 2025-4 SEIPA 2025-14 to the board of county commissioners with a positive recommendation based on the six suggested findings of fact and the 20 conditions of approval.

Second. It's been moved by Commissioner Darun, seconded by Commissioner Dutder to approve SUV 2025-4 SEIPA 2025-14 to the board of county commissioners with positive recommendation based on the six suggested findings of fact and the 20 conditions of approval. May we have a roll call vote, please? Mike Corales. Yes. Mike Vincent, yes. Remy Daroo, yes. Mark Dutder, yes.

Manny Gutierrez, absent. Stacy, absent. Melinda, absent. Uh, chairman, uh, the motion has passed. Thank you. I'll entertain a motion to close the public hearing on item two. I'll move to close the public hearing for item two. Second. It's been moved by Commissioner Vincent and seconded by Commissioner Derder. All in favor signify by saying I. I. I. All oppose. Same sign. The public hearing is closed.

Thank you. Boss, do you have a GMA update?

Um, yeah. I've got a couple of updates if I if I can, sir. Uh just a real quick GMA update. Um been talking to our consultant AHBL and um we had some scheduled dates for public meetings to start really getting into public input. Um it got hung up because trying to find locations and so we'll probably that's being kicked down the road just a little bit. We are anxious to get that started. Um, I'm anxious to get started with the climate portion. There's been a lot of back there's been a lot of work done, but it's been kind of behind the scenes gathering data and information we need to to move the process forward. Kind of anxious to get started on the climate part of this. Part of that will be I need to put out a a public notice asking for an advisory board. That's one of the requirements of the grant. Just so you're aware, you know, we originally received $350,000 grant for the update cycle. Uh that came in this year uh before July 1st. We've got another grant that was split between uh between now and June of next year. That's like approximately 270 $247,000. And then we'll get another little piece from July 1st to December of next year. Totals another 350,000. Um I also have the um climate update grant that we've gotten and it's been uh we're getting final signatures on the update grant. Now, the climate grant has been signed and uh executed, fully executed, and I have $500,000 in which

to create that uh element. I've been in conversation with uh our biggest impact from the climate is agriculture. You know, over on the west side, it seems to be transportation. Over here in in this side of the state, it tends to be agriculture. Um, I've got a few ideas on how best to uh one protect agriculture while also meeting the mandates of the state requirement for the climate change and uh have been in conversation with the conservation district. I think they'll have a part in our proposal. Uh again, that's a little ways of being formalized to to bring to you guys for uh input. I would encourage you when we advertise for the we'll make sure that you guys get the advertisement for the open houses. If there is one in your area and you're able to attend, I would encourage you to attend those and and hear for yourself what the public might uh ask us to which direction to go on some of this uh stuff. Um, I expect a survey to go out along with when we publish for the open house meetings that we're planning on having. And we do have a link on our website that you can go to that does and and in my I think it's all of us on the planning side of the house when we send out emails, we have a little link. We created a special um link email that puts every email uh related to the update whether it's climate or not into that for the record. uh so we're able to maintain a good record of what public input we get and I have I have encouraged people to start submitting comments they have uh now if you have you know if you have neighbors who have given you thoughts of you know we'd like to see this change in the county uh

encourage them to use that you know get on the website or find that link and put those comments in now uh the more we have earlier the better we're going to be Uh, that's it for my GMA update. I wish I had a little bit more, but uh, I think we've, like I said, we've been doing a lot of behind the scenes type of work trying to get things prepared. There's a lot of information that that, you know, that the consultant and staff has to gather to to even be able to present anything. Um, as you may have noticed, uh, we are now called the planning and economic development department. It was the commissioners uh couple of weeks ago made uh a resolution changing our department name. We still include the building department uh under uh that umbrella, but in doing doing so, there's a hope that we can um get a little bit more involved in the economic development side of the house uh for the county. We don't really have any specific department or individual that's uh pertaining to economic development. So, they've kind of tasked us for one more thing, which is fine because we were kind of doing it anyway. Uh but just wanted to give you that update. And the last update I have for you is that today we did receive uh Melinda Dineer's uh resignation as a planning commissioner. Uh I you know I'm sorry to see that occur. We will be advertising for that position and it is my intent to ask the commissioners to uh formally recognize her for the 15 years that she served on this planning commission. That's quite the commitment for for anybody and and we are very appreciative

of that. I'm appreciative for anybody wants to sit on a board for that long. Uh I know I' I've got long-term commitment myself that I did for 20 years and after a while it's long enough, but we should recognize that. So, um I'll ask the commissioners if they will if they will so recognize. And uh sir, Mr. Chairman, that's all I have for my updates. Thank you. Um, is there anyone in the audience who wants to comment on anything else? Seeing none, the planning commission meeting is adjourned at 6:50.