By CARA LORELLO
Staff Reporter
Residents who showed up to Medical Lake City Council's Nov. 20 meeting hoping for a final answer to the North Stanley rezone dispute left empty handed, except for an update that officials are working on changing the city's procedure of approving requests from the Planning Commission that will allow the opportunity for testimony at the council level.
Citizens questioned when they should expect council's decision, given that the Planning Commission's decision to turn down A&K Development's request to rezone a 7.5 acre plot located on North Stanley Street from mixed use commercial to multi family happened a month ago.
“Why are we not holding a hearing on the rezone? Is this a stall by the developer to let the issue go away…long enough for people to forget about it?” resident Robert Kibling asked during the meeting.
Residents aren't alone in their wait for answers, as the city has received a letter from the developer's attorney asking for a date for the council's decision.
The rezone was met with opposition from residents residing in Medical Lake's Fox Hollow community after plans to build a low-income apartment complex on the site were made public.
Several issues of concern were raised at subsequent commission meetings by residents, including increased traffic volumes, threats to natural wildlife and increased stress on the city's water supply, though commission members regarded their decision to deny the rezone was to rule out further changes or eliminations to the city's existing commercial zoning.
Council is now exploring how to make its hearing process at the council level more fair by granting both applicants and opposing parties an equal opportunity to present their side to an issue.
“We want it to be a process that is fair to both sides; for proponents and opponents alike. We will have resolution at the Dec. 4 council meeting,” City Administrator Doug Ross said.
Current state code allows for open-record hearings on planning requests when presented at the commission level, but once this stage is over, no further testimony can be made once the request goes before the City Council.
No written procedure currently exists for the process of open hearings, which is something city officials want to clarify.
Council held off its decision until the next regular meeting since redrafts to the city's existing procedure were premature and couldn't be included in the agenda packet given the short notice, city attorney Cindy McMullen said.
“Clear procedures are currently in place on open record hearings, but after that hearing is done, whether written or spoken, opportunity for testimony is over,” she added.
Hearing procedures currently used in other jurisdictions the city is looking to adapt its new resolution to include the city of Spokane, McMullen added.
A second draft has already been completed, and a final should be prepared within the week for presentation on Dec. 4.
Other action items during the meeting included a public hearing on the 2008 preliminary budget, which received a passing vote by council followed by a first reading ordinance adopting the final budget for next year.
Council also approved second readings on setting a 1 percent increase to the city's 2008 property tax and emergency medical services tax rate, and a new ordinance setting limitations for residential water irrigation.
Cara Lorello can be reached at [email protected]
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