PC 071112 - Laserfiche WebLink

Mr. Dolan replied that it would be hard for him to envision a project that would not require an exception, some of which will be minor and others will be a little more involved, but that does not mean the design standard should be eliminated right at the start. He noted that there were exceptions that everybody determined to be fine with the BRE project, some of which were pretty substantial. He indicated that he did not think all of these projects will require as many as those of the BRE project, but he can see something on each of them. With respect to whether or not a workshop is necessary, he stated that the workshop has a lot of purposes. He noted that it helps the applicant to understand where the Commission is coming from and gives the Commissioners an early look at the project so they are not asked to act in one night. He added that staff is willing to forego a workshop if the Commission so desires, but, in general, applicants tend to like them actually because of the feedback they will get. Commissioner Narum stated that what she was getting at was if the Commission wants to hold on to standards where they had expressed some concerns, she would be fine with having a working. She indicated that she was referring to sites where the Commission may feel it did not need a workshop to make that exception. Vice Chair Blank stated that part of his concern is that development is going to take place over several years and that he would not want to handcuff a future Planning Commission. He indicated that the Commission has put so much work into this, and the project has been reviewed so many times, that he is a little hesitant to make or recommend any significant changes. He noted that he thinks staff does a pretty good job of figuring out when workshops are needed and when they are not, when this is really an exception and when it is not. He added that there have been projects that have come before the Commission that the Commission had sent back for a workshop. He indicated that he does not want to undo or over - regulate something that seems to be working. Commissioner Pearce stated that she did not think there is any downside to having a short workshop. She noted that the Commission has had workshops that are a half -hour long where the applicants get the feedback, and the applicants are comfortable when the projects come to the Commission, and the Commission is likewise comfortable when it has seen the projects. Commissioner Narum agreed and stated that it is just a time question and lengthening the process. Commissioner Pearce agreed with Vice Chair Blank that staff has a good sense of when a project needs a workshop. Commissioner Narum stated that she did not disagree with that but would just want to make sure that if the Commission leaves this as it is, there is some discretion or PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, July 11, 2012 Page 14 of 16