I'd like to call this evening's meeting to order.

Take a moment and join with me in the Pledge of Allegiance, please.

I pledge individual liberty and as we begin our meeting this evening.

I'll take a moment to acknowledge that we have a quorum of planning commissioners present with eight of nine commissioners in attendance.

Commissioner Toronis is unable to be with us this evening.

Planning commission meetings are an important part of the process for interpreting and applying the city's comprehensive plan and unified development ordinance.

It's important that our meetings are conducted with dignity and respect.

That applies to every person in attendance.

And we strive to provide an atmosphere where the ideas and opinions of all participants are held in the highest regard.

Finally, the actions on the issues we discuss are ultimately under the responsibility of the city council.

As a planning commission, we're here to help the council as our elected representatives to be fully informed to make the best choices for our city.

By statute, the planning commission strives not to engage with any party on the issues on our agenda prior to our meeting.

Should that interaction take place as a result of a business relationship or any other interaction, which is referred to as ex parte communication, commissioners will report that interaction when we reach that item on the agenda.

We'll now move on to the consent agenda.

And this evening we have one item on the consent agenda, which is our minutes from last meeting.

Commissioners, do you need any discussion on this item?

As anticipated, no.

So I'll call for a motion on the item.

Do I have a motion on the consent agenda?

Mr.

Chair, I'll move to approve the consent agenda.

Thank you, Commissioner Breen.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Thank you, Commissioner Chapman.

We'll do a voice vote.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

That motion passes 8 to 0.

We'll move on to our regular agenda and our public hearing.

And tonight we do have one scheduled public hearing.

Public hearing is a request for approval of rezoning and a preliminary site development plan for Olatha Commons, which is located at the southwest of 119th and Greenwood Street.

Mr.

Jury is with us and we'll present the case.

Thank you, Chair Janner.

Planning Commission.

Good evening.

Nathan Jury, Senior Planner.

Before you tonight is the rezoning application for Olatha Commons with a revised preliminary site development plan that was continued from the July 8th Planning Commission at the request of the applicant.

The subject 23 acre property in red is generally southeast of 119th and Black Bob, directly east of Olatha Point Shopping Center, which most notably probably probably includes Whole Foods in that area.

The site does include uh C2 commercial zoning as well as RP3 and RP4 residential, which are low density and medium density residential zoning districts.

The site does abut single family homes to the east as well as the south.

Um to the north, the existing church and the undeveloped C2 zoned property will remain as is.

The developer is requesting to rezone to the R3 district, which does allow both single and multifamily buildings.

So this request is largely just asking to go back to that original residential status back prior to 2019.

The plan Olatha future land use map does designate the majority of this property as a mixed density residential neighborhood with just the northwest corner as a neighborhood commercial center.

The requested R3 district does directly align with that mixed density neighborhood designation.

Furthermore, the uh proposal does achieve several goals of Plan Olatha.

Um it does provide housing near uh commercial services.

Uh it also creates a compatible transition between the abutting more intense commercial uses as well uh to the single family uses to the east and south.

Additionally, the applicant has agreed to a stipulation regarding density and building height to ensure compatibility is maintained between these uses.

Lastly, the project does fill a gap in housing choice, often referred to as the missing middle.

This term does refer to a range of housing choices whose density lies between the more common single family and the more denser mid-rise apartments that are found in Alatha.

In particular, this development, which you'll see here in a second, is proposing the middle of the middle housing.

And this will fill a gap and also achieve some the uh sorry, will help achieve the Olatha 24 strategic plan goals to diversify housing choices.

The developer is proposing a 214 unit rental community with maintenance provided throughout.

This will be built in a single phase with a density of nine units per acre, which complies with a maximum of 12 units per acre allowed in the R3 district.

The project does include 10 uh single family homes with a one-car garage along the north to the east as well as the south.

They are providing 50 walk-up or cottage court single family units with head-in parking along the front of those homes.