Chairman Don Olmstead, Jr., called the regular meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

Planning Commissioners present were: Don Olmstead, Jr., John Hunting and Dennis Byam. Commissioner Kathy Gonzalez was absent. Also present was School District Representative Brad Shreeve.

Staff present were: Senior Planner Michael Buchanan of the Yakima Valley Conference of Governments and City Clerk/Secretary Anita Palacios.

2. MINUTE APPROVAL - JULY 26, 2006 REGULAR MEETING

On motion by Commissioner Byam, second by Commissioner Hunting, the Commission unanimously approved the July 26, 2006 regular meeting minutes.

3. GMA 2006 UPDATE FOR YAKIMA COUNTY UGA ANALYSIS FOR GRANDVIEW

Senior Planner Buchanan presented a staff report prepared by Yakima County Planning Division regarding the Urban Growth Area Analysis for the City of Grandview, a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein as part of these minutes. The staff report presented the findings of the analysis and recommendations for adjusting the size of the Citys Urban Growth Area (UGA). In November 2005, the City requested the UGA be expanded to accommodate the direction in which the City was growing. The location consisted of approximately 93 acres south of Pleasant Avenue, north of Apricot Road, east of Grandridge Road and west of Old Prosser Road.

The conclusions and recommendations of the report were as follows:

1. The countys "UGA Analysis" for Grandview indicates a projected surplus of 412 acres within the city and its current UGA for all non-industrial uses through 2025 when a 25% market choice factor is used. When a 10% market choice factor is used the surplus is 491 acres. Therefore, no expansion of its UGA is needed to accommodate the projected increase in population.

2. If UGA expansion can be justified, a priority should be given to adding non-Agricultural Resources lands adjacent to the UGA over Agricultural Resources lands.

3. Approximately 320 acres lie outside the citys incorporated limits but within Grandviews UGA south of the Yakima River (west of its sewage treatment area). These unincorporated lands are currently zoned Valley Rural, which is inconsistent with the UGA designation of Plan 2015. Discussions with the city should occur to determine how consistency should be achieved, such as applying an appropriate zone, or by removing this area from the UGA. The 110 vacant acres in this area have not been included as lands available for development in this analysis.

Senior Planner Buchanan recommended the Commission consider the following options:

1. Accept Yakima County Planning Divisions staff report and withdraw the Citys request to expand the UGA;

2. Stand by the request to expand the UGA and request a hearing before the Board of County Commissioners; or

3. Prepare another analysis of the UGA and identify land that should not be in the UGA and propose a land trade with the County.

Discussion of the Countys analysis included the following points:

The UGA was expanded at the request of the property owners.

Concern that the County is approving one to two acre short plats adjacent to City limits with wells and septics.

The Orchard Tracts in the southwest portion of the UGA when platted were originally divided into two to five acre parcels which makes it more difficult for Grandview to grow into these areas.

Most all land within the Citys UGA is Agricultural Resources lands.

When the Comp Plan was adopted in 1995, the City applied effluent to land adjacent to the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). The 320 acres were originally included in the UGA for future expansion of the Citys sprayfields. Since then, the WWTP has been upgraded and the wastewater is treated and discharged back to the river. Consensus of the Commission was to remove this area from the UGA.

Parcel No. 230926-11001 owned by Sorensen Farms which was included in the proposed UGA expansion currently has half of the parcel within the UGA and the other half outside the UGA.

Following discussion, the Commission confirmed their recommendation to expand the Citys UGA and instructed Buchanan to schedule a meeting for the Commission and staff to meet with Yakima County Senior Project Planner Phil Hoge to discuss the analysis, exchange perspectives, discuss next steps, and work toward consensus.

4. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT LAND USE ELEMENT

The 2006 draft update of the Land Use Element was reviewed and various changes were recommended by the Commission. Staff was directed to implement the changes and provide a revised draft at the next meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m.