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Staff Report STAFF REPORT City of Yelm Community Development Department   To: City of Yelm Planning Commission From: Grant Beck, Director of Community Development Date: July 14, 2003 Subject: Yelm Community Schools Rezone ZON-03-8349-YL Exhibit I Rezone Application Exhibit II Notice of Application Exhibit III Public Hearing Notice Exhibit IV Site Plan Exhibit V Zoning Map Exhibit VI Aerial Photo Issue Yelm Community Schools has requested the City rezone approximately 12 acres of land that the District currently owns adjacent to and east of the Mill Pond Intermediate School from Low Density Residential (R-4) to Institutional District (ID) in order to allow the construction of a new Junior High School on the property. Background The subject property is approximately 30 acres in area and is located at 10605 Mill Road SE in a portion of the NW ¼ of Section 25, Township 1 North, Range 1 East, W.M. and described as tax parcel number 21725140100. The property is currently occupied by Mill Pond Intermediate School and is split by a zoning district boundary. The western portion of the property, occupied by Mill Pond School, is zoned Institutional District (ID) while the eastern 12 acres is zoned Low Density Residential (R-4). In 1995, the District applied for a boundary line adjustment along with James and Patricia Forrester and John Huddleston to revise the boundaries of three existing lots. The Districts parcel as it was configured prior to the Boundary Line Adjustment was that portion occupied by Mill Pond School and is currently zoned ID. The Boundary Line Adjustment created a 30 acre parcel split between ID and R-4 zoning. The District purchased the property for use as a school facility. The resolution of the School Board which authorized a limited general obligation bond for the purchase of the property states that ‘the acquisition of certain real property is required to serve the needs of the students of the District in order to provide the students attending and use the same with adequate, proper, and safe education facilities’. The construction of a new Junior High School on the subject property is part of the Yelm Community Schools Capital Facilities Plan, last updated in May of 2003. The Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code, including the zoning map, were being updated pursuant to the Growth Management Act during the same time period that the boundary line adjustment was being completed. If the District had purchased the additional property prior to consideration of the updated zoning code map, it is highly likely that the property would have been designated as Institutional at that time. The Institutional District was created to: A. Protect and preserve certain areas of land devoted to existing and future use for civic, cultural, educational and similar facilities; B. Provide for the social needs of the community as those needs relate to public services, open space and institutions whether publicly or privately owned; C. Enhance the identity and image of the community as a desirable place for human growth and development; D. Provide opportunities and facilities for the various activities and needs of a diverse and dynamic population; E. Provide and protect parks, open space and other natural, physical assets of the community to improve the aesthetic and functional features of the community. [Section 17.48.010 YMC] The Comprehensive Plan establishes the following policies related to Schools and the Institutional District (ID): Provide capacity to accommodate planned growth by assuring that each jurisdiction will have adequate capacity in transportation, public and private utilities, storm drainage systems, municipal services, parks and schools to serve growth that is planned for in adopted local comprehensive plans. [County Wide Planning Policy 2.3.a] Public Institutional/Open Space: Yelm has identified two land use designations or categories which reflect public ownership of the land or land permanently set aside as dedicated open space or critical areas. Public purpose lands which are presently identified are shown on the Future Land Use Map, Map #3. [Section III.b.2.e Comprehensive Plan] The Yelm School District and the Rainier School District serve the Urban Growth Area. The Rainier School District jurisdiction will be developed in conjunction with the overall plan for the Thurston Highlands' portion of the Southwest Sub-Area. The remaining planning area is within Yelm School District No. 2. That District currently has a high school, a middle school, an intermediate (grades 5-6) school, an alternative high school and three elementary schools within Yelm's Urban Growth Area. The Yelm School District has an additional elementary school in Pierce County and approximately 20% of the students live in Pierce County. In 1994, the Yelm School District's growth was 180 students from last year and the District now instructs a total enrollment of 4,000 students. Based on current growth projections, student population will grow by approximately 6,000 students during the next 20 years. All future schools will need to be constructed within Yelm's Urban Growth Area to meet the requirements of utilities and land use. Within the next six years, a new intermediate school and a new elementary school will need to be built. [Section V.C.5 Comprehensive Plan] The State Environmental Policy Act at Section 197-11-600 WAC states that an agency may use existing environmental documents to evaluate proposed actions and environmental impacts of a proposal that is the same or different than those previously analyzed. Further, any agency acting on the same proposal shall use the existing environmental document unchanged except if an agency with jurisdiction is unsatisfied with the DNS, or if there are substantial changes to a proposal so the proposal is likely to have significant adverse environmental impacts. Analysis The Districts Capital Facilities Plan indicates that a new Junior High School is needed to serve the population growth in Yelm, it’s urban growth area, and rural lands within the School District boundaries. The Comprehensive Plan identifies the Institutional District as being appropriate for land under public ownership, such as the School District. The City’s Comprehensive Plan also notes that new school facilities are needed and should locate within the urban growth area. Had the subject property been acquired by the District prior to start of the Comprehensive Plan update process in the mid-1990’s, it is likely that the property would have been designated as Institutional at the time of the update. The proposed rezone is consistent with the policies of the Comprehensive Plan as they relate to both schools and the Institutional District. The Environmental Impact Statement prepared for the adoption of the updated Comprehensive Plan and development regulations in 1995/1996 reviewed the impacts of the various zoning classifications and is being used without modification for this rezone application. Recommendation The Planning Commission should recommend approval of the proposed rezone of approximately 12 acres currently owned by Yelm Community Schools from Low Density Residential (R-4) to Institutional (ID) to the City Council.