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Nowthen Planning & Zoning meeting, April 28, 2026

Planning & Zoning

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

This meeting on the city's website ↗

Agenda

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What was on the agenda.

Packet

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The supporting materials the board reviewed.

Minutes

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The official record of what happened.

One-line summary

The Planning Commission swore in Commissioner Hoium, approved routine items, and continued the Hillukka Birchwood Lane variance, the residential-treatment-center ordinance amendment, and the Bar None CUP to the next regular meeting for more information, notice, and revised conditions.

What was on the agenda

10 items as recorded in the agenda, packet, and minutes, each with a short summary of what was at issue.

  1. 1Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance

    Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance: 7:00 p.m.

    Meeting was called to order and the pledge was recited.

    • routine meeting opening
    No action
    p. 1April 28, 2026 Agenda1. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance: 7:00 p.m.p. 1April 28, 2026 Meeting MinutesChairman Haapala called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Those assembled recited the pledge of allegiance.

  2. 2Roll Call

    Roll Call

    Roll call was taken; Carlson and Lewis were absent.

    • routine meeting opening
    No action
    p. 1April 28, 2026 Agenda2. Roll Callp. 1April 28, 2026 Meeting MinutesPresent: Commissioners Jorgensen, Haapala, Bies, Hoium and Pearo. Also Present: Planner Nash, Liaison Mayor Hybben, and City Clerk Johnson Absent: Commissioners Carlson and Lewis

  3. 3Approve/Amend Meeting Agenda

    Approve/Amend Meeting Agenda

    The Commission approved the meeting agenda as presented and approved the prior meeting minutes; the minutes heading says March 24, 2026, while the recorded motion text says February 24, 2026.

    Agenda approved as presented.

    • routine approvals
    Approved
    p. 1April 28, 2026 Agenda3. Approve/Amend Meeting Agendap. 1April 28, 2026 Meeting MinutesMOTION BY COMMISIONER BIES, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PEARO TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. FIVE (5) AYES. MOTION CARRIED.

  4. 4Swear in the New Planning and Zoning Commissioner

    Swear in the New Planning and Zoning Commissioner

    City Clerk Johnson swore in Commissioner Hoium as the new Planning and Zoning Commissioner.

    Commissioner Hoium was sworn in; no motion was recorded.

    • Planning Commission appointment
    No action
    p. 1April 28, 2026 Agenda4. Swear in the New Planning and Zoning Commissionerp. 1April 28, 2026 Meeting MinutesCommissioner Hoium was sworn in by City Clerk Johnson.

  5. 5Approve/Amend Minutes from March 24, 2026, Regular Meeting

    Approve/Amend Minutes from March 24, 2026, Regular Meeting.

    The Commission approved the meeting agenda as presented and approved the prior meeting minutes; the minutes heading says March 24, 2026, while the recorded motion text says February 24, 2026.

    The agenda item was for March 24, 2026 minutes, but the recorded motion text says February 24, 2026.

    • routine approvals
    Approved
    p. 1April 28, 2026 Agenda5. Approve/Amend Minutes from March 24, 2026, Regular Meeting.p. 1April 28, 2026 Meeting MinutesAPPROVAL OF MARCH 24, 2026, MEETING MINUTES. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER PEARO, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BIES TO APPROVE THE FEBUARY 24, 2026, MEETING MINUTES. FIVE (5) AYES. MOTION CARRIED.

  6. 6Public Hearings

    Public Hearings

    Three public hearings were opened under this heading; all substantive items were continued.

    • public hearings
    Discussion only
    p. 1April 28, 2026 Agenda6. Public Hearingsp. 1April 28, 2026 Meeting MinutesPUBLIC HEARING

  7. 6a19922 Birchwood Lane NW — Variance

    19922 Birchwood Lane NW — Variance

    The Commission heard Paul Hillukka's request to remove an old barn on an outlot across Birchwood Lane from his home and replace it with a garage that would require variances for setbacks and for an accessory structure on a parcel without a principal structure. After discussion of parcel uniqueness, possible precedent, a deed restriction tying the parcels together, revised garage placement, and septic suitability, the Commission continued the request to the next regular meeting.

    The variance request was continued to the next regular meeting with direction on revised findings, survey, parcel tie, garage placement, septic suitability, and barn removal.

    • Hillukka Birchwood Lane variance
    Continued
    p. 1April 28, 2026 Agendaa. 19922 Birchwood Lane NW 1. Variancep. 3April 28, 2026 Meeting MinutesMOTION BY COMMISSIONER BIES, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PEARO TO CONTINUE THE VARIANCE REQUEST FOR 19922 BIRCHWOOD LANE NW TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING, DIRECTING STAFF TO PREPARE REVISED FINDINGS AND AN UPDATED SURVEY REFLECTING THE COMMISSION'S PREFERRED CONDITIONS, INCLUDING A DEED RESTRICTION TYING THE PARCELS TOGETHE…

  8. 6bOrdinance Amendment - State Licensed Residential Treatment Centers

    Ordinance Amendment - State Licensed Residential Treatment Centers

    The Commission opened the public hearing on changing state licensed residential treatment centers in the RRA district from an interim use to a conditional use. Public comment raised concerns about citywide effects, transferability of CUPs, public notice, and service impacts; the Commission continued the hearing and directed staff to post the proposed amendment on the City website and Facebook page.

    The ordinance amendment hearing was continued and staff was directed to post notice on the City website and Facebook page.

    • state licensed residential treatment centers ordinance amendment
    • Bar None
    Continued
    p. 1April 28, 2026 Agendab. Ordinance Amendment - State Licensed Residential Treatment Centersp. 4April 28, 2026 Meeting MinutesMOTION BY COMMISSIONER BIES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PEARO TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR STATE LICENSED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTERS TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING AND TO DIRECT STAFF TO POST NOTICE OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT PROMINENTLY ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE. FIV…

  9. 6c22426 St. Francis Blvd NW — CUP for state licensed residential treatment center and on-site educational services

    22426 St. Francis Blvd NW — CUP for state licensed residential treatment center and on-site educational services

    The Commission opened the CUP hearing for Volunteers of America’s Bar None Campus at 22426 St. Francis Blvd NW. The applicant said the facility has long operated as a youth residential treatment, education, and behavioral health campus, while public commenters raised concerns about law enforcement and emergency-service use, tax contribution, notice, and the scope of future programming; the hearing was continued so staff, the City Attorney, and the applicant could work through proposed conditions, and mailed notice was directed to be expanded to 5,000 feet if approved by the City Attorney.

    The CUP public hearing was continued and staff was directed to expand the mailed notice radius if approved by the City Attorney.

    • Bar None CUP
    • state licensed residential treatment center
    • on-site education
    Continued
    p. 1April 28, 2026 Agendac. 22426 St. Francis Blvd NW 1. CUP for state licensed residential treatment center and on-site educational servicesp. 6April 28, 2026 Meeting MinutesMOTION BY COMMISSIONER PEARO, SECONDED BY COMMISSONER BIES TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CUP APPLICATION FOR 22426 ST. FRANCIS BLVD NW TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING AND TO DIRECT STAFF TO EXPAND THE MAILED NOTICE RADIUS FROM 3,200 FEET TO 5,000 FEET FROM THE OUTER BOUNDARIES OF THE SUBJECT PARCELS AS LONG AS THAT…

  10. 7Adjournment

    Adjournment

    Meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

    • adjournment
    Approved
    p. 1April 28, 2026 Agenda7. Adjournmentp. 6April 28, 2026 Meeting MinutesMOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAAPALA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PEARO, TO ADJOURN. FIVE (5) AYES. MOTION CARRIED. Meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm

Motions and votes

6 motions on the record.

  • M1MOTION BY COMMISIONER BIES, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PEARO TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

    Exact transcript text

    MOTION BY COMMISIONER BIES, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PEARO TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

    moved by Bies, seconded by Pearo

    Passed
    • YJorgensen
    • YHaapala
    • YBies
    • YHoium
    • YPearo
    • ·Carlson
    • ·Lewis
    p. 1April 28, 2026 Meeting MinutesMOTION BY COMMISIONER BIES, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PEARO TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. FIVE (5) AYES. MOTION CARRIED.p. 1April 28, 2026 Meeting MinutesPresent: Commissioners Jorgensen, Haapala, Bies, Hoium and Pearo. Also Present: Planner Nash, Liaison Mayor Hybben, and City Clerk Johnson Absent: Commissioners Carlson and Lewis

  • M2MOTION BY COMMISSIONER PEARO, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BIES TO APPROVE THE FEBUARY 24, 2026, MEETING MINUTES.

    Exact transcript text

    MOTION BY COMMISSIONER PEARO, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BIES TO APPROVE THE FEBUARY 24, 2026, MEETING MINUTES.

    moved by Pearo, seconded by Bies

    Passed
    • YJorgensen
    • YHaapala
    • YBies
    • YHoium
    • YPearo
    • ·Carlson
    • ·Lewis
    p. 1April 28, 2026 Meeting MinutesMOTION BY COMMISSIONER PEARO, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BIES TO APPROVE THE FEBUARY 24, 2026, MEETING MINUTES. FIVE (5) AYES. MOTION CARRIED.p. 1April 28, 2026 Meeting MinutesPresent: Commissioners Jorgensen, Haapala, Bies, Hoium and Pearo. Also Present: Planner Nash, Liaison Mayor Hybben, and City Clerk Johnson Absent: Commissioners Carlson and Lewis

  • M3MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BIES, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PEARO TO CONTINUE THE VARIANCE REQUEST FOR 19922 BIRCHWOOD LANE NW TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING, DIRECTING STAFF TO PREPARE REVISED FINDINGS AND AN UPDATED SURVEY REFLECTING THE COMMISSION'S PREFERRED CONDITIONS, INCLUDING A DEED RESTRICTION TYING THE PARCELS TOGETHER, REVISED GARAGE PLACEMENT CLOSER TO THE CUL-DE-SAC, CONFIRMATION OF SEPTIC BORING SUITABILITY, AND REMOVAL OF THE EXISTING BARN CONCURRENT WITH CONSTRUCTION.

    Exact transcript text

    MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BIES, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PEARO TO CONTINUE THE VARIANCE REQUEST FOR 19922 BIRCHWOOD LANE NW TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING, DIRECTING STAFF TO PREPARE REVISED FINDINGS AND AN UPDATED SURVEY REFLECTING THE COMMISSION'S PREFERRED CONDITIONS, INCLUDING A DEED RESTRICTION TYING THE PARCELS TOGETHER, REVISED GARAGE PLACEMENT CLOSER TO THE CUL-DE-SAC, CONFIRMATION OF SEPTIC BORING SUITABILITY, AND REMOVAL OF THE EXISTING BARN CONCURRENT WITH CONSTRUCTION.

    moved by Bies, seconded by Pearo

    Passed
    • YJorgensen
    • YHaapala
    • YBies
    • YHoium
    • YPearo
    • ·Carlson
    • ·Lewis
    p. 3April 28, 2026 Meeting MinutesMOTION BY COMMISSIONER BIES, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PEARO TO CONTINUE THE VARIANCE REQUEST FOR 19922 BIRCHWOOD LANE NW TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING, DIRECTING STAFF TO PREPARE REVISED FINDINGS AND AN UPDATED SURVEY REFLECTING THE COMMISSION'S PREFERRED CONDITIONS, INCLUDING A DEED RESTRICTION TYING THE PARCELS TOGETHE…p. 1April 28, 2026 Meeting MinutesPresent: Commissioners Jorgensen, Haapala, Bies, Hoium and Pearo. Also Present: Planner Nash, Liaison Mayor Hybben, and City Clerk Johnson Absent: Commissioners Carlson and Lewis

  • M4MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BIES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PEARO TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR STATE LICENSED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTERS TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING AND TO DIRECT STAFF TO POST NOTICE OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT PROMINENTLY ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE.

    Exact transcript text

    MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BIES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PEARO TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR STATE LICENSED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTERS TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING AND TO DIRECT STAFF TO POST NOTICE OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT PROMINENTLY ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE.

    moved by Bies, seconded by Pearo

    Passed
    • YJorgensen
    • YHaapala
    • YBies
    • YHoium
    • YPearo
    • ·Carlson
    • ·Lewis
    p. 4April 28, 2026 Meeting MinutesMOTION BY COMMISSIONER BIES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PEARO TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR STATE LICENSED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTERS TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING AND TO DIRECT STAFF TO POST NOTICE OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT PROMINENTLY ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE. FIV…p. 1April 28, 2026 Meeting MinutesPresent: Commissioners Jorgensen, Haapala, Bies, Hoium and Pearo. Also Present: Planner Nash, Liaison Mayor Hybben, and City Clerk Johnson Absent: Commissioners Carlson and Lewis

  • M5MOTION BY COMMISSIONER PEARO, SECONDED BY COMMISSONER BIES TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CUP APPLICATION FOR 22426 ST. FRANCIS BLVD NW TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING AND TO DIRECT STAFF TO EXPAND THE MAILED NOTICE RADIUS FROM 3,200 FEET TO 5,000 FEET FROM THE OUTER BOUNDARIES OF THE SUBJECT PARCELS AS LONG AS THAT IS APPROVED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY.

    Exact transcript text

    MOTION BY COMMISSIONER PEARO, SECONDED BY COMMISSONER BIES TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CUP APPLICATION FOR 22426 ST. FRANCIS BLVD NW TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING AND TO DIRECT STAFF TO EXPAND THE MAILED NOTICE RADIUS FROM 3,200 FEET TO 5,000 FEET FROM THE OUTER BOUNDARIES OF THE SUBJECT PARCELS AS LONG AS THAT IS APPROVED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY.

    moved by Pearo, seconded by Bies

    Passed
    • YJorgensen
    • YHaapala
    • YBies
    • YHoium
    • YPearo
    • ·Carlson
    • ·Lewis
    p. 6April 28, 2026 Meeting MinutesMOTION BY COMMISSIONER PEARO, SECONDED BY COMMISSONER BIES TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CUP APPLICATION FOR 22426 ST. FRANCIS BLVD NW TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING AND TO DIRECT STAFF TO EXPAND THE MAILED NOTICE RADIUS FROM 3,200 FEET TO 5,000 FEET FROM THE OUTER BOUNDARIES OF THE SUBJECT PARCELS AS LONG AS THAT…p. 1April 28, 2026 Meeting MinutesPresent: Commissioners Jorgensen, Haapala, Bies, Hoium and Pearo. Also Present: Planner Nash, Liaison Mayor Hybben, and City Clerk Johnson Absent: Commissioners Carlson and Lewis

  • M6MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAAPALA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PEARO, TO ADJOURN.

    moved by Haapala, seconded by Pearo

    Passed
    • YJorgensen
    • YHaapala
    • YBies
    • YHoium
    • YPearo
    • ·Carlson
    • ·Lewis
    p. 6April 28, 2026 Meeting MinutesMOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAAPALA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PEARO, TO ADJOURN. FIVE (5) AYES. MOTION CARRIED.p. 1April 28, 2026 Meeting MinutesPresent: Commissioners Jorgensen, Haapala, Bies, Hoium and Pearo. Also Present: Planner Nash, Liaison Mayor Hybben, and City Clerk Johnson Absent: Commissioners Carlson and Lewis

Sources

Documents and recordings archived for this meeting, when available.

Show a sample of the transcript (794 segments, 2:00:15 total)
  • 0:00 Aw. How many frequent travelers? Well, I frequent by pretty good. Yeah, I got a lot of stories because
  • 0:08 I worked through the old places where I knew the boss. Oh. Yeah, I think I think I know someone. Problem is we chat too much, I think. That's the problem.
  • 0:17 I think that's the problem. I'll try to keep myself You should probably
  • 0:25 give it a try. Good college try though. Call the meeting to order with the
  • 0:33 pledge of allegiance. It's a nice one. of the United States of America
  • 0:42 and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice
  • 0:50 for all. I'll
  • 0:58 call the roll call. Commissioner Perrault? Here.
  • 1:06 Vice Chair Perrault? Oh, Perrault. I thought I SAID PERAULT. HERE.
  • 1:15 COMMISSIONER BEESE? HERE. COMMISSIONER CARLSON? I believe he's excused along with Mr. Lewis.
  • 1:23 Mr. Jorgenson? Here. And Commissioner Holt? Here. Mayor Hibbens? Over here. And myself,
  • 1:31 Natalie Johnson. Oh, let's better not. Here. So,
  • Showing first 12 segments. Open the YouTube video for the full transcript.

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