EPRC members reviewed a proposed short plat for the Opel Pea Patch property and asked staff and applicants to provide clearer landscaping, screening and flight-path documentation before final approval.

Sofia, the meeting coordinator, introduced the short plat and flagged questions sent by a resident about landscaping and visual screening along public frontage and between new buildings and adjacent residences. Former EPRC member Charles pointed to the East Sound sub-area plan (adopted 02/2015), noting that the plan requires landscape buffers along public street frontages and screening where developments abut residences: “landscape buffers are required along the public street frontage in all new development except single family… And so in the sub area plan, there’s a description of screening and buffer.”

Staff and committee members discussed the site layout, noting the resource center’s U-shaped building and an adjacent food bank/storage building. Committee members asked applicants to verify that congregate uses and building placement respect FAA overlay limits for the airport flight path and that tree height and buffering comply with overlay restrictions. Cindy asked staff to confirm flight-path constraints and whether congregations of people would be restricted; staff said they would follow up and that the project team had designed the resource center shape with the overlay in mind.

Committee members requested a landscaping plan that specifies screening locations, planting species and tree heights and asked staff to cite the specific sub-area plan sections that impose screening and buffer requirements. Sofia said she would collect committee comments and that staff would send detailed citations for the record.

No formal vote was taken on the short plat at the meeting; the committee provided guidance and asked staff to return with specific landscaping and flight-path clarifications.