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Don't even think about crammin' ticky-tacky into Sunnyside these days SUNNYSIDE (2-2-99)---The City Council last night unanimously refused to accept a petition to annex Erkki Kotilainen's property--located near Interstate 82 and Saul Road--into Sunnyside.   Council acceptance would have referred the matter to the Planning Commission, which in turn would have a future recommendation to the Council.   But Councilman Chad Werkhoven summed up Council thoughts when he said there's no use submitting the petition to the Planning Commission only to have the Council disapprove it later, anyway.   It would be a "waste of time and energy" for everyone involved, Werkhoven said.   Kotilainen, of Grandview, wanted to place 59 manufactured homes on the nine-acre property, according to a petition for annexation delivered to the city.   This makes two times in as many weeks that the Council has staved off developers who want to cram a lot of little "affordable" houses into a small space, then take the money and run.   Councilmen indicated they might consider a more elegant development, in keeping with county homes located just north of Kotilainen's property. Most of those homes are situated on an acre or more of ground.   The Council's unanimous vote came as a relief to more than a dozen county residents who live on Saul Road. A dozen spoke against the annexation and development as proposed.   Many complained Saul Road traffic is already too thick. Many drivers ignore speed limits. Some have knocked down mailboxes and fences. Current residents say existing traffic is a danger to children and elderly who live in the area.   Nick Paulakis, 1628 Saul Rd. summed up most complaints about the proposed development.   "They want 59 houses there on 4,000 square-foot lots. All the increased traffic will dump out on Saul Road. Saul Road is already getting very busy. I won't even let children play in my front yard. We could expect 100 more cars a day on Saul Road (with the Kotilainen development). It presents a traffic problem, and butts up against the freeway. It will deflate our property values," Paulakis said.   Norma Guerra, who lives at Saul and Smith Roads, has lived in the area for 13 years. "I've had to replace a fence and four mailboxes since we've lived there. There's a blind spot on that corner. Cars drive by at 70 or 80 miles an hour. They do not stop at the South Hill Road stop sign," Guerra said.   Herself a police officer, Guerra said, "Though we live in the county, the Sunnyside Police and Fire Departments have always answered my calls."   Kent Trammel, 620 E. South Hill Rd., told councilmen "I don't feel the (proposed) development is consistent with the rest of the area. His wife, Kathy, said, "We want our property values to stay up," indicating the development would bring values down.   Dale Miller, 1634 Saul Rd., bought his home three years ago on 1.25 acres. "I don't object to homes, but I do object to that many homes on that plot," he said. "I irrigate there. The natural drainage goes right through there."   Bernice "Grama" Mortenson told the council Saul Road drivers already whiz by her place "like a bunch of nuts."   "They knocked out our ground transformer...railroad ties...I don't think you people realize that the poor people who buy a home by the freeway, in the middle of drain field won't be happy there. That's from grama," she said. Later, she said, "The developer doesn't care. He doesn't have to live there.   Manny Ledesma, 1730 Saul Road, noted the Council recently refused to rezone 67 acres for another developer determined to insert as many homes as legally possible onto his plot. "We disagree on the same basis. It's a well known fact that manufactured homes depreciate and decrease property values," Ledesma said.   His wife, Genoveva Morales-Ledesma, said "We have taken time to develop our home. It's not good to let others come in and decrease property values. We wish you would respect that," she told the council.   Barry Weaver, 817 South Hill Road said of the Kotilainen property that "It's good for one thing--grapes."   After the discussion and numerous other speakers, Errol Brown, who voted to put the issue on the table in order to let the discussion take place, withdrew his motion to send the petition to the Planning Commission. In view of the opposition to the Kotilainen petition, the Council unanimously agreed to refuse it outright.   In other business the council: Approved liquor licenses for STM Market, 309 Yakima Valley Highway, Blue Moon Bar & Grill, 624 E. Edison; Hannah & Co., 214 S. 6th St.; Rite Aid #5300, Mid-Valley Mall; and Wade's Pizza, 1600 Yakima Valley Highway. They held off on approving the Darkhorse Inn's request until they have a chance to view reports on DUIs who obtained their drinks at the Darkhorse. Authorized City Mgr. Don Hahnfeldt to write a letter indicating Sunnyside's intense concerns with proposed new regulations developed by the Yakima Regional Clean Air Authority. Received Police Chief Wallace Anderson's report on the hiring of two police officers authorized by the City Council. The Civil Service examiner is compiling scores of five applicants for the positions. Named Don Vlieger and Mike Farmer as city reps to the Yakima County Council of Governments. Emphasized their appreciation of Rosendo Magana's great response to community concerns in the past year. Added several items to the Feb. 8 workshop agenda, including Mayor Ed Prilucik's new appointment to the Planning Commission, discussion of the Clint Hergert rezone, an ordinance on parking space dimensions, a presentation by New Vision IV, amendment petition to the Urban Growth Area (Fenway Estates), Public Works report on new city Well 4A, city fees for minor home repairs, and Chad Werkhoven's proposed property protection codes.