Planning Commission Meeting Update

February 8, 2006                        Wednesday                                7:00 p.m.

CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

ROLL CALL:      Commissioners Carlyn Christianson, Alice Loh, Andrea Miller, Andrew Carter, Jason McCoy, Chairperson Orval Osborne (and one vacancy) 

Chairperson Osborne was absent 

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA:  

 Agenda was accepted as written 

PUBLIC COMMENT:   

There was no public comment 

PUBLIC HEARINGS: 

1.    1136 Walnut Street.  A 121-05;  Appeal of the Hearing Officer’s approval of a 14% parking reduction (1 space) based on shared and mixed use; R-4 zone; Iqbal Family Foundation, applicant; Dean E. Miller, appellant. (Phil Dunsmore)  

Following a discussion about whether the project meets the definition of a mixed-use project, and on a motion by Commissioner Christianson, seconded by Mc Coy, the Commission voted 4-1 to uphold the hearing officer’s decision and allow the approval of a 14% parking reduction.  The parking reduction allows the project to be constructed with 11 parking spaces instead of 12. 

2.   1017 Southwood Drive. TR 217-05;  Consideration of a tentative tract map converting 168 apartment units (Parkwood Village Apartments) into condominiums; R-3-PD zone; Hamish Marshall, applicant.  (Continued from January 11, 2006)   (Phil Dunsmore) 

The Commissioners listened to testimony from existing tenants in the condominiums regarding the condition of the driveways, roofs, and the hardship created from moving section 8 tenants into different units. Commissioners generally felt that the tract map conditions would accommodate the tenants concerns. On a motion by Loh, seconded by Christianson, the Commission unanimously recommended approval of the tract map to the City Council. 

3.   Citywide.  GPA and ER 149-98;  Review of the October 2005 draft Conservation and Open Space Element of the General Plan to update and consolidate resource conservation policies, including amendments to the Circulation, Conservation, Energy Conservation, Housing, Land Use, Open Space, Parks and Recreation, Safety and Water and Wastewater Management Elements; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant. (Continued from January 18, 2005)  (Jeff Hook) 

Commissioners took public testimony and reviewed the March 2006 Council Hearing Draft Conservation and Open Space Element to ensure it included changes made at the Commission’s special meeting of January 18, 2006.  In response to suggestions from the public and from its own review and discussion, the Commission made final changes to the Draft text and agreed that the document was ready for Council review and approval. Commissioners discussed the project’s initial study and negative declaration and agreed that they adequately addressed the March 2006 Draft as revised and that no further environmental review was warranted.

On a 5-0 vote (Commr. Osborne absent; one seat vacant) the Commission recommended that the City Council:  1) approve the project’s Negative Declaration of environmental impact, 2) adopt the March 2006 Draft Conservation and Open Space Element with changes as noted, and 3) amend the Circulation, Housing, Land Use, Parks and Recreation, Safety, and  Water and Wastewater Elements of the General Plan.  Commissioners thanked the community groups, including ECOSLO, Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club, Residents for Quality Neighborhoods, California Central Coast Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, and SLO Green Build for their important contributions in the preparation of the Draft, and to the many individuals who also contributed their time and expertise.  Audience members also thanked the Commission for its support of public participation in the update process. 

COMMENT AND DISCUSSION: 

4.   Staff 

A. Agenda Forecast.  Deputy Director Draze provided a brief agenda forecast. 

5.   Commission 

The meeting adjourned around 10:19 p.m. to the regular meeting of the Planning Commission scheduled for Wednesday, March 8, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 990 Palm Street.