Planning Commission Meeting Update

   February 23, 2005                 Wednesday                                7:00 p.m. 

CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ROLL CALL:      Commissioners Carlyn Christianson, Jim Aiken, Alice Loh, Andrea Miller, Orval Osborne, Vice-Chair Michael Boswell, and Chairperson James Caruso.

All of the Commissioners were present.

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA: Commissioners or staff may modify the order of items.

Item No.4 B was taken in advance of the other public hearing items.

MINUTES:  Minutes of February 9, 2005. Approve or amend.

The minutes were accepted as prepared.

PUBLIC COMMENT: 

There was no public comment other than on regular agenda items.

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

1.   1697 Sydney Street.  FH 190-04: Appeal of Hearing Officer’s conditions of approval for a request to allow an existing side yard wall to remain with a maximum height of 10 feet where 6 feet is normally required; R-1 zone; Steve Barasch, applicant.  (Pam Ricci)

On a 7-0 vote, the Commission denied the appeal, upholding the Hearing’s Officer’s action to approve the fence height exception with the conditions that were originally approved.  The Commission concluded that the Hearing Officer’s decision was proper, and that the conditions to apply a stucco coat to the side of the wall facing the adjacent neighbor and to remove a nonconforming retaining wall were justified.

2.   3510 Broad Street. U 127-04: Request to allow mixed-use project with 20% mixed-use parking reduction; Cinderella Carpet One, applicant.  (Phil Dunsmore)

On a 7-0 vote, the Commission approved the use permit to allow mixed uses and a 10% parking reduction.  Overall the Commission was supportive of the project finding it a proper combination of uses at the proposed location and a good use of the site.  Commission discussion focused on the validity of the requested parking reduction, the concern for maintaining view corridors, and how noise issues would be addressed.

3.   805, 895, 865, 835, and 855 Aerovista Place. PD 238-04: Request to allow medical use within an existing Planned Development; C-S-PD zone; Aeroloop, LLC, applicant. (Jaime Hill)

On a 7-0 vote, the Commission approved the proposed planned development amendment, based on findings, and subject to conditions.  There was some questions raised about traffic mitigation and how the maximum square footage for medical offices was arrived at.

4.   Citywide ER/GPA 149-98; Update to the Conservation and Open Space Element; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant. (Jeff Hook)

Mike Draze updated the Commission on the status of the document and the item was continued to the March 23^rd Commission meeting.

COMMENT AND DISCUSSION:

4.   Staff

A.    Agenda Forecast

A forecast of upcoming agendas for March was discussed.

B.  Airport Area Specific Plan. Staff will explain what to expect for the March 9, 2005 hearing.

Staff provided the Commission with a review strategy with no follow-up discussion.

5.   Commission

Commissioners Christianson and Osborne provided a report on their attendance at a design charette to discuss future development plans for vacant property south of the City’s Fire Station No. 1.

ADJOURN to the regular meeting of the Planning Commission scheduled for Wednesday, March 9, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 990 Palm Street.