Planning Commission Meeting Update

March 12, 2008                  Wednesday                                7:00 p.m.

CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

ROLL CALL:      Commissioners Dan Carpenter, Michael Multari, John Ashbaugh, Amanda Brodie, Diana Gould-Wells, Vice-Chairperson Charles Stevenson and Chairperson Carlyn Christianson 

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA:  Accepted as presented 

MINUTES:  Approved as amended 

PUBLIC COMMENT:  None 

PUBLIC HEARINGS: 

1.      222 Elks Lane (Elks Lodge/Bob Jones).  GPC 29-08:  General Plan conformity report for a proposed donation of an open space and public access easement on approximately 3 acres of land from the Elks Lodge; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant.  (Neil Havlik) 

Staff presented the project and discussed the General Plan policies that are implemented with the easement acquisition which will facilitate stream bank erosion control and establishment of a portion of the bike trail.  In addition, as a donation, the easement offer does not need to meet the City’s priorities for acquisition.  

 On a motion by Vice-Chair Stevenson, the Commission determined that the proposed property easement acquisition is consistent with the City’s General Plan and directed that this determination be forwarded to the City Council.  This motion was passed on a 7:0 vote. 

2.      1468 Foothill Blvd.   U 192-07:  Request to establish a group housing facility in the multi-family R-3 zone; Presbytery of Santa Barbara, applicant.  (Phil Dunsmore) 

Staff presented the project and discussed the qualities of the project including density, parking, and the overall project design.  Staff described the intent of the applicant to have a greater density than is presently allowed by the zoning code. Following a presentation by the applicant, the commissioners focused their discussion on the project layout and the definition of group housing.  Although the Commission agreed with the project concept, there was uncertainty regarding the true description of the land use and whether this was a religious institution, multi-family housing, or a group housing concept.  After debate and clarification from staff, the Commission voted 7:0 to approve the use permit to allow the group housing consistent with staff-recommended findings and conditions.  The final resolution allowed up to 35 persons under R-3 zoning or 48 persons if the zoning is changed to R-4.  

On a separate motion by Multari, seconded by Brodie, the Commission recommended the Council consider allowing increased densities for such projects within the vicinity of the university.  This motion passed on a 7:0 vote.  

3.        730 & 748 Foothill Blvd.  TR 108-07:  Tentative tract map and environmental review for six airspace condo units with requests to allow the trash enclosure within street yard setback, fence height exception, and building setback reductions along Foothill Blvd.; R-4 zone; Foothill Courtyard, LLC, applicant. (Brian Leveille) (Continued from February 13, 2008) 

This item was continued to a date uncertain with no discussion. 

BUSINESS ITEM: 

4.      General Plan Annual Report.  Discussion of the report on the status of the General Plan and its implementation.  (Michael Codron) 

The Commission received a presentation on the General Plan Annual Report and forwarded the report to the City Council for consideration.  The Commission discussed the percentage of affordable housing developed over the past several years and noted that additional housing is being developed on the Cal Poly campus, which may open up additional housing opportunities for City residents.  Discussion focused on growth management and the expected development in City residential expansion areas.  The Commission also discussed potential changes to the Growth Management Ordinance phasing schedule. 

COMMENT AND DISCUSSION: 

1.        Staff 

A.     Agenda Forecast 

Staff provided the Commission with a forecast of upcoming agenda items. 

2.        Commission 

There was no Commission discussion. 

ADJOURNMENT  The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. 

Presenting Planner(s):  Neil Havlik, Phil Dunsmore, Brian Leveille, Michael Codron