Planning Commission Meeting Update

   May 11, 2005                      Wednesday                                7:00 p.m.

CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

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

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA:

PUBLIC COMMENT: 

 There was no Public Comment

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

1. 2005 Requests to convert various apartments to air-space condominiums:

a.   2975 Rockview Place. CON 1-05: Conversion of 20 apartment units to air-space condominiums including a common lot; R-2-S zone; Weatherford & Russell, applicant. (Phil Dunsmore)

       On a motion by Commissioner Loh, seconded by Commissioner Aiken, the commissioners voted 6-1 to recommend approval of the conversion of 20 apartments for Rockview Heights at 2975 Rockview.  Commissioner Christianson voted against the motion with concerns that the conversion would result in increased costs of living and displacement of existing tenants.                               

b.      11955 Los Osos Valley Road. CON 25-05: Request to convert 77 apartments to air-space condominiums including a common lot; R-3-PD zone; Ventura-Duval South LP, applicant. (Phil Dunsmore)

 On a motion by Commissioner Carter, seconded by Loh, the commission unanimously voted to recommend denial of the conversion for 77 apartments known as Rancho Obispo.  Commissioners noted the private open spaces (small patios) did not comply with the Condominium Standards. Additionally it was noted the recently built project was constructed to include a mixture of housing types in the planned development (DeVaul Ranch) and should remain that way for the present. Commissioners felt that the present high vacancy rate was due to high rents.

c.1017 Southwood Drive. CON 29-05: Request to convert 168 apartments to air-space condominiums, including a common lot; R-3-PD zone; Hamish Marshall - Westpac, applicant. (Phil Dunsmore)

On a motion by Commissioner Loh, seconded by Commissioner Osborne, the commissioners voted to allow the remaining 2005 conversion credits (110 units) for the Parkwood Village Apartments. Commissioners noted the applicants desire to provide for affordable sales units and agreed that a gift of 34 units to the Housing Authority was a valuable gesture that outweighed the apartment projects inability to comply with the condominium standards (lack of private open space). Commissioners Christianson and Carter voted against the motion.  Christianson expressed concern about the increase in cost of living and displacement of existing tenants, while Carter noted that the project did not meet the minimum standards for outdoor private open space.  

On a separate motion the Commission voted unanimously to request that the City Council direct staff to process a review of the Condominium Conversion Regulations. Points the Commission would like specifically reviewed include the ability to use conversion credits that were unused from prior years to be considered towards additional conversion allocations as well as the conversion ranking criteria. The purpose of this request was to allow all 168 units in Parkwood Village apartments and 20 units in Rockview to convert in 2005. The commission also wants to examine the affordable housing requirements in relation to the condominium conversion standards. Specifically, the commission wants to review the amount of discretion that may be applied to a project in terms of affordable housing requirements.

COMMENT AND DISCUSSION:

2.   Staff: 

A.    Agenda Forecast

Staff provided meeting forecasts for the remainder of May and June

3.   Commission

The meeting ADJOURNED to the regular meeting of the Planning Commission scheduled for Wednesday May 25, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 990 Palm Street.