Planning Commission Meeting Update

June 13, 2007                  Wednesday                                7:00 p.m.

CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

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

                              Commissioner Ashbaugh was absent. 

STAFF:                Phil Dunsmore, Associate Planner; Peter Brown, Housing Programs Manager; Jeff Hook, Senior Planner; Doug Davidson, Deputy Community Development Director. 

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA:  The agenda was accepted as presented.

PUBLIC COMMENT:  There was no public comment on items not on the agenda. 

PUBLIC HEARINGS: 

1.        Citywide. TA and ER 79-07; Amendments to Municipal Code Chapter 17.90 (zoning regulations) to clarify the resident selection process for affordable housing projects and environmental review; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant. (Peter Brown)  

Following a brief presentation from staff explaining the background and need for specific policy on how candidates are selected for affordable housing projects, staff recommended the Commission forward the proposed amendments and environmental determination of a negative declaration to the City Council for approval. Commissioners had one question regarding the resident selection process and expressed a desire to not allow employee selection even when going above and beyond the inclusionary housing requirement. Absent any discussion and without public testimony, Commissioner Carpenter motioned to adopt a resolution to recommend approval of the amendments to the City Council. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Miller and passed on a 6-0 vote.  

2.        Citywide.  TA 75-07; Amendments to the City’s Subdivision Regulations including new standards for airspace subdivisions; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant.         (Phil Dunsmore)           

Following a brief presentation from staff regarding an explanation of airspace subdivisions and other minor text clarifications proposed to the Subdivision Regulations, staff recommended the Commission forward the proposed amendments to the City Council for approval. Commissioners had several questions regarding the airspace subdivision process and what has been done in other communities. Following a brief Commissioner discussion and without any public testimony, Commissioner Stevenson motioned to adopt a resolution to recommend approval of the amendments to the City Council. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Miller and passed on a 6-0 vote. Following the vote, Commissioners commended staff for taking the initiative to introduce innovative; code amendments. 

3.        Citywide.  GPA and ER 49-06; Review of goals, objectives and land use; and introduction to form-based codes proposed for the South Broad Street Corridor Plan area; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant. (Jeff Hook) 

Jeff Hook, Senior Planner, gave a slide presentation outlining the topics to be considered at the meeting:  goals and objectives, land use and an introduction to form-based codes.  He noted that representatives of the South Broad Street Corridor Focus Group were in the audience and would like to present their recommended goals for the planning area.  Michael Young, planner with Rick Engineering, provided background on the Draft Plan.  Under public comment, Lee Anna O’Daniel, 570 Al-Hil, voiced concerns about the effect of the proposed cul-de-sac streets along Broad Street on vehicle access to businesses along Broad. Planning Commissioners discussed the topic areas, asked questions and heard a brief presentation by Focus Group members. After lengthy discussion, Commissioners asked staff to:  1) rework the section on Goals and objectives to incorporate the Focus Group’s goals and the goals listed in the staff report, 2) to make objectives clear and measurable, 3) provide an evaluation of how the goals and policies implement general plan policies.  Commissioners also asked for additional clarification of the plan’s land use concept and to provide a “recipe” for how form-based codes would be applied.   The Commission continued the item to its August 8, 2007 meeting. 

COMMENT AND DISCUSSION: 

4.        Staff 

A.     Agenda Forecast 

5.        Commission 

The meeting ADJOURNED to the special Planning Commission Retreat scheduled for Wednesday, June 20, 2007, at 6:00 p.m. at Café Roma Restaurant.