Planning Commission Meeting Update

July 11, 2007                  Wednesday                                7:00 p.m.

CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

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

Chairperson Andrea Miller was absent. 

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

The agenda was accepted as written. 

PUBLIC COMMENT:   

There were no comments made from the public. 

PUBLIC HEARINGS: 

1.        3000 Calle Malva. GPC 29-07; General Plan Conformity Report for a  conservation easement covering 71 acres of open space land on a 98 acre parcel; C/OS-100 zone, City of San Luis Obispo, applicant.  (Neil Havlik) 

On a motion by Commissioner Stevenson, seconded by Commissioner McCoy, the Planning Commission acted to find and report to the City Council that the acquisition both in fee and easement is in conformity with the City’s General Plan.   

2.        Open Space.  GPC 30-07; General Plan Conformity Report for a gift of 315 acres of open space land located north of the city on TV Tower Road; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant.   (Neil Havlik) 

Neil Havlik, Natural Resources Manager, gave the staff presentation.  One member of the public spoke in support of the acquisition.  On a motion by Commissioner Stevenson, seconded by Commissioner Ashbaugh, the Planning Commission acted to find and report to the City Council that the acquisition is in conformity with the City’s General Plan.  

3.        City Wide.  GPI and ER 21-07;   2007 Bicycle Transportation Plan Update and Environmental Review; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant.   (Peggy Mandeville) 

Peggy Mandeville, Public Works staff, gave staff presentation.  A summary of grant funding and improvements associated with the approved 2002 Bicycle Plan was presented followed by a discussion of new/amended policies, definitions, standards and bikeways.  Kevin Christian, chair of the Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC), demonstrated the web site information showing aerial photos and documentation of the committee’s work.

Jean Anderson, a BAC member and certified bicycle instructor spoke in support of the plan and provided copies of a Handy Guide for Cyclists.  Adam Fukishima of the Bicycle Coalition spoke in favor of the plan. 

Commissioners discussed the plan, corrected several minor errors and gave some suggestions.  On a motion by Commissioner Ashbaugh, seconded by Commissioner Brody, the Commission acted to recommend to the City Council approval of the 2007 Bicycle Plan (with corrections noted) and adoption of the Mitigated Negative Declaration for the project. 

4.        Airport and Margarita Area.  ANNX and ER 172-05; Review of the City of San Luis Obispo’s proposal to annex 620 acres of land and environmental review; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant.   (Michael Codron) 

Michael Codron presented the staff report with a discussion of phasing, numbers of parcels affected, public outreach that was conducted, annexation costs and the LAFCO process.   

Twelve speakers gave public testimony on this item and staff planner Michael Codron read a comment letter he received into the record.  Of the testimony offered, two speakers were in favor of the annexation and 11 expressed concerns regarding annexation due to issues that were either specific to their individual properties or related to the timing of annexation.  The 11 property owners who expressed concern represent about 1/6 of the owners in the area.  Two of the 11 owners who had concerns also expressed opposition to annexation.  A representative of an owner in the Margarita Area Specific Plan area expressed support of the annexation and indicated that they would ask, due to concerns about timing of their development, to proceed separately if annexation of Phase 1A gets delayed.   

The Commission discussed the testimony and asked for staff clarification on several issues, including treatment of non-conforming uses, timing of the Tank Farm Lift Station project, pre-zoning, use of pre-annexation agreements, and preparation of boundary map description.  Staff committed to continuing work with individual owners to discuss concerns. 

On a motion by Commissioner Ashbaugh and seconded by Commissioner Brody (Commr. McCoy voting noe), the Commission recommended that the City Council approve a resolution of intention to annex approximately 620 acres of land in the Margarita and Airport Areas, a pre-zoning ordinance, and a Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact. 

On a second motion by Commissioner Stevenson and seconded by Commissioner Brodie (Commr. McCoy voting noe), the Commission endorsed the continued processing of the Margarita Area annexation alone if the inclusion of the Airport Area in the annexation project delays the process; and encouraged staff to continue negotiations and discussions with individual property owners. 

COMMENT AND DISCUSSION: 

5.    Staff 

A.    Request to consider adding a special Planning Commission meeting on April 18, 2007 for a study session on the Broad Street corridor design plan 

Deputy Director Kim Murry requested consideration of a special Planning Commission meeting on April 18, 2007 in order to schedule the introduction of the South Broad Street Corridor Plan with the Commission.  The Planning Commission agreed to add the date as a special meeting. 

B.    Agenda Forecast 

Deputy Director Kim Murry indicated that a Planning Commissioner retreat was in the planning stages and that there were two dates under consideration:  May 16^th and June 11^th.  The retreat is planned to be a 6pm-9pm meeting held off-site to discuss Commission operation and issues.  Planning Commissioners will respond via email as to their preferred date for this session. 

She also gave a preview of items currently anticipated for the April 11, 2007 Commission meeting:  Airport Hotel project, City’s annual report on the General Plan, yearly consideration of by-laws, installation of the new Commissioner and election of officers.  

5.      Commission 

Commissioner Stevenson expressed appreciation of service by Jason McCoy to the Planning Commission for the last term.  He indicated that Commissioner McCoy brought valuable insight as a working architect and a practical point of view that will be missed.  Acting Chair Carlyn Christianson and Commissioner John Ashbaugh added their thanks.  

ADJOURN to the regular meeting of the Planning Commission scheduled for Wednesday, April 11, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 990 Palm Street.