Planning Commission Meeting Update

August 22, 2007                  Wednesday                                7:00 p.m.

CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

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

                              Commissioner Diana Gould-Wells was absent  

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA: The agenda was accepted as written. 

MINUTES:   

The minutes of June 27th and July 25^th were approved as submitted – the minutes of

August 1^st were slightly amended. 

PUBLIC COMMENT:   

Tom Swem (570 Marsh St.), representing Don Valle, encouraged the Commission to delete the cul-de-sac at Broad St. and Caudill St. as shown in the Draft South Broad Street Corridor Plan.  He believes deleting this aspect of the plan will improve the access and marketability of the former Valley Mazda site.  He asked the Commission to address the Caudill St. closure separately rather than in the context of the comprehensive Broad Street Plan.  On a 4:2 straw vote (Ashbaugh, Carpenter) the Commission voted to keep review of the street closure issue tied in with the overall Plan and not review the issue earlier in a separate hearing.  The majority of the Commission wanted to maintain the schedule and review the matter at the scheduled special meeting of October 17, 2007 when the traffic analysis will be available.          

PUBLIC HEARINGS: 

1.        281 Ramona Drive.  MS 92-07; Request to split one lot in two with an exception to allow a 46.5 foot wide lot where 50 feet is the minimum, and environmental review;  Rob Gantenbein, applicant. (Brian Leveille) 

Associate Planner Leveille made the staff presentation recommending approval of the minor subdivision, including the exception for lot width.  Staff confirmed for the Commission that another single family residence could be built on the existing parcel (without a lot split) because the parcel is over 12,000 square feet in size.  Four residents of the neighborhood spoke in opposition to the lot split and another student rental in the area.  They cited parking and quality of life issues associated with more students in the area.  The project applicant and representative addressed the neighborhood concerns and asked the Commission to support the project.  On motion by Commissioner Ashbaugh, seconded by Commissioner Multari, the Commssion voted 5:1 to approve the project per the staff recommendation.  Commissioner Carpenter voted against the motion since he did not support granting exceptions to the Subdivision Regulations.       

2.    1302 and 1314 Palm Street.  TR 11-07; Consideration of Vesting Tentative Tract Map creating 10 air space condominiums from 10 apartment units; R-3-H zone; Fonte, Rossi and McAdams, applicants. (Tyler Corey) 

Deputy Director Davidson gave the staff presentation recommending approval of the condominium conversion.  He clarified for the Commission how the historical preservation obligations of the Mills Act property will be tied together with the future maintenance responsibilities of the owners and HOA.  Based on input from the City Attorney, he recommended modification to condition #12 to clarify this relationship.  The applicant’s representative spoke in support of the project and presented some photos documenting the site’s historical preservation improvements.  There was no other public comment.  On motion by Commissioner Ashbaugh, seconded by Commissioner Stevenson, the Commission voted 5:0 (Commissioner Brodie stepped down because she used to live in the Righetti House and now lives within 500 feet of the site) to approve the project per the staff recommendation with condition #12 modified as proposed.  The action included an amendment by Commissioner Multari to modify the CEQA Findings of the Resolution to state that the project would have no adverse impact on historical resources.  The Commission also suggested (not part of the motion) that staff investigate with the City’s Fire and Public Works Departments if the red curb in front of the project (Johnson Ave.) is mandatory.    

 COMMENT AND DISCUSSION: 

3.    Staff 

A.     Agenda Forecast - Deputy Director Davidson gave the agenda forecast. 

4.    Commission – There was no further Commission comment.     

The meeting ADJOURNED to the regular meeting of the Planning Commission scheduled for Wednesday, September 12, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 990 Palm Street.