Planning Commission Meeting Update

September 10, 2008                  Wednesday                                7:00 p.m.

CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

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

Commissioner Gould was absent.

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA:  

The Public Comment and Commission Discussion items were taken in advance of the Public Hearing.

MINUTES:  Minutes of August 27, 2008.  

The minutes were accepted as amended.

PUBLIC COMMENT: 

Dan Caldon noted concerns with the 300 Lawrence Drive project plans in terms of the structural integrity of the retaining wall, encroachment onto his property, and required public improvements.  He suggested that changes to plans that have occurred are not minor and that the project should be put back on a future agenda for discussion.

Shawn McNabb expressed concerns with the same project mostly focused on the required public improvements.

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

1.  2238 Broad Street.  R/U 70-08:  Request to add the mixed-use overlay zoning to the site’s existing Neighborhood-Commercial and Service-Commercial zoning designations and consideration of an Addendum to update the previously-adopted Mitigated Negative Declaration; and request for a use permit to allow a mixed-use project, including exceptions for building height and a side yard setback, and a 30% shared and mixed-use parking reduction; C-N-H, C-S-H, and C-S-S-H zones; Rick Moses, applicant.  (Continued from August 27, 2008, meeting)  (Pam Ricci)

Chairperson Stevenson recused himself because he owns property within 500 feet of the project site.  On a 5:0 vote, the Commission approved a Use Permit for the mixed-use project, and recommended to the Council approval of the request for a Mixed-Use overlay zoning.  The Commission added a condition supporting the addition of four additional residential units to the upper floors of Buildings C & D.  Six members of the public spoke, all of whom indicated their enthusiastic support for the project.  Some of the speakers were also members of the South Broad Street Corridor Plan Working Group that viewed the project as an excellent example of the type of mixed-use development that the plan envisions and a catalyst for future redevelopment in the plan area.  The Planning Commission complimented staff and the applicant team on the project presentations and agreed with the public testimony about the high caliber of the project.

COMMENT AND DISCUSSION:

2.   Staff 

a.  Agenda Forecast – Deputy Director Davidson provided an agenda forecast noting that the meeting of September 24^th had been cancelled.

3.   Commission 

a.  Discussion of the City Council’s decision to allow owners in the area bounded by Foothill and Los Osos Valley Road to proceed with an annexation application separately from the Land Use Element Update process. 

Commissioner Multari expressed his concern that the annexation request was presented to Council without Planning Commission input.  He offered a written statement to the Commission containing language to send to the Council and asked the other Commissioners for feedback.  The Commission discussed the issue and on a 5:1 vote (Commissioner Carpenter dissenting), moved to send a letter to Council requesting initiation of the community involvement process related to the General Plan update as soon as possible to coordinate the community planning process with this private amendment application.  

ADJOURNMENT   

The meeting adjourned at 9:21 p.m.