Planning Commission Meeting Update

September 23, 2009               Wednesday                             7:00 p.m.

CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

ROLL CALL:      Commissioners Michael Boswell, Michael Draze, Eric Meyer, Airlin Singewald, Mary Whittlesey, Vice-Chairperson Michael Multari, and Chairperson Charles Stevenson
Commissioners Draze and Whittlesey were absent. 

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA:  The agenda was accepted as presented. 

MINUTES:  The minutes of August 26 and September 9, 2009 were approved as presented.   

PUBLIC COMMENT:   No comments were made by the public. 

PUBLIC HEARINGS: 

1.    1101 Monterey Street. A 63-09: Use permit request to allow a carwash in conjunction with new convenience store; Raffy & Sonia Arsene, applicants. (Continued from August 26, 2009, meeting)   (Brian Leveille)

Brian Leveille, Associate Planner, made the staff presentation.  The project which would normally be evaluated as part of a Director’s Use Permit was referred to the Commission due to policy issues more appropriately considered by the Planning Commission.  The presentation discussed the changes to the design originally submitted by the applicant in response to concerns about Land Use Element policy consistency.  The site plan and building design were revised to address General Plan policies that call for pedestrian orientation, continuous storefront, street level activities, and sidewalk appeal for development in the Downtown Core. 

The applicant’s representative, George Garcia, indicated the economic reasons prompting the proposed addition to the service station and further discussed the changes made to the project to respond to staff’s concerns.

No members of the public provided testimony.

The Commission discussed the item at length in light of the policy direction in the General Plan and the longstanding presence of the service station. 

Commissioner Boswell moved to adopt the resolution approving the project with revised language for finding #2.  The motion was seconded by Vice-Chair Multari but failed on a 2-3 vote (Commissioners Singewald and Meyer and Chair Stevenson opposed).  

A second motion by Commissioner Meyer, seconded by Commissioner Singewald, to deny the project based on findings that it conflicts with the General Plan passed on a 3-2 vote (Commissioner Boswell and Vice-Chair Multari opposed). 

2.   400 Prado Road.  TR 112-07:  Request for review of a vesting tentative tract map creating a 6-lot commercial subdivision with provision for condominium ownership for spaces within buildings and including an adjustment to the Specific Plan regarding the extent and design of the proposed collector road on the project’s east side; BP zone; Prado Park, LLC, applicant.  (Pam Ricci)

Senior Planner Pam Ricci provided the staff presentation discussing the project and the way the proposal has addressed the various challenges related to development timing and ultimate location of the collector road. Staff in attendance from Public Works included Tim Bochum, Deputy Director, and Hal Hannula, Supervising Civil Engineer, as well as Utilities staff including Dave Hix, Wastewater Division Manager, and Jennifer Metz, Utilities Project Manager.  Neil Havlik, Natural Resources Manager was also in attendance and provided a presentation of the wetlands on site and how the project responds to the presence of sensitive species.

Warren Hamrick, representative for the project, provided testimony and questioned the wording of three conditions.  Tim Bochum responded to the testimony.

On a motion by Commissioner Multari and seconded by Commissioner Boswell, the Planning Commission voted 5-0 to approve the Resolution recommending that the City Council adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration and approve the Tentative Map subject to revised findings and added condition #28 addressing an avigation easement.
 

COMMENT AND DISCUSSION: 

3.      Staff 

a.   Agenda Forecast - Staff provided an agenda forecast for the October 14^th Planning Commission meeting and also reminded Commissioners about the upcoming Mayor’s quarterly lunch and advisory body training. 

4.   Commission – The Commission expressed appreciation for staff’s work in collaborating with the applicant of the 400 Prado Road project to develop solutions to the timing and development issues related to the project. 
Commissioner Boswell and Chairperson Stevenson shared information regarding the recent American Planning Association conference. 

ADJOURNMENT  - Meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m.

Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the Planning Commission regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection in the Community Development, 919 Palm Street, during normal business hours.