City of San Luis Obispo - Planning Commission Meeting Update 01-00-99

Planning Commission Meeting Update

November 9, 2005 Wednesday 7:00 p.m.

CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ROLL CALL: Commissioners Carlyn Christianson, Alice Loh, Andrea Miller, Orval Osborne, Andrew Carter, Chairperson Michael Boswell and Vice-Chair Jim Aiken.

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA:

MINUTES: Minutes of October 12, 2005. Approve or amend.

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

1. 36 W. Foothill Boulevard. ANNX, GP/R, TR, and ER 124-03; Request to annex approximately 10 acres of land into the City; prezone the property to R-1 (low-density residential); consideration of a tentative tract map to create 11 lots from one lot; and environmental review; Jay Poindexter, applicant. (Phil Dunsmore)

Following extensive discussion and public testimony regarding a proposed pedestrian path to the existing neighborhood at tract 1313, the Planning Commission voted 5-0 to recommend approval of the annexation and tract map to the City Council. Commissioners voted to remove staff recommended conditions that required a pedestrian path to connect the proposed neighborhood to existing neighborhoods and to remove conditions that required an urban reserve line buffer of 50 feet. Public testimony generally opposed the project and adjacent property owners strongly opposed the use of eminent domain to allow a path through private vacant lots. The recommendation of approval included the addition of findings to support the subdivision without the path, and without a 50-foot setback from the URL..

2. 2975 Rockview Place. TR 167-05; Consideration of a tentative tract map to convert 20 apartments into 20 condominium units with one common area parcel; R-2-S zone; Holly Weatherford, applicant. (Phil Dunsmore)

The commission voted 5-0 to approve the map to complete the condo conversion. Since the project had been previously reviewed by the Planning Commission and Council there was no significant commissioner discussion and no public testimony. The approval did not include any changes to staff recommended findings and conditions.

3. 1213 and 1221 Nipomo Street; 577 and 597 Marsh Street. GP/R and ER 160-05; Request to amend the General Plan Land Use Map at 1221 Nipomo Street from High-Density Residential to General Retail and rezone the property from R-4 (High-Density Residential) to C-D-MU (Downtown Commercial with a mixed use overlay zone); and rezone 1213 Nipomo, 577 & 597 Marsh Street from C-D (Downtown Commercial) to C-D-MU (Downtown Commercial with a mixed use overlay zone); and modification of the Parking Space In-Lieu Fee area; Bermant Homes, applicant. (Jaime Hill)

Following a discussion of commercial zoning and agreement from the Commission that the new commercial zoning would allow a greater residential density than the existing residential zoning, commissioner voted 5-0 to recommend approval of the General Plan Amendment and adjustment of the parking in-lieu fee area to the City Council.

4. 620 California Boulevard. U 164-05; Review of a wireless telecommunications facility camouflaged as a pine tree, and reduced side yard from 10-feet to 5-feet; O-S zone; Cingular Wireless, applicant. (Tyler Corey)

Commissioners agreed with the findings supported by the ARC and believed that the setback reduction and Use Permit was appropriate. The Commission voted to approve the Use Permit on a 5-0 vote.

5. Citywide. GPA and ER 149-98; Review of the October 2005 draft Conservation and Open Space Element of the General Plan to update and consolidate resource conservation policies, including amendments to the Conservation, Open Space, Land Use, Energy Conservation, Circulation, and Water and Wastewater Management Elements; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant. (Jeff Hook)

Commissioners took public testimony and focused their discussion on policies in the October Draft Conservation and Open Space Element (COSE) regarding “green building” energy conservation design standards (Policy 4.21.6), and public creek access and trails (Policy 8.24.1). In response to differing recommendations from the public regarding green building, the Commission suggested that representatives from SLO Green Build, American Institute of Architects and SLO Chamber of Commerce meet to reconcile their differences. The Commission revised Policy 8.24.1 to resolve San Luis Drive residents’ concerns regarding the feasibility of public trails along San Luis Obispo Creek between Highway 101 and California Boulevard. The Commission continued this item to the November 30, 2005 regular meeting, with discussion on this item to begin no later than 7 p.m.

COMMENT AND DISCUSSION:

6. Staff

A. Agenda Forecast

7. Commission

ADJOURNED to the regular meeting of the Planning Commission scheduled for Wednesday, November 30, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 990 Palm Street.