Planning Commission Meeting Update

December 17, 2008                  Wednesday                                7:00 p.m.

CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

OATH OF OFFICE:    City Clerk Audrey Hooper administered the oath of office to newly-appointed Commissioners Michael Boswell, Michael Draze, and Eric Meyer 

ROLL CALL:      Commissioners Michael Boswell, Carlyn Christianson, Michael Draze, Eric Meyer, Michael Multari, Airlin Singewald, Vice-Chairperson Vacant, and Chairperson Charles Stevenson 

ELECTION:  Commissioner Multari was selected to be Vice-Chairperson.  

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA:  Agenda was accepted as presented. 

MINUTES:  Minutes of November 19, 2008, were approved as modified. 

PUBLIC COMMENT:  None 

PUBLIC HEARINGS: 

1.   43 Prado Road.  MOD 150-08:  Modification to existing Day Center use permit to allow opening during nighttime hours for inclement weather; PF zone; EOC – Biz Steinberg, applicant.  (Brian Leveille)

 Deputy Director Davidson provided the staff report recommending approval of the Use Permit modification to allow a “warming station” at the Prado Day Center during times of inclement weather.   

The Commissioners questioned why the criteria (32 degrees and more than one night of rain) were selected as the threshold.  They supported being flexible on the definition of inclement weather and allowing the Day Center to manage their facility as dictated by needs and resources. 

Dee Torres, Director of Homeless Services, supported the use permit modification and discussed her agency’s resources and staffing.  Chuck Crotser, EOC Board member also spoke in support of the request and flexibility in when to open the “warming station.” 

On motion by Vice-Chair Multari, seconded by Commissioner Singewald, the commission unanimously approved the Use Permit and modified the conditions to eliminate reference to specific weather thresholds and allow the Day Center flexibility to open the “warming station” in times of inclement weather.        

2.    2959 Broad Street.  U 139-08:  Review of mixed-use residential-commercial project with setback exceptions and a parking reduction in the C-S-S zone; Westpac – Hamish Marshall, applicant.  (Phil Dunsmore) 

Phil Dunsmore presented the staff report and discussed that the primary question before the commission is the request to allow residential units within the C-S zone. Following a summary of the project and discussion of City policies, staff recommended the commission approve the use permit to allow mixed-use and approve a 30% parking reduction.  Following a brief presentation by the project applicants, commissioners discussed the parking reduction and the potential for residential units to be exposed to noise from the adjacent commercial business, Alpha Fire and Alarm.  During public testimony, the owner of Alpha Fire discussed that his business does create significant noise during early morning hours.  On motion by Commissioner Boswell, seconded by Commissioner Christianson, the commission approved the project, as recommended by staff, adding a condition for a noise disclosure for all owners and tenants.  The motion was approved 7:0.  

DISCUSSION ITEM: 

3.    Orcutt Area.  GP/SP/ER 209-98:  Update on the processing of the Orcutt Area Specific Plan and EIR; Barbara Parsons, applicant.  (Michael Codron) 

City staff provided the Planning Commission with an update on the Orcutt Area Specific Plan (OASP).  The OASP is a detailed specific plan that would guide the development of a new neighborhood in the southeast portion of the City with housing, transit, neighborhood-serving commercial uses, a school and neighborhood park, and public access to 80 acres of open space and the top of Righetti Hill.  Staff discussed three key issues that are expected to be resolved in early 2009, allowing progress on the OASP to continue.  These issues include the school site location (which is not supported by the local Airport Land Use Commission), new Regional Water Quality Control Board regulations that will require adding new policies to the plan, and the cost of public facilities, which is a major concern for the property owners.  The Planning Commission received the staff presentation and discussed the issues presented.  No action was recommended or taken for this item. 

COMMENT AND DISCUSSION: 

4.        Staff 

a.   Agenda Forecast:  Deputy Director Davidson wished the Commissioners happy holidays and thanked Commissioner Christianson for all her years of service.   

5.        Commission:  Commissioner Christianson thanked her fellow Commissioners and staff for their work with her over the years.   

ADJOURNMENT – The meeting adjourned at 9:05 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