PC Minutes 2015-12-01ACTION MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 215 EAST BRANCH STREET
ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair George called the Regular Planning Commission meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Planning Commission: Commissioners John Keen, Glenn Martin, Terry Fowler -Payne, John
Mack, and Lan George were present.
Staff Present: Community Development Director Teresa McClish, Associate Planner
Matt Downing, City Engineer Matt Horn, Police Chief Steve Annibali
and Secretary Debbie Weichinger were present.
3. FLAG SALUTE
Commissioner Mack led the flag salute.
4. AGENDA REVIEW
Commissioner George moved to review Item 9.a. followed with Item 8.b. to accommodate the
applicants in the audience. Commissioner Mack seconded and the motion was approved by a
voice vote.
5. COMMUNITY COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
None
6. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
The Commission received the following material after preparation of the agenda:
1. Two Memos dated December 1, 2015 from Associate Planner Matt Downing regarding
Agenda Item 8.a.
7. CONSENT AGENDA
7.a. Consideration of Approval of Minutes.
Recommended Action: Approve the minutes of the Regular Planning Commission Meeting of
November 3, 2015 as submitted
Action: Commissioner Keen moved to approve the minutes of the Regular Planning Commission
Meeting of November 3, 2015, as submitted. Commissioner Martin seconded, and the motion
passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Keen, Martin, Fowler -Payne, Mack, George
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
9. NON-PUBLIC HEARING ITEM
9.a. CONSIDERATION OF LOT MERGER 15-003; LOCATION — 515 LE POINT STREET; APPLICANT
— GUY TORELLI; REPRESENTATIVE — MARK VASQUEZ
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Associate Planner Downing presented the staff report and recommended that the Planning
Commission adopt a Resolution approving lot Merger 15-003.
Chair George opened the public comment period. Hearing no public comments, Chair George
closed the public comment period.
Action: Commissioner George moved to adopt a resolution entitled "A RESOLUTION OF THE
PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE APPROVING LOT MERGER
15-003; LOCATION — 515 LE POINT STREET, APPLIED FOR BY GUY TORELLI".
Commissioner Keen seconded and the motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: George, Keen, Fowler -Payne, Mack, Martin
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
8. PUBLIC HEARINGS
8.b. CONSIDERATION OF DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENT CASE NO. 15-003; REGARDING
MEDICAL MARIJUANA; LOCATION - CITYWIDE; APPLICANT — CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE
Community Development Director McClish presented the staff report and recommended that the
Planning Commission adopt a Resolution recommending that the City Council adopt an ordinance
adding chapter 16.62 to Title 16 of the Municipal Code relating to medical marijuana dispensaries,
cooperatives and collectives, cultivation of medical marijuana, and deliveries of medical marijuana
or medical cannabis products.
Community Development Director McClish and Police Chief Annibali responded to questions from
the Commission.
Chair George opened the public hearing.
The following asked that medical marijuana be regulated and not prohibited: Speaker (no name
given), Leonard Lenger, Carpenter Canyon, and Joni, Arroyo Grande.
Hearing no further comments, Chair George closed the public hearing.
The Commission provided the following comments/concerns: there is medicine that can be used
instead of relying on medical marijuana; support regulating and not banning; supports the proposed
ordinance of the resolution; support individual use for medical needs and do not support cultivation
use for sale or profit; enforcement issues if limited to a few plants; support the City have control and
not the State; and suggested a temporary ban.
Action: Commissioner Martin moved to adopt a resolution entitled "A RESOLUTION OF THE
PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE RECOMMENDING THAT THE
CITY COUNCIL ADOPT AN ORDINANCE ADDING CHAPTER 16.62 TO TITLE 16 OF THE
ARROYO GRANDE MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES,
COOPERATIVES AND COLLECTIVES, CULTIVATION OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND
DELIVERIES OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA OR MEDICAL CANNABIS PRODUCTS", with specific
review and re-evaluation of banning all cultivation and private use. Commissioner Fowler -Payne
seconded.
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The Commission discussed the cultivation of marijuana, the ban, ticketing the little guy, and private
use. Chief Annibali stated that the interest is not going after grandma with a plant on her kitchen
counter, this would be complaint driven and there are problems that come with the large grow i.e.
lighting, and noise.
Action: Commissioner Martin moved to adopt a resolution entitled "A RESOLUTION OF THE
PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE RECOMMENDING THAT THE
CITY COUNCIL ADOPT AN ORDINANCE ADDING CHAPTER 16.62 TO TITLE 16 OF THE
ARROYO GRANDE MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES,
COOPERATIVES AND COLLECTIVES, CULTIVATION OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND
DELIVERIES OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA OR MEDICAL CANNABIS PRODUCTS", with specific
review and re-evaluation of banning all cultivation. Commissioner Fowler -Payne seconded and the
motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Martin, Fowler -Payne, Mack
NOES: Keen, George
ABSENT: None
Chair George called for a break at 6:56 pm. The Commission reconvened at 7:02 pm.
8.a. CONSIDERATION OF LOT MERGER 15-004, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 15-007, AND
MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION; CONSTRUCTION OF A 51 -ROOM BOUTIQUE HOTEL;
LOCATION — 325 EAST BRANCH STREET; APPLICANT — NKT COMMERCIAL;
REPRESENTATIVE — STEVEN PUGLISI ARCHITECTS
Commissioner Fowler -Payne stepped down from the dais due to a conflict on the proposed project.
Associate Planner Downing presented the staff report and recommended that the Planning
Commission adopt a Resolution adopting the Mitigated Negative Declaration and approving Lot
Merger 15-004 and Conditional Use Permit 15-007 recommending the City Council approve the
project.
Associate Planner Downing, City Engineer Horn, and Community Development Director McClish
responded to questions from the Commission regarding the proposed project.
Steve Puglisi, applicant, spoke in support of the project, addressed the architecture character of the
proposed building and responded to questions from the Commission regarding driveways, parking
lot, height/elevation, guest amenities, water, the previous proposal of a market, parking, and oak
tree/retaining wall.
David Foote, spoke in support of the project.
Chair George opened the public hearing:
Shirley Gibson, Halcyon, spoke in support of the hotel, asked for more Commission discussion on
lighting, and noise issues, would like the hotel closer to the street and screened with street trees,
etc., don't like the parking in front of the hotel, concern with architecture --with the front view looking
from Branch Street, would like it to look like a hotel, minimize driveways and stated there were
hotels in the Village before.
Carol Fulmer, Le Point Street, stated she prefers a market instead of a hotel.
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Mike Hicks, stated to consider residents of the Village not just tax revenue, expressed concern with
water conservation, stated there should be a building moratorium, and this is the wrong project,
place, and time.
Margaret Coon, stated she is concern with water, safety of the nearby middle school, increased
traffic, bicycles, and opposed this size of project at this time.
Eileen Hughes, Whiteley Street, agrees with the concerns expressed above.
Peggy Cook, expressed her concern with size, noise, general pollution, and is opposed to the
proposed project.
Terry Fowler -Payne, Miller Way, stated concern with no restrictions of the commercial water use i.e.
pool and spa, staging for emergency vehicles, there should be no access on Harden Street, traffic
congestion, Crown Hill school traffic, building should be bought out to the sidewalk, and is not in
favor of the hotel style.
John Seitz, Crown Hill, concern with the safety of kids coming down from the school, too crowded
for the residents, the effect on resident's tax base, traffic, would like to see a market and opposed
the hotel.
Speaker (no name given) opposed the hotel, concern with safety of the children, traffic, long term
water conservation, ask if pool is needed, and stated parking is a problem.
Shawn Dixson, Crown Hill, opposed the hotel.
Cathy Hughes, Crown Hill, opposed the hotel, concern with safety for kids, pork chop needs to be
painted red, and not enough parking, and traffic.
Kevin McCarthy, Garden Street, expressed concern with water, asked about signage, and asked if
there is a process if a new owner comes in.
Steve Loomis, spoke in support of the hotel, questioned the style of the hotel and if ARC should re-
evaluate, suggested to bring project closer to the street, and stated there were hotels in the Village
long ago.
Hearing no further comments, Chair George closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Keen provided the following comments: the building needs to be more in tune with
the Design Guidelines, "boutique" is about size, not necessarily upscale amenities, height is
consistent with the Village, current traffic issues were caused in the past and hotel will have
significantly less traffic than market, the hotel will be successful and help the Village.
Commissioner Martin provided the following comments: the site is zoned commercial, there is
difficulty finding a parcel large enough for quality project like the proposal, will defer to the Fire
Authority for emergency access, water is an important component and hotel will do its fair share,
would prefer a market but the previous market left for a reason, and is in support of the project.
Commissioner Mack provided the following comments: the Village is unique in character, was
anticipating a different hotel concept, concerned with traffic and potential City solutions to the issue,
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concerned with parking lot layout and driving past the hotel to enter the site, architecture feels
cookie cutter and could use additional revisions, concerns with pedestrian safety, and in support of
hotel concept but not at current scale.
Chair George provided the following comments: this is privately owned property and the City
cannot require a market to be developed, the hotel will support the merchants of the Village, traffic
will be impacted by any development, hotel has less traffic than market, the project supplies more
parking than is required, cannot deny project based on water since no moratorium is in place,
concerned regarding child safety, architecture should be redesigned, but cannot overlook tax
generated for the City.
Steve Puglisi, applicant, responded to Commission concerns regarding building architecture.
Commissioners discussed appropriate methods of review for the architecture.
Action: Commissioner George moved to continue the public hearing to a date uncertain to allow the
applicant to make appropriate architectural modifications to be reviewed by the Historical
Resources Committee and Architectural Review Committee prior to returning to the Planning
Commission and for information regarding traffic solutions and timelines to be clarified.
Commissioner Keen seconded and the motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: George, Keen, Mack
NOES: Martin
ABSENT: Fowler -Payne
10. NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS SINCE NOVEMBER 17, 2015
This is a notice of administrative decision for Minor Use Permits, including any approvals, denials or
referrals by the Community Development Director. An administrative decision must be appealed or
called un for review by the Plannina Commission by a maioritv vote.
Case No.
Applicant
Address
Description
Action
Planner
TUP 15-021
Hopper
1587 EI
Christmas tree lot Dec
A
S.
Family
Camino Real
1 — 25, 2015, 9am to
Anderson
Christmas
9pm daily
Tree Lot
ARCH 15-007
Guy Torelli
515 Le Point
Remodel of existing
A
M.
Street
SF residence into
Downing
Craftsman style
11. COMMISSION COMMUNICATIONS
None.
12. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
Community Development Director McClish informed the Planning Commission that the East Branch
Streetscape project has officially begun.
13. ADJOURNMENT
On motion by Commissioner George, seconded by Commissioner Keen and unanimously carried,
the meeting adjourned 9:40 p.m.
PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
DECEMBER 1, 2015
ATTEST:
t..c
DEBBIE WEICHINGER
SECRETARY TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION
(Approved at PC Meeting January 19, 2016)
L E006E7
CHAIR
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