PC Minutes 2009-04-21MINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION
APRIL 21, 2009
6:00 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER - The Arroyo Grande Planning Commission met in regular session
with Chair Ray presiding; also present were Commissioner Barneich, Brown, Keen and
Ruth. Staff member in attendance was Community Development Director, Rob Strong.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: None.
AGENDA REVIEW: No changes.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: None.
A. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None.
B. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS AFTER AGENDA PREPARATION
1. Letter dated April 20, 2009 from Richard & Ann Gould regarding
prezone/Annexation/GPA/DCA for Pearwood Avenue and Huasna Road (to be
further considered at the May 5, 2009 Planning Commission hearing).
II. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
A. VARIANCE CASE NO. 09-001; APPLICANT — GLENN BURGESS & SUSAN
ABUNDIS; LOCATION — 785 EASY STREET (Continued from meeting of
March 17, 2009.)
Director Strong presented the staff report prepared by Associate Planner, Teresa
McClish for continued consideration, for modifications requested by the Planning
Commission at their last meeting to increase the proposed side yard setbacks for a new
single-family home on a vacant lot.
The Commission had no questions so Chair Ray opened the public hearing for public
comment.
Lenny Grant, LGA, gave the history of the project and described the revisions that
had been made since their last presentation; Eddie Herrera, LGA representative,
explained how they had reduced the encroachment of the side yard setbacks, but kept
the same square footage of the home.
Chair Ray closed the public hearing for public comment.
Commission comments:
Barneich:
• She is happy with the revised plans; she would rather have had larger setbacks,
but at least with the revisions there will be a lot less grading.
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APRIL 21, 2009
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In reply to a question from Commissioner Keen, Director Strong stated there are no
water mains on Easy Street, no sewer service and the fire distance substantial, so the
Fire Department will be looking for a pressurized water system off the storage tank to
operate for fire safety.
Keen:
• The 20 ft. setback is fine for this project.
Brown:
• He agreed with the comments of both Commissioner Barneich and Keen.
Ruth: '
• The revised plan is a good compromise that will enable a livable house to be
built.
In reply to a question from Chair Ray, Director Strong stated that the project will go back
for further review to the ARC as required by the Resolution so the landscaping and
screening for the water tank will be addressed at that time.
Commissioner Brown made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Barneich, to approve
Variance Case No. 09-001, and adopt:
RESOLUTION NO. 09-2080
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
ARROYO GRANDE APPROVING VARIANCE CASE NO. 09-001; 785
EASY STREET; APPLIED FOR BY GLENN BURGESS AND SUSAN
ABUNDIS
The motion was approved by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Commissioners Brown, Barneich, Keen, Ruth and Chair Ray
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
the foregoing Resolution was adopted this 21 St day of April 2009.
B. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT CASE NO. 09-001; APPLICANT — BURRITO
LOCO (BENITEZ) ENTERPRISES, INC; LOCATION — 922 RANCHO PARKWAY.
Director Strong presented the staff report, prepared by Associate Planner, Jim Bergman
for consideration of an application to sell distilled alcoholic beverages in an existing
restaurant, which requires approval of a Conditional Use Permit.
In reply to Commission questions regarding public safety, Director Strong replied that
this proposal had been reviewed by both staff and the Police Department.
Chair Ray opened the public hearing for public comment and hearing none closed it.
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APRIL 21, 2009
The Commission had no further comments or concerns.
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Commissioner Brown made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Ruth, to approve
Conditional Use Permit Case No. 09-001, and adopt:
RESOLUTION 09-2081
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF ARROYO GRANDE, APPROVING CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
09-001, APPLIED FOR BY BENITEZ ENTERPRISES, INC (BURRITO
LOCO), LOCATED AT 922 RANCHO PARKWAY
The motion was approved by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Commissioners Brown, Ruth, Barneich, Keen and Chair Ray
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
the foregoing Resolution was adopted this 21 St day of April 2009.
C. HISTORIC RESOURCE DESIGNATION CASE NO. 08-002; CITY OF ARROYO
GRANDE BUILDING AND LIFE SAFETY DEPARTMENT OFFICES; LOCATION
— 200 E. BRANCH STREET (Portion of APN 007-492-004)
Director Strong presented the staff report for consideration of recommendations from
the Historic Resource Committee, the Architectural Review Committee and the
Community Development Director, regarding an application to designate 200 E. Branch
Street as a local historic resource per Municipal Code Section 16.16.135.
In reply to questions from the Commission, Director Strong explained the current
alternatives the City is considering for 200 E. Branch Street if demolished or deemed
historical, described the concept for Centennial Plaza for Short Street and what may be
required by CEQA.
Chair Ray opened the public hearing for public comment.
Shirley Gibson, 1546 Helena, Halcyon, HRC member, gave some background history,
showed a photograph of a vehicle parked outside 200 E. Branch which described the
contemporary look of the building stating that along with the "Nester properties" the
building does contribute toward the horizontal flow and the scale of E. Branch Street
with the mixture of the two-story and single story buildings; in addition, Ms. Gibson
showed a photograph of a 1940's vehicle parked on the property that now contains 200
E. Branch Street that had been used as a jewelry and watch repair business.
Gary Scherquist, HRC member, commented on the staff report of the March 17, 2009
Planning Commission and stated he disagreed with the consultant statements (under
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the Findings of Fact), specifically with the consultant's conclusion that "the structure
does not possess the significance of the local criteria to assess it as a local historic
resource"; the HRC has found Building permit records showing the building being
present in 1960 and they have eye witnesses on the Committee who know the building
was there in the late 50's; it looked the same as it is now except the windows facing
west are not the original ones; he disagrees with the statement that there is "inadequate
justification in the record to conclude that 200 E. Branch can be designated as of
historic significance"; the Historic Resources Survey of 1991 estimated the building was
constructed in the 1940's which makes it even more important. He went on to state
reasons why he considers the most important criteria the building meets for the findings
of the Ordinance for Historic Resource District Designation are:
• It is strongly identified with a person or persons who organized, or an
organization that significantly contributed to the culture and history of the
development of the City of Arroyo Grande.
• It is one of the best of a few remaining examples left in the area possessing
distinguishable characteristics of an architectural style or specimen: the way the
building addresses the corner is architecturally important as it embodies
elements of architectural design detail, material or craftsmanship that represents
significant architectural innovation.
• The structure is located in the geographically definable area possessing a
concentration of historic resources that visually contribute to each other and are
unified aesthetically and that therefore, 200 E. Branch, the Council Chambers
building, JJ's Market, the Zimmerman building on the corner of Mason and E.
Branch and City Hall are a grouping of buildings all from the same era and
related aesthetically to each other.
• An important issue is that this building retains the integrity of the design and has
not been significantly altered or remodeled.
He stated concern that if the City demolishes an historic building it would set a
precedent for private developers and he believed that modifications could be made to
the building without jeopardizing historic qualities.
Mike McConville, 529 E. Branch Street, stated he had previously thought this building
should be torn down and that it was ugly. He has now changed his mind as the City
Council just approved designating 139 & 145 E. Branch Street as buildings for historic
preservation so this building should also be preserved. There is a perception that the
City wants a new building and is using 200 E. Branch as a vehicle to achieve this; he
agrees with the comments made by Mr. Scherquist.
Susan Flores, 529 E. Branch Street, stated that the 50's motif is very important and if
we are going to keep City Hall this building should also be kept as it is the same age; it
could be reused for a number of things or added on to; it sets a nice flavor to have a
smaller quaint look; we are trying to keep what we have in the Village and have an
historic district and need to have a certain number of buildings to do this. The City can
still move forward with their ideas.
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APRIL 21, 2009
Chair Ray closed the public hearing for public comment.
Commissioner Comments:
Barneich:
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• She is definitely in favor of adding this to the historic register; it looks exactly like
a 1950's style building with its horizontal lines; maybe just the front of building
could be saved.
• The City should lead by example.
• She is for Centennial Plaza and this could be incorporated into that just fine.
• After doing some research this building meets criteria 3& 4:
example of a 1950's style and one of the best of a few remaining
very pure — it looks like not much has been done to it at all.
it's a perfect
examples; it's
• She agrees with Mr. Scherquist on the grouping of the buildings built in the
1950's.
• She is completely in favor of recommending to City Council that this be added to
the historic district for preservation.
Keen:
• He does not see JJ's building as being in the same era or as a comparison as it
was built in the1920's; he agrees with the ARC member who stated that being 50
years old is not a criteria for being designated as historic.
• He does not believe this building represents an historic building in this
community.
Brown:
He appreciates the HRC's work on each case they consider, but has a concern
that they will evaluate all old buildings in the Village as historic and he asked for
an update on buildings that they have designated as not being historical. Mr.
Strong gave an update on the HRC's progress on designation in the Village,
stating that the predominance of their focus has been on the Village Core; City
Hall information began as presented to them from a consultant study that the City
commissioned; they are working toward an historic district designation.
He is on the fence with this issue; he would like to see the City be the leader in
going through this process, so they should go above and beyond what is required
to show that they are doing it above board and not for business reasons; they
should be held to same standards as a private party.
• He agrees with Commissioner Keen's comments regarding JJ's Market and a
much greater argument could be made for its historical significance; he has not
seen in this building, other than the era, any people or events of historical
significance, that relate to this and would warrant this designation.
Ruth:
• She does not want to label everything historic.
• The more she looked at this building the more she loves it, it's well sited and is a
great example of the architecture of the 50's; she likes the details.
• The City has taken good care of it and she is very much in favor of designating
this building as historic.
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APRIL 21, 2009
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Ray:
• All buildings have history and all buildings have architectural style, but the
question is does this meet the criteria of Ordinance 598? After studying this she
does not think so; 208 and 214 E. Branch were designated separately in the
consultant's report and she also looked to the D-2.4 Overlay, Design Guidelines
and Standards, for guidance; she does not find anything that points to this style
as being of design value.
• She agrees with Commissioner Brown that it does have design lines from a
certain era, but there is no significant connection of the building itself to any
particular character, person or event from the City, so she concurs with the
interpretation of the ARC. She cannot make any of the findings so she is not in
favor of putting it on the local historic designation.
Commissioner Barneich made a�motion, seconded by Commissioner Ruth, to
recommend that the City Council de gnate the Building Department building at 200 E.
Branch to the Local Historic Registe .
The motion was approved by the f Ilowing roll call vote:
AYES: Commissioners Barneich, Ruth and Brown
NOES: Commissioner Keen and Chair Ray
ABSENT: None
III. NON-PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS None.
I.V. NOTICES OF ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS: SINCE APRIL 7, 2009:
1. MEX 09-001 � Charles McHale � 988 Sycamore Dr. � MEX for a fence.
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The Commission had no concerns with the approval of the above administrative item.
V. DISCUSSION ITEMS: None.
IV. PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS AND COMMENTS:
In reply to a question from Commissioner Barneich regarding noise in the late hours
when "Lets Get Together" lets out, Director Strong stated that land use compatibility is
very difficult to predict; this business has been the only problem area; it may be
necessary to make the permits more of a"revocable use"; the design of this particular
building with the residential underneath has become a problem.
VII. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR COMMENTS AND FOLLOW-UP:
Director Strong gave an update on the General Plan Amendment item (for a number of
areas in the City) scheduled to return to the Commission on May 5, 2009, stating that
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APRI L 21, 2009
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the environmental impacts have not been resolved so it looks like it will be continued
again until July at which time it will be re-noticed.
In reply to Commissioner Brown, Director Strong explained that the yellow striping on
City sidewalks is a caution stripe until the City can repair; there is a major program
going on in the City for sidewalk repairs and ADA requirements.
After discussing vacation schedules with the Commissioners, Director Strong stated that
in the next few months it may work out to have just one meeting each month to
accommodate their schedules. The Commission tentatively cancelled June 16, 2009
due to anticipated lack of a quorum.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m. on a motion by Chair Ray, seconded by
Commissioner Keen.
ATTEST:
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LYN REARDON-SMITH,
SECRETARY TO THE COMMISSION
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CAREN RA�Y, C.HAIR
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AS TO CO TENT:
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ROB STRONG, � � —
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
(Approved at the May 19, 2009 meeting)
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