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PC Minutes 2008-03-181 1 1 ANNOUNCEMENTS: None. MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MARCH 18, 2008 6:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER - The Arroyo Grande Planning Commission met in regular session with Chair Ray presiding; also present were Commissioners Barneich, Keen, Marshall and Tait. Staff members in attendance were Community Development Director, Rob Strong and Associate Planner, Teresa McClish. AGENDA REVIEW: Staff requested Item II.B, pertaining to undergrounding utilities to be continued to a date certain of April 1, 2008. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Barneich made a motion, seconded by Commission Keen, to approve the minutes of February 19, 2008 with the following requested corrections: • Page 5, 1 bullet, add "and they' after "...where most of the comments have been received from... ". • Page 11, 2 bullet, under Commissioner Barneich's comments, remove last sentence and replace with, "The City Arborist has been interested in starting a program exactly like this and has been talking to her about it for the last few years" • Page 11 should state: Vice Chair Keen closed the public hearing. • Page 13: Delete Chair Ray from approval of vote. • Page 1: Remove space from word "ECOSLO ". The motion was unanimously approved by a 5/0 voice vote. A. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None. B. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS AFTER AGENDA PREPARATION: 1. Memo from Mark Vasquez regarding item II.A. DCA 08- 001(B). C. NOMINATION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR Chair Ray asked for nomination of the Chair and Vice Chair to hold office for the next year: Commissioner Keen nominated Chair Ray to serve another term as Chair. Commissioner Tait seconded the nomination. The nomination passed on a 5/0 voice vote. Commissioner Tait nominated Vice Chair Keen to serve another term as Vice Chair. Chair Ray seconded the nomination. The nomination passed on a 5/0 voice vote. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES MARCH 18, 2008 PAGE 2 II. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS: A. DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENT CASE NO. 08- 001(B); APPLICANT — CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE; LOCATION — CITYWIDE (Continued from March 4, 2008 meeting Associate Planner, Teresa McClish presented the staff report for review of amendments to the Municipal Code Section 16.24.020 (The Zoning Map) to change nine (9) properties on Whitely Street between Allen Street and the Arroyo Grande Creek within the Historic Character Overlay District (D -2.4), from Single Family (SF D -2.4) to Village Residential (VR D -2.4). Ms. McClish stated that staff are requesting to continue this item to the April 15, 2008 meeting after discussion and public comment have taken place as there are additional properties to include for consideration that have not yet been noticed. Ms. McClish then described the differences between the SF D -2.4 and VR D -2.4 within the historic district. She explained that there are other studies going on concurrent with the proposed amendment and one that specifically addresses mansionization. This study will take some time to complete and will address size, bulk and scale of homes on residential lots. There is concern with large houses being built on small lots despite architectural features applied through the Design Guidelines and Standards; the study will include some alternatives on how to address this issue. In addition, during the next year, the Regional Water Quality Control Board will be requiring an update on the Storm Water Management Plan and this may affect how the City addresses lot coverage standards, specifically how much a person can cover their property with impervious surfaces. In conclusion, Ms. McClish stated that staff is looking for a tentative recommendation regarding the zoning proposal, including the geographic areas, specifically on the north end of Whiteley Street, address any concerns the Commission has, and consider whether the proposed zone changes should be postponed to a future date. In reply to questions from the Commissioners, Ms. McClish further explained the history of how the zoning for these specific areas had evolved and differences between the SF and VR zones. The masionization study is being is being led by Planning Intern, Jimmy Paulding, and some results of this should be available by the end of April when a public workshop will be held. Mr. Strong explained that there could be other areas besides the Village that may be included in the study. Whitely Street was initiated first with Planning Commission agreement because there was an application in process. Ms. McClish explained that the zoning change from SF to VR at this time would only include the lots on Whiteley & north Nelson Streets and perhaps some lots in the vicinity of Crown Hill (appropriate for this zoning change), but with the main focus on the Village district. The Design Guidelines and Standards for the Historic Character Overlay District D -2.4 are to be considered in addition to what is required in the base district. 1 1 1 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES MARCH 18, 2008 PAGE 3 In reply to a question from Commissioner Barneich, Ms. McClish agreed that changes may be made affecting these zoning districts after the masionization study. Chair Ray opened the public hearing for public comment and hearing none closed it. Commissioner Marshall asked for an update on the proposed house on the corner of Whiteley & Ide Streets; Mr. Strong gave an update explaining the project is not consistent with SF (present) zoning, but as designed it would be consistent with the VR property standards. Alternatively it could be considered as a variance. Commissioner comments: Barneich: • She is not in support of the rezone now. She does understand that there is a pocket in the neighborhood that could be affected by the zoning. She would prefer to wait until the mansionization study is done and see what the public input from the neighborhood is and doing the rezoning now would not be in the right order. • She would like to continue consideration of this item to a date uncertain — until after the mansionization study is complete. Keen: • In the Development Code there is a table (16.32.050A) which addresses all the different setbacks for all the different zones, infill and additions; there is only one setback that changes and there are only three lots that will be affected. In reply to a question from Commissioner Keen, Mr. Strong explained that the masionization study may take a year and staff is proposing to address this zoning inconsistency now. Keen (continued): • Going forward with the zone change after the study and all the information has been gathered is the correct path. He finds it difficult to understand how a group of people can stop a project [at Whiteley and Ide] from going forward for a couple of years; it is not fair to the applicant. Tait: • The D -2.4 overlay should be addressed soon, especially regarding bulk and scale of buildings and especially if the zone change will reduce setback requirements in the Village, which would not be wise to do if the Overlay does not address this; he is leaning toward delaying this until they receive more information; the disadvantages of doing this overshadow the advantages here. • He also agrees with some of the points made in Mark Vasquez's letter. Marshall: • He believes the rules should not be changed with a project application already in process. The rules that are in place on this application [Whiteley & Ide project] are subject to the SF zoning district. • If the design the applicants [Whitely & Ide project] want requires a variance then they should apply for one. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES MARCH 18, 2008 PAGE 4 • All the changes to the zoning districts and the rules for development in them should all be looked at in tandem. Ray: • She concurs with Commissioner Marshall. If something comes into the pipeline then it should be subject to the rules in place at that time. Even though it was a staff error [that the incorrect setback was applied] it seems the variance is the proper way to go. • It does make sense to that the houses on both sides of the street should have the same zoning; but it may be better to do all the zoning at the same time. • She also agrees with Commissioner Keen that there is an ideal process and a reasonable and fair process so either way would be acceptable to her, but if they come forward with a variance on April 15 they would not be held up for months. Mr. Strong explained the history of the proposal and how they moved forward through the City process. Commissioner Marshall made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Tait, to continue consideration of DCA 08- 001(B) to the meeting of April 15, 2008, with the side direction that staff process a variance for the property on the corner of Whiteley and Ide Streets; the rezone to be considered later with the other D -2.4 overlay districts. Commissioner Barneich asked for clarification of the motion. Commissioner Marshall stated he would withdraw his motion and then made the following motion: Commissioner Marshall made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Tait, that consideration of DCA 08- 001(B) be tabled until the results of the masionization study for the D -2.4 Overlay are completed. AYES: Commissioners Marshall, Tait, Barneich, Keen and Chair Ray NOES: None ABSENT: None Commissioner Marshall made a further motion, seconded by Commissioner Tait, to direct staff to process a variance for the project on the corner of Whiteley and Ide Streets for the meeting of April 15, 2008. AYES: Commissioners Marshall, Tait, Barneich, Keen and Chair Ray NOES: None ABSENT: None 1 1 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES MARCH 18, 2008 B. DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENT CASE NO. 07 -001, AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 16 OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO UNDERGROUND UTILITIES; APPLICANT — CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE; LOCATION — CITY WIDE This project was continued to a date certain of April 1, 2008 as recommended by staff and approved by the Planning Commission. Some members of the public were present to speak on this project (after announcement of the continuance at the beginning of the meeting) so Chair Ray opened the hearing for public comment. Kammi Griffin, 514 May Street, speaking on behalf of both her and her husband, handed a letter to the Commission and then spoke regarding their concerns on the proposed DCA as stated in the letter. She explained their personal experience after applying to construct two small additions (286 sq. ft.) to their residence and that they were being required to underground their utilities in addition to a number of repairs to the existing curb, gutter and sidewalk that front their property; their appeal for a waiver had been denied by Public Works. The DCA that is being reviewed needs clarification and they were requesting that the language discussing allowing a waiver of both the undergrounding and the in -lieu fee where a residential addition was no more than 500 sq. ft. of habitable area" not be deleted. Chair Ray left the hearing open due to continuance to the April 1, 2008 meeting. III. NON - PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS: None. IV. REFERRAL ITEMS FOR COMMISSION ACTION/ NOTICES OF ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS: SINCE MARCH 4, 2008: PAGE 5 Case N;o ASP 08 -006 Sara Vandenburg Signworks address , 1590 W. Branch D scription Proposed new sign for Carl's Jnr. Drive - thru Restaurant. A „. A Planner, K. Heffernon The Commission asked for some detail regarding the exterior colors approved by the ARC for the Carl's Junior Restaurant and the change in corporate logo. Mr. Strong described the colors and details of the sign; temporary banners were also requested to be removed. V. DISCUSSION ITEMS: None. VI. PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS AND COMMENTS: Commissioner Barneich wanted to clarify the issue of the email from Mark Vasquez and stated that there was no violation of the Brown Act. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES MARCH 18, 2008 Commissioner Ray stated that both her and Commissioner Barneich would be attending the League of Cities Planning conference and thanked the City for the opportunity. VII. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR COMMENTS AND FOLLOW -UP: None. VIII. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m. on a motion by Chair Ray, seconded by Commissioner Marshall. ATTEST: LYN REARDON- SMITH, SECRETARY TO THE COMMISSION AS TO CONTENT: ROBS RONG, COMMUNITY DEVELOP NT DIRECTOR Minutes approved at the PC meeting of April 1, 2008) PAGE 6 1