PC Minutes 2001-08-211
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MINUTES
CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE
PLANNING COMMISSION
AUGUST 21, 2001
PAGE 1 OF 3
CALL TO ORDER
Acting Chair Keen called the regular meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of
Arroyo Grande to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
X Commissioner Brown
X Commissioner Fowler
X Commissioner Guthrie
X Vice -Chair Keen
ABSENT Chair Costello
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of August 7, 2001 were unanimously approved as written.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Otis Page, 608 Myrtle Street, spoke on two items — water and the character of the
City of Arroyo Grande. He gave the Planning Commission a copy of a water
analysis he had prepared. He stated that he does not perceive Arroyo Grande as a
rural agricultural community, but as an urban center for the South County.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None
PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
SCOPING MEETING FOR A SUBSEQUENT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
(SEIR); TENTATIVE TRACT MAP CASE NO. 01 -001 AND PLANNED UNIT
DEVELOPMENT CASE NO. 01 -001; LOCATED AT LA CANADA AND JAMES WAY
IN THE NORTHWEST PORTION OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE
Ryan Foster, Assistant Planner, introduced the project giving a brief description.
Public Comment Opened:
Dean Coker, Land Planner, Castlerock Development, described the applicant's plan.
He displayed an architectural rendering of the site for the Commission to view. Mr.
Coker stated that a limited number of homes would be built on largely flat land,
sandwiched between the tributary of Meadow Creek and the hillside lying to the
south. He said that only the base of the hillside would be disturbed and that 64% of
the area would remain as open space.
MINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION
AUGUST 21, 2001
PAGE 2
Bob Brownson, 653 Asilo, spoke against the project and gave staff and Planning
Commission a copy of his written comments. He urged that the scope of the
Environmental Impact Report be comprehensive covering all 26.6 acres of the site
including the open space area. Mr. Brownson stated that ECOSLO is representing the
residents and would be submitting written input to the Planning Department on their
behalf within the 30 -day public comment period. He referred to two studies that
were done in 1998, one on soils and drainage and another one on biology. Further
concerns were damage to the wetlands and the Chumash midden site remnants
found on the site by the Environmental Defense Center.
Otis Page stated that he was also aware there was a Chumash burial site in this area.
Public Comment closed.
Commissioner Brown asked for clarification on how environmental studies are paid
for.
Kelly Heffernon, Acting Community Development Director, said with any large
environmental document such as an EIR it is the applicant's obligation to put up the
amount of money required for the study plus 15% for City administration costs.
There is a selection criteria the City goes through in choosing the consultant.
Commissioner Fowler asked what the hay bales on the site were for and what
months of the year the stream flows through the site.?
Mr. Brownson said it is a "seasonal creek" that grows instantly active as soon as it
rains.
Mr. Coker said that the bales of hay stored on the project site are for use as erosion
control in preparation of the rainy season.
The Planning Commission concluded that they would like to see a comprehensive
study of all of the environmental issues that had been included in the staff report and
all of the concerns that were previously addressed in the Planning Commission
minutes of August 4, 1998.
NON - PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
None
DISCUSSION ITEMS
None
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MINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION
AUGUST 21, 2001
PAGE 3
PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner Brown asked when the General Plan Update discussion, with respect
to the EIR, would be coming back to the Planning Commission?
Kelly Heffernon said if City Council requests the Commission to continue the
discussion of the EIR it will be on the next Agenda.
Commissioner Guthrie said he had attended the last two Architectural Review
Committee (ARC) meetings. He stated that the ARC covered a lot of issues at their
meetings and at the August 13, 2001 meeting they had a fairly complete
discussion on the Creekside Center project. Commissioner Guthrie suggested that
before attending each other's meetings, the agendas are reviewed to make sure
items of interest are going to be considered.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR COMMENTS AND FOLLOW - UP REPORTS
Kelly Heffernon, Acting Community Development Director, reminded the Planning
Commission that the joint ARC /PC meeting would be on Thursday September 27,
2001, at 6:00 p.m. The discussion will be on "siting criteria for telecommunication
facilities ".
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned
at 7:40 p.m. on a motion by Acting Chair Keen, seconded by Commissioner Brown,
and unanimously carried.
ATTEST:
4.4 7A-
Lyn Reardon - Smith, Commission Clerk
AS TO CONTENT:
Kelly • effernon,
Acting Community Development Director