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PC Minutes 2001-02-06I ARROYO GRANDE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES FEBRUARY 6, 2001 PAGE 1 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 _ Commissioner Costello X Acting Chair Keen ELECTION OF OFFICERS Acting Chair Keen asked for nominations for Chair of the Planning Commission. Commissioner Fowler asked if the Commission had ever considered appointing the Chair on a rotation basis by seniority? After a brief discussion, it was decided to proceed with the elections in the manner stated in the Planning Commission By-laws. Commissioner Fowler nominated Commissioner Keen to be Chair of the Planning Commission. The motion failed for lack of a second. Commissioner Guthrie nominated Commissioner Costello to be Chair of the Planning Commission. Commissioner Brown seconded the motion. The motion was approved by the following roll call vote: ROLL CALL VOTE YES Commissioner Brown YES Commissioner Fowler YES Commissioner Guthrie YES Commissioner Costello YES Acting Chair Keen Commissioner Costello nominated Commissioner Keen as Vice -Chair. Commissioner Brown seconded the nomination. The nomination was approved by the following roll call vote: ROLL CALL VOTE YES Commissioner Brown YES Commissioner Fowler YES Commissioner Guthrie YES Chair Costello YES Acting Chair Keen ARROYO GRANDE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES FEBRUARY 6, 2001 PAGE 2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the December 5, 2000 and January 2, 2001 Planning Commission meetings were approved as written. ITEM I. I.A. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None 1.13. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS None ITEM II. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS II.A. PLANNED SIGN PROGRAM AMENDMENT CASE NO. 00-002 (VILLAGE CENTRE); LOCATION — WEST BRANCH/WESLEY STREETS; APPLICANT — KIMO PANKEY/JOE DELUCIA Kelly Heffernon, Associate Planner, presented the staff report to the Planning Commission summarizing the following issues and concerns: • In November 1999 a procedural error was made in processing modifications to the Planned Sign Program. Because the proposed modifications to the Prudential Hunter Realty ground signs constituted more .than a 10% increase over what was originally approved, the changes must be approved by the Planning Commission. • A primary concern with the modified Prudential ground signs is that the formed plastic material used conflicts with the Village Design Guidelines. • The dominant size of the front ground sign is also a concern. Ms. Heffernon stated staff recommends that no action be taken on this item tonight, allowing the applicant time to submit a final plan for the signage. Commissioner Costello asked what the process would be for determining the final decision on the signs for this applicant? Ms. Heffernon stated that staff needed to determine exactly what the applicant is proposing before deciding the process. The Planning Commission discussed the issues with the applicant's request with regards to: • The actual square footage of the proposed signs. • Where the rear monument sign would be located. • What constitutes a monument sign? Commissioner Brown stated that rather than have a decision made on this project administratively, he would like to see this item come back to the Planning Commission. Acting Chair Keen opened the Public Hearing. Lawnae Hunter, applicant and the Planning Commission discussed the proposed signs and the issues and concerns related to the project. Ms. Hunter stated that she did not feel that the ARROYO GRANDE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES FEBRUARY 6, 2001 PAGE 3 monument sign that had been installed should have to be changed since the ARC had already approved it. She did not feel it would be fair of the City to make them change this sign because of a procedural error. Joe DeLucia, developer of the project, spoke to the Planning Commission stating that the intention of the original Planned Sign Program was to allow enough flexibility so that businesses could design their own signs. Acting Chair Keen closed the Public Hearing. After further discussion by the Planning Commission, Commissioner Costello moved that the Planning Commission refer this matter back to staff for further information, and when all the information has been obtained, bring the project back before the Planning Commission for further action. Commissioner Brown seconded the motion. Mr. McCants stated that the applicant needed to submit the location and dimensions of the signs the applicant was intending to install. The motion was approved by the following roll call vote: ROLL CALL VOTE YES Commissioner Brown YES Commissioner Fowler YES Commissioner Guthrie YES Chair Costello YES Acting Chair Keen Mr. Keen stated that when the Planning Commission reviewed and approved the original Planned Sign Program he had stated at that time that he felt there were too many "loose ends" and too many details were left out of the sign program. ITEM. III. NON-PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS None ITEM. IV. DISCUSSION ITEMS The Planning Commission discussed the upcoming League of California Cities Planners Institute in Monterey. The "Institute" will be held from March 21 - 23. Mr. McCants stated that there was $1500 in the budget, which would cover the expenses for two members of the Commission. The money could be divided further if more than two Commissioners decided to attend. After a brief discussion, Commissioner Guthrie volunteered to represent the Planning Commission on the Long Range Planning Committee. The Planning Commission unanimously approved this. ARROYO GRANDE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES FEBRUARY 6, 2001 PAGE 4 ITEM. V. PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS AND COMMENT Commissioner Costello had no comments. Commissioner Brown offered his thanks to staff for their patience as they "deal" with the change in the Planning Commission members. Commissioner Guthrie suggested that it might be helpful to have a joint Architectural Review Committee and Planning Commission meeting to discuss what the Planning Commission needs from the ARC to provide them with recommendations regarding design issues. Acting Chair Keen stated that he also felt that this would be helpful, especially since there are new members on both the Planning Commission and the ARC. He also asked Mr. McCants to identify whom the ARC was required to report to? He stated that the ARC was originally established to help the Planning Commission with the design issues. Mr. Keen stated that as time has passed, the scope of the ARC has changed. Mr. McCants stated that Mr. Keen's assessment was accurate in that the role of the ARC is to make recommendations to the Planning Commission and the Community Development Department Director. The ARC does not have any decision-making authority, however staff and the Planning Commission take their recommendations seriously. Mr. McCants stated that he felt is would be entirely appropriate for the ARC and the Planning Commission to meet and discuss the issues that are important and also for the ARC to know what broader issues that the Planning Commission feels are important. Acting Chair Keen stated that when the Planning Commission approves projects and the Planning Commission sees the elevations of the sides of buildings to see what the buildings will look like, the electrical switch gear being installed on the outside of the buildings is never shown. He would like to see this addressed in the Conditions of Approval. ITEM. VI. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR COMMENTS AND FOLLOW-UP REPORTS Kerry McCants, Community Development Director reminded the Commission that the workshops for the East Grand Avenue Design Overlay would be held on Thursday, February 15`h at 7:30 AM and 6:30 PM. Mr. McCants discussed the possibility of changing the preparation of the Planning Commission minutes from a more detailed format to an "action" format. Mr. McCants stated that the tapes are the official record of the meetings and many staff hours are spent in preparing such detailed minutes. After a brief discussion, Commissioner Fowler moved that the Planning Commission adopt a motion to prepare abbreviated minutes on a trial basis for four months. If the Commission decides this is not acceptable, the Commission can vote to instruct the secretary to return to the preparation of more detailed minutes. Commissioner Keen seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously. L' 1 1 ARROYO GRANDE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES FEBRUARY 6, 2001 PAGE 5 The Planning Commission asked that the Planning Commission Agendas be delivered on Thursday evening before the meeting rather than on Friday evening. This will allow the Commissioners more time to review the materials and prepare for the meeting. ITEM. VII. ADJOURNMENT On motion of Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Keen, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. to the next scheduled meeting on February 20, 2001. Kathleen Fryer, Commissio Clerk AS TO CONTENT: Kerr c ants Community Development Director 4dTn- Kee ice -Chair 11 7 LJ 1