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PC Minutes 1999-10-05ARROYO GRANDE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 5, 1999 Page 1 of 14 CALL TO ORDER Chair Greene called the regular meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Arroyo Grande to order at 7:05 p.m. ROLL CALL X Commissioner Costello X Commissioner Keen X Commissioner London Absent Vice -Chair Parker X Chair Greene MINUTE APPROVAL On motion of Commissioner Keen, seconded by Commissioner London, and by a unanimous roll call vote, the minutes of September 7, 1999 were approved as written. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS 1. Written comments received in the Community Development Department on the Village Glen Annexation EIR. 2. Written comments received in the Community Development Department on the Arroyo Linda Specific Plan EIR. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS A. ARROYO LINDA SPECIFIC PLAN - DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT; PROJECT LOCATION - SOUTH EAST PORTION OF ARROYO GRANDE WITH 107 ACRES INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS AND 185 ACRES IN UNINCORPORATED COUNTY AREA; APPLICANT - MICHAEL FREDERICK. Kerry McCants, Community Development Director stated that this is a continued hearing to receive comments on the Draft EIR for the Arroyo Linda project. He would like to emphasize that in addition to the verbal comments made at tonight's meeting; it is helpful to the applicant and the consultant to also provide a written statement. Chair Greene stated that the purpose of tonight's hearing is to take comment regarding the Draft EIR. The Planning Commission will take no action on this item tonight. There will be future public hearings on the project when decisions will be made and there will be additional opportunity for the public to comment on the project. ARROYO GRANDE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 5, 1999 Page 2 of 14 Further, it is the tradition of the Planning Commission to offer the applicant or his representative to comment before the Public Hearing. For the record, they have already commented at the previous hearing. The applicant chose not to comment at this time. Chair Greene reminded the public that staff would be receiving public comments in the Community Development Department until October 15, 1999. Chair Greene opened the Public Hearing. Karen Cross - Harmon, 390 Mercedes Lane, had several issues she put before the Planning Commission. She stated that she was a recent resident to the area and she does not know why this "bucolic and placid" town is even considering such a huge and sprawling undertaking. After some research, she decided to come to the Planning Commission and share her new understanding of the facts concerning this development. • She felt that the lack of water was one of the main problems. • She does not agree that this project will have little impact on the Village. • She does not believe that you can attract tourism to an industrial complex. • This development will encompass a "sprawling area ". • This development will be the demise of Grand Avenue. • She felt there should have been more public input before this had gone to LAFCO for the Sphere of Influence Amendment. • This will cause the traffic problems, especially at Halcyon and Brisco Road, to worsen • This development will put additional pressure on the already overtaxed public services. • This development will cause "conversion pressure" on the surrounding agricultural land. This will cause a type of domino effect, where the remaining ag land will have a harder time withstanding the "pressure" to convert to other uses. • The current EIR does not address' the issue of the incompatibility impacts to the adjacent ag users. • She does not feel that the Planning Department and the Developer started this project in an appropriate and legal manner. • She is concerned with land, slope and soil erosion. • Since this project is visible from Highway 101, this will change the site and look of Arroyo Grande when entering from the south. • She feels this project is inconsistent with how the citizens of Arroyo Grande view themselves and the area they live in. ARROYO GRANDE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 5, 1999 Page 3 of 14 • She feels the former City Council that approved the sphere of influence moved ahead without real public awareness and that the economic conditions that were present at the time are no longer viable. • She would like to continue the discussion of the project and hold workshops, like those held for the General Plan, so the public can participate in the discussion. To substantiate her arguments and concerns about the project, Ms. Cross - Harmon read from several County and City historical documents. Commissioner London thanked everyone who came forward at the last meeting, as well as this one and all those who submitted written responses to the DEIR. He stated that he looked forward to the applicant's response to all the various issues that were brought up. Chair Greene closed the Public Hearing. B. VILLAGE GLEN ANNEXATION, TRACT 2265 AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL #12; PROJECT LOCATION - UNINCORPORATED AREA OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, ADJACENT TO AND NORTH OF JAMES WAY NEAR MESQUITE LANE; APPLICANT - VILLAGE GLEN HOMES, LLC. Kerry McCants, Community Development Director stated that the project included a 19.1 acre elementary school and a thirty -six UNIT residential project. The total acreage is 86.3 acres, which is included in the annexation proposal. This is an opportunity for the public to make comments on the EIR and again, he would encourage everyone to submit written comments to the Community Development Department as well as their verbal comments. Chair Greene again explained to the public that the purpose of tonight's hearing was to take public comment only and that the Planning Commission would not take any action on this item. David Foote, Firma Consulting stated that he was in attendance tonight to listen to public input. His responsibility at the end of the comment period was to take all public comment and respond by incorporating them into the Final EIR. Commissioner Greene asked Mr. Foote if he was going to address the traffic study or would the traffic comments be passed on to the consultant that had prepared the original traffic study? Mr. Foot replied that the comments would be passed on to the traffic engineer that did the traffic study. ARROYO GRANDE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 5, 1999 Page 4 of 14 Chair Greene wanted the public to understand that Mr. Foote was selected by the City of Arroyo Grande, not by the applicant and therefore he is serving as a consultant to the staff on this issue. Christopher Charles, 766 Phillips stated that he was in second grade and that the City needed this new school. He said that he rides on the bus now for over two hours. His little sister needs the school too. He thanked the Commission for his future. Tobie Charles, 766 Phillips stated that there were so many kids that crossed through the Brisco intersection to get to school that he felt it would help somehow with the impact at that intersection. Micalene Moran, 289 James Way stated that she was concerned about the children. When there is a large storm the electricity in this area always goes out. It would not be a good situation for the children to be in. She felt that the parents would be out of touch with their children and vice - versa. Patrick Voeqlle, 230 Canyon Way stated that he has very upset because he had not been notified about tonight's meeting. He does not have a problem with the school however; his problem is with the lack of information that has been discriminated to the residents of Canyon Way. They will be impacted by the placement of the school in a couple of different ways. His fear is that the traffic pattern on their street will change for the worse. At Ocean View there is a big traffic problem because there is a "key- hole" dead -end street where parents come to drop off and pick up their children. He is afraid that the kids will leave the school, go down the proposed fire access road to the top of Canyon Way and parents will be picking up their children there. Because of this potential traffic issue for them he felt it was iligitment and deceitful that the people on Canyon Way were not notified. He would like to know why this happened? He would also like to know if there had been any traffic impact study done on the potential change? Chair Greene asked Mr. McCants to address what efforts were taken to notify residents, both within and outside the three hundred foot limitation, regarding the project. Mr. McCants stated that a display ad was placed in the Times Press Recorder, as well as the standard noticing procedure of noticing residents within three hundred feet. He explained that there was a problem with the list that was provided to the Department in that some of the parcels were not identified correctly. Karen Lange, 146 Avenue de Diamonte stated that she would like to support the school, which she felt was absolutely needed. She felt that the Planning Commission needed to look at other cities and see what a Planning Commission is ARROYO GRANDE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 5, 1999 Page 5 of 14 supposed to do. She finds that in this City the developer's word is taken for what is going to happen. Developers are not the kind of people that will "unsell" their project. This project has a school site with only one entrance road and she feels that this is inconceivable to her that there would be a school with over 500 kids and only one road. In the other communities, the Planning Commission and the City Council requires the developer, if they want to work in that community, to do what the Planning Commission sees fit. She felt it was the Commission's job to understand the community and to push the developer to do what they and the community wants. Chuck Fellows, 202 Canyon Way was concerned and had questions because he had heard that there was going to be a "bump- gate" for access to the school site. He is not against the school and feels that the school is needed. He felt that just about anything that would keep traffic away from the Brisco intersection is a good idea. However, the many families that live on Canyon Way are concerned that traffic will increase on their street. He has come to as many meetings as he has known about to talk about the traffic issues. He was surprised that there were no maps on the wall to let them know what was going to happen in this area. Was there going to be a "bump- gate" and what is the present plan for the top of Canyon Way? Chair Greene explained that the reason for tonight's meeting was only to take comment on the Draft EIR. The information that Mr. Fellows was asking about was contained in the Draft EIR. Mr. Fellows stated that if he had known about tonight's meeting he would have known to go read the Draft EIR. Juan Olivarri, 931 Margarita, Grover Beach told the Commission that he was the Principal of Margaret Harloe Elementary School. He sees the impact of having a large, overcrowded school every day. There are three elementary schools in Arroyo Grande with Margaret Harloe being the largest with over 700 students. There is a huge need in Arroyo Grande for another school, especially one on the East Side of the freeway. He stated that he was on the committee that looked at multiple sites. The James Way site was the best site they found for a school. He said that he realizes that the Commission looks at the whole picture and all the impacts that can occur. He also realizes that his view is a little parochial in that he only looks at the benefit for the children, but there is a great need for a school on the East Side of the freeway. Ravanna Thompson, 1964 Johnson Ave., San Luis Obispo stated that she was the Principal at Ocean View Elementary School for five years. She said that she knows what it is like to have to tell families that come into the Community that are very close to the school, that there is no room from them at that school. She wanted ARROYO GRANDE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 5, 1999 Page 6 of 14 the Commission to know how impacted the schools are in the Arroyo Grande area. This school is very necessary and she felt it would help with the impact on the Brisco Road intersection. George Heister, 677 Printz Road explained to the Commission that he has nine plus acres adjacent to the project with 360 feet directly abutting the site and he had received no information about the project what so ever. He went to the office in March and requested that his name be added to the list but still did not receive any notice about the project. He stated that he had submitted his written comments to the City but he wanted to emphasize one sector of his comments that he felt was extremely important. Mr. Heister referred to the City's Water System Master Plan adopted on July 13, 1999. This plan provided information on present and future water supplies for the City of Arroyo Grande. It refers to the 1983 friendly adjudication with area's cities and the farmers. As the Commission knows the farmers were concerned about the salt -water intrusion into the coastal wells. Arroyo Grande was allocated 1,200 -acre feet per year from the ground water. The City's other source of groundwater is the Lopez Lake contract and supply which is 2,290 acre feet per year plus 580 acre feet of any available surplus. The City's prior studies indicated that this water supply could support about 17,000 to 18,000 residents. When Rancho Grande is built out, in his opinion, would exhaust the City's existing reserves. The reports' recommendation is that future annexations include a separate source of water supply adequate for the increased demand. It also went on to say that this should be within the City's limited water allotment. The report said that the City of Arroyo Grande is approaching, or exceeding, it's limited water resources, now or in the near future. It asks that the City include a Water Master Plan when considering annexation. Tara Webb, 577 Woodland Dr. said that she felt that this annexation would be very beneficial to the City. The City needs another school desperately. She thinks the parking and traffic issues can be dealt with. The traffic studies could be looked at again and some solution could be reached rather than killing the whole projects. The traffic on the Brisco intersection with the parents going back and forth to take their kids to school is a nightmare and if that could be alleviated it would be a blessing. William Daniel, 741 Printz Road first apologized for his neighbors that were opposed to the Village Glen project but had to be absent for tonight's meeting. He stated that he too had not received any notice or tardy notice about the project. He said that he, like his neighbors, were not anti - progress. However, they all expect this project to be constructed along the zoning and guidelines that were in ARROYO GRANDE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 5, 1999 Page 7 of 14 place when they purchased their homes and properties and without creating any undue hardship on the surrounding homeowners. Mr. Daniel said that the changes the developer is requesting are not in keeping with Section 8 of the Arroyo Grande General Plan. It states in part, "promoting a rural small -town atmosphere and retaining our ties to agriculture while providing the best possible quality of life for all residents." He felt that these changes, if permitted, would adversely effect the surrounding homeowners. The developer has proposed a school site. Yes, we need a school, but not in this area. And not an elementary school that is backed up to existing 2 1/2 acre and larger parcels, with homes in the $650,000 to $1 .3 million which is a community of older homeowners who have already raised their children. Mr. Daniel stated that this site was unsuitable for a school because it would require extensive grading to bring it into conformity with the state standard for schools. There is a difference in elevation of 130 feet from the top of the site to the lower boundary of the site. He would like to see the Council give further consideration to the proposal that is outlined in the third paragraph of Section V.3, Subsection D. as outlined in the current EIR. A portion of this section suggests that parcels of 1 .5 to 2.5 acres be placed in this area. These lots would serve as, "a land use transition to larger lot sizes in the County and the residential estate zone to the northwest." Further in this section it states, "this would be the environmentally superior alternative." On the subject of water, he stated that the Deertrail Well that the developer intends to use lies below the aquifer that serves the residents along Old Oak Park Road, Noyes Road and Printz Road. The EIR states that extracting water from this area should not adversely effect all of these homeowners. He feels that this conclusion in the EIR is flawed. The silty sand and clay that separates these two aquifers will be an effective barrier from keeping the higher from draining to the lower aquifer. This would impact the residents along the three roads. He was also concerned that the City may end up using more water from the Santa Maria aquifer and therefore leave itself open to litigation from exceeding their limitation. In conclusion, he is not anti - progress but he would like to see this development done in a responsible manner, one that would not adversely the community as it now exists. Jack Smith, 338 Quail Lane stated that he serves on the Facility Committee that is responsible for finding school sites. The wanted the Commission to know that they looked for over two years to find a site in Arroyo Grande. It seems that there are other priorities such as using Ag land, or wetlands. Now the school district is in a ARROYO GRANDE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 5, 1999 Page 8 of 14 situation where the schools in the are overcrowded. There are elementary schools where they have to have six lunch periods of only twenty minutes. There are so few bathrooms that the kids have to leave the classroom because they can't use the bathroom at recess or lunch. There will be traffic problems and not perfect systems but we can't wait any longer for a school. There is no playground space because they are filled with portable classrooms. There needs to be a new school in this area. How bad does it have to get for the kids and why should they be the last priority. Shari McCarthy, 222 Garden stated that she has a child at Ocean View. The City desperately needs a new school site. She hopes that the City does not spend a lot of time not taking care of the issues to allow a new school. She stated that she trusts the Facilities Committee for researching out a site. Now it needs to be done. She does have a concern about only one entrance into the school. She does consider this a problem with regards to safety for the children. Tim Brown, 125 Allen felt that the school is a great idea. He feels that it is a win - win situation for all those involved. He has a child at Ocean View and he concurs that the school is very impacted. His question to the Planning Commission about the traffic study. The traffic study basically changes the methodology to go from a LOS of B to D. He wondered if by certifying this EIR, were they accepting that level of B for the Brisco intersection? Lori Glockanour, 800 Pearl Drive said that she was the crossing guard at the Grover Heights Elementary. What she wanted to suggest that the parents, who are always in such a hurry to pick up their children, remember that their children are sponges and absorb what their parents pass out to them. If the parents could drive slowly, with caution, they could avoid this. The traffic at her school site lasts no longer than ten to fifteen minutes. If parents allowed themselves more time they could get in and out without a problem. She is also on the PTA district board and this is a big concern to this community. She said that it irritates her that our children should be an asset, but they are put below trees, grass and animals and that people don't care about them. They come to the meeting and bicker about their privacy over the children having an opportunity to have a proper education. She would suggest that everyone should go to their work place and cram three additional people into their office space and see how much work they get done. These are the conditions the children have to deal with on a daily basis and they do it with a lot of pride and joy. This is why she feels it is very important for the Planning Commission to move forward and not put the children at the bottom of the list anymore because they are one of our biggest assets. ARROYO GRANDE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 5, 1999 Page 9 of 14 Otis Page, 606 Myrtle Street wished to express his thanks to the City Council for the initiative they are taking on the traffic issues. He feels that everything the present Council is doing, under the leadership of Mike Lady, Tony Ferrara, and Jim Dickens, to optimize the best solution for the citizens in terms of traffic is a totally responsible issue for the citizens to understand. Anita Ikeda, 371 Gularte Road stated that the substantial growth has impacted the schools. We now have schools that are overcrowded and run a risk for our children's health, safety and education, as well as their futures. She would like to recommend the annexation of this property and a new school site to help alleviate the current problem that exists. It is an investment, not only in our community, but in the future of our children. David Shaw, 295 Canyon Way explained to the Planning Commission that he did get a notice and had read the EIR. He is in favor of the school, but what he does not understand, and what is not clear in the EIR is why there has to be annexation in order to get a school. It does not make sense to him. He stated that this creates problems with water and everything else to have more homes in this area. Do we really need the annexation of this property to get a school? Chair Greene closed the Public Hearing. Commissioner Keen main concerned was with the traffic. He lives near Ocean View Elementary School and therefore sees the traffic problems there on a daily basis. That location has two entrances, this location does not. If this is the only place the Facilities Board could find to put the school that is fine, except it will not work with the traffic layout that has been presented. If this project is approved the City will have exactly the same thing as Brisco Road. Brisco Road will eventually be fixed. If there is only one way in and out of this location there will be no way it can be fixed. Mr. Keen stated that on page 4.D4 of the Draft EIR it talked about the trips for the elementary school when the enrollment is at 500 children. It says the number of trips will be 510. He wanted to know what determines a trip? Is -a trip to the school or two the school and back? The trips could actually be 2,000 at the corner of James Way and this project. He feels that the majority of the children are driven to school. The intersection at James Way will be greatly impacted not only with the parents, but also the buses and the teachers. He went on to say that in the Crawford- Multari Report it quotes the Police Chief as saying, "Providing a safe and adequate drop off and pick up area in front of the school, as well as assuring adequate and multiple access and egress were two issues identified by the Police Chief as minimal for police services." He did not see ARROYO GRANDE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 5, 1999 Page 10 of 14 this quoted in the current EIR. He didn't understand how it could be addressed as a police problem already and not be put in the EIR. Mr. Keen stated that a school at this location would not work unless there is more access in and out. If there was a problem there the street may become so impacted the fire department couldn't even get to the site. Until the project comes up with another way in and out he does not see how this can work and he doesn't believe the EIR addresses that. Further, on page D.5 of the summary it says that the school would contribute up to 956 trips over a twenty -four hour period. One of the things he noticed is that a lot - of the parents that bring their kids to school are also on their way to work. He questions how this would relieve much of the impact on the Brisco Road underpass. Because, the people on the north side of the freeway still have to go to work_ They will come back to the freeway to get on their way to work. Impact D.1 states that location and purpose of the proposed tract access road does not provide safe sight distance for vehicles on James Way when children are crossing James Way. Where the road intersects with James Way is not going to be a safe entrance for this project. He realizes that the Facilities Committee has done their job in selecting this site, but saying that the school has to go in the back of this annexation area and with only one entrance he feels is a big problem. In addition, Mr. Keen was concerned about having 50 parking spaces and a big loop to drop off the children in the same loop where the buses have to go. He does not see how this would work. Lastly, he is concerned about the new lay out of the project. The EIR does not say how much open space will be there. The old plan showed 30 acres of open space and he would like the EIR to say how much the open space easement is. One of the reasons he would like to see this is because, in Section 1 -1 1 it talks about the clustering of the properties because of the open space it would allow. If the Open Space disappears with lots then the clustering aspect goes away. Commissioner London stated that he looked at the EIR for this project and compared it to the last EIR, which had two entrances. He wondered if the second entrance was eliminated to allow additional lots? The bottleneck at the school needs to be eliminated. The overall project is good and the school is needed. He believes that the applicant will have to come up with another entrance to the project or some way to mitigate the problem. He felt that the EIR is in line with the one that was approved earlier in the year. As far as the Brisco Road intersection, he does not feel it can be mitigated with this project. If the City wants the school they will have to accept the impacts. ARROYO GRANDE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 5, 1999 Page 11 of 14 Commissioner Costello stated that he has several issues that he feels are critical to this project either with, or without, the school. 1. He is concerned with making sure that the density , if this project goes forward, remains the same. He does not want to see any "stepping" with additional projects. He would like to see that the final document is very strict with any further development on this property. 2. In terms of the traffic, he finds it impossible to believe that the Brisco intersection is operating at a LOS of C. Something is wrong with the study on the traffic. 3. With regards to the Pismo Clarkia, he has been told that this plant can't be relocated. So either the City decides that it doesn't care about this plant and eradicate it or decide it does care and do something to protect it. 4. There are some real issues with the Police and Fire services. The accessibility issue is one thing but more importantly this EIR brings forward that in the very near future, the City might have to go to a paid Fire Department. It distresses him to find out that there are no provisions in place in the City for impact fees for Police and Fire. 5. It appears that the drainage for the project is all right. However, the City needs to be very careful that any mitigation measures in place for this project are monitored closely. There should be some measure in place so if they aren't doing what they are supposed to there would be some way to go back and make certain the people downstream are protected., 6. He does not feel that mitigating the Brisco interchange will happen with this project. However, he feels that the City needs to take a closer look at the traffic ramifications of this study. The numbers need to be consistent and we do need to pursue some of the issues Commissioner Keen raised on this. 7. Mr. Costello stated that everything he has read in the EIR about the water issue says that there is no study to conclusively prove what is being said. Time after time in the EIR the referrals to water are not substantiated. He had the same issue with the previous EIR. In the EIR it states that they will do a study for two years about the quality of the water coming out of the ground and the flow to see if it is adequate. Is the developer willing to do the tests and wait two years then if the water is not adequate to stop the project. If the project cannot bring in the water from the well being suggested, there needs to be some other mitigation. ARROYO GRANDE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 5, 1999 Page 12 of 14 Mr. Costello asked that these issues be addressed more completely to create a better document for making a final decision on certifying the EIR. Chair Greene stated that he had put his comments in a written document which he would like given to the consultant. He stated that when the previous EIR was reviewed some months ago the document included a Resolution with a pre- zoning request. One of his concerns at that time was that the only pre- zoning option that was presented to the Commission which was the zoning for all the 83.6 acres. For the record, he would like the staff to consider alternative zoning proposals for the approximate 19 acres, which are not part of the Tract 2265. He respectively requests that when the issue of pre- zoning comes before the Commission that they are presented with alternative zoning options for the parcels which are not part of Tract 2265. This concern was also raised by the City Council when it went before them. III. NON - PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS None IV. DISCUSSION ITEMS None V. PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS AND COMMENT Commissioner Costello had some concerns that were more "global" in nature about conditions in general in the City of Arroyo Grande. The first thing was the concept that, with continued development in the City, they will have to move to a paid City Fire Department. He questioned what was in the General Fund now to pay for that? The Fire Department will be an expensive proposition. Where will the money come from to hire the staff, acquire the extra equipment, training and all the expenses required for having a full time department? Along the same lines, how will the Police Department be expanded? The Commission sees mitigation measures in the EIR's that come forward but there is not fund set up for planning for future growth for these departments. It is not fair to dump all of the costs for the growth of these departments on a project that comes in. Mr. Costello stated that he was very concerned that the City does not have some sort of measures in place to begin working towards the expansion of these departments. With regards to traffic mitigation, Mr. Costello stated that his understanding of LOS is very hazy. Every project seems to have different ideas of what the LOS is at different intersections. For the sake of argument, Mr. Costello said what if the LOS at Brisco Road is really a B? If the LOS at that intersection is a B, going back to the requirement the City has that the project needs to not create a LOS of C or lower. If Brisco Road is really a LOS B, it would not be an acceptable level. Also, there ARROYO GRANDE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 5, 1999 Page 13 of 14 should be some kind of conformity in the traffic studies. If the level of service is a B in actuality The Brisco Road interchange is going to have to be resolved somehow? It is going to cost the City $10 million or more. Is the City going to assess every new project coming through to pay for the Brisco Road intersection to get up to the $10 million fee? The City needs to go back and re- examine the the LOS issue. Mr. Costello explained that these are the problems that concern him the most. Not just about this project, but about any and all projects that will come forward now. He would like to have a clear understanding of what the issues concerning the roads and intersections. Commissioner Keen commented on the LOS issue. He said that there is no way that Brisco Road underpass is an LOS B. One of the things that has to be taken into consideration when the LOS of an intersection, is that every intersection is figured differently because of the lanes, the cross streets, speed of traffic, etc. The City cannot say that one intersection is figured on the criteria of another intersection. Every traffic engineer comes up with a different LOS because they use different criteria. Commissioner Costello said that it made sense to evaluate the different intersections because they are unique, with different criteria. However, the City should have the same "yardstick" when figuring this. Mr. Costello asked if the City had a list that prioritized the different trouble areas in the Ctiy. Mr. McCants stated that the City does have a list with Brisco Road being one of the top priorities. As a result of the City Council's action at their September 28`" meeting, on November 16` staff will bring an agenda item to discuss the Council action and how it relates to the thresholds, where the LOS line should be drawn in terms of environmental issues and also how that relates to the General Plan policies the City has in place. Commissioner Costello asked where the City was going to go with the issue of a full time Fire Department? The Commission discussed the issue with the Fire Department as it relates to increased cost of fire insurance, cost of a full time department, etc. Chair Greene asked the staff of the Community Development Department to inform the City Manager, City Council, and other City staff that the Planning Commission has a grave concern about how the Fire Department is going to evolve in this City and perhaps it is important at this point in time to began some preliminary planning to establish a funding source for hiring more permanent full -time fire employees. ARROYO GRANDE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 5, 1999 Page 14 of 14 Commissioner Costello asked what would happen next with the Village Glen project? Mr. McCants replied that the consultant will respond to the comments. The final day for comments is October 11, 1999. The consultant will take all the information and prepare the Final EIR which will come back to the Planning Commission for certification in November. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR COMMENTS AND FOLLOWUP- REPORTS Mr. McCants stated that the only thing he had for the Planning Commission was previously discussed. That item was the follow up discussion on the City Council decision with regards to traffic. He stated again that the issue would be coming before the Planning Commission on November 16, 1999. Chair Greene asked Mr. McCants what would be on the agenda for the Planning Commission at the next meeting? He also asked for some clarification about the newspaper article concerning Joe DeLucia's Village Centre project. Mr. McCants explained that the first problem is the Lopez water line that goes through his property. Apparently the County Engineering people are saying the water line has to be replaced because it is not structurally sound if the parking lot is put over it. The second problem is one with the state regarding an encroachment permit for storm drainage on Hwy 227. ADJOURNMENT The Planning Commission meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m. to its next scheduled meeting on October 19,1999. ATTEST: Kathleen Fryer, Commis on Clerk AS TO CONTENT: Kerry M ts Community Development Director Laurence Greene, Chair