Loading...
PC Minutes 1990-03-19ARROYO GRANDE PLANNING COMMISSION March 19, 1990 The Arroyo Grande Planning Commission met in Special Session at 7:00 P.M. in the Arroyo Grande City Council Chambers. with Chairman Carr presiding. Present are Commissioners Fischer, Brandy, Soto, Moore and Flores. Commissioner Gallagher is absent. Also in attendance is Planning Director Liberto - Blanck, Long Range Planner Bierdzinski, Chief Building Inspector John Richardson and City Attorney Judy Skousen. PUBLIC HEARING, REVIEW OF BUILDING PERMIT TO CONSTRUCT AN 1800 SQ. FT. SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING AND.GARAGE TO REPLACE RESIDENCE DESTROYED BY FIRE, 320 SHORT STREET (RICHARD S. SMITH.) Chief Building Inspector Richardson reviewed the staff report dated March 19, 1990, stating that the owners of the property would like to replace that dwelling with a new dwelling which will be slightly larger than the original. He pointed out that the current moratorium on R -3 property prohibits issuance of a building permit. Section 2.3 permits all uses which are permitted in the R -1 zone provided all appropriate findings can be made. The building permit must be approved by the Planning Commmission and-City Council after the required public hearings. The applicant is asking for consideration and permission to re- establish the previous dwelling- without - expanding the use of-the property. Mr. Richardson stated it-is the recommendation of the Building Department that the Planning Commission recommend to the City Council- that the building permit be issued with the- findings -and conditions listed in the staff- report dated March 19, 1990. Upon being assured by the Planning Commission Secretary that public hear ing for review of building permit at 320 Short Street had been duly published and property owners notified, Chairman Carr declared the hearing open. Richard Smith, applicant, spoke in favor of the building permit request. Hearing no further comments fram the audience, Chairman Carr declared the hearing closed and; after a brief discussion, on motion by.Commissioner Soto, seconded by Commissioner Fischer, and unanimously, carried, that .a recommendation be made-to the City Council to - approve the building-permit subject to the findings and conditions listed in the staff report datedMarch 19, 1990. -- CONTINUATION UPDATE AND REVISION OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE LAND USE, HOUSING, OPEN SPACE AND CONSERVATION;ELR4 TS OF THE-GENERAL PLAN -AND REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL .IMPACT REPORT. - .- - - - • - - - - City Attorney Judy Skousen briefly-reviewed the Fair Political Practice Act with the Commission. Long Range Planner Bierdzinski reviewed the- -three draft -resolutions included in the Planning Commissioner's-packet as-outlined-in-the staff report dated- March 19, 1990. - She also reviewed. various - items: listed in the staff report -, including new correspondence received changes made by - -the Commission at previous hearings, new -items -for= discussion - -and staff's-recommendation. -- She opened discussion on-specific new- -items that have been brought to staff's attention, such as the strawberry fields,••the Carpenter's Union property and implementation of the General Plan. With regard to the letter- .received March 19,- -1990 .from - Burtram Johnson regarding Kingo Kawaoka- Strawberry -Farm, City .Attorney Skousen stated the property owners are•- contending - they.did,not• receive - notice of- General Plan hearings, however, the. Planning Department - -does have a- record -that notice was sent7 to the owner as: shown on the- tax-assessment roll, which - is K -River Investments. She-stated the owners-,would have-to-show that the-tax assessment roll is-wrong and the City •had sufficient notice of that.- She- also pointed out that Craig Kawaoka did speak at the first hearing-and, therefore, her position is that they did receive legal and adequate notice: - MS. Bierdzinski-stated the reason discussion was - included on the strawberry fields -is that staff met with one of the owners and -a representative a few weeks ago and- they indicated they were ready- to- convert .to, urban uses on-that site. She further - stated a policy has been- included inthe General Plan specifically regarding strawberry fields that states: "When - farming is no longer economically viable, the owners could come in and, under a specific plan, they can develop their property for urban uses ". As mentioned earlier, staff met with the owners and indicated that they should submit information regarding economic viability, however, staff has not received that information and does not feel comfortable recommending that the Planning Commission make a change at this time. 157 , 8 Arroyo Grande Planning Commission, 3 -19 -90 Chairman Carr asked if anyone in the audience wished to testify regarding the strawberry fields and their designation on the General Plan. There were no comments fram the audience at this time. Chairman Carr stated the question before the Commission now is whether or not the Commission wishes to change the agriculture designation to some other designation. Commissioner Fischer stated her feelings that the agriculture designation is the better way to go and the Commission is aware that a change could be coming and at the time the property owner can apply for a General Plan amendment and submit a specific plan. Lee Webb stated he is interested in one of the strawberry fields and the property owners have submitted a letter asking that it not be placed in the agriculture designation since they are no longer able to farm the property because of economic feasibility, and they are asking for residential designation. Chairman Carr commented regarding the agricultural designation of the strawberry fields, stating that public hearings have been conducted on the General Plan since January 2nd and throughout that time, this property was considered for agriculture. The desire of the community has been to try to keep the rural character that we have chosen to live here for, and he would rather see the General Plan process completed and have the criteria set up for converting agricultural land to other uses and follow that process in the full public hearing action required to make the determination that farming is no longer a viable option. The Commission agreed with staff's recommendation for agricultural designation on the strawberry fields. Regarding the Carpenter's Union property, Ns. Bierdzinski advised that the Union owns several properties in the block bordered by Nelson, Short, Poole and Traffic Way. The proposed land use plan would designate same of their property Village Commercial and some would be General Commercial. She pointed out that having two different categories with possibly different standards covering their project site could be difficult to implement. Staff's recommendation is that the portion of the block currently proposed for General Commercial be changed to Village Commercial in order to avoid problems in the future. Planning Director Liberto -Blanck pointed out that the owners of the property have indicated that they do hope to submit a conditional use permit for a project, possibly removing the existing buildings and putting up new buildings. One of the concerns that staff has is that we are going to have two different standards; village commercial standards and general commercial standards, and staff's position is that it would be better to have one set of sandards for all of the property owned by the Carpenter's Union. Earl Patton, spoke representing the Carpenter's Union. He briefly described proposed plans for the property, stating professional or general commercial zoning would be satisfactory with them and they would follow whatever guidelines the City might set. „lifter discussion, staff was directed to delete the General Commercial designation, and designate the three parcels as Village Commercial. Staff was directed to revise Resolution C, Attachment C, Finding No. B.4 deleting the General Commercial designation. With regard to Implementation of the General Plan, Ms. Bierdzinski read three options open to the Commission: 1) Staff can begin to advise applicants immediately that they must comply with the general plan as recommended by the Planning Commission. If the existing zoning ordinance is inconsistent with the proposed general plan, then an application would be found incomplete until the zoning ordinance is updated: 2) Staff can wait until the City Council adopts the general plan update and then proceed as mentioned in item 1 above; or 3) Staff can wait until the zoning and subdivision ordinances are updated for consistency with the new general plan and adopted. In answer to Commissioner Flores'question regarding the applicant's position if the Council rejects some of the Commission's recommendations, City Attorney Skousen advised that in the event the City Council makes a significant change that puts staff's advice in conflict, then the applicant would be entitled to the old general plan designation. Planning Director Liberto -Blanck advised that applicants are already being informed that the City is going through a General Plan update and that the land use designation on their property could be changed. 2 Arroyo Grande Planning Commission, 3 -19 -90 Marie Cattoir, 195 Orchid Lane, stated there are 4 property owners in the area of Orchid Lane and Traffic Way that initially asked to remain RA -B3 and they are now designated Rural Residential. She stated they would like to be assured that they can continue to keep large animals and also to have such uses as greenhouses. Mr. Zola advised that the desire to keep large animals on the larger lots could be protected specifically in the ordinance. Also greenhouse agriculture could be identified as a use in that zone under the ordinance. After discussion regarding the General Plan implementation options, on motion by Commissioner Fischer, seconded by Commissioner Soto, and unanimously carried, staff was directed to follow Option #1, deleting the last sentence, i.e. "Begin advising applicants immediately that they must comply with the general plan as recommended by the Planning Commission ". Chairman Carr asked if there were any further comments at -this time on any of the resolutions being recommended for adoption. There were no comments from the public. Hearing no comments, Chairman Carr declared the hearing closed. Planning Director Liberto - Blanck read the title of the resolution recommending that the City Council certify the Final-Environmental Impact Report on the General Plan Update. Thereafter, a motion was made by Commissioner Soto, seconded by Commissioner Flores, and unanimously carried, to dispense with reading the balance of the resolution. RESOLUTION NO. 90 -1281 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE REC MME DING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CERTIFY THAT THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE GENERAL PLAN UPDATE OF THE LAND USE, HOUSING, OPEN SPACE AND CONSERVATION- ELEMENTS HAS BEEN PREPARED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMEVTAL QUALITY ACT AND CERTIFYING THAT= PLANNING C OMISSION HAS REVIEWED AND CONSIDERED THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT. On motion by Commissioner Soto, seconded by Commissioner Flores, and by the following roll call vote, to wit: AYES: Commissioners Fischer, Brandy, Soto, Moore, Flores and Chairman Carr NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Gallagher the foregoing Resolution was adopted this 19th day of March 1990. Planning Director Liberto - Blanck read the title of a resolution recommending that the City Council make certain findings regarding the environmental impacts of the proposed general plan update and elements. Thereafter, a motion was made by Commissioner Fischer, seconded by Commissioner Flores, and unanimously carried, to dispense with reading the balance of the resolution. RESOLUTION NO. 90 -1282 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL MAKE CERTAIN FINDINGS REGARDING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED GENERAL PLAN UPDATE OF THE LAND USE, HOUSING, OPEN SPACE AND CONSERVATION ELEMENTS. On motion by Commissioner Soto, seconded by Commissioner Fischer and by the following roll call vote, to wit: AYES: Commissioners Fischer, Brandy, Soto, Moore, Flores and Chairman Carr NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Gallagher the foregoing resolution was adopted this 19th day of March 1990. 3 1 :59 60 Arroyo Grande Planning Commission, 3 -19 -90 Planning Director Liberto -Blanck read the title of a resolution recommending that the City Council adopt the updated Land Use, Housing, Open Space and Conservation Elements of the General. Thereafter, a motion was made by Commissioner Soto, seconded by Commissioner Flores, and unanimously carried, to dispense with reading the balance of the resolution. On motion by Commissioner Fischer, seconded by Commissioner Moore, and by the following roll call vote, to wit: AYES: Commissioners Fischer, Brandy, Soto, Moore, Flores and Chairman Carr NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Gallagher the foregoing Resolution was adopted this 19th day of March 1990. Chairman Carr expressed his appreciation to the staff for their efforts in this General Plan process. He stated his feelings that the City of Arroyo Grande has an outstanding Planning staff and have selected an outstanding consultant. He also stated he feels that the updated General Plan Elements are going to be good for the City. ADJOURNMEVT Chairman Carr advised that the regularly scheduled meeting of March 20, 1990 has been cancelled. There being no further business before the Commission the meeting was adjourned by the Chairman at 8:25 P.M. A : RESOLUTION NO. 90 -1283 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING CCt+MISSION OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE RECCHMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT THE UPDATED LAND USE, HOUSING, OPEN SPACE AND CONSERVATION ELEMENTS OF THE GENERAL PLAN Pearl L. Phinney, Secretary 4 Robert W. Carr, Chairman 4