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PC Minutes 1969-07-09Planning Commission Arroyo Grande, California July 9, 1969 The Planning Commission met in continued regular session with Chairman McMillen presiding. Present are Commissioners Moss, Porter, St. Denis, Sawyernd Strother. Commissioner Bowles is absent. Also in attendance are City Administrator Butch, Planning Director Gallop and City Attorney Shipsey. MINUTE APPROVAL On motion of Commissioner Sawyer, seconded by Commissioner Moss, and unanimously . carried, the minutes of the regular meeting of June 17, 1969 were approved as pre- pared. ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR 1969-70 Commissioner Porter moved to place Gerald Moss in nomination for Chairman of the Arroyo Grande Planning Commission for 196970. Motion seconded by Commissioner Strother. A motion was made by Commissioner St. Denis, seconded by Commissioner Porter that nominations be closed. Motion carried. Commissioner Strother moved to place Harry McMillen in nomination for Vice Chairman of the Arroyo Grande Planning Commission for 196970. Motion seconded by Commissioner Porter. A motion was made by Commissioner St. Denis, seconded by Commissioner Sawyer that nominations be closed. Motion carried. On motion of Commissioner Porter, seconded by Commissioner Strother, and unanimously carried, it was ordered that the records show that there was cast a unanimous ballot to appoint Gerald Moss as Chairman and Harry McMillen as Vice Chairman of the Arroyo Grande Planning Commission for 1969-70. Chairman Moss assumed the chair. LETTER FROM BURKE AND PACE LUMBER COMPANY RESUESTING EXTENSION OF TIME FOR PLACEMENT OF CURB GUTTER AND SIDEWALK. 971 BENNETT AVENUE Director Gallop read a letter from Burke and Pace Lumber Company requesting an extension of time for the placement of curb, gutter and sidewalk.as required by Ordinance in connection with the issuance of a building permit. Burke and Pace Lumber Co. is asking that they be allowed to place their curb, gutter and sidewalk between this time and November when the First United Methodist Church places their curb, gutter and sidewalk. Director Gallop indicated this was a reasonable request in view of the fact the City would be setting grades and both could be done at the same time. On motion of Commissioner Strother, seconded by Commissioner Sawyer, and unanimously carried, that the requirement for the placement of curb, gutter and sidewalk be extended until November, with no further extension being granted. PARKING OF TRAVEL TRAILERS, BOATS AND TRUCKS IN A RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT Chairman Moss stated that parking of trailers, boats or campers on the streets and in front yards in residential areas is distracting from the community and should not be permitted. Commissioner McMillen stated that Arroyo Grande is becoming a recreation - minded community, and if owners are making an honest effort to get boats and campers off the street and on to their property, in his opinion, we can't keep them from doing this. Administrator Butch advised the Commission that this matter has been discussed and it seems that the existing Zoning Ordinance was not sufficient in that the side yard requirement was not enough to allow for a driveway into the back yard, and if we force the people to take these vehicles off the streets or front yards, they are forced to put them into a place where they would be pro- tected, and this presents a liability problem There is also the problem of the enforcement of this law. Administrator Butch suggested that before this matter is presented to the City Council, perhaps the Planning Commission should originate a study of the problem. Director Gallop stated that when the Zoning Ordinance was originally discussed, there was a proposal to change the side yard setback requirement to a maximum of 15 ° , with one side not to be less than 9 °. One alternative would be,to reduce the minimum side yard setback and increase the opposite side yard setback. Another alternative would be by mutual agreement of a common drive between two houses. He stated he believed a study should be made to analyze the City to see what the problem is and determine the size of the problem. 229 230 Planning Commission, July 9, 1969 COMMISSIONER STROTHER REQUESTED TO BE EXCUSED AND IS NOW ABSENT. Page 2 Commissioner St. Denis stated there is a problem of trucking firm employees parking trucks and rigs in residential areas and leaving them there for several days. Director Gallop stated this is not only a nuisance problem, but a safety problem involving vision and children playing around the trucks. He cited a recent problem of gasoline spillage from a truck, leaving a hole about 4° wide and several inches deep where the street had eroded.. After discussion, on motion of Commissioner St. Denis, seconded by, Commissioner Sawyer, and unanimously carried, that a recommendation be made to the City Council to take action in adopting some controls to prohibit overnight parking of commercial vehicles over one ton, boats and trailers in the public right- of-way in a Residential District. PUBLIC HEARING - USE PERMIT CASE N0. 69 FREE STANDING SIGN. FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 175 NO. HALCYON ROAD Upon being assured by Director Gallop that the Public Hearing for Use Permit Case No. 69 Free Standing Sign, 175 No. Halcyon Road, had been duly published, posted and property owners notified, Chairman Moss declared the hearing open. Director Gallop advised the request is to erect an identification and reader board sign within the setback between sidewalk and the church located between the sanctuary and adjacent to the parking lot. The sign is approximately 20 x 14 °, with the sign structure itself to be 3x12 timbers, and open in the center with the ex- ception of the "reader board ". Plot and elevation plans were presented to the Commission for their consideration. Director Gallop, being a Trustee of the Church, felt he should not make any recommendations in this particular case. Director Gallop advised the request is to light the sign from depressed flood lights placed on either side of the sign below the rock work, giving a shadow effect, and there would be no reflection into the public right -of -way or adjacent properties. Mr. Robert W. Baker was present and spoke in favor of the permit being granted, stating the sign would compliment the Church, that the rock work is a planter area and the shape and design of the sign is very attractive. No further discussion for or against the proposed Use Permit, Chairman Moss declared the hearing closed. After discussion, the following action was taken: RESOLUTION NO. 69 -169 U A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE GRANTING A USE PERMIT, CASE NO. 69 -142. On motion of Commissioner McMillen, seconded by Commissioner Porter, and on the following roll call vote, to wit: AYES: Commissioners Porter, St. Denis, Sawyer, McMillen and Moss NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioners Bowles and Strother the foregoing Resolution was adopted this 9th day of July, 1969. DISCUSSION ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO SIGN ORDINANCE Director Gallop advised that the proposed amendment to the Sign Ordinance requiring interior diffused lighting of free standing signs was introduced to the City Council, and that the Council objected for several reasons. One objection is that this type of control can be made a part of the Use Permit conditions. Also, the city is trying to encourage the use of redwood routed signs, and the proposed amendment might be limiting in initiative of good design in signs that might be desirable within the City. He advised this matter could be established as a policy matter in connection with a Use Permit. After discussion, on motion of Chairman Moss, seconded by Commissioner St. Denis, and unanimously carried, that this Commission withdraw the request for an amendment to the Sign Ordinance, and to establish as a policy of the Commission the interior diffused illumination of free standing signs under the Use Permit procedure. COMMISSIONER STROTHER ENTERED THE MEETING DURING THE ABOVE DISCUSSION Planning Commission, July 9, 1969 Page 3 DISCUSSION ON SIGN ORDINANCE Director Gallop stated when the Sign Ordinance was adopted in June 1967 certain signs in town were made non - conforming. Billboards and large signs were created non- conforming in anything but an "M" District and were given 2 years for correction, and the two year time limit lapses as of July 27th, 1969. There are five signs which are non - conforming; three of which are owned by Ryan Outdoor Advertising, one owned by Mr. Doko which is Samba's sign, and the fifth has been allowed to deteriorate. Mr. Odum, Ryan Outdoor Advertising, is present and wishes to address the Commission, and also Mr. Harris of Sambo °s Is present. He advised that both Mr. Doko and Ryan were notified of these non - conforming signs two years ago by certified mail. At the time Mr. Doko was informed, apparently he did not inform Samba's and the present operator was not made aware of the problem until ten days ago by Mr. Doko. Director Gallop advised that Ryan.has two signs on Traffic Way and one on Branch Street. The Sign Ordinance does permit billboards in an "M" District by Use Permit. In the adoption of the new Zoning Ordinance, however, we do not have an "M" District existing within the City at the present time. He advised that City Attorney Shipsey is present because of the problems involved. Mr. Jim Odum stated he is Division Manager of Ryan Outdoor Advertising, and resides in Salinas. He advised that the past two years his company has been in the status of acquiring additional advertising agencies and apologized for overlooking the situation in relation to this Ordinance. Ryan feels that the definition for standardization for their business has been omitted in the Arroyo Grande Ordinance and there might be some questions as to how this would be applied. He advised the only reference he had as to the violation of the Ordinance was the copy of the letter that Mr. Gallop sent him, which primarily deals with the fact that there is a question of safety hazards, locations, and also the desire of the planners to have them out of the central area of the community. He stated it appears the Ordinance is specifically designed for on- premises signs. There are aspects of the Ordinance that his company feels are discriminatory because of the generality of the term,and limiting it to 350 square feet specifically discriminates against their structures. He suggested perhaps a committee could be formed to amend the Ordinance and bring it up to date. Mr. Odum was advised that since this is already an. Ord.i.nance.,.any request-re- garding the Ordinance or an extension of the time limit for correcting non- conforming signs would have to be presented to the City Council for their action. Mr. Odum advised that a formal appeal . would be made to the City Council. Mr. Jim Harris, Operator of Samba's advised the Commission that he had not been made aware of this non- conforming sign until the 30th of June and stated he would like to request a 90 day extension to consider the problem, and that he would like to see some kind of arrangements made so that they don °t have to destroy the sign by the 27th of July. Mr. Harris was also advised that this Commission has no right to grant exemptions to an Ordinance and it was suggested he also make an appeal to the City Council. Administrator Butch advised. both Mr. Odum and Mr. Harris that if a letter was received by the 17th of July requesting an extension, it could be presented to the Council for their meeting of the 22nd of July, and suggested that perhaps the letters could contain a request that the Council investigate the problems involved with regard to the Zoning Ordinance. SEWAGE PROBLEM Mr. J. Melton was present and discussed a problem in that he has no way to get gravity flow drainage to the sewer line on Halcyon from his residence at 638 So. Halcyon. He indicated he felt that the problem was created when the Planning Commission approved subdivision plans for Tract 282, and this was the reason he appeared before the Commission. After discussion, Mr. Melton was advised by the Commission that this is a matter for the Public Works Department and the City Planning Department, as this Commission would have no jurisdiction in this matter. 231 232 Planning Commission, July 9, 1969 "U" TURNS ON GRAND AVENUE Chairman Moss stated the matter of "UB° Turns on Grand Avenue around the islands at Alder Street and Halcyon Road creates a traffic hazard, and he would like to see this problem corrected. After discussion, Director Gallop was directed to refer the matter to the Parking Commission for consideration at their meeting of July 10, 1969. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Chairman Moss declared the meeting adjourned at 9 :02 P.M. ATTEST: Page I+