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.
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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.
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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:
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