Minutes 2002-03-20
MINUTES
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2002
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 215 E. BRANCH STREET
ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lady called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 6:48 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
City Council: Council Members Dickens, Ferrara, Lubin, Mayor Pro Tem Runels
and Mayor Lady were present.
City Staff Present: City Manager Adams; City Attorney Carmel; Director of
Administrative Services Wetmore; Director of Financial Services
Snodgrass; and Associate Planner Heffernon.
3. FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Lady led the Flag Salute.
4. CITIZENS' INPUT. COMMENTS. AND SUGGESTIONS
Fred Bauer, 212 Short Street, expressed his concerns regarding the pending litigation
against the City involving the Referendum. He further spoke in support of the
redesignation of the Vanderveen property.
Sharlotte Wilson, requested that the ARC Humane Society sign be taken down since
they are no longer operating at the Grand Avenue location. She also spoke in support
of the Referendum.
Dean Coker, Castlerock Development, thanked the Council for allowing him the
opportunity to provide the public with detailed information about the proposal to
exchange Tract 1998 for Lot 136 at the March 12, 2002 City Council Meeting. He
submitted his written comments for the record.
Gordon Bennet, 415 Allen Street, spoke about the annual inspection of Arroyo Grande
Creek and complained about plastic materials found in the creek.
Ed Dorfman, 285 La Cresta, expressed his concerns about the pending litigation against
the City involving the Referendum.
Bernard Landsman spoke about the circulation of the Referendum and stated he felt
strongly about the direction growth in the City is taking. He supported preservation of
the City's open space.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
MARCH 20, 2002
PAGE 2
Bruce Vanderveen spoke in support of development and stated his parcel was not
prime agricultural land and he was not taking anything away from the community.
Otis Page, 606 Myrtle, spoke about the General Plan Update process; the resulting
Referendum petition; conflict of interest issues relating to past and present Council
Members and the proposed Rancho Grande Park.
Ella Honeycutt, 560 Oak Hill Road, stated the issue with the Referendum was to get the
item on the ballot. She stated this was not about Mr. Vanderveen personally; she felt
the property should remain as a buffer zone.
Dale Gropp, 246 Walnut, spoke in support of the preservation of flat land for agricultural
uses and that development should be moved to areas that are not flat.
Patty Welch, 1151 Pradera Court, spoke in opposition of development on the hills and
supported landowner rights.
5. MOVE THAT ORDINANCES PRESENTED TONIGHT BE READ IN TITLE
ONLY AND ALL FURTHER READINGS BE WAIVED.
Council Member Runels moved, Council Member Dickens seconded, and the motion
passed unanimously that all ordinances presented at the meeting shall be read in title
only and all further reading be waived.
6. ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP OF ARROYO
GRANDE FROM GENERAL COMMERCIAL (GC) TO SENIOR HOUSING (SR)
AND SECTION 16.32.020 OF THE DEVELOPMENT CODE TO ALLOW AN
INCREASE IN DENSITY; DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENT CASE NO.
01.004; COURTLAND STREET AND E. GRAND AVENUE; APPLICANT.
LARRY PERSONS
Associate Planner Heffernon presented the staff report. Staff recommended the
Council adopt Ordinance No. 531 amending the Zoning Map from GC to SR for a 3.23-
acre portion of a 5.01-acre site and amending Municipal Code Section 16.32.030 to
allow a density of up to 34 dwelling units per acre.
Larry Persons, Pacific Harbor Homes, gave a brief overview of the project and site plan,
submitted a document modifying the project to include elevators for all second story
units, addressed the issue regarding the removal of the existing tree and the significant
discussions held at the staff and Planning Commission levels on alternatives to save the
tree; and responded to questions from Council. Mr. Persons elaborated on his decision
to include elevators to all second story units in the project and unequivocally committed
to same.
Mayor Lady opened up the item for public comments.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
MARCH 20, 2002
PAGE 3
John Keen, 298 N. Elm, stated that if the project was to be significantly modified, it
should go back to the Planning Commission.
Jim Guthrie, 514 Starlight, responded to the comments regarding the removal of the
tree and gave an overview of the Planning Commission's discussion on the matter. He
reminded the Council that an alternative proposal for this site in the past had been for a
mini-storage facility. He felt this project was more economically desirable.
Hal Rosen, Affordable Homes, expressed concerns regarding lack of information with
regard to the financing of this project. He stated he had not found any record of the
formation of the applicant's partnership on file with the Secretary of State.
Larry Persons, Pacific Harbor Homes, verified that the documents forming the
partnership had been filed with the Secretary of State and that there is .often a delay in
publicly posting that information.
Mark Huebsch, Redevelopment Agency Special Counsel, stated he had not verified the
existence of the partnership; however, the applicant would have to provide proof prior to
execution of the Agreement.
Following further discussion, Council Member Ferrara moved to adopt an Ordinance
amending the Zoning Map of Arroyo Grande alld Section 16.32.020 of the Development
Code; Development Code Amendment 01-044, applied for by Larry Persons. Council
Member Lubin seconded the motion and on the following roll-call vote, to wit:
AYES: Ferrara, Lubin, Dickens, Lady
NOES: Runels
ABSENT: None
There being 4 AYES and 1 NO, the motion is hereby declared to be passed.
7. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lady adjourned the meeting at 8:14 p.m. to the Special City Council Meeting of
Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 215 East Branch
Stree