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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/09/1996City Council Meeting Page 2 Tuesday, January 9, 1996 - 7:00 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD There were no public comments. _,. LIAISON REPORTS L.R.I. Vice Mayor Williams reported that she had attended the Homeless Services Center meeting on Monday and that great progress was being made in obtaining funding for the Center's construction and program. L.R. 2 Vice Mayor Williams summarized issues that had been addressed earlier in the day at the BIA Board meeting. STUDY SESSION 1. PREFUMO CREEK HOMES /EMERALD HILLS HOMES PROJECTS (GREENBELT PROTECTION (File NO. 463) Council considered the Prefumo Creek Homes/Emerald Hills Homes proposals including whether to continue to process the pending application for the Prefumo Creek Homes project, and indication if Council would consider an amendment (if requested) to the Land Use Element to designate as Low Density Residential, and to include within the urban reserve, the Emerald Hills J' project, an area somewhat smaller than what the element now shows as Suburban Residential. Also under consideration was, for additional flexibility in dealing with proposals at the City's edge involving development plus open space protection, initiating an amendment to the Water and Wastewater Management Element so water supply and sewage treatment capacity will be available _. for potential minor enlargements of the urban reserve. Arnold Jonas. Community Development Director, opened with an overview of how interest in these two projects had developed and their current status. Glen Matteson, Associate Planner, summarized the staff report highlighting key Issues under consideration. Mayor Settle opened the floor to comment from the audience. George Smith, speaking on behalf of Prefumo Canyon, introduced into the record a letter outlining the ten key reasons to go forward with the processing of the Prefumo Homes project. Christine Mulholland, speaking on behalf of several property owners in the area, introduced into the record documents supporting her position that the Prefumo Canyon site was not a good one for development due to inconsistencies with several major City policies. She also expressed concern over a possible conflict of interest . due to a Community Development Department planning manager's spouse's employment with a firm representing the project. Jim McGillis, a surveyor with San Luis Engineering on the Emerald Hills project, said the project had not made an annexation request to the City and that the owners were not open to it. City Council Meeting Page 3 Tuesday, January 9, 1996 - 7:00 p.m. Bob Hather. San Luis Obispo resident and an owner of the Emerald Hills project, said that as the development moved ahead under County approval, they had informed the City that they would be open to an annexation, however, are happy to go forward with the County. Gil Hoffman Capistrano Court, said that the property that is expected to be donated to the City as open space is undevelopable land that will always be open space, and that by taking possession the City would be gaining nothing in the way of open space, but would be gaining liabilities. Dan Lloyd, Engineering Development Associates (EDA), the engineers and planners for the Prefumo Homes project, urged the Council to consider the benefits of the project and proceed to environmental review. George Smith, for the project, responded to concerns expressed earlier in the evening about the viability of the Prefumo Homes project, and questioned the assumption that what is open space today would always be open space. Mayor Settle returned the discussion to the dais. - During Council discussion of the proposed projects, there was dialogue between Council and the City Attorney regarding the acceptability of denying a development project prior to environmental review-and the possibility of adopting a procedure to allow got this type of action. 2. PREFUMO CREEK HOMES ANNEXATION ENVIRONMENTAL-SERVICES (File No. 463) Council considered approving a workscope for consultant services to provide an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Prefumo Creek Homes Annexation Project (City Files: ANNX 26 -95, ER 26 -95, TR 26-95, GP /R 26-95) proposed on a site located on the south side of Prefumo Canyon Road, near Castillo Court (1855 Prefumo Canyon Road), Arnold Jonas. Community Development Director, asked that staff be allowed to disseminate the RFP in order to move ahead with selection of a consultant to prepare the EIR and proceed with processing of the request. Ron Whisenand, Current Planning Manager, and Pam Ricci. Associate Planner, were present to answer questions. Mayor Settle asked for comment from the public. Sam Vigil. Castillo Court, pointed out that the provision for a licensed civil engineer to address water and wastewater concerns had been omitted from the section dealing with professional qualifications. Christine Mulholland suggested that any consultant group that employs anyone who is related to anyone working within the department, who would be overseeing those who would review the process, be eliminated. Mayor Settle returned the discussion to Council. Council discussion ensued, including comments by the City Attorney, City Administrative Officer and the Community Development Director,' about a perceived conflict of interest due to the Long Range Planning Manager's spouse's employment with EDA, the planners for the Prefumo Homes project.