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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDraft Minutes PC 04-27-16 DRAFT Minutes Planning Commission Regular Meeting Wednesday, April 27, 2016 CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Planning Commission was called to order on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at 6:01 p.m. in the Council Chamber, located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by Chairperson Stevenson. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chair Stevenson led Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL Commissioners Present: Ronald Malak, John Larson (8:05 PM), William Riggs, Hemalata Dandekar, Vice-Chair John Fowler and Chair Charles Stevenson Absent: None Staff: Deputy Long Range Planning Director Xzandrea Fowler, Utilities Director Carrie Mattingly, Utilities Project Manager Jennifer Metz, Utilities Deputy Director-Water Aaron Floyd, Utilities Service Technician Mychal Boerman, Assistant City Attorney Jon Ansolabehere, and Recording Secretary Brad T. Opstad. OATH OF OFFICE Recording Secretary Brad T. Opstad administered the Oath of Office to Commissioner William Riggs. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS Mila Vujovich-LaBarre, San Luis Obispo, indicated there is a group concerned about the 71 Palomar project and is interested in preserving the site as a neighborhood park. Dia Hurd, San Luis Obispo, raised objections to the proposed transit center project at Santa Rosa and Monterey Streets. David Brodie, San Luis Obispo, voiced concerns about the impacts of climate change. City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle PUBLIC HEARING 1. 35 Prado Road. Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF): OTHER-2318-2015: Public review of the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the WRRF Upgrade including equipment and process upgrades necessary to comply with updated discharge specifications; City of San Luis Obispo, Utilities Dept., applicant. The purpose of the hearing is to highlight findings of the DEIR, receive public and Commissioner testimony on the DEIR during the public comment period. Commissioner Larson announced that he would abstain on this matter due to a potential conflict of interest (employment) and stepped down from the dais. Jennifer Haddow from Rincon Consulting and Jeff Szytel from Water Systems Consulting provided the presentation on the proposed facility upgrades and highlights of the EIR. Commission questions followed. PUBLIC COMMENT Mila Vujovich-LaBarre, San Luis Obispo, requested that trees be planted and signage upgraded for treatment facility because it is a gateway to the City. Bob Shanbrom, San Luis Obispo, posed a series of questions pertaining to the timeline for water supply, how new discharge requirements would affect the creek, and whether current residents would be paying for the water for future residents. ---End of Public Comments--- Commission questions and comments followed. Commissioner Riggs said he found the Summary of Impacts Table inadequate as it pertains to the Bob Jones Trail and its adjacent stretch of Higuera. He also addressed implications of the project on the transient population and their encampments. In response to Commissioner Fowler’s inquiry, Project Manager Haddow stipulated that the EIR does not address any of the financial or economic impacts of the project but that these impacts are part and parcel to the design process. Commissioner Fowler suggested the formulation of a more concise document, detailing optional amenities beyond those environmental mitigation measures implemented during construction, would be helpful toward making more informed value decisions. Utilities Director Mattingly addressed issues raised by Commissioner Fowler’s requests and inquiries by detailing the robust path taken within multiple public forums over an eighteen-month period. At the request of the Chair, Project Manager Szytel responded to questions raised by the Planning Commission Minutes of April 27, 2016- DRAFT Page 2 City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle Public about the potential for potable reuse, the maximum amount of water for the Plant at build-out, new discharge requirements, and water costs. Utilities Director Mattingly supplemented the response with comments regarding cost allocation for the project, development impact fees and rates and the goal for State grants. In response to Commissioner Dandekar’s inquiry, Project Manager Szytel discussed how the facility becomes a critical component in achieving the One Water Concept and the subsequent high standard to which the water is to be treated. In response to Commissioner Malak’s inquiry, Project Manager Szytel indicated that the water is discharged either to the creek as fishery-mandated or to the City’s recycled water distribution system and that with this project, the City will be able to look at groundwater recharge options and achieve the objective of maximizing beneficial use of recycled water above and beyond mandatory discharge. Commissioner Dandekar commented that it would be most useful for the Planning Commission to be updated on the discussions which revolve around how water is being considered to be deployed as the Commissioners are often requested to respond to a diversity of claims on water that frequently come to their attention. Chair Stevenson voiced interest in seeing the project appear before the Commission again prior to Final EIR in hopes that coalition of public interest groups would also come and speak on behalf of project; recommended Council make request for such a forum. Commissioner Riggs suggested that the Commission simply provide feedback on the Draft EIR, allow the consultant to respond, and perhaps provide further comments individually as public citizens. Deputy Director Fowler recommended that the Commission consider the option of conducting a Study Session to allow for more detailed conversation. Commissioner Dandekar spoke in support of this option while Commissioner Riggs and Commissioner Fowler objected. Utilities Director Mattingly proposed that interested Commissioners visit the facility on a tour prior to participating in any possible Study Session. Chair Stevenson called for 10-minute recess. STUDY SESSION 2. Citywide. 2015 Urban Water Management Plan: Update of the 2010 Urban Water Management Plan including the Water Shortage Contingency Plan; Utilities Department The purpose of the Study Session was to receive a presentation on the 2015 Urban Water Management Plan and provide feedback to Utilities Department staff on updates to the City’s water Shortage Contingency Plan. Commissioner Larson returned to the dais at 8:05; Commissioner Riggs left the meeting. Planning Commission Minutes of April 27, 2016- DRAFT Page 3 City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle Project Manager Metz and Utilities Service Technician Boerman provided the presentation. PUBLIC COMMENT San Luis Obispo residents Allan Cooper, David Brodie, Bob Shanbrom, Bob Lucas, Jim Duenow, Paul Rys and Mila Vujovich-LaBarre shared a variety of concerns regarding impacts of the drought and water availability. ---End of Public Comments--- Commission feedback followed: Chair Stevenson called for deeper consideration of a more immediate and detailed program for water offsets and best management practices along the same lines as the past successful toilet retrofitting program, and possibly including new development fee-based programs that promote (for example) lawn reduction and bio-swales which prolong sustainability. Chair Stevenson shared further concerns with water assessment analyses on development projects relying prematurely on an Urban Water Master Plan (UWMP) that projects ample supply for extended period. He suggested that the UWMP be fully fleshed out and developers apprised of offsets prior to water assessment analyses being performed. In response to Commissioner Larson’s inquiry related to Planning Commission’s specific statutory responsibilities relative to the UWMP, Assistant City Attorney Ansolabehere qualified that the Commission has the authority to review projects in terms of enviro- analysis and consistency with General Plan. Commissioner Larson stressed the need for clarification of units of measurement in the Plan’s charts to alleviate confusion for those outside of the water engineering business. Commissioner Malak expressed strong concurrence with offset measures and the desire to see them moved up to the most current Contingency Plan stage to further improve conservation measures. He suggested that the UWMP be completed as soon as possible due to the number of new developments coming through the pipeline. Chair Stevenson questioned the Contingency Plan’s specific trigger mechanism that would implement offset measures based solely on a rationale of drought projections and the timeline on which available water supply is based. Deputy Director Floyd requested clarification from the Commission on whether their wish was to see the Water Offset Program moved to the earlier Water Availability stage in the Water Shortage Contingency Plan table. Chair Stevenson affirmed his notion for it to move from “Severe” stage to “Warning” stage while Commissioner Malak commented that such a conservation measure would be better placed in the“Watch” stage. Planning Commission Minutes of April 27, 2016- DRAFT Page 4 City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle In response to inquiry, Assistant City Attorney Ansolabehere outlined potential Council policy issues. Chair Stevenson recommended that Staff consider researching what types of offsets would be most effective. Commissioner Dandekar proposed using offsets to create a culture in the City of frugality. Commissioners Fowler and Dandekar, based on their consideration of the presentation and responses, expressed confidence in the expertise of Staff about implementation of policies and mechanisms on citywide water-related issues. Chair Stevenson advocated for offsets to be moved up to a more equitable version of “Watch” stage; requested Staff consider further any appropriate-scale measures that prolong sustainability and requested Staff share with the Commission scientific drought studies. Commissioner Dandekar requested that Staff make pertinent suggestions regarding how the Commission can be more proactive or accommodating in taking actions on new development. STAFF DISCUSSION Deputy Director Fowler provided the Agenda Forecast for May, as follows: May 11th: Appeal of Director’s decision to deny a business license, tax certificate, and building permits to Analytical testing Services For Cannabis; Use Permit for a car wash; General Plan Annual Report May 25th: Study Session regarding Strategy to Improve Neighborhood Compatibility; General Plan Amendment for policy change referenced at this Hearing Commissioner Dandekar provided a report on her attendance at the State Housing Conference. Chair Stevenson asked her provide Staff with a copy of the material from the Conference and proposed a joint Meeting with the ARC to consider workforce housing considerations for the Downtown Concept Plan Update. Commissioners Fowler and Malak expressed support for this idea. Deputy Director Fowler indicated she would develop a proposal for Commission consideration. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:26 P.M. Planning Commission Minutes of April 27, 2016- DRAFT Page 5 City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle Respectfully Submitted, Brad T. Opstad Recording Secretary APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION XX/XX/2016 Planning Commission Minutes of April 27, 2016- DRAFT Page 6