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Home My WebLink About07-26-2017 PC Draft Minutes Minutes - DRAFT PLANNING COMMISSION Wednesday, July 26, 2017 Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by Chair Stevenson. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Kim Bisheff, Scott Mann, Ronald Malak, Nicholas Osterbur, Hemalata Dandekar, Vice-Chair John Fowler, and Chair Charles Stevenson Absent: None Staff: Deputy Director of Community Development Doug Davidson, Assistant City Attorney Jon Ansolabehere, Associate Planner Shawna Scott. Other staff members presented reports or responded to questions as indicated in the minutes. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chair Stevenson led the Pledge of Allegiance. PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA None. CONSENT AGENDA ACTION: MOTION BY VICE CHAIR FOWLER, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BISHEFF, CARRIED 7-0 to reorder the agenda to hear Business Item 1 before Public Hearing Item 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ACTION: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER DANDEKAR, SECOND BY VICE-CHAIR FOWLER, CARRIED 7-0 to approve the April 26, 2017 Planning Commission meeting minutes with one administrative correction to Vice-Chair Fowler’s title. DRAFT Minutes –Planning Commission Meeting of July 26, 2017 Page 2 ACTION: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER DANDEKAR, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BISHEFF, CARRIED 7-0 to approve the May 24, 2017 Planning Commission meeting minutes as presented. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER DANDEKAR, SECOND BY VICE-CHAIR FOWLER, CARRIED 7-0 to approve the May 25, 2017 Planning Commission meeting minutes with one administrative correction to the Roll Call. BUSINESS ITEM 1. Zoning Regulations Update. The Zoning Regulations Update is focused on implementing the policies and programs of the Land Use and Circulation Elements (LUCE). This will be a standing item on the Planning Commission agenda from June 14, 2017 through completion of the Update of the Zoning Regulations, tentatively scheduled for completion in March, 2018. This will be an opportunity for staff to update the Commission on the status of the Zoning Regulations Update and for the Commission to listen to ongoing public testimony and discuss any such updates as they come forward. As a standing item, sometimes there will be nothing to report; other times staff will give a brief update with limited discussion; and at certain points, such as review of White Papers associated with the Zoning Regulations Update, there will be more substantive discussion on the item. When materials are associated with the Update, as with the White Papers, such information will be made available to the public and Commission prior to the meeting. Deputy Director Doug Davidson reported no updates and responded to Commission inquiries. Chair Stevenson encouraged members of the public to visit the City’s website and become familiar with the scope of work. Public Comments: None. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS 1. 12165 and 12393 Los Osos Valley Road. SPEC-0143-2017: Review of the Froom Ranch Specific Plan (Specific Plan Area 3 - Madonna on LOVR); public scoping meeting to discuss the scope of the Environmental Impact Report being prepared for the Froom Ranch Specific Plan; Specific Plan Area 3 – Madonna on LOVR; John Madonna, applicant. (Shawna Scott) Contract Planner Emily Creel presented an in-depth review of the project and responded to Commission inquiries. Assistant City Attorney Jon Ansolabehere provided clarification on the proposed affordable and assisted living units, and future consideration of residential density. DRAFT Minutes –Planning Commission Meeting of July 26, 2017 Page 3 Applicant Representative Victor Montgomery responded to Commissioner inquiries. Public Comments: Vicente Del Rio, San Luis Obispo, spoke in support of the project and suggested the City consider implementing the Buckley Road bypass to ease the traffic impacts. Neil Havlick, California Native Plant Society, expressed concerns regarding the development above 150-foot elevation and urged the Commission to consider the utility demands the project will create; expressed concerns regarding the Froom Creek alignment and the inappropriate allocation of acreage; noted the EIR should address how the project would interrupt the groundwater flow regime and wetlands. --End of Public Comment-- Commissioner Malak referenced written correspondence addressing flooding along Calle Joaquin, stating he would like to see the issues addressed in the EIR; voiced concerns regarding the single entrance and exit point. Commissioner Mann disclosed ex-parte communications with the applicants; expressed concerns with the utility connections being identified before the EIR scoping is complete; requested information regarding the mix of housing; voiced concerns regarding connectivity issues and expressed interest in seeing unique solutions; stated he would like to increase the natural habitat and environments. Vice-Chair Fowler stated the EIR list is comprehensive and includes all areas he would be interested in reviewing; encouraged the applicant to address ground water flow and to provide more than the traditional four alternatives. Commissioner Dandekar commented on the aesthetics and view angle section and encouraged staff to consider view angles from private commercial developments in addition to the view and scenic corridors from public rights of way. Commissioner Bisheff commented on the off-site drainage basin, and evaluation of its proposed location and potential other locations in the EIR. Chair Stevenson closed the Commission comment by recommending the secondary emergency access remain open all the time, and that the EIR address cumulative transportation/circulation impacts including expansion of Mountainbrook Church operations. The Commission recessed at 7:33 pm and reconvened at 7:41 p.m. with all Commissioners present. DRAFT Minutes –Planning Commission Meeting of July 26, 2017 Page 4 2. Downtown Concept Plan. GENP-1622-2015: Final review of the July 2017 Draft of the Downtown Concept Plan; receive a project update and recommend adoption of the plan by the City Council on September 5, 2017; discussion of this item is not subject to CEQA; multiple zones; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant. (Rebecca Gershow) Deputy Director of Community Development Xzandrea Fowler introduced the Downtown Concept Plan project, Associate Planner Rebecca Gershow and the Creative Vision Team (CVT). Associate Planner Rebecca Gershow began the PowerPoint presentation; she provided a brief plan overview and identified the updates and revisions to the plan since the April 26 Planning Commission meeting. Pierre Rademaker, CVT Chairperson, presented the Downtown Concept Plan Planning Principles 1-3, Strong Identity, Plentiful and Safe Public Spaces, and Variety in Form and Function including associated goals and plan highlights. Eric Meyer, CVT Member, presented Planning Principles 4-5, Enhanced Mobility, Street Types Diagram, and Universal Accessibility including associated goals and plan highlights. T. Keith Gurnee, CVT Member, presented Planning Principle 6, Art Culture and History, including associated goals and plan highlights Melanie Mills, CVT Member, presented the Planning Principles 7 and 8, Compatible Design and Ecological Connections, including associated goals and plan highlights. Lorelei Cappel, consultant from Michael Baker International, presented information regarding project implementation and outlined the next steps in the process, inviting the Commission and members of the public to provide input. Public Comments: James Papp, San Luis Obispo, spoke on behalf of Eva Fina and expressed appreciation to the Creative Vision Team for the inclusion of cultural heritage; suggested verbiage to include indigenous and non-indigenous people, specifically the “Tilhini.” Kyle Weins, San Luis Obispo, expressed appreciation for the Creative Vision Team and spoke in favor of the plan, especially its vision for Monterey Street and the Railroad Safety Trail connection. --End of Public Comment-- Following the discussion, Commissioner Mann stated he would like to see maintenance measures and a security review with Police Department included in the plan; expressed interest in the proposed bike connections; stated interest in receiving more information DRAFT Minutes –Planning Commission Meeting of July 26, 2017 Page 5 on state-mandated building height regulations; suggested a greater degree of clarity on sustainability and feasibility; recommended greater efficiency of language. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER DANDEKAR, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MALAK to recommend adoption to the City Council. ACTION: MOTION AMENDED BY COMMISSIONER OSTERBUR, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MALAK to include the following modification: Table 5.1 Implementation Action 19: “…Topics could include the Anza National Historic Trail, and El Camino Real historic bells, and Tilhini.” ACTION: MOTION AMENDED BY COMMISSIONER MANN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BISHEFF to recommend emphasis on safe connectivity for bicyclists across Highway 101. MOTION CARRIED 7-0 on the following roll call vote: AYES: Dandekar, Malak, Bisheff, Mann, Osterbur, Fowler, and Stevenson NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS Deputy Director Davidson provided an agenda forecast. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m. The next Regular meeting of the Planning Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at 6:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California. APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION: XX/XX/2017