HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-28-2018 PC Minutes - FinalCityofSanLuisObispo, CouncilAgenda, CityHall, 990PalmStreet, SanLuisObispo
Minutes
Planning Commission
Regular Meeting
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Planning Commission was called to order on
Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at 6:03 p.m. in the Council Chamber, located at 990 Palm Street,
San Luis Obispo, California, by Chair Stevenson.
ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners Hemalata Dandekar, Nicholas Ostebur, Mike Wulkan, Vice-Chair
John Fowler, and Chair Charles Stevenson.
Absent: Commissioner Ronald Malak
Staff: Community Development Deputy Director Doug Davidson, Assistant City
Attorney Jon Ansolabehere, Associate Planner Rachel Cohen, Recording
Secretary Summer Aburashed.
Pledge of Allegiance
Chair Stevenson led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Judy Reiner
Cheryl McLean
End of Public Comment--
CONSENT AGENDA – CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES
ACTION: MOTION BY VICE-CHAIR FOWLER, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER
DANDEKAR, CARRIED 5-0-1 to approve the minutes of January 10, 2018, as amended.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER DANDEKAR SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WULKAN,
CARRIED 5-0-1 to approve the minutes of January 24, 2018, as amended.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
February 28, 2018
Page 2 of 4
2. 609 Palm Street (610, 614, 630, 633 Palm St. & 970, 972 Nipomo St.) Review of the
Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared for the proposed Palm Nipomo Parking
Structure project during the public review period. This meeting is an opportunity for the
City and consultant staff to gather information from the public and Planning Commission
regarding the analysis and findings of the Draft EIR. The project includes five levels of
parking for up to 445 parking spaces, 5,000 square feet of commercial space, and a non-
profit theatre with approximately 24,000 square feet and up to 290 theatre seats. In addition,
the project includes a zone change and General Plan Amendment from the current Office
O) zone and Medium-High Residential (R-3) zone to Public Facility (PF) zone. Case #:
EID-0349-2017, O-H zone & R-3 zone; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant.
Associate Planner Cohen presented the staff report and responded to Commission inquiries.
Applicant, Shauna Callery, with Rincon and Parking Service Manager, Scott Lee and Joe
Fernandez with Central Coast Transportation Consultants responded to commissioner inquires.
Chair Stevenson opened the public hearing.
Public Comments
Dominic Tartaglia
Russell Brown
Dave Hannings
Mark Johnson
Ursula Bishop
Kathy Godfrey
Sam Blakeslee
Chair Stevenson closed the public hearing.
ACTION: The following comments and/or direction was provided by the Commission:
Discussed a project alternative that includes one subterranean level of parking, thereby
reducing the height of the structure or statewide not feasible.
The EIR should consider the increase of noise for Palm Street – Nipomo to Broad (Table
17, pg. 96) from a level that meets City standards to one that exceed the standards and
therefore should be considered a significant impact and appropriate mitigation should be
discussed in the EIR.
Page 91 of the EIR, mitigation N-1(b) needs to be reworded for clarity and to eliminate
reference to noise levels. Suggested rewording: No construction shall occur between the
hours of 7pm to 7am on Sundays and holidays.”
Page 99, Table 19 of the EIR should consider looking at other intersections as there is
significant traffic on the following streets: Nipomo & Higuera, Broad & Higuera, and
Monterey & Broad.
Page 122, Table 4 of the EIR regarding pedestrian impacts - recommendation for
mitigation: install crosswalks on Nipomo to increase safety for pedestrians.
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
February 28, 2018
Page 3 of 4
Consider the measures to increase pedestrian safety at the project driveways.
BUSINESS ITEMS
3. 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 the Land Use Table, Parking Requirements, and the
Reformatted Outline, there will be more substantive discussion on the item. When materials
are associated with the Update, as with the White Papers associated with the Update, such
information will be made available to the public and Commission prior to the meeting. (Doug
Davidson/Kyle Bell)
Specific Items for Consideration are:
a. Preliminary Review of Article 2 (Zones, Allowable Uses, and Development and Design
Standards)
b. Preliminary Review of Article 4 (Regulations for Specific Land Uses and Activities)
c. Informational Item: Draft White Paper on Flexible Densities Downtown
Deputy Director Doug Davidson and Associate Planner Kyle Bell presented the staff report and
responded to Commission inquiries.
Public Comments
Dominic Tartaglia
Allen Cooper
RECESS:
The Commission recessed at 7:58 p.m. and reconvened at 8:06 p.m. with all Commissioners
present.
ACTION: The following comments and/or direction was provided by the Commission:
Draft white paper:
Page 4 should encourage having a small kitchen including an oven, stove, fridge, and
sink, and bathroom in the compact units. Size 250 square foot area should be more
efficient and have complete and livable, sound attenuation.
Junior ADU efficiency units are needed around the city.
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
February 28, 2018
Page 4 of 4
•Set appropriate parking standards, would like to see a survey to see what the parking
demand is for people that would be moving into these units.
•City should consider getting data from Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.
•Consider shared bathroom, dorm style, to maximize land use downtown.
Article 2:
•Office Zone -Keep limit at 25 feet and establish criteria to exceed limit when housing or
another feature merits going up to 35 feet.
•Single family and multifamily dwellings should not be allowed as a principle use in the
commercial zones.
•PF Zone -keep at 35 feet with possibility for 45 feet for a public parking structure
•17.26.020 -Previous section also mentions the floor area; therefore this should reference
those standards or consolidate in this table.
•17.52.020 -if applicant can justify reasons for a smaller lot, reduce the I-acre PD
requirement to something smaller to encourage more creative designs.
•17.62.070 -We don't need automatic use permits, suggest considering some overlays
such as noise and flood hazard, therefore wouldn't need an automatic hearing if criteria
can be met.
•17 .16.020 -Allow a PD in low-density residential RI zones. Lowering minimum size of
acre to qualify for PD. Future item to go more into detail is an option
•Purpose statement descriptions now seem too wordy, may want bullet points to simplify.
•17.28.030 -Provision for large retail buildings after current business goes under, as it
may become a public nuisance.
•17.32.030 -7g, define "Energy Efficiency" and what the expectations are.
•Extending downtown overlay up Monterey is appropriate.
o Need to understand what it looks like before making a decision.
Continue with Article 2 and all of article 4 in a future meeting.
COMMENT AND DISCUSSION
4.Agenda Forecast -Deputy Community Development Director Doug Davidson provided an
update of upcoming projects.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9: 19 p.m. The next Regular meeting of the Planning Commission
is scheduled for Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at 6:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers, 990 Palm
Street, San Luis Obispo, California.
APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION: 04/25/2018