HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-13-2019 PC MinutesCity of San Luis Obispo, Council Agenda, City Hall, 99 0 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo
Minutes
Planning Commission
Regular Meeting
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Planning Commission was called to order on
Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, located at 990 Palm Street,
San Luis Obispo, California, by Chair Fowler.
ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners Hemalata Dandekar (6:02 PM), Robert Jorgensen, John
McKenzie, Nicholas Quincey, Michael Wulkan, Vice-Chair Charles
Stevenson, and Chair John Fowler.
Absent: None
Staff: Community Development Director Michael Codron, Community
Development Deputy Director Xzandrea Fowler, Assistant City Attorney Jon
Ansolabehere, Recording Secretary Summer Aburashed.
Pledge of Allegiance
Chair Fowler led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
None
1.CONSENT AGENDA – CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES
ACTION: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER JORGENSEN, SECOND BY VICE CHAIR
STEVENSON, CARRIED 7-0-0 to approve the minutes of December 12, 2018, as amended.
1.Action item 2 should include Amend Airport Area Specific Plan to require that
residential be a dominant opponent of mixed-use development on this site.
2.Spelling on Condition 4 on action item 3 should be modified:
•Both uses of “weathered” should be “weather”
•“Ally” should be “alley”
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
February 13, 2019
Page 2 of 4
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2.Conceptual review of a mixed-use development consisting of 702 residential units and
approximately 54,000 square feet of commercial space located in the Manufacturing
and Office Zones, with a Mixed-Use Development Overlay and a Special
Considerations Overlay. This is a preliminary review for early Planning Commission
and public input; no decisions will be made on the project; Project Address: 1160
Laurel Lane. Case #: ARCH-2001-2018, zones O-S and M-MU; Blue Sky
Development, applicant
Associate Planner Kyle Bell presented the staff report and responded to Commission
inquiries.
Applicant Representative, Tom Jess, provided an overview of the project and responded to
commissioner inquiries
Chair Fowler opened the public hearing.
Public Comments
Niel Dilinder
Michelle Mason
Karyn Steckling
Allan Cooper
James Lopes
Gary Havas
David Brodie
Shirley Peterson
Bill Peterson
Kathy Borlane
Brett Cross
Preston King
Paul Wolff
Chair Fowler closed the public hearing
The Commission provided the following directional items to be considered upon resubmittal
of the project plans:
•The project should be revised to consider the Neighborhood Commercial (C-N) zone
rather than the Community Commercial (C-C) zone.
•The project should consider Medium-High Residential (R-3) zone rather than the High
Residential (R-4) zone.
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
February 13, 2019
Page 3 of 4
•The project should consider including the Mixed-Use Overlay (MU) zone over the entire
site that also incorporates objective design standards.
•The project should retain e xisting trees as much as possible and specifically along the
perimeter of the property, project plans should address strategies that would sustain the
trees during development of the property, to the greatest extent feasible.
•Consider the focus of recreation areas and have a specific focus in mind to create a
unique element within the site. The adjacent creek should be a feature of the project by
incorporating a linear park or community garden. Onsite park space should be increased,
and more attention needs to be on where children can play safely. Consider opportunities
for inclusion of a dog park.
•Consider re-locating the smaller scale townhome buildings closer to Camden Lane to
provide a transition from the existing residential developments and the apartment
st ructures.
•The project should include an internal street network with sidewalks with connectivity to
the Sinsheimer Park, adjacent residential neighborhoods, the mixed-use buildings along
Laurel Lane, and the railroad bike path. Consider increasing the widths of sidewalks for
pedestrians.
•Consider a designation of one major entry to provide a sense of entry and place for the
development along Laurel Lane for vehicles and pedestrians.
•If access through Lexington Court is considered it should be limited to bicycles and
pedestrians or emergency vehicle access if determined necessary, the applicant should
work directly with homeowners of the adjacent neighborhoods to address concerns
regarding any proposal for shared access.
•The project sho uld be revised to provide an emphasis on open design, smaller structures
with a width of 150 feet , height gradient with shorter buildings along Laurel Lane and the
adjacent residential neighborhood and providing parking in smaller groups throughout the
site rather than islands surrounded by expansive parking isles. Common shared parking is
preferred over individual garage parking.
•The apartment structures as designed provides a s ite plan that resembles a hotel
development with long expansive corridors, the applicant should consider creating
several smaller buildings that incorporate more windows to improve the quality of the
units.
•Consider relocating the more intensive residential units near railroad, and lower intensity
residential units adjacent to the existing neighborhoods.
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
February 13, 2019
Page 4 of 4
•Re-consider the architecture style to be more compatible with the neighborhood and as a
gateway feature to the adjacent historical railroad district.
•Resubmittal of project plans should include a traffic study that addresses the build -out of
Bullock Lane as part of the Orcutt Area Specific Plan development and the capacity of
Laurel Lane.
•The noise study should consider noise levels of outdoor areas near the railroad as well as
site demolition activities in consideration of the adjacent residential neighborhoods.
•Consider alternative demographics for the development of the property in consideration
of peak traffic patterns, consider an age restricted community as senior housing is limited
in the city. Consider as an alternative in the EIR.
•The project should provide as many affordable units as possible, more than what is
required.
No Action was taken on this item.
COMMENT AND DISCUSSION
3.Agenda Forecast – Deputy Community Development Director Xzandrea Fowler provided an
update of upcoming projects.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:23 p.m. The next Regular meeting of the Planning Commission
is scheduled for Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at 6:00 p.m., in the location, 990 Palm Street,
San Luis Obispo, California.
APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION: 06/26/2019