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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-22-2015 PC MinutesSAN LUIS OBISPO PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES July 22, 2015 CALL TO ORDER /PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL: Commissioners Hemalata Dandekar, Michael Draze, William Riggs, Vice - Chairperson Michael Multari, and Chairperson John Larson Absent: Commissioners John Fowler and Ronald Malak Staff: Deputy Community Development Director Doug Davidson, Assistant Planner Kyle Bell, Transportation Operations Manager Jake Hudson, Assistant City Attorney Jon Ansolabehere, and Recording Secretary Erica Inderlied ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA: The agenda was accepted as presented. MINUTES: Minutes of May 27, 2015, were approved as amended, Commr. Draze abstaining. Minutes of June 24, 2015, were approved as presented, Commr. Riggs abstaining. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON - AGENDA ITEMS: There were no comments from the public. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. 1144 Chorro Street. USE - 1127 -2015: Review of use permit to establish a new bowling alley, nightclub use, and restaurant with late -hour alcohol services in the Historic Downtown Commercial zone, with a categorical exemption from environmental review; C -D -H zone; Discovery San Luis Obispo, applicant. Kyle Bell, Assistant Planner, presented the staff report, recommending that the Commission adopt a Resolution allowing a new bowling alley, nightclub use and restaurant with late hour alcohol services in the Historic Downtown Commercial zone, based on findings and subject to conditions, which he outlined. Jeremy Pemberton, applicant representative, summarized the history and concept of the project as an establishment that can cater to all segments of the local population; noted a desire to amend project conditions relating to hours of operation, allowing operation until 2:00 a.m. rather than staff's recommendation of 12:00 a.m. Pemberton clarified that service of alcohol is designed to be alternated between different areas of the building, rather than served from all five bars at once. Planning Commission Minutes July 22, 2015 Page 2 PUBLIC COMMENTS: Barry Goya, SLO, spoke in support of the project as a unique enterprise in the San Luis Obispo area, and of allowing it to remain open and serve alcohol until 2:00 a.m. Madeline Moor, project investor, spoke in support of the project; noted the sophisticated controls that will regulate service of alcohol and other operations at the site; clarified that the alcohol license covers the entire building regardless of the division of uses. Mark Rawson, applicant representative, spoke in support of the project and allowing the business to operate until 2:00 a.m. Therese Cron, SLO, spoke in support of the project as unique and a valuable attraction for both locals and tourists. Don Delay, SLO, noted concern about components of the project including late -night alcohol service, the assumed need for security, and the impacts of noise and sidewalk queuing in the downtown core. Paula Delay, SLO, noted concern about the project as catering to certain populations who have historically contributed to deterioration of the safety and quality of the downtown area. Stan Carpenter, SLO, spoke in support of the project and its suitability for the downtown area. There were no further comments from the public. COMMISSION COMMENTS: Commr. Draze spoke in support of the project overall; noted concern about the addition of another bar in the downtown area; spoke in opposition to extending the hours of bar operation until 2:00 a.m.; recommended that project condition 3. be clarified to say "from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. (midnight)." Commr. Riggs spoke in support of the hours of bar operation being extended until 2:00 a.m.; voiced concern regarding the inequity resulting from limiting operating hours of newer projects more so than those of existing uses; commented that demographics other than students would benefit; noted concern about the impacts of pedestrian crowding on sidewalks during peak use events such as concerts. Vice -Chair Multari spoke in support of the project as infill for a key location; noted concern regarding problems created by late night alcohol service and sidewalk queuing. Multari recommended that project condition 1. be revised to include the security plan as part of the project plans, that conditions 16 and 27 be revised to identify specific staff members rather than "to the satisfaction of the City," that redundant condition 28 be stricken, that condition 44. relating to egress be reworded by City legal counsel, and Planning Commission Minutes July 22, 2015 Page 3 that condition 45. be revised to allow approval of the traffic study by the Public Works Director or City Engineer. Commr. Dandekar spoke in support of the project in concept; noted concern about late - night alcohol service and pedestrian crowding at the corner of Chorro and Marsh Streets during peak use periods. Chair Larson noted public correspondence received both in support of and opposition to the project. Larson spoke in support of the project overall as a valuable infill development; noted ambivalence regarding closure at midnight versus 2:00 a.m.; recommended that staff revise conditions to achieve consistency among those referring to required sidewalk clearance. There were no further comments from the Commission. On motion by Commr. Dandekar, seconded by Vice -Chair Multari, to support staff's recommendation that hours of operation end at midnight, with a revision to Condition 3. clarifying that hours of use shall not be outside 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. (midnight). AYES: Commrs. Dandekar, Draze, and Multari NOES: Commrs. Larson and Riggs RECUSED: None ABSENT: Commrs. Fowler and Malak The motion passed on a 3:2 vote. On motion by Vice -Chair Multari, seconded by Commr. Dandekar, to adopt a resolution allowing a new bowling alley, nightclub use and restaurant with late hour alcohol services in the Historic Downtown Commercial (CD -H) zone, subject to findings and conditions contained in staff's report, with the following revisions: A. Condition 1. shall be revised to include the security plan as part of the project plans: B. Condition 3. shall be clarified to indicate_ that hours of use shall not be outside 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. (midnight); C. Conditions _16 and 27, relating to crowd control and queuing, shall be revised to indicate which specific staff member is responsible for approving methods of compliance; D. Condition 28., containing redundant uq euin_g conditions, shall be stricken; E. Project shall be treated as a substantial remodel; Conditions 34. and 35. shall be revised to indicate that the building must be_floodproofed accordingly; Planning Commission Minutes July 22, 2015 Page 4 F. Condition 44. shall be revised to read "The applicant shall to the satisfaction of the Community Development Director and City Attorney, provide le aII - recorded documentation that the applicant has the right to use the ro e[ outlined in the proposed egress system serving the Event Space and Basement Assembly and, if not, the occupancy limit shall be adjusted accordingll ice." G. Condition 45. shall be revised to assign responsibility for approval of the traffic study to the Public Works Director or City Engineer. AYES: Commrs. Dandekar, Larson, Multari, and Riggs (abstaining) NOES: Commr. Draze RECUSED: None ABSENT: Commrs. Fowler and Malak The motion passed on a 4:1 vote. COMMENT AND DISCUSSION: 2. Staff a. Agenda Forecast Deputy Community Development Director Davidson gave a forecast of upcoming agenda items. 3. Commission Chair Larson commented on the July 7, 2015 City Council approval of an industrial subdivision project on Tank Farm Road. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted by, Erica Inderlied Recording Secretary Apprg:}red by the Planning Commission on August 12, 2015. ony J. City C er