Crescent City Planning Commission Meeting

CITY OF CRESCENT CITY PLANNING COMMISSION AND ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE Commission Members: Holly Greene, Chairperson Brad Kime, Vice-Chairperson • John Williams • Mike Muldoon • Ray Altman Incorporated April 13, 1854 web: www.crescentcity.org Special Meeting Thursday, August 30 at 5:30 p.m. Board Chambers, 981 “H” Street, Suite 100, Crescent City, CA MINUTES I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Greene called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Commissioners present: Chair Holly Greene, Commissioner Ray Altman, Commissioner Mike Muldoon and Commissioner John Williams Commissioner absent: Vice-Chair Brad Kime Staff present: City Manager Eric Wier, Community Development Director Eric Taylor, City Clerk/Administrative Analyst Robin Patch, and Public Works Office Technician/Planning Secretary Heather Welton II. PUBLIC COMMENT: The following citizens addressed the Commission: George Fulton, Security Guard for Jed Smith Shopping Center: spoke on behalf of the businesses that are around the proposed recycling center – they asked him to come before the Commission in opposition. They are concerned with the transient activity increasing and disturbing their patrons. Vice-Chair Kime arrived to the meeting at 5:33 p.m. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Approval of the minutes of the June 14, 2018 regular meeting. On a motion by Commissioner Altman, seconded by Commissioner Muldoon, and carried on a 5-0 polled vote, the City of Crescent City Planning Commission and Architectural Review Committee approved the minutes from the June 14, 2018 meeting as presented. Chair Greene asked the Commission for a motion to move the new business item to discuss now. On a motion by Commissioner Altman, seconded by Vice-Chair Kime, and carried unanimously the Planning Commission and Architectural Review Committee approved hearing item VII next. Planning Commission minutes 8/30/18 VII. NEW BUSINESS: Appoint a new Planning Commission Chair & Vice Chair Director Taylor explained the voting process to Chair Greene that it is done by motion. Chair Greene asked the Commission for a motion for this item. Vice-Chair Kime made a motion to nominate Commissioner Muldoon for Chair; On a motion by Commissoner Muldoon, seconded by Commissioner Williams and carried on a 4-1 polled vote with Vice-Chair Kime voting no, the Planning Commission and Architectural Review Committee appointed Vice-Chair Kime as the new Chairman. As a matter of order, the first motion was entertained again for a second: On a motion by Vice-Chair Kime, seconded by Commissioner Altman and failed on a 1-4 polled vote with Vice-Chair Kime voting yes, the Planning Commission and Architectural Review Committee nominated Commissioner Muldoon for Vice-Chair. On a motion by Chair Greene, seconded by Vice-Chair Altman and carried on a 5-0 polled vote, the Planning Commission and Architectural Review Committee nominated Commissioner Altman for Vice-Chair. Chairman Kime took over the meeting, Vice Chair Altman sat to his left. IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: These items are routine in nature, are consistent with the Crescent City General Plan, Municipal Code, and State Government Code, are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act, and are recommended for approval. Action on all items in the Consent Calendar will be taken without discussion by a single motion, unless a Commissioner, staff or member of the public requests that an item be removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion. NONE V. PUBLIC HEARINGS: A. Project # UP18-02 & AR 18-05: Request for a Conditional Use Permit & Architectural Review to develop a recycling buyback center in the C2 (General Commercial) District Applicant: Hambros Forest Products APN: 118-080-11 Site Address: 286 M Street Background & Project Description: The applicant is requesting a Conditional Use Permit and Architectural Review to develop a recycling buyback center located at 286 Ninth Street. Planning Commission minutes 8/30/18  The subject property is developed with an approximately 14,000 sqft commercial building currently occupied by Rural Human Services (RHS). The proposed development will occupy the southwest half of the RHS parking lot. The development includes a carport, recycling kiosk, storage shed, signage and parking for a transport vehicle and customers. Proposed activities include receiving recycled materials, recycling sorting, packaging and transport of materials to Hambros facility on Elk Valley Road. Customers will be paid for their recycling at the recycling kiosk. Community Development Director Eric Taylor recused himself from this discussion as he owns property within 500’ of the proposed location. City Manager Wier explained the agenda item for the Commission and the public. This property is currently occupied by RHS. There will be 3-4 employees per day, and there is expected to have up to 4 trips per day by truck for the materials. City Manager Wier explained that many items will be discussed for this matter including the City’s General Plan. The designation of this property is for commercial uses; the focus is concentrated on tourism and trade for the entirety of Del Norte County. The land use for this area does not mention recycling as a permitted use for this location. However, a use permit may allow for it given the Commission’s approval of such. City Attorney Rice weighed in on the matter and said the accessory unit would be allowed as long as it’s only collecting. She cautions stating that once the center moves to “processing” the materials, it will no longer be an allowable use as it must stay a “collection site” only. The Commission needs to decide if this business is something that is beneficial to the community and the location. He reported that there will be 10 vehicles per hour for an 8 hour day, the noise level will be associated with the sounds of glass, aluminum, etc being dropped into a bin. Staff recommendation is to condition it with a wood fence, concrete masonry to mitigate the noise that is expected to come from the area. As far as odors are concerned, it is recommended to have a solid storage to be used and no overnight storage. Regarding refuse – it is required to have onsite refuse collection and to not allow it to accumulate or be blown around the property. Parking is something that will need to be evaluated for the Architectural Review process. There are many services located at RHS such as Redwood Urgent Care, WIC, Mend Wend, and regular RHS offices. It is required to have 1 space per 200 sq feet per business use – there are presently 59 spaces are required for this location with the recycling center addition and there are only 50 spaces. City Manager Wier went over the items required to be approved by the Commission as outlined in the staff report. Chair Kime asked who polices the conditions of approval; City Manager Wier answered that complaints would be received by the City and the City’s Community Development Department will keep watch of the area; enforcement will be up to the City. Chair Kime asked who was doing that function now; Hambro has the location at the fairgrounds, so it is up to them. Hambro President David Slagle gave some background of the recycling program. The fairgrounds did not like Hambro being located there due to the certain clientele that used the recycling center. Hambro wants an accessible location, hence the request to the Commission, however they have the option to go back to Hambro if the Commission denies their request. The fairgrounds felt the recycling center did not work for their area due to the amount of traffic and clientele. Commissioner Greene asked what other feasible locations were reviewed; President Slagle answered Hambro located on Elk Valley Road. Chair Kime asked what type of materials do you take; CRV only. Commissioner Planning Commission minutes 8/30/18  Greene asked about the current location of the recycling center, is this less convenient for the public; he answered no, its that they do not have a good relationship with the fairgrounds; we do not meet with their master plan. Vice-Chair Altman asked if Hambro ever considered the site for Julindra; it was decided not to because that business failed. – was it because of the zone? Slagle – no they handled other recyclables that market dried up. Regarding the smell, Hambro is not concerned with the smell because it’s what they are accustomed to, however, they will keep the smell down. City Manager Wier said many phone calls were received in opposition to this project. The trash, shopping carts, objectionable odors, noise, vehicle congestion. Some felt it was a good addition; however it does not match the City’s objective for this location. City Clerk Robin Patch read two letters into the record in opposition to the recycling center location; Matt Fearing and Lori Taylor both of whom were concerned with the clientele bringing trash, noise, vulgarity, public intoxication, bad smells, and noise pollution. David Smith, Verizon store manager: spoke in opposition to the location; his store does not have air conditioning and they need the doors open to ventilate the building; bad smells from the site will make this impossible. Parking is also an issue as he believes people going to the recycling center will use his spots. . David Slagle: yes, there is a lot of noise from garbage being dropped into a can. Its important to be seen. Vagrants will be there whether we are there or not. Feels filling the parking lot being filled would be good for RHS as well as Hambro. Roger Gitlin, City resident: spoke in opposition to this use permit for the reasons spoken by those before him. Would like an alternative researched for location as this one is not a good spot. Julindra failed because the owners passed away and the children did not want to continue the business. Asked for the Commission to deny the request. Erin Melonia : spoke in opposition to the location of the recycling center due to vandalism, theft, etc. Traffic in the area can be treacherous. Karen Sanders- spoke in favor of the location and explained where the traffic would be coming from; they will be keeping people employed. This is a positive thing to get things clean around the area. James Hamilton: owner of Thai House property and joining lot. Has cleaned up the area, Elk Creek, etc. He has seen vagrants steal and use the restroom publicly; the City has cleaned up behind Safeway and having this location would be a set back from all of the work done to clean up the area. Hambro should have come to the business owners beforehand. Mac Robertson: owner of Robertson’s Automotive – echoed the sentiments of those who spoke before him. There were only 25 spaces at RHS available today, so isn’t sure where the 50 spaces came from that was spoken of earlier being available. The area is too small, the crime is up, the clean up made a huge difference and recycling at this location is not a good fit. Planning Commission minutes 8/30/18  Chair Kime closed the public hearing at 6:33 p.m. Vice-Chair Altman stated that the Commission should support local businesses, however, appreciates what the community has said in opposition to this location. Chair Kime reported that his business has been violated twice, has not seen a reduction of vagrancy with or without a recycling center being close. There are vagrants at Elk Creek drinking all the time. Feels City Attorney Rice’s approval that it meets the requirements means the City has given it’s blessing on the location. City Manager Wier wanted to clarify that City Attorney’s report did not imply that the City has approved of this location, it was informational based on the request that it is a permissible use for a conditional use permit. Chairman Kime made a motion to approve Project # UP18-02 & AR 18-05: Request for a Conditional Use Permit & Architectural Review to develop a recycling buyback center in the C2 (General Commercial) District, motion failed for lack of a second. On a motion by Vice-Chair Altman, seconded by Commissioner Williams, and carried on a 4-1 polled vote, with Chair Kime voting no, the Planning Commission and Architectural Review Committee denied Project # UP18-02 & AR 18-05: Request for a Conditional Use Permit & Architectural Review to develop a recycling buyback center in the C2 (General Commercial) District. VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: NONE VIII. REPORTS, CONCERNS, REFERRALS: Director Taylor reported that the City has submitted to CEDS which is County-wide will hear back soon if grant funding was received. An RFP will be sought to facilitate; and will go before the Planning Commission. IX. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the City of Crescent City Planning Commission and Architectural Review Committee, Chair Kime adjourned the meeting at 6:41 to the regular meeting on September 13, 2018 at 5:30 p.m. ATTEST: ___________________________ Robin Patch, City Clerk/Administrative Analyst Planning Commission minutes 8/30/18