Planning Commission Meeting

MINUTES Planning Commission Regular Meeting Council Chambers, 380 Civic Drive, Galt, California Thursday, February 8, 2018 6:30 p.m. The meeting was called to order at 6:31 p.m. by Chair Morris. Commissioners present: Sandhu, Daley, McFaddin. Absent: Cannell. Staff members present: Community Development Director Chris Erias, Development Engineer Bill Forrest, Assistant Planner/PC Secretary Tia Klumpp, Assistant Planner Kristyn Bitz. PUBLIC COMMENTS – None ELECTION OF OFFICERS: McFaddin was nominated to Planning Commission Chair by Morris; approved unanimously. Sandhu was nominated to Planning Commission Vice Chair by Morris; approved unanimously. INFORMATION/CONSENT CALENDAR 4. SUBJECT: Minutes of the January 11, 2018 Regular Meeting. ACTION: Commissioner Daley motioned to approve the minutes of the January 11, 2018, Regular Meeting. Vice Chair Sandhu second the motion. Motion passed unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENTS – The Secretary announced that members of the audience could address Commissioners on any matter which was not on the agenda but within the subject matter jurisdiction. She advised the location of the speaker sheets, asked that speaker sheets be presented to the Secretary prior to addressing Commissioners and advised that each person would have a three-minute time limit to speak. PUBLIC HEARING: 5. A. SUBJECT: Public Hearing Regarding Cedar Flats Estates Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map Extension AGENDA REPORT: Staff Erias gave presentation RECOMMENDED ACTION: 1) Conduct public hearing for the Cedar Flats Estates Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map extension, and 2) Upon closing of public hearing, approve the resolution approving an additional one-year time extension for the Cedar Flats Estates Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map. Commissioner Daley inquired about the proposed pedestrian bridge. Staff Erias clarified that proposed bridge is a full scale vehicle bridge, not a pedestrian bridge limited to only to foot and bike traffic. Commissioner Daley asked how the proposed lot sizes compared to the neighboring Ashboro Subdivision (aka Greenwood Estates). Staff Erias explained the proposed lot sizes are 6,500 square foot minimum lot sizes due to the R1C zoning and therefore, are much larger than City of Galt Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 of 3 Regular Meeting of February 8, 2018 the lot sizes in the Ashboro Subdivision. Commissioner Daley expressed concern in regards to the private and gated attribute of Cedar Flats, and the potential traffic impacts of bringing the current Cedar Flats Avenue south through the proposed subdivision and connecting it to Amador Avenue. Staff Erias explained that the traffic and environmental report did not show a significant traffic impact. He also detailed the disconnect that the City has currently between the West and East sides; Cedar Flats connected to Amador will provide a convenient way for residents to get to one side of the city to the other. Commissioner Daley asked what was holding up the project, and stated concern that it wasn’t going to go forward. Staff Erias explained that the most significant barrier for the developer was the environmental mitigations. Chair McFaddin asked if the adjacent 5-acre parcel was going to be closed off once the area was developed. Staff Erias explained that parcel in question could still have access. Commissioner Sandhu wanted to know if the subdivision could be increased by 18 units. Staff Erias talked about zoning, and General Plan amendments; specifically, how costly they are. Due to the R1C zoning, it may not be possible to make the 6,500 square foot size if the number of lots were increased. Commissioner Morris opened the public comments. Dr. Tim Starkweather addressed the commission as the developer for Cedar Flats Estates. He reiterated that the current challenges were related to environmental impacts, and the design and cost of the bridge. He stated they have hired an engineer to design the bridge. Dr. Starkweather’s intent is to start building the second half of 2018. He expressed his thanks to City staff for their help in the process. Chair McFaddin motioned to approve the one-year time extension; Commissioner Morris second. Motion passed unanimously. ACTION: Commissioner Daley motioned to approve the recommendation to the City Council adopting the ordinance amending Chapter 18.44.030, Fences and Walls, of the Galt Municipal Code regarding fence setbacks in residential zoning districts. Vice Chair McFaddin second the motion. Motion passed unanimously. 6. A. SUBJECT: Annual 2030 Galt General Plan and Housing Element Progress Report: 2017 AGENDA REPORT: Staff Erias gave presentation RECOMMENDED ACTION: Review the Annual 2030 Galt General Plan and Housing Element Progress Report for 2017, and recommend that City Council approve the report. Upon City Council acceptance of the report, it shall be submitted to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, and the Department of Housing and Community Development in accordance with Government Code §65400. Commissioner Daley motioned to approve recommendation to the City Council; Commissioner Sandhu second. Motion passed unanimously. 7. A. SUBJECT: Front Yard Landscaping for Single Family Homes AGENDA REPORT: Staff Erias gave presentation City of Galt Planning Commission Minutes Page 3 of 3 Regular Meeting of February 8, 2018 RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive presentation. The presentation included information on the Galt Municipal Code in regards to landscaping requirements. The plan to provide education to residents, and to increase code enforcement action was also discussed. 8. A. SUBJECT: 2018 Planning Commission Academy – scheduled for April 4-6 in Monterey. The Commission’s travel and training budget is $3,000 and the estimated cost for each attendee is approximately $1,500± (which includes registration, two or three night hotel stay, travel, and meals); therefore, the Commission needs to designate which commissioners (up to two) would like to attend. Registration is due March 2, 2018. Commissioner Daley and Commissioner Sandhu expressed interested in possibly attending. 9. COMMENTS BY STAFF/DIRECTORS REPORT Staff Erias gave update on current development, annexations and grant funding. Staff Klumpp gave update on newly approved business licenses, and residential/commercial projects. Staff Forrest shared with the Commission the news of a Public Works grant pertaining to Safe Routes to School, and to expect areas of construction work during the summer near schools within the City. 10. COMMENTS BY PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER/FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 11. ADJOURN Meeting adjourned at 8:04 p.m. MEETING MINUTES CAN BE HEARD IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REQUESTING A COPY OF THE AUDIO RECORDING FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION SECRETARY. Respectfully submitted by Tia Klumpp, Assistant Planner and Planning Commission Secretary _____________________________________ Tia Klumpp, Assistant Planner and Planning Commission Secretary