Planning Commission Meeting

MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION Tuesday, July 26, 2011 Afternoon Session Only 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. COUNCIL CHAMBER, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Widmar, Davis, Garden, Osorio, Stocker Commissioners Absent: McCrone, Stites Staff Members Present: Chief of Planning, Engineering, and Environmental Compliance Rerig, Principal Planner Cole, Recording Secretary Abadilla CALL TO ORDER CONSENT ITEMS On a motion by Commissioner Garden, seconded by Commissioner Osorio, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission approved the CONSENT ITEMS: AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Widmar, Davis, Garden, Osorio, Stocker NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: McCrone, Stites ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None Approval of Minutes 1. June 29, 2011 June 30, 2011 July 12, 2011 ACTION: Approved Minutes of June 29, 2011 as submitted. 5-0-2(Absent McCrone, Stites). ACTION: Approved Minutes of June 30, 2011 as submitted. 5-0-2(Absent McCrone, Stites). Commissioner Davis amended his statement as it related to Item 2 and the site not needing to be re-evaluated. ACTION: Approved Minutes of July 12, 2011 as amended. 5-0-2(Absent McCrone, Stites). Other Consent Items 2. Review of Proposed Fiscal Year 2011/2012 Capital Improvement Program (CIP); Exempt from CEQA Requirements. Recommendation to City Council. Review of proposed Fiscal Year 2011/2012 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for consistency with the General Plan.  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, July 26, 2011 Recommended to City Council to review proposed Fiscal Year 2011/2012 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for consistency with the General Plan. 5-0-2 (Absent McCrone, Stites). ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS Joyce Steven handed out the book The Monterey Pine Forest and stated that it shows how unique the various areas of forest are around the City and how they should be kept as eco friendly as possible. She explained each chapter, mentioned where the book could be purchased and thanked the Commission for letting her speak. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 3. Annual Election of Officers and Appointments to Subcommittees. ACTION: Commissioner Garden was appointed as Vice Chair and Vice Chair Davis was appointed Chair. Commissioner Comments: Chair Widmar announced that Commissioner Stites declined election as Vice Chair due to prior commitments. All Commissioners agreed to the appointed subcommittees. Chair Davis resumed the meeting and thanked Commissioner Widmar for his year of service as Chair of the Planning Commission. 4. Receive Report on Citywide Transportation and Parking Study – Expanded Downtown Alternatives and Direct Staff to Evaluate Two-Way in Addition to One-Way Alternative. ACTION: Directed staff to evaluate two-way in addition to one-way alternative. 5-0-2 (Absent McCrone, Stites). Staff Presentation/Commissioners Questions: Principal Planner Cole presented the staff report and along with Traffic Engineer Deal and Project Consultant Henry Ruhnke answered Commissioners’ questions. Public Comments: Mark Beique referenced a letter he submitted at the meeting. He stated that this study should be done at a minimal cost and the design should be pursued because it allows people to easily visit the Downtown, Harbor and Cannery Row. He concluded by stating that in light of the redesign, the City needs to reopen the Waterfront planning efforts. Janine Chicourrat, General Manager of the Portola Plaza Hotel, stated that she has some issues when it comes to the Conference Center with regards to cars going through the hotel and the potential impact. She added that she is participating in a workgroup to remodel the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, July 26, 2011 2  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, July 26, 2011 Conference Center and would like to change the way people drive in and out. She is not sure if the Alvarado Mall is wide enough to include cars. She also stated that there are noise issues with Indian Summer and Hippodrome and people may not want to stay at the hotel if they have to deal with the traffic noise. Commissioner Comments: Commissioner Widmar stated that this plan needs to be looked at since we have the consultants and the money. The City needs to optimize traffic through the tunnel whether with one way, two way, or round-abouts. Commissioner Stocker concurred that the City has to look at this plan. It is valuable and superior to what is in place now. He added that he doesn’t want people to be bogged down with parking and traffic needs going to the hotel. Commissioner Osorio stated that he is apprehensive in introducing traffic into the hotel parking area but urban design is lacking in the downtown. This subject is going to be huge issue in the environmental review and re-introducing cars in Custom House Plaza could be a waste of time. Commissioner Garden stated that this study needs to be considered. Two way circulation and parking could make the streets easier to walk across. He suggested that the parking could be adjusted to make better use of the areas shown and asked if two way circulation would be beneficial and can people get to where they are going easier. Commissioner Davis stated that this study needs to go forward and added that the Commission will be looking at this item many more times. On a motion by Commissioner Widmar, seconded by Commissioner Stocker, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission directed staff to evaluate two-way in addition to one-way alternative. AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Widmar, Davis, Garden, Osorio, Stocker NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: McCrone, Stites ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS 5. Response to Commissioners’ Comments at the July 12, 2011 meeting. Response to Commissioners’ Comments at the July 12, 2011 meeting. Report received. New Comments:  Commissioner Garden asked staff to research and report back if the Planning Commission needs to vote on the minutes.  Commissioner Stocker announced that he read in a magazine that a community in California stopped printed packets for City Council and Planning Commission. This saved them over $2500 per person. He again encouraged the Commission look into doing this to save the City money. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, July 26, 2011 3  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, July 26, 2011 INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 6. Planning Office Update. Planning Office Update. Report received and reviewed.  Principal Planner Cole announced that on August 8, 2011 there is the Mayor’s Meeting with all the Chairs of the various boards. The topic chosen by the Planning Commission was the Transportation and Charrette results.  Principal Planner Cole explained the new procedure for tentative agendas. She explained that the look will be different, but the information will be the same. The tentative agenda will specify if there will be a field trip. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:03 P.M. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Kimberly Cole, AICP Chair Principal Planner Planning Commission Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, July 26, 2011 4