Planning Commission Meeting

MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION Tuesday, February 14, 2012 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm FEW MEMORIAL HALLS OF RECORDS, MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Davis, Garden, McCrone, Osorio, Stocker, Reed, Widmar Commissioners Absent: None Staff Members Present: Chief of Planning, Engineering, and Environmental Rerig, Principal Planner Cole, Principal Planner Caraker, Traffic Engineer Deal, Recording Secretary Hanes CALL TO ORDER Chair Davis called the meeting order at 4:03 pm. CONSENT ITEMS On a motion by Commissioner McCrone, seconded by Commissioner Osorio, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission approved the CONSENT ITEMS: AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Davis, Garden, McCrone, Osorio, Stocker, Widmar NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Reed RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None Approval of Minutes 1. January 24, 2012 ACTION: Approved as submitted. ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS Tom Rowley said the City should reconsider both the North Fremont area and the Lighthouse corridor as suitable areas for mixed use because such a use is not a good idea for these areas. Matthew Armstrong, representing Impact Monterey Bay Group, thanked Commissioners Osorio and McCrone for attending the Pub Crawl on Alvarado Street and read from a letter he submitted at the meeting regarding traffic changes, specifically pertaining to Alvarado Street, and suggested addressing such issues as the environmental impact of vehicles and the general plan recommendation for a more pedestrian friendly town.  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, February 14, 2012 PUBLIC APPEARANCE 2. Recommend the City Council Accept the Preferred Transportation Alternative. ACTION: (Item #1 - Street Renaming)- Accepted the concept to change the street names currently shown as Abrego and Alvarado but make a determination of the street name at a later date. Staff Presentation/Commission Questions: Kim Cole and Rich Deal presented the staff report and answered Commissioners' questions. Public Comment: Tom Rowley said there is a very limited street system in the downtown area and expressed concern that businesses on Polk and Pearl will suffer if the streets are closed. He said there needs to be better signage indicating the major locations like the City Center, City Hall and the Library, and access to the West Custom House Garage should be improved. He also suggested eliminating the gateway on North Fremont because it will narrow or eliminate the streets which will cause congestion and he also suggested not narrowing the lanes on Lighthouse Avenue. Thomas Hood, local architect, said to improve businesses in the downtown area there needs to be more activity in the Custom House Plaza by reconnecting people through vehicular traffic. He said that businesses benefit from a drive by concept that allows more vehicles to access the business store front. Kristin Hoschauer said she is excited to see that Monterey is working to connect downtown to the waterfront and the Transportation Agency is requesting that the possibility for a Light Rail System be shown on all future drawings. Barbara Meister, Public Affairs Director for the Monterey Bay Aquarium, applauded the efforts of the City, staff, Commission and City Council. She said the changes will improve Monterey as a destination and this is very important to the Aquarium because 78% of their visitors arrive by car and it is important that people have a positive experience from the time they exit the Highway to Monterey, to the time they are leaving Monterey and getting back on the Highway to go home. She said it is important to connect the Downtown to the Waterfront because people should be able to experience the Ocean in all ways possible. Jeff Davi said he discourages a decision on the Abrego Street change considering Munras already has an exit, but encouraged an exit on the south bound lane on Highway 1 because there is currently nothing indicating an exit for downtown. He said the Pearl Street closure will adversely impact his business and the Polk Street closure will impact multiple businesses negatively. He also expressed concern about the potential roundabouts regarding their size and the way they look and he is concerned that it may Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, February 14, 2012 2 Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, February 14, 2012 cause problems with letting traffic in and out and suggested a more in-depth look at this area during peak traffic flow. Henry Ruhnke said the vision for the downtown can be seen by looking at how things were in the past when it was originally connected to the waterfront and there was two- way traffic on Alvarado Street and a very active environment. He said two-way traffic will benefit the community and allows for more access to the parking garages. He said the changes to Simoneau Plaza are a way to re-energize the park. Mathew Sundt said he appreciates how the City is spending the money concerning this project and is in favor of going back to the two-way system on Alvarado Street and understands that closing parts of Pearl and Polk would enhance traffic flow in downtown Monterey. He encouraged the Commission to continue with their efforts, and said he is certain that the roundabouts are going to work very well and suggested looking at other potential locations for more roundabout systems. Commission Comments: Commissioner McCrone made a motion to approve staff’s recommendation to change the street names of Fremont and Munras to Alvarado and Munras and Washington to Abrego. Commissioner Osorio seconded the motion. Commissioner Stocker said he concurs with the concept that the streets should be the same name, but suggested deferring the decision of the name of the street to a later date. Commissioner McCrone concurred but sees the benefit in making a decision today. Commissioner Widmar said the street name might need additional discussion. The commission concurred. On a motion by Commissioner McCrone, seconded by Commissioner Osorio, and carried by the following vote, the motion to approve staff’s recommendation to change the street names of Fremont and Munras to Alvarado and Munras and Washington to Abrego failed: AYES: 2 COMMISSIONERS: McCrone, Osorio NOES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Davis, Garden, Stocker, Reed, Widmar ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None Commissioner Stocker made a motion to accept the concept to change the street names currently shown as Abrego and Alvarado but make a determination of the street name at a later date. Commissioner Garden seconded the motion. On a motion by Commissioner Stocker, seconded by Commissioner Garden, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission accepted the concept to change the street names currently shown as Abrego and Alvarado but make a determination of the street name at a later date : Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, February 14, 2012 3 Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, February 14, 2012 AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: Davis, Garden, McCrone, Osorio, Stocker, Reed, Widmar NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ACTION: (Item #2 - Downtown Circulation)- Convert Downtown street network from one-way to two-way, accept congestion and queuing on Westbound Franklin Street between Calle Principal and Alvarado, Close Polk Street to through vehicular traffic with limited access and convert to a historic street, while retaining emergency vehicle access, close Pearl Street to through vehicular traffic and add a bicycle connection with limited access between Tyler and Alvarado. Commission Comments: Commissioner Stocker made a motion to convert Downtown street network from one-way to two-way, accept congestion and queuing on Westbound Franklin Street between Calle Principal and Alvarado, Close Polk Street to through vehicular traffic with limited access and convert to a historic street, while retaining emergency vehicle access, close Pearl Street to through vehicular traffic and add a bicycle connection with limited access between Tyler and Alvarado. Commissioner McCrone seconded the motion. Commissioner Garden clarified that it will take some discussion in the future as to how the closed streets will work. Commissioner Osorio said he is not sure how making Alvarado into a two-way street is going to make this a good decision, but overall the plan is becoming more balanced. On a motion by Commissioner Stocker, seconded by Commissioner McCrone, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission accepted conversion of the Downtown street network from one-way to two-way, accepted congestion and queuing on Westbound Franklin Street between Calle Principal and Alvarado, closed Polk Street to through vehicular traffic with limited access and convert to a historic street, while retaining emergency vehicle access, closed Pearl Street to through vehicular traffic and added a bicycle connection with limited access between Tyler and Alvarado : AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: Davis, Garden, McCrone, Osorio, Stocker, Reed, Widmar NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ACTION: (Item #3 - Roundabouts) – Accepted construction of Calle Principal /Jefferson roundabout and Madison/Calle Principal/Hartnell/Polk roundabout. Commission Comments: Commissioner Widmar said the roundabouts look small and he has some concern about Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, February 14, 2012 4 Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, February 14, 2012 congestion and made a motion to construct Calle Principal/Jefferson roundabout and Madison/Calle Principal/Hartnell/Polk roundabout. Commissioner Stocker seconded the motion. On a motion by Commissioner Stocker, seconded by Commissioner McCrone, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission accepted construction of Calle Principal/Jefferson roundabout and Madison/Calle Principal/Hartnell/Polk roundabout : AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: Davis, Garden, McCrone, Osorio, Stocker, Reed, Widmar NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ACTION: (Item #4 - Waterfront Circulation-Del Monte Couplet) - Deferred consideration to February 28, 2012. ACTION: (Item #4 - Waterfront Circulation-Alvarado Scott Street Extension) - Accepted the Alvarado/Scott Street extension. Commission Comments: Commissioner Stocker said vehicles should be able to drive to slowly on this extension of Alvarado and he would like to see bicycles and pedestrians co-mingle with vehicles. He said the wall around Custom House Plaza should be taken down so that people can enjoy the view of the Wharf. Commissioner McCrone concurred and added that if the wall was removed, people could also see the Museum and made a motion to accept the Alvarado/Scott Street extension. Commissioner Stocker seconded the motion. Commissioner Widmar said this is another way to connect to Cannery Row with a possible addition of a trolley system and concurred with the motion. Commissioner Osorio said that cars do not drive the Downtown and should not be the main source of accessibility for the Downtown. He said that the Custom House Area is a very tight space that needs more activity. He also said that bringing vehicles to the plaza will not necessarily reconnect the Wharf to the Downtown and we need more of a visual connection. He has concerns regarding the Environmental Impact Report that will need to be done. On a motion by Commissioner McCrone, seconded by Commissioner Stocker, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission accepted the Alvarado/Scott Street extension : AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Davis, Garden, McCrone, Stocker, Reed, Widmar NOES: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Osorio ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, February 14, 2012 5 Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, February 14, 2012 Chair Davis called for recess at 5:40 pm Reconvened at 7:04 pm. ACTION: (Item #5-North Fremont Circulation) - Approved traffic calming measures and entry features on North Fremont at Highway 1 exit. Staff Presentation and Commission Questions: Kim Cole and Rich Deal presented the staff report and answered Commissioners' questions. Public Comment: None. Commission Comments: Commissioner McCrone noted the comment from Tom Rowley made previously pertaining to the gateway feature and made a motion to approve traffic calming measures and entry features on North Fremont at Highway 1 exit. Commissioner Osorio seconded the motion. On a motion by Commissioner McCrone, seconded by Commissioner Osorio, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission approved traffic calming measures and entry features on North Fremont at Highway 1 exit. : AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: Davis, Garden, McCrone, Osorio, Stocker, Reed, Widmar NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ACTION: (Item #6-Lighthouse Circulation) - Suspended the public comment and continued the item to the February 28, 2012 meeting. Staff Report and Commission Comments: Kim Cole and Rich Deal presented the staff report and answered Commissioners' comments. Public Comment: Carl Outzen discussed the proposal of 1986 that stated a need for two left turns on Lighthouse Avenue, one to the neighborhood and one to Cannery Row and said this needs to be implemented. He said that the 100 block has a lot of restrictions and the no left turn restriction makes it difficult on his properties. He is concerned that the proposed plans will make the flow of traffic move even faster than it does today and suggested creating a loop by making it one-way from Reeside down to Foam and using the parking lane that is not being used to make a loop that goes back to Foam. He also said the option to create a center lane that turns left has been eliminated and he is concerned people will be deterred from patronizing his businesses because in order to make a left into his property they will have cross three lanes of traffic. He suggested alternatives on Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, February 14, 2012 6 Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, February 14, 2012 Reeside to allow for a left turn and would like to see some near term solutions rather than long term and there needs to be a traffic circulation solution especially on Lighthouse. Frank Donaneglo said it was determined that a two-way system should be maintained and any changes of that system would have a major impact on Lighthouse Avenue. He said the research into converting Alvarado into a two –way is understandable because it was once a two-way. He also said that the Business Improvement District is requesting to have this portion of the item continued to the February 28, 2012 meeting to allow time to take another look and possibly find solutions to help people on Lighthouse Avenue. In answer to Commissioner Osorio’s question, he said that having parking spaces directly in front or directly in back of a store is an important factor for a business because people are less apt to patron a store if there is not parking immediately available near the business and any removal of parking will have a negative effect. Danielle Rinderknecht suggested an overpass from Lighthouse to Foam. She said a u- turn would be a great solution and would re-direct traffic to Foam Street. Ms. Cole responded and said that this option has not been laid out and it would depend on how it would fit into the space, but this could be studied if the Commission would like to see the results. Commission Comments: Commissioner Widmar motioned to suspend the public comment and continue the item to the February 28, 2012 meeting. Commissioner Garden seconded the motion. Commissioner McCrone said Lighthouse and Cannery Row has been a discussion forever and a decision needs to be made on the topic. Commissioner Stocker said he concurs with Commissioner McCrone, but said he is not convinced that what was presented is the appropriate final decision and the additional time to work out the details could benefit the decision. Commissioner Widmar said because this is only a recommendation to City Council, a further discussion would not affect the situation especially considering it is not going before the Council until March. Commissioner Osorio said there are a couple items that are new to the discussion, like the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) being brought to the Lighthouse area which will increase the bus system as an alternative mode of transportation which could be further explored by staff specifically looking at what the potential reduction of vehicle trips would be if the BRT was implemented. He said the other new item is that the city entered into the United Nations Environmental Accords which means the City is pledging to reduce the carbon footprint of the City and one of the main generators of the emissions are the cars so a decision needs to be made if the City is going to live to the requirements of the accord or if things are going to be left the way they are in terms of the emissions. He said he would like to hear of the benefits of the BRT in terms of ridership and the potential reduced need for parking. Commissioner Davis said he will support the motion but would like to see the Business Districts get together with staff and come up with a more unified approach to a recommendation. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, February 14, 2012 7  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, February 14, 2012 On a motion by Commissioner Widmar, seconded by Commissioner Garden, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission suspended the public comment and continued the item to the February 28, 2012 meeting : AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Davis, Garden, Osorio, Stocker, Reed, Widmar NOES: 1 COMMISSIONERS: McCrone ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMENTS None. COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS 3. Response to Commissioners’ Comments at the January 24, 2012 Meeting.  Commissioner Garden asked staff to follow up with the Planning Commission regarding the City Attorney’s recent discovery that Planning Commission Resolutions and Guidelines are an inappropriate basis for findings, and staff and the Planning Commission now have to revise the documents and allow the City Council an opportunity to approve them as Resolutions and Guidelines, or will they need to be changed to Ordinances.  Commissioner McCrone updated the Commission on the results of the Pub Crawl that he attended along with Commissioner Osorio and Councilmember’s Sollecito and Downey indicating that there were three specific items that emerged from the event; 1) everyone was in favor of two-way traffic on Alvarado Street; 2) after discussing the implementation of the requirement to use an ID-Screener at the entrance of bars with the six bars that were visited, all were in favor of using the device and he said this should be implemented throughout Alvarado Street especially considering the competitive nature of the bars on Alvarado Street and the disadvantage the Mucky Duck has because they are the only ones currently required to use the ID-Scanner; and 3) the bar owners voiced concern about a rumor that the City wants all bars closed by midnight and he said the City needs to address this rumor and clarify the intended policy.  Commissioner Osorio also commented on the Pub Crawl stating that out of the six bars visited, five were not aware of things going on in the City like the Specific Plans or two-way street conversion on Alvarado Street. He thanked the young crowd in attendance at the meeting and welcomed their input.  Commissioner Davis asked staff to question the City Attorney for an explanation on why Occupy Monterey is still allowed to exist on the front steps of City Hall.  Commissioner Stocker noted that the Planning Commission is continuing their efforts for a full electronic program. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, February 14, 2012 8  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, February 14, 2012  Commissioner Widmar complimented staff on the work being done to present everything online. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 4. Planning Office Update.  Ms. Cole had no additional comment. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Kimberly Cole, AICP Chair Managing Principal Planner Planning Commission Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, February 14, 2012 9