Planning Commission Meeting

MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION Tuesday, June 12, 2012 Evening Session Only 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm FEW MEMORIAL HALLS OF RECORDS, MONTEREY, CA 93940 MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Davis, Garden, McCrone, Stocker, Reed Commissioners Absent: Osorio, Widmar Staff Members Present: Chief of Planning, Engineering, and Environmental Compliance Rerig, Principal Planner Cole, Senior Planner Ebbs, City Engineer Reeves, Recording Secretary Hanes CALL TO ORDER Chair Davis called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. CONSENT ITEMS On a motion by Commissioner Stocker, seconded by Commissioner McCrone, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission approved the CONSENT ITEMS: AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Davis, Garden, McCrone, Stocker, Reed NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: Osorio, Widmar ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None 1. Consider 150 Mar Vista Drive; Application 12-105 to re-open Use Permit to allow the development of an outdoor seating area; Applicant Cynthia Buhl and Joseph Guerra; Owner Monterey Elks Lodge; Exempt from CEQA. ACTION: Continued to June 26, 2012 Approval of Minutes 2. May 22, 2012 ACTION: Continued to June 26, 2012, to allow staff an opportunity to research Commissioner McCrone's suggestion that a vote was missed from a motion he made. ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS None.  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, June 12, 2012 PUBLIC HEARING 3. Consider 595 Munras; Use Permit 07-451 to approve a two-story, mixed use building, new construction that exceeds 5,000 square feet and a building over 25’ tall; Applicant Daryl Hawkins; Owner City of Monterey; Mitigated Negative Declaration Prepared. ACTION: Adopted Resolutions approving a Mitigated Negative Declaration and Use Permit for a new mixed use building, new construction that exceeds 5,000 square feet and a building over 25' tall. Staff Presentation/Commission Questions: Kim Cole presented the Agenda Report and answered Commissioners' questions. Applicant: Doug Wiele, Foothill Partners, gave an explanation of the need for the taller roof and spoke about the History of the site. He said he appreciates the support for the project. In answer to Commissioner McCrone’s question, Mr. Wiele said a busy Downtown is desirable and he is satisfied after working with Rich Deal, City Traffic Engineer, that the entrance as designed is acceptable. Carl Outzen said he is excited about the project. He suggested the Commission consider changing the 25 foot height limit on two-story buildings because today’s requirement is too stringent to house roof-top mechanical equipment which when covered with a roof exceeds 25 feet. Public Comment: None Commissioner Comments: Commissioner Stocker complimented staff on the presentation and well done Agenda Report and made a motion to adopt resolutions approving a Mitigated Negative Declaration and Use Permit for a new mixed use building, new construction that exceeds 5,000 square feet and a building over 25’ tall. He concurred with the suggestion to examine the 25 foot limit on two-story buildings and does not think traffic will be impacted. He also commended the fact that the project was being presented by a local team. Commissioner Reed seconded the motion. Commissioner McCrone said he concurs with everything Commissioner Stocker said excluding the issues of traffic impact and tree removal. He expressed concern that the left hand turn from Munras will exacerbate traffic problems and does not want to see the tree removed and suggested continuing the project to allow City Traffic Engineer Rich Deal an opportunity to present information on distances and the possibility of the entrance and exit being on Webster Street instead of Munras Avenue. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, June 12, 2012 2  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, June 12, 2012 Commissioner Stocker said the Commission has documentation to make a decision regarding the viability of the tree that is hollow and potentially dangerous to the property. The Traffic Report is thorough and there is no need to have a presentation. Commissioner Garden said he will support the motion and the project is a perfect addition to the downtown. He said the Traffic Report indicated that there will not be a large amount of activity in and out of the parking lot and suggested the Commission examine the requirements that mixed use projects have regarding parking lots. He also said he does not see any significant impact to the traffic on Munras Avenue. On a motion by Commissioner Stocker, seconded by Commissioner Garden, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission adopted Resolutions approving a Mitigated Negative Declaration and Use Permit for a new mixed use building, new construction that exceeds 5,000 square feet and a building over 25' tall: AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Davis, Garden, McCrone, Stocker, Reed NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: Osorio, Widmar ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None 4. Consider 2100 Del Monte Avenue; D-2 (Development Control Overlay) Review 12- 075 for Reconstruction of a 1,610 square-foot automobile repair building; Applicants/Owners Randy and Mary Draper; Exempt from CEQA. ACTION: Adopted a Resolution approving the construction of a 1,610 square-foot automobile repair building. Staff Presentation/Commission Questions: Forrest Ebbs presented the Agenda Report and answered Commissioners' questions. Applicant: Randy Draper said moving the building would cause a significant problem for the flow of the business and he accepts the recommendation to put a hedge up to block the cars from being seen and requested the Commission accept the design as proposed. In answer to Commissioner Garden’s question, he said the business services approximately 20-25 cars a day and the parking spaces currently available are sometimes not enough. He also said the older auto shop is unworkable and needs to be redesigned to be functional. In answer to Commissioner McCrone’s question he said the normal business hours are Monday through Friday and an occasional Saturday but with a better facility, more consistent Saturdays could be possible, but they are always closed on Sundays. Mary Draper said if the driveway was moved to the back it would bring the noise from the tow trucks that drop off late in the night closer to the residence located behind. Public Comments: None. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, June 12, 2012 3  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, June 12, 2012 Commissioner Comments: Commissioner Stocker said moving the building closer to Del Monte Avenue makes no sense and the proposed project will be an improvement to the area and the neighbors located behind the property should not be subject to the noise that should be facing the busy street. He said the Architectural Review Committee will be reviewing the project and will look at the architecture and landscaping. He made a motion to adopt a Resolution approving the construction of a 1,610 square-foot automobile repair building. Commissioner Garden seconded the motion. Commissioner McCrone said there is an overlay on East Del Monte and he concurs that retail is appropriate for the street. Del Monte has few retail businesses. He said this project is a good opportunity to conform to the new plan. He also said there are strategic ways to position the bays and landscaping can be added to muffle the sound to the neighbors. Chair Davis said the depth of the lot is not deep enough to accommodate the landscape buffer. He said the current building is appropriate and considering the project is to replace an existing building with a new one, a requirement to move the building is not necessary. Commissioner McCrone said he concurs that 15 feet of landscaping is not an effective use of the lot, but that problem would be solved if the building was moved to the front of the property. On a motion by Commissioner Stocker, seconded by Commissioner Garden, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission adopted a Resolution approving the construction of a 1,610 square-foot automobile repair building: AYES: 4 COMMISSIONERS: Davis, Garden, Stocker, Reed NOES: 1 COMMISSIONERS: McCrone ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: Osorio, Widmar ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None PUBLIC APPEARANCE 5. Approve Resolution – Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) -Determining the Projects Consistent with the City of Monterey General Plan, Neighborhood Plans and Area Plans (808-02) ACTION: Adopted a Resolution recommending the 2012/2013 Neighborhood Improvement Projects conform to the General Plan, Neighborhood Plans and Area Plans. Staff Presentation/Commission Questions: Kim Cole presented the Agenda Report and along with Tom Reeves, answered Commissioners' questions. Public Comments: None. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, June 12, 2012 4  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, June 12, 2012 Commissioner Comments: Commissioner McCrone made a motion to adopt a Resolution recommending the 2012- 2013 Neighborhood Improvement Projects conform to the General Plan, Neighborhood Plans and Area Plans. Commissioner Reed seconded the motion. On a motion by Commissioner McCrone, seconded by Commissioner Reed, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission adopted a Resolution recommending the 2012-2013, Neighborhood Improvement Projects conform to the General Plan, Neighborhood Plans and Area Plans: AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Davis, Garden, McCrone, Stocker, Reed NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: Osorio, Widmar ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS 6. Response to Commissioners’ Comments at the May 22, 2012 Meeting (701-03) Report received. New Comments:  Commissioner Stocker said during a recent Appeals Hearing Board Meeting the new ADA Compliance efforts were discussed and made notice that during the meeting tonight that every speaker chose to sit and present rather than stand at the podium. He also complimented the Planning Office on the staff reports and reminded the community to take the time to read the informative reports. Chair Davis said he appreciates that the City has a recommendation from staff on reports.  Commissioner McCrone said he read the response from staff regarding the Dry Boat Storage and made note that the recommendation for the Waterfront Plan has not yet been approved by the City Council and Mr. Scheiblauer indicated there was only going to be cleanup and he questioned staff on the work proposed that would indicate a redesign of the dry boat storage area which will be reviewed by the ARC and done by 2013 which will be prior to the potential completion of the Waterfront Plan. He requested a statement of the renters at the Dry Boat Storage so he can view what portion of the boat owner fees go to the Yacht Club to determine what portion is being managed by Mr. Scheiblauer. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 7. Planning Office Update (701-03) Report received and reviewed.  Ms. Cole informed the Commission that the Specific Plan will be posted to the Web and a link will be sent out to access the document. She said the Financial Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, June 12, 2012 5 Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, June 12, 2012 Section is still being worked on and will be included when finished. She also said the Waterfront Plan is forthcoming.  Commissioner Garden requested a time line be provided to the Commission at the next meeting indicating the status of the Specific Plans and Master Plans and suggested a forum be scheduled to let everyone know the progress. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:20 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Kimberly Cole, AICP Chair Managing Principal Planner Planning Commission Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, June 12, 2012 6