Planning Commission Meeting

MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION Tuesday, September 11, 2012 AFTERNOON SESSION ONLY 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS COUNCIL CHAMBERS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Garden, McCrone (arrived at 4:02 pm), Davis, Osorio (arrived at 4:03 pm), Stocker, Reed, Widmar Commissioners Absent: None Staff Members Present: Chief of Planning, Engineering, and Environmental Compliance Rerig, Principal Planner Cole, Senior Associate Planner Bennett, Police Sergeant Hart, Recording Secretary Hanes CALL TO ORDER Chair Garden called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. CONSENT ITEMS On a motion by Commissioner Widmar, seconded by Commissioner Stocker, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission approved the CONSENT ITEMS: AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: Garden, McCrone, Davis, Osorio, Stocker, Reed, Widmar NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None Approval of Minutes 1. August 28, 2012 ACTION: Approved as submitted. ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS None. PUBLIC HEARING 2. Consider 685 Cannery Row (Blue Fin); 12 Month Review of Use Permit 09-050; Applicant Santiago Marasigan; Owner The Cannery Row Company; C-R Zoning District; Exempt from CEQA Requirements. ACTION: Eliminated Use Permit 09-050 Condition of Approval #2, which requires automatic reviews of the business’ compliance with its Conditions of Approval every 12 months. Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, September 11, 2012 Staff Presentation/Commission Questions: Todd Bennett presented the Agenda Report and along with Police Sergeant Hart, answered Commissioners' questions. Applicant: Santiago Marasigan (Tyke) offered to answer any Commission questions. In answer to Chair Garden’s question, he said The Blue Fin is busiest on Friday and Saturday nights between 10:00 pm and 1:30 am when occupancy can reach capacity which is monitored through the Identification Scanner that keeps a count of the number of people in the building. He also said he has worked closely with the City, Police Department and Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) to make appropriate changes to improve the business and the doors are closed during the week around 12:00 am. He said live music is normally Friday and Saturday night only, but could occur on weeknights when events are happening in town. Mark Marasigan, partner, answered Commissioner Osorio’s question by stating that dress code is enforced at the entrance and filters problems before they enter the establishment. He also said the change of genre of music also has deterred gang members from coming to the business. Public Comment: Mike Bekker, Vice President of the Cannery Row Company, said it is the intention of the Cannery Row Company to keep Cannery Row safe. Security patroles the area and responds to complaints about any businesses in the Cannery Row area. He said the Blue Fin has improved and having only one entrance open on busy nights has helped eliminate the problems. Commission Comments: Commissioner Stocker asked Sergeant Hart if the Agenda Report was missing any information. Police Sergeant Hart said the business has been quiet and the incidents that have occurred have minor in nature. Vice Chair McCrone asked Sergeant for clarification on the significance of the incidents that have occurred over the past year, and what information the ID scanner provides. Sergeant Hart said the incidents occurring at the Blue Fin are requiring less Police response and the security working at the Blue Fin are doing their job to keep the establishment safe. He said the ID scanners retains a copy of the ID to allow the Police Department something to refer to in the case of an incident at the establishment and also helps to identify fake ID’s. In response to Vice Chair McCrone’s question regarding the Blue Fin security plan, Mr. Bennett said if the public were to inquire with the business about the security plan, one should be provided for review as well as the Conditions of Approval for the Use Permit. In answer to Chair Garden’s question regarding Cannery Row nightlife being affected by the closing of Downtown nightlife facilities, Mr. Bennett said there is an expectation that Cannery Row businesses, as well as Alvarado businesses, will see an increase in attendance. He said the owners of the Mucky Duck have asked staff for advice on how to deal with the potential impact. Chair McCrone asked for clarification on the elimination of Condition of Approval 2 and if removing the condition will affect the ability of the Commission for future action on the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, September 11, 2012 2  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, September 11, 2012 business if any is needed. Mr. Bennett informed the Commission that the permit can be called up for review at any time. Chair McCrone made a motion to eliminate Use Permit 09-050 Condition of Approval 2, which requires automatic reviews of the business’ compliance with its Conditions of Approval every 12 months. Commissioner Osorio seconded the motion. Commissioner Osorio complimented the work that has been done to improve the business and suggested agendizing a discussion regarding establishing a standardized procedure for similar establishments. Chair Garden said such a topic would be a good addition to the Work Program. On a motion by Commissioner McCrone, seconded by Commissioner Osorio, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission eliminated Use Permit 09-050 Condition of Approval #2, which requires automatic reviews of the business’ compliance with its Conditions of Approval every 12 months.: AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: Garden, McCrone, Davis, Osorio, Stocker, Reed, Widmar NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None PUBLIC APPEARANCE 3. Consider Planning Commissioner Request to Agendize a Presentation and Discussion of the Passenger Depot Parking Lot (290 Figueroa) ACTION: Approved agendizing a presentation and discussion of the Passenger Depot Parking Lot (290 Figueroa). Staff Presentation/Commission Comments: Kim Cole presented the Agenda Report and answered Commissioners' questions. Public Comment None. Commission Comments: Vice Chair McCrone concurred with a suggestion made by Chair Garden to expand the scope of inquiry and expressed concern about the image people are getting when they enter Monterey and see a lot full of trucks and advertisements blocking the waterfront view. He suggested relocating the vehicles to a lot across the street on Figueroa and requested to have the topic agendized for a future meeting. Commissioner Stocker seconded the motion. Ms. Cole informed the Commission the item would be agendized for the next meeting. Commissioner Osorio said the issue is that the parking lot needs to me managed fairly and permit holders should be given equal opportunities. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, September 11, 2012 3  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, September 11, 2012 Commissioner Widmar said come of the trucks with advertisements on the side are actually located within the same vicinity as the parking lot and it makes sense to see them parking in the lot. The Commission discussed if they should be the determining body that decides what vehicles should be parking lot, and Chair Garden said the Master Plan for the Waterfront will be the final determining factor for what occurs in the Waterfront area. Vice Chair McCrone said that although the Master Plan will eventually define all aspects of the Waterfront area, there needs to be an immediate solution to the look of the lot and he would like an presentation from Wayne Dalton regarding policies. Commissioner Widmar asked for clarification from staff if the future action on the parking lot would be a referral to City Council. Staff responded that the City Council establishes policy for the City’s parking lots. . On a motion by Commissioner McCrone, seconded by Commissioner Stocker, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission approved agendizing a presentation and discussion of the Passenger Depot Parking Lot (290 Figueroa): AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: Garden, McCrone, Davis, Osorio, Stocker, Reed, Widmar NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS 4. Response to Commissioners’ Comments at the August 28, 2012 Meeting Report received. New comments:  Vice Chair McCrone informed the Commission that the next Waterfront Master Plan subcommittee meeting will be on October 1, 2012, from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm in the Council Chambers to review the Request for Proposals (RFP’s) for the Passenger Depot.  Commissioner Stocker asked staff when the Downtown Subcommittee meetings will resume. Ms. Cole said no meetings have been scheduled at this time because staff is in the process of completing final edits to the document and meetings will be schedule when completion is closer.  Vice Chair McCrone asked staff for an update on the Lighthouse and North Fremont Plans at the September 25, 2012 meeting. Ms. Cole said Elizabeth Caraker is working on comparing and editing the Downtown and North Fremont documents and they should be ready for review in October. Vice Chair requested that the two documents be presented separately. Ms. Cole concurred. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, September 11, 2012 4  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, September 11, 2012 INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 5. Planning Office Update Report received and reviewed.  Ms. Cole informed the Commission that the September 25, 2012 meeting is not confirmed. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:00 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Kimberly Cole Chair Principal Planner Planning Commission Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, September 11, 2012 5