Planning Commission Meeting

MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION Tuesday, August 27, 2013 EVENING SESSION ONLY 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS, COUNCIL CHAMBERS 580 PACIFIC STREET MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Garden, McCrone, Davis, Stocker Osorio, Widmar, Reed Commissioners Absent: None Staff Members Present: Principal Planner Kimberly Cole, Deputy City Chief of Plans and Public Works Hans Uslar, Chief of Planning, Engineering and Environmental Compliance Chip Rerig, Principal Planner Elizabeth Caraker, City Traffic Engineer Richard Deal, Recording Secretary Halabi CALL TO ORDER Chair Garden called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. 1. Presentation by iLead Design Students (Oral Presentation) ACTION: Presentation received. Staff Presentation/Commission Questions Christine Hopper introduced the iLead Design Students and gave a brief overview of the program. Applicant Alan Herbert, Grace Backer and Henry Mason, the iLead Monterey Team, gave a presentation. Public Comments None. Commissioner Comments Commissioner Garden said he looks forward to the students’ innovations coming to fruition in the future and congratulated them on their hard work and creative concepts.  Planning Commission Draft Minutes Tuesday, August 27, 2013 CONSENT ITEMS On a motion by Commissioner Garden, seconded by Commissioner Stocker, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission approved the CONSENT ITEMS: AYES: 4 COMMISSIONERS: Garden, McCrone, Davis, Stocker NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 3 COMMISSIONERS: Widmar, Osorio, Reed RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None Approval of Minutes 2. August 13, 2013 ACTION: Approved as submitted. ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS None. 3. Consider Recommendation to City Council to: Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration, Adopt the Downtown Specific Plan, Adopt an Ordinance Amending the Zoning Map from Community Commercial (C-2), Planned Community (PC), Commercial Office and Professional (CO), Residential Medium Density (R-3), and Open Space (O) to Planned Community (PC) - Downtown and Deleting Monterey City Code Section 20-48.4 that Restricts Bicycles and Vehicles on the Alvarado Mall ACTION: Continued the item to the September 10, 2013 meeting to allow staff to address the following issues raised by the Commission: 1. Truck loading on Alvarado 2. Vehicular access on Alvarado Mall 3. Access to Ordway parking 4. Alternative uses on Custom House Plaza 5. Greater attention to Royal Presidio Chapel 6. Clarification on downgrade of Polk Street 7. Increased explanation of the connection between Alvarado Street and the Waterfront Staff Presentation/Commission Questions Kimberly Cole, Richard Deal and Elizabeth Caraker presented the Agenda Report and answered Commissioners’ questions. Public Comments Jerry Abinate, owner of Ordway, said he is in support of the majority of the Downtown Specific Plan except the closure of Pearl and Polk which would result in deterioration of the Ordway business. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 2 Planning Commission Draft Minutes Tuesday, August 27, 2013 Mary Lynch Dunbar said she was a participant in the parking and transportation charrettes and is in support of the majority of the plan. Ms. Dunbar said the Alvarado Mall should not be opened to vehicle traffic due to its historic nature and presence as one of the only bike friendly areas in the downtown. Janine Chicourrat, General Manager of the Portola Hotel and Spa, expressed concern with vehicular traffic on the Alvarado Mall and said vehicular traffic would result in increased safety concerns and noise levels for hotel guests. Jack Valenti expressed concern with truck loading on Alvarado Street. Gasper Cardinalli, resident of Alvarado Street, said the plan must incorporate a functional entrance to the Ordway Pharmacy. Mary Alice Fettis, Fisherman’s Wharf Association, questioned the flow of pedestrians and vehicles on the Custom House Plaza. Barbara Meister, Public Affairs Director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, said she is in support of the plan. Ms. Meister said the plan creates solutions to alleviate perceptions that Monterey is a “tired” destination through the use of way finding signs and increased circulation. She said the plan will bring new life into the downtown area. Matthew Sundt, owner of Old Capital Books, said he supports two-way circulation on Alvarado Street, and asked the Commission to ensure a solution to the Ordway Pharmacy parking lot and give greater attention to the lower Alvarado area. Nelson Vega said he is in support of the plan due to its ability to promote vitality. He said the private sector has already significantly invested in the ideas of the Downtown Specific Plan prior to its adoption Rick Johnson, Executive Director of the Old Monterey Business Association, said businesses downtown have expressed concern with the lower Alvarado area and Pearl Street. He asked the Commission to focus on alleviating these key issues. Jerry Anderson, Saucito Land Company, said he is in support of the adoption of the Downtown Specific Plan and expressed concerns with the downgrade and closure of Polk Street and Pearl Street. Mr. Anderson said the plan has numerous merits, including the standards, objectives and guidelines which have acted as an inspiration for the development at 459 Alvarado Street. Elizabeth Elves, business owner on Fisherman’s Wharf, said she looks forward to seeing more elements like outdoor seating and said adoption of this plan will refresh the deteriorated downtown area. Judy Marotta, representing the Marottas, said the they are in support of the plan but would like to see the issues with access to the Ordway pharmacy addressed. Henry Rhunke, Wald, Ruhnke & Dost Architects, said four years ago he presented a vision to Planning Commission and City Council; a vision of a bustling, lively downtown area. He said the Downtown Specific Plan has captured this vision. He said the private sector has already begun investing in the vision of this plan. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 3 Planning Commission Draft Minutes Tuesday, August 27, 2013 Commissioner Comments Commissioner Widmar said he is concerned with truck loading on Alvarado Street and suggested an ordinance to restrict allowable truck loading hours or restrict loading to an alternate street to ensure uncongested circulation. Commissioner Widmar expressed concern with the lower Alvarado extension, requested greater detail on how the area would operate with vehicle access and said the ordinance does not need to be removed to allow bike access. Commissioner Widmar also said he would like to see the issues with access to the Ordway site resolved. Commissioner Stocker said the Waterfront and Downtown areas have been disconnected injuring development and livelihood and said the Downtown Specific Plan is necessary to regain vitality in these areas. He said he believes the issues with access to Ordway parking can be resolved by staff and said he is in support of the downgrade of Polk Street. Commissioner Stocker said he understands the concerns about vehicular access on lower Alvarado, but disagrees that these issues will result in a serious problem. Commissioner Osorio expressed concern with vehicular traffic on the Custom House Plaza due to the spaces unique limitation to pedestrians. Commissioner Osorio expressed interest in relocating the Community Room and said the uses of the businesses on the plaza are pivotal to revitalization. He suggested additional language inserted to ensure the connection between the Royal Presidio and Figueroa Street be more pedestrian oriented. Chair Garden called a recess at 9:12 pm Chair Garden reconvened the meeting at 9:17 pm. Commissioner Davis recommended greater clarification on the term downgraded and said he likes the possibility of limited access on Polk Street and Pearl Street. Commissioner McCrone commended staff on their hard word. He said the issue of access to the Ordway parking lot must be addressed and Pearl Street and Polk Street should not be part of the intersection on Alvarado Street. He said the Alvarado Mall plays a pivotal role in the success of the plan due to its ability to integrate the downtown area with the Waterfront and reestablish the waterfront community character. Commissioner McCrone said a trolley would help visually connect the extension of Alvarado to the Waterfront. Commissioner Reed said he doesn’t agree that vehicular access is a necessity on the Alvarado Mall and said the Portola Hotel and Spa would benefit from the revitalization of the Alvarado Mall. Commissioner Garden said he had minor editorial changes to submit to staff Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 4 Planning Commission Draft Minutes Tuesday, August 27, 2013 Commissioner Stocker made a motion to continue the item to the September 10, 2013 meeting to allow staff to address the following issues raised by the Commission: 1. Truck loading on Alvarado 2. Vehicular access on the Alvarado Mall 3. Access to Ordway parking 4. Alternative uses on Custom House Plaza 5. Greater attention to Royal Presidio Chapel 6. Clarification on downgrade of Polk Street 7. Increased explanation of the connection between Alvarado Street and the Waterfront Commissioner McCrone seconded the motion. On a motion by Commissioner Stocker, seconded by Commissioner McCrone, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission continued the item to the September 10, 2013 meeting to allow staff to address the following issues raised by the Commission: truck loading on Alvarado, vehicular access on the Alvarado Mall, access to Ordway parking, alternative uses on Custom House Plaza, greater attention to Royal Presidio Chapel, clarification on downgrade of Polk Street, and increased explanation of the connection between Alvarado Street and the Waterfront. AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: Garden, McCrone, Stocker Osorio, Widmar, Reed, Davis NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None 4. Annual Election of Officers and Appointments to Subcommittees ACTION: Appointed the Commission Chair and Vice-Chair and confirmed Subcommittee appointments for Fiscal Year 2013-2014. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 5  Planning Commission Draft Minutes Tuesday, August 27, 2013 Commissioner Reed said he would like to forgo the opportunity to hold the position of Chair or Vice Chair. Commissioner Davis made a motion to appoint Commissioner McCrone Commission Chair and Commissioner Osorio Vice-Chair. Commissioner Reed seconded the motion. Ms. Cole suggested that the motion include subcommittee appointments. The motion maker and seconder agreed. On a motion by Commissioner Davis seconded by Commissioner Reed, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission appointed Commissioner McCrone Commission Chair and Commissioner Osorio Vice-Chair and confirmed Subcommittee appointments for Fiscal Year 2013-2014. AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: Garden, McCrone, Stocker Osorio, Widmar, Reed, Davis NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS Commissioner Osorio said the outdoor seating at Café Trieste has garnered significant excitement and he looks forward to additional proposals for outdoor seating on Alvarado. Commissioner Reed requested the City Attorney give a presentation on religious establishments and federal law. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 7. Planning Office Update  Received update  Ms. Cole said she would like to hold the fieldtrip on Monday, September 9, 2013 at 2pm to allow the Commissioners to see the recycling facility in operation. ADJOURNMENT Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 6 Planning Commission Draft Minutes Tuesday, August 27, 2013 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:00 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Kimberly Cole, AICP Chair Principal Planner Planning Commission Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 7