Planning Commission Meeting

MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION Tuesday, December 10, 2013 AFTERNOON & EVENING SESSION 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS, COUNCIL CHAMBERS 580 PACIFIC STREET MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Garden, Davis, Stocker, McCrone, Widmar, Osorio Commissioners Absent: Reed Staff Members Present: Principal Planner Kimberly Cole, Principal Planner Elizabeth Caraker, Senior Associate Planner Christine Hopper, Recording Secretary Halabi CALL TO ORDER Chair McCrone called the meeting to order at 4:01 pm. CONSENT ITEMS Commissioner Stocker made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Commissioner Widmar seconded the motion. On a motion by Commissioner Stocker, seconded by Commissioner Widmar, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission approved the CONSENT ITEMS AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Garden, Stocker, Davis, McCrone, Widmar NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: Reed, Osorio ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None Approval of Minutes 1. November 12, 2013 ACTION: Approved as submitted. ***End of Consent Agenda***  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, December 10, 2013 PUBLIC COMMENTS None. 2. Consider 700 Camino EI Estero; Historic Preservation Commission Recommendation on Use Permit 13-410 to Waive the Parking Requirement for Two Spaces for Two New Apartments; Applicant Dennis Hodgin Architect; Owner Jerry Janssen; PC-D-H-1 Zoning District (Exempt from CEQA) ACTION: Adopted a Resolution approving Use Permit 13-410 walvmg the parking requirement for two parking spaces for two new apartments. Staff Presentation/Commissioner Questions Elizabeth Caraker presented the Agenda Report and answered Commissioners' questions. Applicant Jerry Janssen, owner, said there is a vast amount of street parking available. Public Comments None. Commissioner Comments Commissioner Davis made a motion to adopt a Resolution approving Use Permit 13-410 waiving the parking requirement for two parking spaces for two new apartments. Commissioner Widmar seconded the motion. On a motion by Commissioner Davis, seconded by Commissioner Widmar, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission adopted a Resolution approving Use Permit 13-410 waiving the parking requirement for two parking spaces for two new apartments. AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Garden, Stocker, Davis, McCrone, Widmar NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: Reed, Osorio ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None 3. Consider 241 Dela Vina Avenue; Use Permit 13-168 for Mixed-Use; Applicant Joseph Rock, Architect; Owner Norman Naylor; C-3-D2 Zoning District; Exempt from CEQA Requirements. ACTION: Adopted a Resolution approving Use Permit 13-168 for mixed-use. Staff Presentation/Commissioner Questions Todd Bennett presented the Agenda Report and answered Commissioners' questions. Applicant Norm Naylor, owner, said the cabinet shop use is licensed. Public Comments None. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 2  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, December 10, 2013 Commissioner Comments Commissioner Stocker made a motion to adopt a Resolution approving Use Permit 13-168 for mixed-use. Commissioner Widmar seconded the motion. On a motion by Commissioner Stocker, seconded by Commissioner Widmar, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission adopted a Resolution approving Use Permit 13-168 for mixed-use. AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Garden, Stocker, Davis, McCrone, Widmar NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: Reed, Osorio ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None *RECESS* Commissioners Present: Garden, Davis, Stocker, McCrone, Widmar, Osorio Commissioners Absent: Reed Staff Members Present: Principal Planner Kimberly Cole, Principal Planner Elizabeth Caraker, Senior Associate Planner Christine Hopper, Recording Secretary Halabi EVENING SESSION Chair McCrone called the evening session to order at 7:01 pm. CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMENT None. 4. Consider Recommendation to City Council to 1) Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration; 2) Rezone Portions of the North Fremont Specific Plan Planning Area from Community Commercial (C-2), to Planned Community – North Fremont (PC-NF); and, 3) Repeal the North Fremont Area Plan and Adopt the North Fremont Specific Plan ACTION: Adopted Resolutions Recommending that the City Council: 1. Adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration; 2. Rezone portions of the North Fremont Specific Plan Planning Area from Community Commercial (C-2) to Planned Community – North Fremont (PC-NF); and, 3. Repeal the North Fremont Area Plan and adopt the North Fremont Specific Plan Commissioner Osorio said this plan is going to be a great tool for the city to implement the General Plan. He said he understands how there is some apprehension. Staff Presentation/Commissioner Questions Elizabeth Caraker, Kim Cole and Christine Hopper presented the Agenda Report and answered Commissioners’ questions. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 3  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, December 10, 2013 Public Comments Michael Dawson, Architectural Review Committee (ARC) Member, said the ARC was interested in increasing the parking requirement to 1.5 spaces to reduce future possibilities of congestion and altering the method of building height measurement. Nelson Vega encouraged the Commission to recommend approval of the plan. He suggested the City include flexibility for space parking requirements. Richard Rucello, Casanova-Oak Knoll Neighborhood Association, said the Neighborhood Association is not in support of the amendments to the City Charter or three story buildings adjacent to residential properties. Mr Rucello said the creation of parking programs are problematic due lack of enforcement and the intersection timing and grade differences are problematic for handicapped citizens and suggested safer islands be incorporated in the plan. Mike Brassfield, resident of the Casanova-Oak Knoll area, said he is in support of the Specific Plan. He said a 1.5 parking space requirement is adequate but does not support buildings taller than two stories or an amendment to the City Charter/VAF. He said he also objects to standards for some neighborhoods and not all. Jerry Anderson, North Fremont Business District, said a strict height requirement would diminish implementation of the plan and future development in the area. He suggested impacts of the height of the building be considered when approving future projects. Mr. Anderson said noise to adjacent residential properties is an issue to keep in mind and he is in support of the plan. Mary Alice Fettis, North Fremont Business District, agreed with Mr. Rucello’s suggestion that pedestrian crosswalks should be made more accessible to citizens with disabilities. Ms. Fettis also said strict height requirements on development is undesirable. Commissioner Comments Commissioner Osorio said the shadow study simulation illustrated that shadows are not a concern. Commissioner Garden requested that the graphics of light fixtures throughout the plan be altered. Commissioner Davis said the VAF/Charter amendment is intended to allow the flexibility of additional uses for motel properties. Commissioner McCrone said he would like to incorporate crosswalk features on North Fremont that cater to disabled citizens. Commissioner Widmar said the parking requirement should remain one space per unit. Commissioner Garden, Commissioner Osorio and Commissioner McCrone concurred. Commissioner Stocker said he is not in favor of altering the method of height measurement. Commissioner Widmar and Commissioner Garden concurred. The Commission reached consensus that the method of height measurement should not be altered. Commissioner McCrone said he would like to see a secure area in the crosswalk for disabled pedestrians to rest. Commissioner Garden concurred and said the illustrations in the plan need to be altered to show these refuge points. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 4  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, December 10, 2013 Commissioner Garden expressed concern with the character areas merging in the middle of the street. In response to Commissioner Garden’s comments, Commissioner Osorio said the character area boundaries should not be altered. Commissioner Stocker and Commissioner Widmar concurred. Commissioner Garden said he would like to provide more authority to the City’s Climate Action Plan to ensure it is used as a tool for development and recommended eliminating the language “when possible.” The Commissioners were in consensus. Commissioner Garden said he has some edits for staff that he will provide separately. Garden made a motion to Adopt Resolutions Recommending that the City Council: 1. Adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration; 2. Rezone portions of the North Fremont Specific Plan Planning Area from Community Commercial (C-2) to Planned Community – North Fremont (PC-NF); and, 3. Repeal the North Fremont Area Plan and adopt the North Fremont Specific Plan Commissioner Osorio said this plan is going to be a great tool for the city to implement the General Plan. He said he understands how there is some apprehension. Commissioner Widmar seconded the motion. Commissioner Widmar said this plan provides the opportunity to change the momentum in the area. Chair McCrone said he understands concerns expressed in making alterations to the City Charter and the VAF zone and said the plan is intended to revitalize the area. He also said the flexibility of three story development is a necessary component of the plan to enhance interest in creating vital economic activity. On a motion by Commissioner Garden, seconded by Commissioner Widmar, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission adopted a Resolution approving Use Permit 13-168 for mixed-use. AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Garden, Stocker, Davis, McCrone, Widmar, Osorio NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Reed ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS Commissioner Osorio said a cyclone fence has been installed at Franklin and El Estero. Commissioner McCrone suggested minimizing the CEQA language in the Agenda Report. He also reminded the Commissioners that the Boards, Committee and Commissions meeting would be held at 4:00 pm at the Conference Center. Commissioner mccrone suggested INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 4. Planning Office Update Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 5 Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, December 10, 2013  Received update  Ms. Cole thanked the Commission for their hard work throughout the year. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:53 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Kimberly Cole, AICP Chair Principal Planner Planning Commission Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 6