Planning Commission Meeting

MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION Tuesday, April 8, 2014 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm AFTERNOON SESSION ONLY 580 PACIFIC STREET, COUNCIL CHAMBERS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: McCrone, Osorio, Davis (4:08pm), Garden, Stocker, Reed, Widmar Commissioners Absent: None Staff Members Present: Principal Planner Kimberly Cole, Principal Planner Elizabeth Caraker, Transportation Engineer Richard Deal, Recording Secretary Joyce Halabi CALL TO ORDER Chair McCrone called the meeting to order at 4:02 pm. CONSENT ITEMS On a motion by Commissioner Stocker, seconded by Commissioner Garden, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission approved the CONSENT ITEMS: AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: McCrone, Osorio, Garden, Stocker, Reed, Widmar NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Davis ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None Approval of Minutes 1. March 11, 2014 ACTION: Approved as submitted. Other Consent Items 2. Consider 479 Alvarado Street Six Month Review of Use Permit 11-154; Applicant Anthony Buich; Owner William Stahl; PC-D Planned Community Downtown Zoning District; Exempt from CEQA ACTION: Adopted a Resolution eliminating the mandatory six-month review of Use Permit 11-154. ***End of Consent Agenda***  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, April 8, 2014 PUBLIC COMMENTS Sherna Stewart requested the Planning Commission consider designating a path in the downtown area to highlight historic elements, enhance the visitor experience and connection to historic elements in the neighboring Cities of Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach and Carmel. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 3. Receive Report on the Waterfront Master Plan and Consider Directing Staff to Prepare Environmental Analysis ACTION: Continued the item to the May 13, 2014 meeting to allow staff to make edits to the plan. Staff Presentation/Commissioner Questions: Elizabeth Caraker and Richard Deal presented the Agenda Report and answered Commissioners’ questions. Public Comment: Anthony Lombardo, representing the Shake family businesses, expressed concern with the proposed loss of parking and environmental determination in the Agenda Report. He said the elimination of parking spaces would result in nonconformity with the Parking Ordinance. Mary Alice Fettis, President of the Fisherman’s Wharf Association, said the businesses on the Wharf are in opposition to a reduction in parking, the creation of a walkway around the exterior portion of the Wharf to increase public coastal access, and the refuse collection facility. Jiri Nozicka, Commercial Fisherman and representative for People United for American Commercial Fisheries, said access to the Wharf must be unobstructed. He expressed concern with semi truck access to the Commercial Wharf as a result of the proposed roundabout. Mr. Nozicka, said he is not supportive of two year leases on the Commercial Wharf due to fishing regulations and the cyclical nature of the industry. Elizabeth Elves, owner of Carousel Candies, said the loss of locals on Fisherman’s Wharf was a result of the elimination of the Genza Parking lot and the reduction in parking proposed in the plan will further reduce visits to the Wharf. Sally Elves said she is opposed to any reduction in parking Mike Rickets, commercial fisherman, said the leases on the Commercial Wharf must be longer than two years because of fishing regulations and cyclical nature of the fishing industry. Frank Donangelo, Cannery Row Company, said convenient parking is a large factor driving locals to visit the Wharf. He said the economic outcome of the removal of parking needs to be further analyzed. Planning Commission 2 Meeting Minutes Tuesday, April 8, 2014 2 Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, April 8, 2014 Richard Elves, merchant, said he is opposed to any elimination of parking in the Waterfront area. Gino Pennisi said he is opposed to any elimination of parking because it will hinder the Commercial Wharf’s success. Sherna Stewart said there are alternative locations to place parking in the Waterfront to allow access to the Wharf. Commissioner Comments: Commissioner Garden said the plan needs a clear definition of open space and a clear parking plan that delineates available parking spaces. He said the citizens of Monterey have been clear in their opposition to a light rail station in the Waterfront. Commissioner Garden also said the Commission must also discuss the design guidelines and character of the Wharf. Commissioner McCrone said the 1935 General Plan vision of the Waterfront did not include parking. He said the Waterfront Master Plan must highlight the current surplus of parking in the Waterfront and Downtown area. Commissioner McCrone said the Waterfront Master Plan was developed with input from special interests groups, stakeholders and the general public at the well attended community workshops. He said the concerns expressed during public comment were discussed in length at these meetings. He said the Plan does not need to return to the subcommittee. Commissioner Widmar said the green open space on the planning map and parking illustrations need to be clearly defined and the plan needs to incorporate imaginative ideas while thinking of future transportation. Commissioner Widmar also said the design guidelines must be crafted in a way to ensure an artificial Wharf is not created. Commissioner Stocker said the traffic flow needs to be analyzed to ensure the proposed roundabouts and parking plan will suit the area. He said the loss of a few parking spaces to establish better connections in the waterfront area would increase accessibility. Commissioner Stocker he in not supportive of open space around the Wharf to enhance public coastal access, and said he would like to see further reduction in parking loss and greater beautification of the area. He said he is in support of recommending staff begin the environmental review. Commissioner Osorio said the plan must incorporate guidelines to encourage lease holders to renovate their buildings. He said he is supportive of the green, open space in the plan. Commissioner Davis said he is not supportive of a path around the Wharf to increase local coastal access. He said the Waterfront area is an urban space and does not need to incorporate a park. Commissioner Davis also said does not want to see green space or parking that is not utilized. He said the parking issues must be further discussed. Commissioner Reed concurred with Commissioner Davis that the parking needs to be further discussed and the local coastal access path is unfavorable. Commissioner Reed said the design guidelines and images in the plan must have a better connection. Commissioner Widmar made a motion to accept the report and direct staff to prepare an Planning Commission 3 Meeting Minutes Tuesday, April 8, 2014 3  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, April 8, 2014 environmental analysis. Commissioner Garden seconded the motion with the addition that the Planning Commission give staff direction to address the parking, open space, coastal access path, and guideline concerns addressed. Commissioner Widmar accepted the amendment to the motion. Ms. Caraker said although the open space at Fisherman’s Wharf and the more detailed definitions of open space could affect the environmental review, staff can move forward with the review in the most conservative way. Commissioner McCrone suggested continuing the item to the May 13, 2014 meeting. Commissioner Stocker and Commissioner Osorio concurred. Commissioner Widmar withdrew his motion. Commissioner Garden withdrew his second. Commissioner Stocker made a motion to continue the item to the May 13, 2014 meeting to allow staff to make edits to the plan. Commissioner Osorio seconded the motion with the addition that staff addresses the concerns expressed by commissioners. Commissioner Stocked accepted the amendment to the motion. On a motion by Commissioner Stocker, seconded by Commissioner Osorio, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission continued the item to the May 13, 2014 meeting to allow staff to address concerns expressed by the commission. AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: McCrone, Osorio, Davis, Garden, Stocker, Reed, Widmar NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS None. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 4. Planning Office Update  Received update. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 6:49 pm. Planning Commission 4 Meeting Minutes Tuesday, April 8, 2014 4 Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, April 8, 2014 Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Kimberly Cole, AICP Chair Principal Planner Planning Commission Planning Commission 5 Meeting Minutes Tuesday, April 8, 2014 5