Planning Commission Meeting

MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION Tuesday, September 8, 2015 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm 580 PACIFIC STREET, COUNCIL CHAMBERS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Davis, Garden, Reed, Widmar, Fletcher, Millich, Dawson Commissioners Absent: None Staff Members Present: Principal Planner Kimberly Cole, Principal Planner Elizabeth Caraker, Senior Planner Christy Hopper, Associate Planner Fernanda Roveri, Recording Secretary Alicia Salas CALL TO ORDER Chair Reed called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. CONSENT ITEMS Commissioner Garden made a motion to approve the minutes of August 11, 2015 and the minutes of August 25, 2015. Commissioner Widmar seconded the motion. Commissioners Dawson, Millich, and Fletcher abstained from voting on item #1, the minutes of August 11, 2015, due to absence from the meeting. On a motion by Commissioner Garden, seconded by Commissioner Widmar, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission approved the CONSENT ITEMS: AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: Davis, Garden, Reed, Widmar, Dawson (abstained from item #1), Milich (abstained from item #1), Fletcher (abstained from item #1) NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None Approval of Minutes 1. August 11, 2015 ACTION: Approved as submitted. 2. August 25, 2015 ACTION: Approved as submitted. ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS None. PUBLIC APPEARANCE  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, September 8, 2015 3. Election of Officers and Appointments to Subcommittees ACTION: Approved Vice-Chair Reed as the new Chair and Commissioner Fletcher as Vice Chair. Staff Presentation/Commissioner Questions Kim Cole presented the Agenda Report and answered Commissioners’ questions. Public Comments None. Commissioner Comments Commissioner Millich made a motion to appoint Vice-Chair Reed to the position of Chair and appoint Commissioner Fletcher as Vice-Chair. Commissioner Dawson seconded the motion. Ms. Cole advised that action on the appointments to the subcommittees may need to wait as there was a letter received just prior to the meeting from Old Monterey Business Association and they have asked for this item to be delayed so that the association may consider the issue at their next meeting. Ms. Cole said that various committees could be eliminated because the work with those committees had been completed. She also said that the Old Monterey Business Association and the North Fremont Business Association have both a staff member and a Commissioner assigned. Ms. Cole said she thought that by removing Commissioners from those associations it would help reduce their workload. Commissioner Widmar asked if the subcommittees will go away. Ms. Cole said no and again stated that she thought it would help reduce the workload. She also said that more committees will be coming with the Local Coastal Plan in the future. Commissioner Widmar asked if the other various subcommittees with the members of the ARC and HPC will be going away as well. Ms. Cole said yes since the work on those subcommittees is done she would recommend the same to those subcommittees as well. Commissioner Garden asked Ms. Cole to explain how members that were appointed by the City Council to the Waterfront Master Plan could be removed by the Planning Commission. Ms. Cole said she will follow up on that question and said that this topic should be continued in order for her to research that answer. Commissioner Davis asked if contact would be made with the North Fremont Business Association as well. Ms. Cole said she will reach out to North Fremont Business Association to find out their input and bring back the information requested by Commissioner Garden at the next Planning Commission meeting. On a motion by Commissioner Millich and seconded by Commissioner Dawson, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission approved Vice-Chair Reed as the new Chair and approved Commissioner Fletcher as Vice-Chair: AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: Davis, Garden, Reed, Widmar Millich, Dawson, Fletcher NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, September 8, 2015 2  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, September 8, 2015 ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None PUBLIC HEARING Commissioner Fletcher recused himself from items #4 and 5, as he previously voted on them as a Historic Preservation Commissioner, and left the room. 4. Consider 1008 West Franklin Street; HP Application 15-243 for H-2 Historic Zoning; Applicant/Owner Teresa Hanna; R-1-6 Zoning District; Exempt from CEQA Requirements ACTION: Adopted a Resolution recommending that the City Council adopt an Ordinance to rezone the property as a City Historic Resource from R-1- 6 to R-1-6-H-2. Staff Presentation/Commissioner Questions Christy Hopper presented Agenda Report and answered Commissioners’ questions. Applicant No applicant present. Public Comments None. Commissioner Comments Commissioner Widmar made a motion to adopt a Resolution recommending that the City Council adopt an Ordinance to rezone the property as a City Historic Resource from R-1- 6 to R-1-6-H-2. Commissioner Davis seconded the motion. On a motion by Commissioner Widmar and seconded by Commissioner Davis, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission adopted a Resolution recommending that the City Council adopt an Ordinance to rezone the property as a City Historic Resource from R-1-6 to R-1-6-H-2: AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Davis, Garden, Reed, Widmar, Millich, Dawson NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Fletcher 5. Consider 138 Seafoam Avenue; HP Application 15-227 for H-2 Historic Zoning; Applicant/Owner Carol Harpster; R-1-6-D1 Zoning District; Exempt from CEQA Requirements ACTION: Adopted a Resolution recommending that the City Council adopt an Ordinance to rezone the property as a City Historic Resource from R-1- 6-D1 to R-1-6-H-2. Staff Presentation/Commissioner Questions Fernanda Roveri presented Agenda Report and answered Commissioners’ questions. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, September 8, 2015 3  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, September 8, 2015 Applicant No applicant present. Public Comments None Commissioner Comments Commissioner Dawson said he was a member of the ARC when they first approved the addition to the back of the house and said they were all very excited to be up close to this house as they thought it was a good example of mid-century modernism. He said he is glad that the owner is applying for Mills Act in order to keep the house the same way. Commissioner Widmar made a motion to adopt a Resolution recommending that the City Council adopt an Ordinance to rezone the property as a City Historic Resource from R-1- 6-D1 to R-1-6-H-2. Commissioner Dawson seconded the motion. On a motion by Commissioner Widmar and seconded by Commissioner Dawson, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission adopted a Resolution recommending that the City Council adopt an Ordinance to rezone the property as a City Historic Resource from R-1-6-D1 to R-1-6-H-2: AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Davis, Garden, Reed, Widmar, Millich, Dawson NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Fletcher PUBLIC APPEARANCE 6. Training on Appeals Ms. Cole presented a slide show regarding training on appeals. Chair Reed adjourned the afternoon session at 4:30 p.m. RECONVENE ***Evening Session Agenda*** 7:00 -11:00 p.m. CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMENTS None. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 7. Receive Report on Waterfront Master Plan; Receive Public Comment and Hold Discussion Staff Presentation/Commissioner Questions Elizabeth Caraker presented the Agenda Report and answered Commissioners’ questions. Public Comments Bob Manix, the representative for the Ke Kai O’Uhane Outrigger Canoe Club, a nonprofit Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, September 8, 2015 4 Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, September 8, 2015 membership club, said they store and base their operation just east of the Monterey Bay Kayak building. He said he is concerned that when Monterey Bay Kayak building is moved according to the plan; they will get lost in the move. He said they are asking to be considered when adopting this plan. Mary Alice Cerrito Fettis said please remember the waterfront parking lot and please give it much consideration. She said that she likes the plan that was presented by Henry Ruhnke back in November of last year to the City Council. She went on to say that this was another option to what is being presented, it is not in disagreement. Ms. Cerrito Fettis said she likes the idea of one ticket for each parking lot and each class of vehicle coming in without regards to time. She said the bicyclists are in competition with pedestrian and would encourage not widening the bike trail too much as it could become a dangerous situation with speeding bicyclist versus the casual walking pedestrian. She said additional, larger restrooms are needed at the Stanton Center and at the Harbormaster’s Office. Mark McKeller, a resident of the Del Monte Townhomes, asked if the projects B1A, B1B, D3D, and D3E have timelines, because they want to start preparing for those projects. Commissioner Comments Ms. Caraker said the Parks and Recreation Commission will be focusing on the open space area, Monterey Bay Park area, and the east side in particular. She said this will coincide with Parks and Recreation Master Plan and have some overlapping in the Waterfront Master Plan. She went on to say the Waterfront Master Plan is more general and the Parks and Recreation Master Plan will address in more detail those particular projects within that plan. She went on to say it is hard to say when implementation f the Plan could happen. Chair Reed asked if it is fair to say not within the next 1-5 years. Ms. Caraker agreed with Chair Reed and stated that, in particular, the east side of Park Avenue will require a lot of funding to acquire the properties. She said that she has been looking for grant opportunities with MST in order to move forward with that part of the project and to have a bus rapid transit utilize that area. Commissioner Davis asked if there was a specific time and schedule to any of those projects. Ms. Caraker said capital has been difficult to find because so much is required and if grants become available next year, then maybe we can move forward. Commissioner Garden asked Ms. Caraker to address concerns of the Fisherman’s Wharf Association. Ms. Caraker said the restroom improvements have been addressed at Wharf #2, the Harbormaster’s Office, and at the east end of Monterey Bay Park. Commissioner Garden asked what the timeline is if the projects are there and ready with regards to parking, when those projects will get started. Ms. Caraker said it could be years before that gets started but she also stated there will still be parking that is close to the Wharf. Commissioner Garden said when parking availability is shown to be inadequate, there is a project that will address that issue. Ms. Caraker said that the Community Services Department is trying to move forward with the reconfiguration of the parking lot with the curb stops; it could happen sooner rather later. Commissioner Garden asked if the uncoordinated management of the parking operation is being worked on as part of the Parking Master Plan. He went on to ask Ms. Caraker if the Parking Master Plan was in progress. Ms. Caraker said the parking study had outlined a number of different programs which have been integrated into the Downtown Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, September 8, 2015 5 Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, September 8, 2015 Specific Plan, the North Fremont Specific Plan and the Waterfront Master Plan, specifically tandem parking and valet parking, to increase the capacity at the existing lot. She said the study also identified the capacity of the Custom House garages and trying to improve circulation in and out of those garages. She also mentioned the shuttle services for people who park at the Custom House garages that help deliver people who park in those garage to the Wharf and other locations around the waterfront. Commissioner Garden said the goal of the subcommittee was to work with staff and to use the public comments and integrate them into the plan and said he feels happy with where the plan is today. He said he supports the plan. Commissioner Garden said this plan is mostly City owned property and is a plan for the future. He said he was disappointed to see that the latest draft did not appear anywhere else than in the Planning Commission packet, but he said he is very happy with the draft. Commissioner Dawson said we have come a long way from the workshops and feels this step is a very big step to help getting this done. Commissioner Garden said the triangle of land at Lighthouse and Foam Avenue should be included in the Lighthouse Area Specific Plan and excluded from the boundaries of the Waterfront Master Plan. Commissioner Garden said there are a few parcels that are private property, like Monterey Bay Urgent Care and said no determination has been made as to what we are going to do with the bits of private property within the plan. He also asked for more clarity regarding wharf leases that are on City owned property and specifically what do they lease at the two Wharfs. He said a little more information on that subject would be beneficial. He said there was no mention in the Standards of a history boat at Wharf #2 for public visitation, yet the citizens’ and visitors of Monterey have said it is something they want at Wharf #2. He went on to say there was mention of sport fishing either. Commissioner Garden said he wanted to see the project that would increase the size of the marina and extending the existing extension for one or two more piers; that project is not mention either. Commissioner Davis asked to mention outrigger canoes in D.3.h. He also said he likes that there is a plan, that if and when parking is needed a plan will be available. Commissioner Dawson said wayfinding is going to save our city. He said the wayfinding signs will help people to the garages and avoid the tunnel. Commissioner Garden said the integral part of the plan is the Tyler Street bridge and he likes the solutions for circulation and feels that it is a good plan. Commissioner Fletcher asked how long is this document expected to be relevant. Ms. Caraker said probably more than 20 years. Commissioner Fletcher said he believes that there is not enough language and substance in this area of implementation. Ms. Caraker said this is a living documents and they will continually be updated. Commissioner Garden said the reason for the vague details in the implementation section, is because there is a section that says the users will pay for the improvements to the park and what would be ok if we are talking about a gazebo but the City is looking at the long range budget discussion and implementation of the Capital Improvement Program for the entire City. He went on to say this looks like a large list but the Capital Improvements Project is much larger. He said a study session for the Planning Commissioner on how the CIP list comes together and how it gets done would be a good Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, September 8, 2015 6 Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, September 8, 2015 idea. He said it would be a good agenda item if both staff and the Chair agree. Commissioner Widmar said this plan has taken a lot of time and hard work. He said there was great feedback with many drafts and edits and staff has done a terrific job. Commissioner Widmar said things change and they have changed even from last year when we looked at this last and people’s opinions change too. He said people will likely use a shuttle or bus service if it is provided. He said first time visitors are more likely to use the service to avoid driving in an unfamiliar place. He said we have to be forward thinking. He went on to say that we have to utilize technology when referring to wayfinding and how to implement some of these ideas and integrate them with smart phone technology. Chair Reed said he would like language in the document that directs the City of Monterey that any leases should conform to the Waterfront Master Plan. He said there are two references to the Light Rail that is part of TAMC and is in the future but it should be noted that the citizens of Monterey have said they do not want it. He commented on the garages in that they are not part of this plan and really belong in the Downtown Specific Plan. He said that when you read the Waterfront Master Plan it sounds as if they are designated for that area and when you read the Downtown Specific Plan it reads as if they are for Downtown. He stated that some additional language stating that these garages are for both areas would be good to outline. He said parking diagrams would be good to show the plan area so you can see what lots fall within the area. He also said it would be good to show the difference between publicly owned lots and private lots. Commissioner Garden asked if the conclusions from the parking study should be in the Plan. Commissioner Reed said he thinks its ok that they are not in the Plan. Ms. Caraker said we have the study and we could always refer to it when needed. Commissioner Reed ask if under the temporary use, could we ask that temporary use chain link fencing should be wrapped so we don’t see the fencing. In response to Chair Reed’s question about temporary chain link fencing, Ms. Caraker said it was an interesting discussion at the ARC meeting and those edits will be in the next draft, and said she was hesitant to make those changes until Planning Commission gave their approval. She said the ARC encouraged the Planning Commissioners to continue the conversation on whether or not fencing not visible from the public right-of- way would be appropriate. Commissioner Reed said that S.2.1 states that obstruction of the bay shall not be permitted and asked what the standard is and where is that measured from. Ms. Caraker said it refers back to the Local Coastal Program which defines views and view cones. Commissioner Garden asked when the next draft will be ready. Ms. Caraker said the following week. COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS Commissioner Garden said a Dropbox account that is maintained by Commissioner Widmar is available for the use by both staff and the Planning Commission. Commissioner Widmar recommended that the City start using Dropbox and thought that it might be a good topic for discussion. Commissioner Widmar also welcomed the new Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, September 8, 2015 7  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, September 8, 2015 Planning Commissioners. Commissioner Garden said he was reminded that no communication should go through staff and rather should go through the City Manager’s office. He said he would like to have the Chair and staff agendized an invitation to the City Manager to come to a Planning Commission meeting for an introduction. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 8. Planning Office Update  Report received. Ms. Cole gave an update on the tentative agenda for the Planning Commission Meeting of September 22, 2015.  Ms. Cole said the City was awarded a $250,000.00 grant from the California Coastal Commission and Ocean Protection Council to update the Local Coastal Plan and EMC Planning Group was hired for the job.  She also said an update to the Downtown Specific Plan was approved by Council last week.  In response to Commissioner Garden’s comment, Ms. Cole said opinions and suggestions regarding meeting times should be forwarded to Hans Uslar for further discussion.  Ms. Cole said the Lighthouse Specific Area Plan will be introduced to the ARC next week and then to the Planning Commission in October to ask for authorization to prepare the environmental document. Commissioner Garden reminded Ms. Cole that a decision regarding circulation in the Lighthouse Specific Area Plan needs to go before other boards and commissions as well. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:43 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Kimberly Cole, AICP Chair Principal Planner Planning Commission Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, September 8, 2015 8