Planning Commission Meeting

MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION Tuesday, April 12, 2016 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm EVENING SESSION ONLY 580 PACIFIC STREET, COUNCIL CHAMBERS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Reed, Fletcher, Davis, Garden, Widmar, Dawson, Millich Commissioners Absent: None Staff Members Present: Principal Planner Caraker, Senior Planner Hopper, City Attorney Davi, Recording Secretary Leinen CALL TO ORDER Chair Reed called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. CONSENT ITEMS Commissioner Dawson made a motion to approve the consent agenda. Commissioner Davis seconded the motion. On a motion by Commissioner Dawson, seconded by Commissioner Davis, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission approved the CONSENT ITEMS: AYES: 4 COMMISSIONERS: Reed, Davis, Garden, Dawson NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 3 COMMISSIONERS: Fletcher, Widmar, Millich (Due to their absence from the March 22, 2016 meeting) RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None Approval of Minutes 1. March 22, 2016 ACTION: Approved as submitted. ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS None. PUBLIC HEARING 2. Consider Appeal 16-086 of Staff Determination that the Del Monte Beach Land Use Plan Policies Do Not Protect Views Blocked by Trees and Other Vegetation; Appellants Dave Duvall and Debi Proctor; Del Monte Beach Neighborhood; Not a Project under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 (Continued from March 8, 2016 meeting) ACTION: No action taken; Appeal determined to be invalid by the City Attorney’s Office. Staff Presentation/Commissioner Questions Christy Hopper said the City Attorney has determined that the interpretation of the Land Use Plan made by staff, not associated with a zoning permit application, is not appealable. Ms.  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, April 12, 2016 Hopper said City Attorney Christine Davi is present to answer questions. Public Comments None. Commissioner Comments Commissioner Dawson thanked Commissioner Millich and Commissioner Garden for questioning whether staff’s determination was appealable and whether the Planning Commission could take action on the appeal. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 3. Consider Recommendation to the City Council to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration and Adopt the Villa del Monte Neighborhood Revitalization Plan ACTION: Adopted a Resolution recommending that the City Council adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration and adopt the Villa del Monte Neighborhood Revitalization Plan. Staff Presentation/Commissioner Questions Elizabeth Caraker presented the Agenda Report and answered Commissioners’ questions. Public Comments Katrina Hintze, resident of the Villa del Monte Neighborhood, said the process of compiling the Villa del Monte Revitalization Plan (Plan) was a democratic process that included the neighborhood. She expressed concern regarding confusion over calling the Plan a neighborhood improvement plan, and suggested calling the Plan a neighborhood revitalization plan. She also expressed concern regarding closing Portola Avenue into a “T” with Helvic Avenue and suggested that this be removed from the Plan because it was not part of the democratic process and the residents are not in favor of it. John Brown, resident of Portola Avenue for 37 years, said several members of the Neighborhood Association met with City Engineer Jeff Krebs six to eight months ago regarding potentially closing Portola Avenue from Casa Verde Avenue, and that the neighbors have not received any additional information since. Mr. Brown said there is currently a petition with the signatures of more than 20 residents who are opposed to closing Portola Avenue from the Casa Verde entrance. Todd Brockman, Portola Avenue resident, submitted a petition for the record signed by 27 residents objecting to any reconfiguration of the Portola Avenue intersection at Bi-Rite Market. He said any reconfiguration will affect Bi-Rite Market and Bayview Academy and asked the Planning Commission to not make any decisions on the Plan until the issue is settled. Alexander Henson, attorney, said he represents a number of property owners along Portola Avenue and that the neighborhood is against any closure or reconfiguration of Portola Avenue because of the significant traffic impacts. Mr. Henson said there will be California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) ramifications if the Planning Commission approves a plan with the traffic improvements proposed. Michaela Fossum, Villa del Monte Neighborhood Association (VDMNA) Board Member, said there are many inaccuracies in the letter presented to the Planning Commission from Mr. Henson. Ms. Fossum gave an overview of the meetings held with consultant RRM and described the noticing process. She also said that the Neighborhood Association had a Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, April 12, 2016 2 Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, April 12, 2016 majority vote in favor of adopting the vision, goals and priorities of the Plan, provided that future specific project designs receive Neighborhood Association approval. Ms. Fossum said she is very sympathetic to the Portola Avenue residents, however, the neighborhood has many problems and she encouraged the Planning Commission to adopt the Plan and Resolution as presented. Harry Mucha, resident of the Villa del Monte neighborhood and alternate on the Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) Committee, spoke in support of the Plan and said it is a necessary vision for the community. Mr. Mucha gave a history of how the Plan evolved through the NIP process. He also said there is nothing in the Plan regarding closing off Portola Avenue and that Mr. Krebs is still studying the intersection. Carole Pavlo, VDMNA Board Member, explained the current configuration of Portola Avenue, Helvic Avenue, and Casa Verde Way and said there are different options available to address this intersection. Willa Hisle asked if the Plan could go forward without the section dealing with the Portola Avenue intersection, as there were objections to that portion at the last VDMNA meeting. Chantal Melendrez, Secretary of the Old Town Neighborhood Association and property owner, said the Villa del Monte Neighborhood is a gem and there are many great ideas in the Plan. Ms. Melendrez said improving safety and beautification of Casa Verde Way with bike lanes, better sidewalks, and trees would be great place starting place. Commissioner Comments Commissioner Widmar said he is very supportive of the plan and likes the structure because it provides a framework and vision for future NIP projects. He also said the Plan does not specify that reconfiguration will happen at Portola Avenue or describe how it would happen. Commissioner Widmar said the Plan can always be updated in the future and that it is great to see the neighborhood involvement. Commissioner Millich said he supports the Plan and that the Planning Commission is not approving specific projects through the Plan, but essentially approving a concept. He also said if the Plan is approved by Council, there will still be required planning processes for specific projects. Chair Reed said the NIP Committee is very strict on what they spend money on will not fund a project if people within 300 feet of the project are not supportive. He said the NIP Committee will not spend money on the Portola Avenue intersection if it is not supported. Commissioner Dawson said he is glad that there is consensus among the neighbors on the project because this is difficult to achieve. He also said he would like to see a list of priorities to prevent the Plan from being implemented in a disjointed manner. Ms. Caraker clarified that at the last workshop seven projects were identified as priorities, but were not listed in the Plan because projects will change from year to year as the Neighborhood Association identifies priorities. Commissioner Davis said the paragraph added to the Resolution allowing the Neighborhood Association to approve projects will vet projects that come forward and provide protection. He also said the Planning Commission is not approving any projects by recommending approval of the Plan, but instead are approving the vision and goals for the project that will establish the decision making for the future. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, April 12, 2016 3  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, April 12, 2016 Commissioner Garden said he does not support creating a whole new concept in the planning process of improvement plans when what is needed is a neighborhood plan that stays within the neighborhood. He also said the project is important for the Villa del Monte neighborhood, but he does not think the Plan should become a City Council approved City Plan. Commissioner Garden said the Plan is a great catalog of future projects for the neighborhood that should be brought to the City Council and NIP Committee yearly as the neighborhood sees fit. Commissioner Garden said it is not appropriate to add another plan so he is not ready to recommend that the City Council approve the Plan. Commissioner Widmar made a motion to adopt a Resolution recommending that the City Council adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration and adopt the Villa del Monte Neighborhood Revitalization Plan. Commissioner Millich seconded the motion. On a motion by Commissioner Widmar, seconded by Commissioner Millich, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission adopted a Resolution recommending that the City Council adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration and adopt the Villa del Monte Neighborhood Revitalization Plan: AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Reed, Fletcher, Davis, Widmar, Dawson, Millich NOES: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Garden ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS Commissioner Widmar said he wanted to note the passing of former Planning Commissioner Frank Mercurio who was born in Monterey, spent much of his life in Monterey and was very dedicated to his family and the City, serving on many boards and committees. Commissioner Garden said he will not be present for the April 26, 2016 Planning Commission meeting. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 4. Planning Office Update  Update received.  Ms. Caraker said three Planning Commissioners’ terms will be expiring June 30, 2016 and the deadline to submit an application for the openings is April 26, 2016. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Elizabeth Caraker, AICP Chair Principal Planner Planning Commission Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, April 12, 2016 4