Planning Commission Meeting

MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION Special Meeting Tuesday, November 29, 2016 7:00 pm 580 PACIFIC STREET, COUNCIL CHAMBERS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Fletcher, Millich, Davis, Dawson, Latasa, Reed Commissioners Absent: Widmar Staff Members Present: Chief of Planning Engineering & Environmental Comp Cole, Principal Planner Caraker, Recording Secretary Leinen CALL TO ORDER Chair Fletcher called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENTS None. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 1. Facilitate Community Meeting on Proposed Emergency Shelter Overlay Zoning ACTION: Held community meeting regarding proposed Emergency Shelter Overlay zoning. Staff Presentation/Commissioner Questions Elizabeth Caraker presented the Agenda Report and answered Commissioners’ questions. Public Comments Kayla Fossum, Villa del Monte Neighborhood Association president, said the business owners in the C3 zoning district did not receive notice of the public meetings on the proposed emergency shelter zoning and that the issue was not discussed at prior housing workshops. Ms. Fossum said that 90% of the Villa del Monte neighborhood opposes the proposed overlay zoning and that the entire City should bear the responsibility of helping the homeless. She also expressed concern regarding the proximity of the C3 area to a residential area and school. Monica Hoffman, Villa del Monte Neighborhood Association vice president, said she is concerned with the potential for concentration of shelters in the C3 area and said there is not enough vacant space in the area to meet the need. Ms. Hoffman also said the area is not close enough to services and urged the Commission to consider multiple locations in the City for shelters. Esther Malkin, Laguna Grande neighborhood resident, said the problem with vagrancy in the neighborhood has improved and she does not want to see this undone by placing a shelter in the area. She also expressed concern regarding insufficient meeting noticing and the Councilmembers fully understanding issues when voting on them. Ms. Malkin said the proposed area was chosen without considering other areas and that the shelters should be referred to as homeless shelters, not emergency shelters. Stan Cook, Villa del Monte neighborhood resident, said according to his research, the number of homeless people in Monterey in 2015 was 337. He also said homelessness is a citywide Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, November 29, 2016 problem that should be dealt with on a citywide level. Mr. Cook provided a copy of the statistics he cited to the Commission. A resident of Encina Avenue, identifying herself as Jill, said she lives within the proposed overlay area and that her community is already overburdened with motor homes, vagrants, people sleeping on the streets, and garbage. She also said approving the overlay would negatively affect the quality of life in the Villa del Monte Laguna Grande neighborhood. Jill asked the Commission to consider other areas of the City, including Oak Grove and New Monterey. Clarke McCarty, Villa del Monte neighborhood resident, asked why the Villa del Monte and Laguna Grande neighborhoods are the only areas proposed for the zoning overlay, and suggested that the Alta Mesa neighborhood, Figueroa Street, and Franklin Street should also be considered. Mr. McCarty expressed concern with saturation of shelters in one neighborhood and with the existing crime, traffic, and illegal camping. He said shelters would increase traffic in an area with schools, parks, and children. Chris Parsons, Villa del Monte resident and Villa Rose Homeowners Association board member, said the Homeowners Association is concerned with the lack of specific standards for proposed shelters and the magnitude of 15 or more shelters in a small area. She said she is concerned with the proximity of bus lines from the proposed zoning area and said that the shelters should be distributed equally among all the neighborhoods. Susie Allen, Laguna Grande resident, said homelessness is a citywide problem and the burden should be divided throughout the City. Ms. Allen said although the shelters are proposed for an industrial area, there are many houses and residents there and she would hate to see an increase in illegal camping, crime, vagrants, and dumping. Judy Karas said the City has not been adequately addressing the homeless population and she sympathizes with those residents living in the areas suggested for emergency shelters. Ms. Karas said the zoning area should be broadened and she suggested that the City look at Salt Lake City’s model of providing affordable housing. She also said more needs to be done to help homeless women. Scott Hansen, Del Monte Grove-Laguna Grande Neighborhood Association president, said everyone he has spoken with wants to help the homeless, but it is easy for residents to jump to worst case scenario thinking when all details are not available. He said if more ideas were shared, the neighborhood would have more reason to be optimistic and stop focusing on only the negative aspects. Kelly Keen, advocate for senior women, said there is a dire need for housing for senior women. She also said organizations like the Fund for Homeless Women, the Gathering for Homeless Women, and One Starfish run successful programs for the homeless by having set boundaries and rules. Ms. Keen said priority for shelters should go to homeless women, and that men and women should be housed separately. Patrick Jones, Casanova Oak Knoll neighborhood resident, said the proposal for emergency shelter zoning in one location will disproportionately affect that area of the City. He also said the area is already struggling with a homeless population and that he has had issues with debris left in his yard and trespassing. Mr. Jones said concentrating shelters in one area will prevent that area from flourishing and that shelters should be placed citywide. Kathleen Baker, Laguna Grande neighborhood resident and homeless advocate, said having a Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, November 29, 2016 2 Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, November 29, 2016 shelter in the City would help alleviate the recent increase in homeless encampments. She also said that not all homeless people are drug users and when shelters operate with a good set of rules they are manageable. Ms. Baker said the first priority is getting homeless people sheltered for the winter and she asked that the Commission consider more locations, including the City’s recreation centers. Christian Stanley, Villa del Monte neighborhood resident, said taking care of women, including those who are elderly, is important. He also said a basic need of those who are homeless is restrooms and that there are fewer public restrooms in the area proposed than on the south side of town. Mr. Stanley said shelters should be placed in safe, non-judgmental areas. Mary Draper, Villa del Monte neighborhood business and property owner, said she has had issues with trespassing and security. She also said one area of the City should not have to carry the burden of sheltering the City’s homeless population. Ms. Draper expressed concern regarding the potential of drug and alcohol use near the area’s elementary school and also said she did not receive any notice of the public meeting. Sunny Fawcett, homeless advocate, said there is an immediate need for homeless shelters with the winter weather conditions, and said it is important to remember that the homeless people being discussed are all human beings. She stressed the importance of 24 hour public restrooms. Ms. Fawcett suggested that the City look at alternate areas and vacant buildings. Beverly Wallace, resident of Virgin Street, said there are currently problems with the homeless in the area of Laguna Grande Park, and bringing additional homeless people to the area would be problematic. Ms. Wallace asked why the overlay is proposed for only this area, which is the lowest income area of the City, and said other areas like Del Monte Forest and Fort Ord should also be considered. Mike Brassfield, Casanova Oak Knoll Neighborhood Association, said the homeless population is too large to place in just one neighborhood and that the different issues affecting those who are homeless need to be addressed by shelters of varied types in multiple locations. Mr. Brassfield also expressed concern regarding the possibility of drawing more homeless people to the area and asked where the water credits for proposed shelters will come from. Cindy Lyle, Laguna Grande Neighborhood Association, said long term planning is needed instead of temporary fixes and suggested working with community partners to address the homeless issues. Ms. Lyle said she is concerned with the potential for drug sales and use at shelters and said the shelters should be spread throughout the City. Tammy Jennings, Villa Rose of Monterey resident, said there is a difference between vagrant people who abuse substances and homeless people experiencing difficult financial times who need shelter assistance to pick themselves up. She said these two populations should not be mixed and that it is unjust to concentrate all the shelters in one area of the City. Ms. Jennings said the City should work with other local jurisdictions to identify appropriate areas and vacant buildings. Commissioner Comments Commissioner Reed said it is clear that the proposed zoning overlay needs to be reexamined and that it seems unfair to place the burden on one neighborhood. He said the City should determine how to comply with State regulations while spreading out the homeless services. Commissioner Reed noted that the vacant buildings on Fort Ord are unsafe and would not be an option for housing the homeless. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, November 29, 2016 3 Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, November 29, 2016 In response to Vice Chair Millich’s question regarding satisfying State requirements through a joint agreement with other municipalities, Ms. Caraker said the deadline was 2010 to satisfy SB2 with an interjurisdictional agreement, but regardless, the City is working with jurisdictional neighbors and providers to find a regional solution. Vice Chair Millich said he echoes Commissioner Reed’s comments and that it is unfair to concentrate shelters to one area. Commissioner Dawson the City has a problem with the vagrant population and the number of people who are homeless and in need of shelter is actually below 300. Commissioner Dawson said he supports increasing the overlay to industrial areas, such as Garden Road. He said that the downtown would not be a good fit and that shelters should not be concentrated in one place. Commissioner Latasa thanked everyone from the public who came to speak and said their comments were very persuasive. Commissioner Latasa apologized for any error in noticing that may have occurred. Commissioner Davis said it may be unhealthy to have these types of shelters all in one place when it is a community-wide issue. He said it would be more feasible to have a variety of shelters placed in different areas of the City. Commissioner Davis suggested that shelter facilities should be run with a clear set of rules, similar to the One Starfish program. Chair Fletcher agreed that rules and a framework are required for a successful program and said that all zones should be open to shelters so the whole City can share the responsibility. Chair Fletcher thanked the community for attending the meeting. Commissioner Hansen encouraged the community to attend the City Council Meeting on the emergency shelter overlay zoning. Ms. Caraker said the date the matter will be heard is January 17, 2017 and that citizens can leave their email addresses and email notification list. Chair Fletcher said he frequently receives mailed notices from the City and that it is important to look out for these notices, as they can be easily missed or inadvertently recycled. He recommended signing up for emails and visiting the City’s website for meeting dates and other resources. COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS None. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS None. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:59 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Elizabeth Caraker, AICP Chair Principal Planner Planning Commission Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, November 29, 2016 4