Planning Commission Meeting

MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION Tuesday, May 23, 2017 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM 580 PACIFIC STREET, COUNCIL CHAMBERS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Fletcher, Millich, Davis, Dawson, Latasa, Reed, Widmar Commissioners Absent: None Staff Members Present: Principal Planner Caraker, Associate Planner Roveri, Associate Planner Schmidt, Recording Secretary Leinen CALL TO ORDER Chair Fletcher called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m. CONSENT ITEMS On a motion by Commissioner Reed, seconded by Commissioner Dawson, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission approved the Consent Items with amendments to the minutes as recommended by staff: AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: Fletcher, Millich, Davis, Dawson, Latasa, Reed, Widmar NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None Approval of Minutes 1. April 25, 2017 ACTION: Approved as amended. Elizabeth Caraker said staff recommends removing the reference to the Commercial Office (CO) district from the second motion on page eight of the minutes as CO zoning was addressed in the prior motion on page seven. 2. Recommend to the City Council that the 2017/18 Neighborhood Improvement Program is Consistent with the General Plan, Area Plans, Master Plans, Traffic Calming Plans, and Multi-Modal Mobility Plan (Not a project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) ACTION: Adopted a resolution recommending to the City Council that the 2017/18 Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) is consistent with the City’s General Plan, area plans, master plans, traffic calming plans and Multi-Modal Mobility Plan. ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS None.  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, May 23, 2017 PUBLIC HEARING Commissioner Latasa recused himself from item #3 due to being the property owner and applicant for the project. 3. Recommend Rezone 930 Harrison Street; Application TM 17-0276 for H-2 City Historic Resource Zoning Overlay for the Howard D. Severance House; Applicant and Owner Terry Latasa; R-1-6 (Residential Single-Family) Zoning District; Exempt from CEQA per Article 19, Section 15331, Class 31 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 Chris Schmidt presented the Agenda Report and answered Commissioners’ questions. Applicant Terry Latasa, applicant, was present but did not address the Commission. 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 Dawson seconded the motion. Upon the request of Vice Chair Millich, Mr. Latasa shared a story regarding former City Engineer and property owner, Howard Severance, and his trips down the coast to Big Sur in his Stanley Steamer. On a motion by Commissioner Widmar, 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 to R-1-6-H-2: AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Fletcher, Millich, Davis, Dawson, Reed, Widmar NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Latasa 4. Approve 886 Cannery Row; Use Permit Amendment PA-17-0254 to Repeal Past Use Permits Conditions that Have Been Met and Consolidate Conditions that Continue to Apply; Applicant and Owner Monterey Bay Aquarium; CR Zoning District; Exempt from CEQA Requirements per Article 19, Section 15301, Class 1) ACTION: Adopted a resolution repealing past use permit conditions that have been met and consolidating conditions that continue to apply, with amendment to the Conditions of Approval. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, May 23, 2017 2 Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, May 23, 2017 Staff Presentation/Commissioner Questions Ms. Caraker presented the Agenda Report and answered Commissioners’ questions. Applicant Steve Lyon, applicant on behalf of Monterey Bay Aquarium, said the purpose of the permit amendment is to update language that is no longer relevant, clean up the conditions of approval and ensure that the Aquarium is fulfilling all requirements of the permits. Mr. Lyon spoke about the success of the Trolley program utilized by the Aquarium. In response to the Commission’s question regarding the reference in the resolution to the bookstore, Mr. Lyon said the store has evolved over the past 30 years and he has no problem changing the word “bookstore” to “gift shop.” Public Comments None. Commissioner Comments Commissioner Dawson said Aquarium employees are the most environmentally conscious people on the peninsula and that he supports the proposed permit amendment. Commissioner Dawson made a motion to adopt a resolution repealing past use permit conditions that have been met and consolidating conditions that continue to apply. Commissioner Davis seconded the motion. Commissioner Reed asked whether the term “bookstore” should be changed to “gift shop.” Commissioner Widmar suggested changing “bookstore” to “Aquarium Shop.” Commissioner Dawson and Commissioner Davis agreed to the amendment. Commissioner Dawson amended his motion to adopt a resolution repealing past use permit conditions that have been met and consolidating conditions that continue to apply with amended Condition of Approval as follows: 1. The bookstore Aquarium Shop may be open to the general public without charge during aquarium business hours. Commissioner Latasa said the Aquarium has incredible traffic and parking impacts on the City, but also is a driver of the City’s economy. He said the Aquarium is an asset to the City. Vice Chair Fletcher said the Aquarium has been a very involved in the community and is also a conscientious neighbor and that he supports the motion. On a motion by Commissioner Dawson, seconded by Commissioner Davis, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission Adopted a resolution repealing past use permit conditions that have been met and consolidating conditions that continue to apply, with amendment to the Conditions of Approval: AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: Fletcher, Millich, Davis, Dawson, Latasa, Reed, Widmar NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, May 23, 2017 3  Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, May 23, 2017 COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS Commissioner Davis said after serving 15 years on the Planning Commission he has made the difficult decision of not re-applying to serve another term. Chair Fletcher said the Commission will lose a great deal of institutional knowledge and thanked Commissioner Davis for his time on the Commission. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 5. Planning Office Update  Update received.  Ms. Caraker said the Planning Office is working to set up a refresher training session for the Planning Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, and Architectural Review Committee on topics including conducting meetings, the City’s specific plans, and making findings. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:27 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Elizabeth Caraker, AICP Chair Principal Planner Planning Commission Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, May 23, 2017 4