Planning Commission Meeting

DocuSign Envelope ID: C2CFA776-9F97-4DD2-80A8-0EE826433B32 MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION February 23, 2021 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM TELECONFERENCE 580 PACIFIC STREET, COUNCIL CHAMBERS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Brassfield, Freeman, Dawson, Fletcher, Latasa, Millich Commissioners Absent: Reed Staff Members Present: Community Development Director Cole, Interim Principal Planner Roveri, City Traffic Engineer Renny, Engineering Assistant Garcia, Recording Secretary Cleary, Administrative Assistant Ziel CALL TO ORDER Chair Brassfield called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 2. January 26, 2021 ACTION: Approved as submitted. On a motion by Commissioner Dawson, seconded by Vice Chair Freeman, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission approved the January 26, 2021 Minutes as submitted: AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Brassfield, Freeman, Dawson, Fletcher, Latasa, Millich NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Reed ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ***End of Consent Agenda*** Recording Secretary Ziel provided details to the public on how to participate and provide public comment during the meeting. PUBLIC COMMENTS None. PUBLIC HEARING DocuSign Envelope ID: C2CFA776-9F97-4DD2-80A8-0EE826433B32 Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday February 23, 2021 3. Recommend City Council Adoption of a Resolution Designating Vehicle Miles Traveled as the Metric for Conducting Transportation Impact Analyses to Comply with Senate Bill 743 and a Vehicle Miles Traveled Policy (Exempt from CEQA Article 19, Section 15308, Class 8, Section 15306, Class 6) ACTION: Recommendation to Council approved as submitted. Staff Presentation/Commissioner Questions Community Development Director Cole provided information on a new State requirement to adopt Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) as the metric to evaluate transportation impacts. Interim Principal Planner Roveri explained the topic and introduced presenters from Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. City Traffic Engineer Renny explained efforts toward this report were funded through a Caltrans grant and the Measure X County Transportation Measure. Associated Consultants, Senior Leader & Project Manager Michael Schmitt and Kimley- Horn Vice President Frederik Venter, presented the Agenda Report and answered Commissioner questions. Mr. Schmitt explained how the VMT metric works and how VMT is calculated, comparing the standard to the measure used previously, Level of Service (LOS). Commissioner Latasa asked how using VMT would have changed the Transportation Adaptation Plan report previously heard before the Planning Commission. Mr. Venter explained the future will see an increase in travel, and VMT would increase if traffic capacity is increased within and into the City. Commissioner Latasa asked if the Transportation Adaptation Plan was measured with VMT or LOS. Mr. Venter explained LOS was used to examine car capacity. Commissioner Dawson asked if the VMT metric has been tested in court. Ms. Cole stated that cities that are losing lawsuits on the grounds that they did not use VMT, as VMT is the required threshold in California. Commissioner Dawson questioned the accuracy of VMT. Mr. Schmitt explained the method used to predict VMT is the Travel Demand Model (TDM), created by the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG) and developed to mimic human behavior and assign trips. Commissioner Millich asked if VMT distinguishes between electric or gas-powered vehicle miles. Mr. Schmitt clarified it does not. Vice Chair Freeman asked how VMT would have affected the effectiveness analysis of the Highway 68 roundabout. Mr. Venter stated CEQA projects rely on VMT measurements and Caltrans considers all roundabouts not to have any significant impacts on VMT. Chair Brassfield asked if there is a mitigation tool to address potentially unexpected fluctuations in tourism. Mr. Schmitt explained TDM measures can be effective in reducing VMT by reducing car usage. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday February 23, 2021 2 DocuSign Envelope ID: C2CFA776-9F97-4DD2-80A8-0EE826433B32 Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday February 23, 2021 Chair Brassfield asked how to initiate use of VMT with existing problems and traffic influx, and how LOS and VMT address existing problems. Mr. Schmitt explained a policy might be needed to utilize VMT as required and also maintain LOS as a parallel effort. Mr. Venter explained it is difficult to get existing businesses to make the change to TDM but beneficial to encourage tourists to use public transit to reduce VMT. Chair Brassfield asked how parking fits into VMT. Mr. Venter stated parking is site-specific and area-specific considering where supply and demand arises. Mr. Schmitt explained that parking costs are a financial incentive to get people out of cars. Vice Chair Freeman asked whether projects previously approved or disapproved using LOS would be grandfathered or reconsidered. Mr. Schmitt explained that any new CEQA project coming forward must be measured using VMT, and most jurisdictions are still finding a place to use LOS. Chair Brassfield asked if use of VMT would add to City Staff workload. Ms. Renny stated it would have an impact on Staff but a metric under CEQA must be used and decisions must be made going forward. Chair Brassfield asked if VMT would add to the Planning review processes as projects come forward. Ms. Cole explained it is already affecting some projects, as a VMT analysis must be prepared in some situations. Public Comments None. Commissioner Comments Commissioner Fletcher commended the presentation and spoke in support of the recommendation to Council. Commissioner Latasa agreed with Commissioner Fletcher, explaining the State law requires use of VMT. Commissioner Dawson agreed and expressed satisfaction in having Staff and Consultants to guide decisions and help lower costs. Vice Chair Freeman concurred. Chair Brassfield agreed with Commissioner Dawson’s remarks, commending the presenters and presentation. On a motion by Commissioner Fletcher, seconded by Commissioner Dawson and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission recommended City Council adoption of a resolution designating Vehicle Miles Traveled as the metric for conducting transportation impact analyses to comply with Senate Bill 743 and a Vehicle Miles Traveled Policy: AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Brassfield, Freeman, Dawson, Fletcher, Latasa, Millich NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Reed ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday February 23, 2021 3 DocuSign Envelope ID: C2CFA776-9F97-4DD2-80A8-0EE826433B32 Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday February 23, 2021 Update received. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Dawson requested a reminder to turn background noises off prior to meetings. Commissioner Fletcher asked if the trash cleanup programs along the freeways were put on hold during the pandemic. Ms. Cole explained that the City Manager and Mayor recently met with the Central Coast representative of Caltrans regarding cleaning up freeways, stating the State had placed a hold on cleaning up specifically for encampments. Ms. Cole affirmed Planning would update the Commission as informed. Commissioner Millich requested a report regarding the Pebble Beach roundabout and impacts on circulation and traffic on Lighthouse Avenue. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:59 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Kimberly Cole Chair Community Development Director Planning Commission Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday February 23, 2021 4