HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes 05-15-01CITY OF A TASCADERO
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
Regular Meeting
May 15, 2001 — 7:00 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Eddings called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and Commissioner Blaser led
the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners Bentz, Blaser, Fonzi, Kelley, Norton, Vice -Chairman
Jeanes and Chairman Eddings
Absent: None
Staff: Community Development Director Lori Parcells, Principal Planner
Warren Frace, Assistant Planner Phil Dunsmore, Associate Planner Jamie
Kirk and Recording Secretary Grace Pucci.
PUBLIC COMMENT
David Jones, 8220 Larga Avenue, stated that he was unhappy with the General Plan
Alternatives and read from a prepared statement attached to a petition signed by 40 of his
neighbors. (Attachment # 1)
Chairman Eddings closed Public Comment
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR PLANNING
COMMISSION MEETING OF MAY 1, 2001.
MOTION: By Commissioner Bentz and seconded by Commissioner Fonzi to approve
the Consent Calendar.
AYES: Commissioners Bentz, Fonzi, Blaser, Norton, Kelley, Jeanes and
Chairman Eddings.
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
City of Atascadero Planning Commission Minutes Regular Meeting May 15, 2001
Page 2 of 5
Motion passed 7:0 by a roll -call vote.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Items No. 3 and 4 on the Agenda were continued to a date uncertain.
2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2001-0033 —
VARIANCE 2001-0001 HASTING ENTERPRISES: The proposed project is a
request to allow the establishment of an office use in the Downtown Commercial
Zoning District. The project parcel has a General Plan Designation of D
(Downtown) and a Zoning District of DC (Downtown Commercial). The
proposed use is a medical billing office which is a conditionally allowed use in
the Downtown Commercial Zoning District. The site is a 2,400 square foot tenant
space located in the Virginia Plaza at the north end of the Downtown District.
(APN 029-323-021), Address: 5737 El Camino Real, Owner: Tony Ranelletti,
Tenant: Coastal Radiation Oncology Group.
PROPOSED ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: CLASS 1
CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION CEQA SECTION 15301: Staff is
recommending that the Planning Commission find that the project qualifies for a
Class 1 Categorical Exemption and is therefore not subject to the California
Environmental Quality Act. The Class 1 Categorical Exemption includes the
leasing of existing private structures.
Staff Recommends:
Adoption of Planning Commission Resolution 2001-023 approving Conditional
Use Permit 2001-0033 and Variance 2001-0001, a request by Tony Ranelletti to
lease a 2,400 square foot tenant space to Coastal Radiation Oncology, an office
use, in the Downtown Commercial Zoning District.
Associate Planner Jamie Kirk provided the staff report and answered questions of the
Commission. Jamie presented a letter from Richard Woolslayer, CEO of Coastal
Radiation Oncology Medical Group, and presented it to the Commission.
(Attachment # 2)
PUBLIC COMMENT
Tony Ranelletti, applicant, indicated that at the time Virginia Plaza was built it was
oriented to office and commercial uses, however office use has predominated at the site.
He feels there is a problem with the current Downtown Commercial requirements as
there is very little foot traffic in the plaza and without the mix of office tenants as well as
commercial, he feels the back row of the plaza will remain empty.
Richard Woolslayer, San Luis Obispo, CEO of Coastal Radiation Oncology Medical
Group, informed the Commission regarding the types of services provided by his group
City of Atascadero Planning Commission Minutes Regular Meeting May 15, 2001
Page 3 of 5
and their needs regarding office space in Atascadero. The proposed site meets their
needs and they intend to invest approximately $30,000 in improvements. They would
like a lease long enough to recoup their expenditures and have signed a lease for 5 years
with a five-year option.
Bryan Beckman, 1111 Riverside Ave., Paso Robles, representing Hasting Enterprises the
leasing agent for Mr. Ranelletti, stated that it is difficult to get qualified retail businesses
in Virginia Plaza because of satellite shopping centers at each end of the community. He
feels that a five-year limit on the CUP is unfair to the owner and tenant especially given
the improvements the tenant will be making. Mr. Beckman suggested allowing the
market to dictate the usage for the center.
Bill Bright, 11875 Santa Lucia, participated on the steering committee that assisted with
zoning recommendations for the downtown area. He has concerns with the variance
process and feels that if the Commission can find reasonable variance on this project,
they will be able to find it with any future downtown project.
Chairman Eddings closed Public Comment.
Vice -Chairman Jeanes stated that she agrees with many of the points raised by the leasing
representative as well as those raised by Mr. Bright. She indicated that though the Main
Street Program does work, it could take from ten to twenty years. To be fair to the Main
Street Program, Vice -Chairman Jeanes feels the Commission must place a time limit on
the use permit.
Chairman Eddings indicated that in addition to supporting the efforts of the downtown, it
is important to secure quality tenants for spaces that are currently empty. He could
support a five-year Conditional Use Permit with a couple of guaranteed one-year
extensions.
Commissioner Fonzi stated that she would like to see a seven-year Conditional Use
Permit as opposed to five. She feels that it may take a while for retail to extend to the
north of the downtown.
Commissioner Bentz commended the staff report and indicated that a good tenant mix
keeps centers like the Virginia Plaza alive. He feels that this use is a good addition to the
downtown tenant mix and he would like to see a seven or ten-year Conditional Use
Permit.
Commissioner Norton wants to see retail in the downtown and feels there needs to be a
time limit on the Use Permit. She would like Virginia Plaza to have more retail in its
tenant mix, and is therefore hesitant to approve this type of use in the Plaza.
Commissioner Blaser asked if it would be appropriate to place this item in front of the
Main Street Committee for their feedback. He can support a five to seven-year time limit
for a review of the Use Permit.
City of Atascadero Planning Commission Minutes Regular Meeting May 15, 2001
Page 4 of 5
Commissioner Kelley indicated that the only way he could support this use is with a time
limit on the Use Permit. He prefers a five-year limit to coincide with the lease
agreement, and if the permit were not approved at the end of the five years, the tenant
would have 24 months to relocate.
MOTION: By Commissioner Kelley and seconded by Commissioner Fonzi to adopt
Planning Commission Resolution 2001-023 approving Conditional Use
Permit 2001-0033 and Variance 2001-0001, a request by Tony Ranelletti
to lease a 2,400 square foot tenant space to Coastal Radiation Oncology,
an office use, in the Downtown Commercial Zoning District. The term of
the Conditional Use Permit is to be for five years. At the end of the five-
year period the tenant may come back to the Planning Commission and
resubmit an application and at that time will be allowed at least a 24 -
month period to either extend the lease period on the Conditional Use
Permit or to relocate.
AYES: Commissioners, Kelley, Fonzi, Norton, Blaser, Bentz, Jeanes and
Chairman Eddings.
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
Motion passed 7.0 by a roll -call vote.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF REPORTS
Principal Planner Warren Frace announced that a special study session will be held
regarding the General Plan Update process. This will be a joint session with the City
Council and Planning Commission on May 29th at 7:00 p.m. Notices will be sent by mail
to all city addresses and post office boxes for a series of hearings where new information
and revised maps will be presented.
Regarding the Carlton Hotel renovation, Mr. Frace stated that the project is still in the
plan -check process. City staff has completed their review of the plans, the corrections are
at the architect's office and they should be resubmitting and ready to pull permits in the
near future.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS & REPORTS
Chairman Eddings stated that he felt the Commission had made the right decision
regarding the Virginia Plaza item. He feels that there are a lot of businesses in the
downtown that they would like to see relocate and if they continue to approve alternate
uses, it will be difficult to tell those already established to leave.
City of Atascadero Planning Commission Minutes Regular Meeting May 15, 2001
Page 5 of 5
ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Eddings adjourned the meeting at 8:05 p.m. to the next regularly scheduled
meeting on June 5, 2001.
MEETING RECORDED BY AND MINUTES PREPARED BY:
Grace Pucci, Recording Secretary
Cdvlpmnt/PC Minutes/PC Minutes 01/PC Minutes 05-15-Ol.gp.doc