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Home My WebLink AboutPC Minutes 07-03-01CALL TO ORDER CITY OF ATASCADERO PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting July 3, 2001— 7:00 p.m. Chairman Eddings called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and Commissioner Bentz led the Pledge of Allegiance. P011, CATI, Present: Commissioners Bentz, Fonzi, Norton and Chairman Eddings. Absent: Commissioner Blaser, Kelley and Vice -Chairman Jeanes Staff: Community Development Director Lori Parcells, Assistant Planner Phil Dunsmore and Recording Secretary Grace Pucci. PUBLIC COMMENT None PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2001-0034: The proposed project is a Conditional Use Permit to allow an adult day care program in the Hotel Park center within the Downtown Office Zoning District. It will be an adult day health care center designed to provide a variety of health, therapeutic, and social services to serve the needs of those at risk of placement in a nursing facility. It will primarily serve frail, elderly persons or other physically or mentally impaired adults over the age of 18. The Program, offered by Life Steps Foundation, will operate within an existing office space at 5855 Capistrano Avenue. The center will operate between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. General Plan Designation: Downtown; Zoning District: Downtown Office; APN 029-363-026; Address: 5855 Capistrano Avenue, Suite "A", Atascadero; Applicant: Life Steps Foundation. City of Atascadero Planning Commission Minutes Regular Meeting July 3, 2001 Page 2 of 6 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: The Planning Commission adopt Resolution 2001-028 approving Conditional Use Permit 2001-0034, a request by Life Steps Foundation to establish an adult day care use at 5855 Capistrano Avenue in the Downtown Office Zoning District. Assistant Planner Phil Dunsmore provided the staff report and answered questions of the Commission. Vice -Chairman Jeanes arrived at 7:06 p.m. Commissioner Fonzi questioned transportation for the facility and whether a loading zone would be provided in front of the building. Mr. Dunsmore stated that he was uncertain of the services that the applicant has contracted with for transportation. As a condition of approval the applicant must specify a loading area to be set aside for the transportation needs of participants at the center. Commissioner Fonzi asked about the railing on the deck and client safety. Mr. Dunsmore indicated that the patio will be railed and access will be available only from the interior of the building. PUBLIC COMMENT Evans Cowan, Program Director for Life Steps Aging Services, 3150 Broad Street, Suite 104, San Luis Obispo, stated that the facility will be MediCal funded and licensed, and they are working towards licensing by the State of California. Mr. Cowan answered questions of the Commission. Commissioner Norton asked if the participants would be able to access and utilize the downtown. Mr. Cowan stated that the object of the facility is not to keep people in, but to help them maintain their independence and he feels that some would take advantage of the businesses and services in the downtown area. Commissioner Norton questioned whether any of the clients present a threat to themselves or others. Mr. Cowan indicated that the staff to client ratio is three to one and this high ratio helps to maintain the level of supervision necessary for safety. Commissioner Fonzi asked if public transportation would be utilized, or would family members be dropping clients off at the facility. Mr. Cowan responded that the facility encourages family members to provide transportation whenever possible, and in some cases public transportation will be utilized. He does not feel this will add significantly to traffic or noise in the center. City of Atascadero Planning Commission Minutes Regular Meeting July 3, 2001 Page 3 of 6 Commissioner Norton asked about staff parking. Mr. Cowan replied that staff would be encouraged to park in areas that are further away from the front of the building to give maximum parking area to individuals who are visiting the businesses in the Center. Vice -Chairman Jeanes asked if the parking area would be available after 5:00 p.m. for use by the public during downtown activities or promotions. Mr. Cowan stated that he had no objection to the lot being used in this way, but referred the question to the owner of the Hotel Park Center. Joan O'Keefe, 9985 Old Morro Road East, asked if the Public Comment portion of the meeting could be reopened, as she was unable to arrive in time due to parking problems at the Lake Pavilion. Additionally, she expressed concern regarding the use of the Lake Pavilion for the upcoming City Council meeting where the General Plan Update will be considered. A public event is scheduled for the Lake Park that evening which will reduce the available parking for those wishing to attend the Council meeting. Chairman Eddings stated that he would reopen the Public Comment portion of the meeting after Public Hearing Item No. 1 was concluded. Glen Lewis, 10765 Vista Road, Owner of the Hotel Park Business and Professional Center, stated that the parking ratio in his lot is 4:1, and there is more than adequate parking in the Center. Additionally, Mr. Lewis indicated that after hours use of the parking area is fine. Commissioner Bentz expressed his concern with the safety of the older patients in regard to access and security of the site. Mr. Lewis stated that the physical site is 100% ADA approved. Mr. Cowan stated that the Fire Department has given verbal approval for ADA access. Chairman Eddings closed Public Comment. MOTION: By Commissioner Bentz and seconded by Commissioner Fonzi to adopt Resolution 2001-028 approving Conditional Use Permit 2001-0034, a request by Life Steps Foundation to establish an adult day care center at 5855 Capistrano Avenue in the Downtown Office Zoning District. AYES: Commissioners Bentz, Fonzi, Norton, Jeanes and Chairman Eddings NOES: None ABSTAIN: None Motion passed 5:0 by a roll -call vote. Chairman Eddings reopened the initial Public Comment portion of the hearing. REOPENED PUBLIC COMMENT Joan O'Keefe, 9985 Old Morro Road East, read from a prepared statement regarding the issues of pedestrian easement and road improvement costs for the Rancho de Paraiso project. (Attachment 1) City of Atascadero Planning Commission Minutes Regular Meeting July 3, 2001 Page 4 of 6 Ernie Norfleet, 5365 Ensenada Avenue, expressed his concern with safety issues on Ensenada Avenue. He informed the Commission of a recent accident on the street where a five year old boy was run over and seriously injured. He feels drivers are using Ensenada Avenue as a shortcut between Via and Capistrano and tend to drive too fast. This is a residential street and people as well as pets are in danger. He would like to see speed bumps on the street or to have the street closed to through traffic. Yolanda Buchanan, 5425 Ensenada Avenue, stated her concerns with safety on that street. She indicated that the street is narrow and not designed for the volume of traffic it accommodates on a daily basis. She has called the City about the problem and was unable to speak with anyone who could help with the problem. She would like to see speed bumps or a shut down of the street. Chairman Eddings stated that an issue of this sort does not generally come before the Planning Commission; however, he felt that the issue was serious enough that he would like staff to draft a resolution with recommendations that the Commission could endorse and send on to the City Council. Community Development Director Parcells stated that staff would draft a resolution and present it to the Commission at their next meeting. Commissioner Bentz suggested that the speakers approach the Traffic Safety Committee and ask for this issue to be placed on the agenda of their next meeting. Jerry Clay suggested that those interested in this issue should go in person to City Hall and speak with City Engineer Steve Kahn, or Assistant City Manager Brady Cherry. Commissioner Bentz shared with the audience that he had lost two children to traffic accidents and encouraged those present to meet with their neighbors and become proactive in making people aware of their personal responsibility as drivers. Steve Allen, 5330 Ensenada Avenue, expressed his concern with the danger on his street. He wants the street to be shut down immediately. Joan O'Keefe, 9985 Old Morro Road East, encouraged the Planning Commission to consider future traffic impacts when considering new development projects. Shannon Morrison, 5245 Ensenada Avenue, stated her concerns with the safety of the street and suggested that the City close the bridge to cut down traffic on Via. Chairman Eddings closed Public Comment 2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: TENTATIVE PARCEL MAP 2001-0015: The proposed project is a parcel map subdividing one existing parcel into two lots. The existing parcel currently contains one residence. One vacant lot would be created allowing the future development of one residence. The new lot would be accessed from the driveway serving the existing residence on the parcel. General Plan Designation: City of Atascadero Planning Commission Minutes Regular Meeting July 3, 2001 Page 5 of 6 Residential Suburban, Zoning District: RS, minimum lot size 2.5 to 10 acres (calculated to be 2.66 acres using performance standards); APN 054-032-044; Address: 3475 Maricopa Road, Atascadero; Applicant: Rusty and Paula Brebes. PROPOSED ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: PROPOSED MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION 2001-021: The Initial Study has determined that the proposed project will not have a significant adverse impact on the environment when mitigation measures are implemented. A proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration of environmental impact has therefore been prepared for the project in conformance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration is available for public review through July 3, 2001 at 6500 Palma Avenue, Community Development Department, Room 104, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Staff Recommends: The Planning Commission adopt Resolution No. PC 2001-029, certifying the proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration 2001-021 and approving Tentative Parcel Map 2001- 0015, based on findings and subject to conditions. Assistant Planner Phil Dunsmore provided the staff report and answered questions of the Commission. Commissioner Fonzi inquired if there would be a Fire Department turnaround on the property. Mr. Dunsmore stated that a turnaround will be required if a house is placed on the site. Additionally, a proposed house would have to have a fire sprinkler system because of the distance to the fire hydrant. PUBLIC COMMENT Rutsy Brebes, 3475 Maricopa Road, applicant, stated that no home is proposed at this time for the property and that fire issues have been addressed. Joan O'Keefe, 9985 Old Morro Road East, questioned whether a previous drawing placing the driveway in a different location with greater impacts to the trees might be considered for use in the future. Mr. Dunsmore stated that the map displayed is conditioned to construct the driveway improvements and lot lines in the locations shown. Chairman Eddings closed Public Comment. MOTION: By Vice -Chairman Jeanes and seconded by Commissioner Norton to adopt Resolution No. PC 2001-029, certifying the proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration 2001-021 and approving Tentative Parcel Map 2001-0015, based on findings and subject to conditions. AYES: Commissioners Jeanes, Norton, Bentz, Fonzi and Chairman Eddings City of Atascadero Planning Commission Minutes NOES: None ABSTAIN: None Motion passed 5:0 by a roll -call vote. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF REPORTS Regular Meeting July 3, 2001 Page 6 of 6 Community Development Director Parcells reminded the Commission that the next Planning Commission meeting would be held at the Atascadero Lake Pavilion. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AND REPORTS Chairman Eddings indicated that the Commission would like to see the General Plan recommendations before they go to the City Council. Commissioner Bentz agreed. Vice -Chairman Jeanes stated that she would be out of town for the next Planning Commission meeting. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Eddings adjourned the meeting at 8:08 p.m. to the next regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, July 17, 2001. MEETING RECORDED AND MINUTES PREPARED BY Grace Pucci, Recording Secretary Cdvlpmnt/PC 2001/PC Minutes 07-03-01.gp.doc