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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes 03-18-03CITY OF ATASCADERO PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting March 18, 2003 — 7:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Fonzi called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. and Commissioner Bentz led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Bentz, Beraud, Jones, O'Keefe, Porter, Kelley and Chairperson Fonzi Absent: None Staff: Community Development Director Warren Frace, City Engineer Steve Kahn, Assistant Planner Kelly Davis, and Recording Secretary Grace Pucci. PUBLIC COMMENT Mike Turnquist asked if he would be able to address the Commission regarding a four -unit apartment to be developed on Parriza Court. Chairperson Fonzi informed Mr. Tomquist that this item has been heard and approved by the Planning Commission. Commissioner O'Keefe stated that she has appealed the Planning Commission's approval of this project. Community Development Director Warren Frace indicated that as the project has been appealed it would go before the City Council. Mike Turnquist, 7256 Parriza Court, stated his opposition to the four -unit apartment to be built on Lot No. 10 in his neighborhood. Mr. Turnquist indicated that he had letters from neighbors as well as a petition against the project and asked that the decision to approve be reconsidered. He further stated that the neighbors had not been notified about the project, nor was there anything in the C.C.& R's referring to it. Commissioner O'Keefe expressed her concern that proper notification was not given to the neighbors in the immediate vicinity of the project and for this reason had appealed the Commission's decision. Eric Greening, 7365 Valle, stated his surprise that this would be out of the Commission's hands since the neighborhood was not properly noticed. He asked what the procedure would be in this case. Community Development Director Warren Frace stated that staff would investigate to determine what had happened with the notification. Code requires that property owners at the last tax assessment roles be notified, and he suspects that because these are new parcels which have only recently sold, the assessor list used by his department for notification did not include these newer parcels. Additionally, on conditional use permits the City is not required by code to actually post the site for notification. Mr. Frace stated that he would inform the City Council of what the issue is and insure that all neighbors are properly noticed for any future hearings or appeals. Chairperson Fonzi requested that this be sent on to the City Attorney for his review. Chairperson Fond closed the Public Comment period. CONSENT CALENDAR 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ON MARCH 4, 2003. MOTION: By Commissioner Bentz and seconded by Vice Chairperson Kelley to approve the Consent Calendar. AYES: Commissioners Bentz, Jones, Beraud, Porter, O'Keefe, Kelley and Chairperson Fonzi NOES: None ABSTAIN: None Motion passed 7.0 by a roll -call vote. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF REPORTS None PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. Conditional Use Permit 2002-0080: Ataseadero Avenue / Morro Road Mixed Use Applicant: Kelly Gearhart, 6205 Alcantara Avenue, Atascadero, CA 93422 Project Title: Conditional Use Permit 2002-0080 Project Southeast corner of Morro Road and Atascadero Avenue, Atascadero, CA 93422 Location: (San Luis Obispo County) APN 031-052-024 Project The project consists of a mixed use commercial office and multi -family residential Description: development on single parcels totaling 1.4 acres. The commercial office buildings will have a total of 7100 square feet with a 24 space parking lot. The residential portion will consist of seven semi -attached multi -family dwellings with 21 parking spaces. A single shared driveway will provide access to Morro Road (SR 41) and two Atascadero Avenue Road. The site will have coordinated architecture and 20,000 sf of landscaping. The existing site is a vacant pasture will minimal slope and limited vegetation. General Plan: General Commercial, Zoning District Commercial Professional / PD -3. Proposed PROPOSED NEGATIVE DECLARATION 2003-0009: Environmental Based on the findings of the initial study, the Community Development Department Determination recommends that the Planning Commission find that no significant harm would come to the environment from approval of this project. The proposed Negative Declaration is available for public review at 6500 Palma Avenue, Community Development Department, Room 104, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Staff Adoption of Planning Commission Resolution 2003-0040 approving Conditional Recommends Use Permit 2002-0080, allowing a mixed use office and multi -family residential project at 7005 Morro Road subject to findings and conditions. Community Development Director Warren Frace provided the staff report and answered questions of the Commission. PUBLIC COMMENT Kelly Gearhart, 6205 Alcantara Avenue, applicant, answered questions of the Commission. Mr. Gearhart indicated that he was in agreement with the additional conditions contained within the staff report. Eric Greening stated that there was a lot to like about this project. He questioned the drainage issues for this parcel given its size, its flatness and the type of vegetation currently growing on the site. Mr. Greening also questioned Condition of Approval No. 45. Chairperson Fond closed the Public Comment period. There was Commission discussion regarding several issues including: the Sycamore tree and the danger it's roots have created to pedestrians or bicyclists, appropriate uses for the commercial space and noise impacts. MOTION: By Commissioner Bentz and seconded by Commissioner Jones to adopt Planning Commission Resolution 2003-0040 approving Conditional Use Permit 2002- 0080, allowing a mixed use office and multi -family residential project at 7005 Morro Road subject to findings and conditions and incorporating a finding that would allow the City Engineer to work with an arborist to make the determination of whether the trees properly trimmed would continue to create a hazard for traffic and in the future to order the removal of the trees if necessary with the developer responsible for their removal, and in addition to include the roof detail in the design standards, and to have staff work with the applicant on variations in the family units as to color and design. AYES: Commissioners Bentz, Jones, O'Keefe, Porter, Kelley and Chairperson Fonzi NOES: Commissioner Beraud ABSTAIN: None Motion passed 6:1 by a roll -call vote. Chairperson Fonzi announced that the applicant had decided to continue Item #3 to a date uncertain. 3. Conditional Use Permit 2002-0079: Morro Road Mixed Use Applicant: Kelly Gearhart, 6205 Alcantara Avenue, Atascadero, CA 93422 Project Title: Conditional Use Permit 2002-0079 Project Southeast of the corner of Morro Road and Atascadero Avenue, Atascadero, CA Location: 93422 (San Luis Obispo County) APN 031-036, 037 Project The project consists of a mixed use commercial office and multi -family residential Description: development on two separate parcels totaling 1.1 acres. The commercial office buildings will have a total of 5400 square feet with a 14 space parking lot. The residential portion will consist of eight semi -attached multi -family dwellings with 16 parking spaces. A single shared driveway will provide access to Morro Road (SR 41). The site will have coordinated architecture and 14,000 sf of landscaping. The existing site is a vacant pasture will minimal slope and limited vegetation. General Plan: General Commercial, Zoning District Commercial Professional / PD - 3. Proposed PROPOSED NEGATIVE DECLARATION 2003-0009: Environmental Based on the findings of the initial study, the Community Development Department Determination recommends that the Planning Commission find that no significant harm would come to the environment from approval of this project. The proposed Negative Declaration is available for public review at 6500 Palma Avenue, Community Development Department, Room 104, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday Staff Adoption of Planning Commission Resolution 2003-0039 approving Conditional Recommends Use Permit 2002-0079, allowing a mixed use office and multi -family residential project at 7225 Morro Road subject to findings and conditions. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS & REPORTS Commissioner O'Keefe asked staff to comment on the change to 15 years on the deed restriction time for the Russell property. Director Frace explained the Council's action and stated that it was staff's intention to get an inclusionary ordinance before the Commission as soon as possible. Commissioner O'Keefe inquired at what point the affordable housing component on a project is brought about. Mr. Frace addressed the Hidden Oaks project and the density bonus/affordable component included. Commissioner O'Keefe referred to the PD -7 on Santa Ysabel and questioned why Lot No. 8, though conditioned to require pavers, did not have pavers installed. She asked what assurance the Commission had that an added condition would be acted upon. Mr. Frace stated that he would look into this and see what had happened. Commissioner Beraud referred to the mixed-use project and her idea of compatibility and felt that there should be some way to address the issue of respectful conduct for businesses to follow to make it a desirable place for residential use as well. Commissioner Bentz suggested that the Commission look at the City's native tree ordinance and asked staff to agendize this for the next meeting. Commissioner Kelley urged that a qualified arborist be in attendance if this item was agendized. MOTION: By Commissioner Bentz and seconded by Commissioner Jones to agendize a discussion of the Native Tree Ordinance to then make it clear to staff what it is the Commission would like them to look into and then come back for a recommendation from the Commission to City Council for modification of the ordinance or for changing the existing ordinance to meet some of the requirements that the Commission has discussed. This item is to be placed at the end of the agenda. AYES: Commissioners Bentz, Jones, Porter, Beraud, O'Keefe, Kelley and Chairperson Fonzi. NOES: None ABSTAIN: None Motion passed 7.0 by a roll -call vote. Chairperson Fonzi informed the Commission that after the last meeting she wrote a letter to the City Council asking them for guidance on the issue of in -lieu fees for affordable housing. ADJOURNMENT Chairperson Fonzi adjourned the meeting at 8:17 p.m. to the next regularly scheduled meeting on April 1, 2003. MEETING RECORDED AND MINUTES PREPARED BY: Grace Pucci, Recording Secretary 1\Cityhall\CDvlpmnt\— PC Minutes\PC Minutes 03\PC Minutes 03.18.03.gp.doc