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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes 02-01-05CALL TO ORDER CITY OFATASCADERO PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting February 1, 2005 — 7:00 P.M. Chairperson Kelley called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. and Commissioner Peterson led the Pledge of Allegiance ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Beraud, Fonzi, O'Keefe, Peterson and Chairperson Kelley Absent: Commissioner Jones and Vice Chairperson Porter Staff Present: Community Development Director Warren Frace, Deputy Community Development Director Steve McHarris, Deputy Public Works Director Jeff van den Eikhof, Associate Planner Kelly Gleason and Recording Secretary Grace Pucci. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: By Commissioner O'Keefe and seconded by Commissioner Beraud to approve the agenda. Motion passed 5:0 by a roll -call vote. PLANNING COMMISSION BUSINESS A. ELECTION OF NEW CHAIR AND VICE -CHAIR Chairperson Kelley suggested continuing this item to the next Planning Commission meeting due to Commissioner absences. PC Minutes 02/01/05 Page 1 of 5 MOTION: By Chairperson Kelley and seconded by Commissioner Fonzi to continue this item to the February 15, 2004 Planning Commission meeting. Motion passed 5:0 by a roll -call vote PUBLIC COMMENT Eric Greening spoke about a proposed second unit overlay zone for the unincorporated area on the southern boundary of Atascadero, which will be heard by the County Planning Commission on March 11th, and questioned if the Planning Department and Commission has been contacted. Community Development Director Warren Frace stated the city has been contacted by county staff, but most likely will not respond as this policy is similar to Atascadero's second unit policy in the General Plan. Chairperson Kelley closed the Public Comment period. CONSENT CALENDAR 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ON JANUARY 18, 2005. MOTION: By Commissioner Fonzi and seconded by Commissioner Peterson to approve Item #1. Motion passed 5:0 by a roll -call vote. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF REPORTS PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2003-0089, TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 2004- 0050, CURBARIL BUSINESS CENTER Applicant: Kelly Gearhart, 6205 Alcantara Ave., Atascadero, CA 93422, Phone: 461-7504 Project Title: Conditional Use Permit 2003-0089, Tentative Tract Map 2004-0050, Curbaril Business Center Project Curbaril Ave, Atascadero, CA 93422 Location: (San Luis Obispo County) APN 031-161-024 Project The project consists of a Master Plan of Development for a 9 building commercial office center and Description: associated 8 -lot Tentative Tract Map. The project site currently consists of 2 parcels, one of which is vacant. Two driveways located off of Curbaril Avenue will serve the proposed project. The project includes full frontage improvements along Highway 41 (Morro Rd). 8 native trees are proposed for PC Minutes 02/01/05 Page 2 of 5 Associate Planner Kelly Gleason gave the staff report, Steve McHarris discussed site design and appearance review and both answered questions of the Commission. A memorandum (Exhibit A) and Appearance Review document (Exhibit B) was distributed. Deputy Public Works Director Jeff van den Eikhof explained the changes made to Condition No. 22 by the City Engineer. PUBLIC COMMENT Kelly Gearhart, applicant, stated he agrees with the changes made by staff, but is uncertain of the culvert situation. Mr. Gearhart answered questions of the Commission. Douglas Sheffer stated his concerns regarding a drainage channel on an adjoining property and requested permission to fill it in. Eric Greening asked several questions regarding drainage and ponding both on and off the site as well as downstream impacts from this project. He was concerned with the replacement of the tile roof with metal, and stated the metal roof should be non reflective. Chairperson Kelley closed the Public Comment period. Mr. Gearhart addressed the issues raised during the Public Comment period. There was Commission discussion regarding this project. Commissioner comments included: Commissioner Fonzi: 1. Concerned with Amapoa interchange and driveways. 2. Would like landscaping to be consistent with adjoining properties. 3. Does not like the visibility of the dumpsters and the long corridor of parking. Commissioner O'Keefe: 1. Concerned that uses are limited by the number of parking spaces. It is important that this project be designed for professional and retail use and the building size may have to be reduced. 2. Planning is ongoing for this project and it should go back to staff until everything is complete and a full set of plans are available. PC Minutes 02/01/05 Page 3 of 5 removal. General Plan Designation: General Commercial Zoning District: Commercial Retail / PD 3 Proposed Based on the initial study prepared for the project, a Mitigated Negative Declaration is proposed. The Environmental proposed Negative Declaration is available for public review at 6905 El Camino Real, Suite 6, Determination: Community Development Department, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Associate Planner Kelly Gleason gave the staff report, Steve McHarris discussed site design and appearance review and both answered questions of the Commission. A memorandum (Exhibit A) and Appearance Review document (Exhibit B) was distributed. Deputy Public Works Director Jeff van den Eikhof explained the changes made to Condition No. 22 by the City Engineer. PUBLIC COMMENT Kelly Gearhart, applicant, stated he agrees with the changes made by staff, but is uncertain of the culvert situation. Mr. Gearhart answered questions of the Commission. Douglas Sheffer stated his concerns regarding a drainage channel on an adjoining property and requested permission to fill it in. Eric Greening asked several questions regarding drainage and ponding both on and off the site as well as downstream impacts from this project. He was concerned with the replacement of the tile roof with metal, and stated the metal roof should be non reflective. Chairperson Kelley closed the Public Comment period. Mr. Gearhart addressed the issues raised during the Public Comment period. There was Commission discussion regarding this project. Commissioner comments included: Commissioner Fonzi: 1. Concerned with Amapoa interchange and driveways. 2. Would like landscaping to be consistent with adjoining properties. 3. Does not like the visibility of the dumpsters and the long corridor of parking. Commissioner O'Keefe: 1. Concerned that uses are limited by the number of parking spaces. It is important that this project be designed for professional and retail use and the building size may have to be reduced. 2. Planning is ongoing for this project and it should go back to staff until everything is complete and a full set of plans are available. PC Minutes 02/01/05 Page 3 of 5 3. This is unusual lot and deserves unique plan. 4. Parking should be more concealed from Curbaril. Commissioner Beraud: 1. A different layout, i.e. duplexes, could make the project more attractive for retail or restaurant use and could reduce the number of tree removals. 2. Would like to see the tree report included in the packet. 3. Elevations on all sides of the buildings should have some architectural features because they are surrounded by a variety of uses including residential. 4. Would like to see things clustered to provide more parking and allow more uses. 5. Metal roof should be non reflective. 6. Layout should be changed to provide parking in the back. 7. Decreasing spaces between buildings would provide more green space and save a few trees. Commissioner Peterson: 1. Suggested shifting the buildings so the fronts would be visible from Curbaril and parking would be in the rear. 2. Likes the architecture, will be a nice project but it still needs a little work. Chairperson Kelley: 1. Likes design of buildings and feels it will be a successful project. 2. There is a need for offices of this size. 3. Drainage is good. 4. Would like to see this project move ahead with the changes presented tonight. Commissioner Jones joined the hearing at 8:12 p.m. Kelly Gearhart stated he would like wait two weeks, go over this with staff and then come back before the Commission. MOTION: By Chairperson Kelley and seconded by Commissioner O'Keefe to continue this matter until the changes have been submitted by Mr. Gearhart to staff and when submitted that the process be expedited and brought back to the Planning Commission as soon as possible. Motion passed 6:0 by a roll -call vote. Mr. Gearhart asked if there were a way to bring projects before the Commission earlier to provide more guidance to the applicant. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AND REPORTS Chairperson Kelley stated it was a good idea to have pre -planning meetings for larger projects, perhaps having the Commission meet an hour before its regular meeting. PC Minutes 02/01/05 Page 4 of 5 Community Development Director Warren Frace agreed that it is better to have a study session on larger projects. Commissioner O'Keefe expressed concern with the banner signs at Walgreen's and with the City Council's policy not to enforce signage requirements. Commissioner Fonzi spoke about a large truck with advertising on it parked on the street in front of a business and asked how this counted toward signage. Director Frace stated this is actually a vehicle and not a sign, so it is not enforceable under the sign code. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Community Development Director Frace reviewed the agenda for the next Planning Commission meeting. He asked that Planning Commissioners interested in attending the CEQA workshop contact the Community Development Department. Additionally he announced that SLOCOG will hold a workshop in Templeton on Saturday morning regarding growth scenarios throughout the county. ADJOURNMENT Chairperson Kelley adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m. to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Planning Commission February 15, 2005. MEETING RECORDED AND MINUTES PREPARED BY: Grace Pucci, Recording Secretary The following Exhibits are available for review in the Community Development Department: Exhibit A — Staff Memorandum for Item #2 Exhibit B — Appearance Review Document for Item #2 Adopted 2-15-05 PC Minutes 02/01/05 Page 5 of 5