HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes 08-16-05CALL TO ORDER
CITY OF ATASCADERO
PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
Regular Meeting
August 16, 2005 — 7:00 P.M.
Vice Chairperson Beraud called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. and Commissioner
O'Keefe led Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners Jones, Kelley, O'Keefe, Patel and Vice
Chairperson Beraud
Absent: Commissioner Fonzi, Chairperson Porter
Staff Present: Community Development Director Warren Frace, Public Works
Director Steve Kahn, Deputy Community Development Director
Steve McHarris, Deputy Executive Director of Redevelopment
Marty Tracey, Associate Planner Kelly Gleason, Associate Planner
Kerry Margason, Assistant Planner Lisa Wilkinson and Recording
Secretary Grace Pucci.
PLANNING COMMISSION BUSINESS
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: By Commissioner Kelley and seconded by Commissioner
Jones to approve the agenda.
Motion passed 5:0 by a roll -call vote.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
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Commissioner Fonzi joined the meeting at 7:06 p.m.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETING ON AUGUST 2, 2005.
MOTION: By Commissioner Jones and seconded by Commissioner
Fonzi to approve Item #1.
Motion passed 5:0 by a roll -call vote. (Kelley abstained)
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF REPORTS
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2004-0127
Owner
El Camino Associates, 143 Beachcomber Dr., Pismo Beach, CA 93449
Applicant
Robert Richmond, R2L Architects, 444 Higuera St., Ste. 201, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Phone: 541-6294
Project Title
Colony Square Residential/Commercial Mixed -Use: Conditional Use Permit 2004-0127
Project
6901 and 6905 El Camino Real; 6999 Santa Ysabel Avenue, Atascadero, CA 93422
Location
Project
The proposed project is a Conditional Use Permit which includes a Residential/Commercial Mixed -
Description
Use Development Project located in downtown Atascadero. The project consists of 67 live -work
units; 75,230 square -feet of retail/restaurant space; a 35,000 square -foot movie theater with 10
screens and 1500 seats; 17,100 square -feet of office space; and 19,450 square -feet of residential
units on a total of 8.14 acres. Most buildings are three stories with restaurants and commercial uses
on the ground floors, and office and live -work housing on the upper two floors. Two existing on-
site native oak ("granary trees") will be incorporated into the project. Four native trees are proposed
for removal and the project will take access from El Camino Real, Highway 41 and Capistrano
Avenue.
Zoning District: Downtown Commercial (DC)
General Plan Designation: Downtown (D)
Proposed
Based on the initial study prepared for the project, a Mitigated Negative Declaration is proposed.
Environmental
The proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration is available for public review at 6905 El Camino Real
Determination
Ste. 6, Community Development Department, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Deputy Community Development Director Steve McHarris gave the staff report and
answered questions of the Commission.
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PUBLIC COMMENT
Bob Richmond, principal architect and applicant's representative, introduced members
of the project team and explained how their presentation would be conducted.
Patrick Seigman, project parking/traffic consultant, gave a presentation on parking and
traffic strategies within the project. Mr. Seigman answered questions of the
Commission.
Peter Brown, SLOCOG Local Regional Planning Agency, stated SLOCOG fully
supports this project and encourages the use of agreements with surrounding property
owners to provide more off-site parking to create a more pedestrian -friendly project. Mr.
Brown answered questions of the Commission.
Eric Greening expressed his support for this project and asked several questions
regarding traffic on Capistrano and the safety of its pedestrian crossings, and the
duration of the construction phase and its impact on sales tax revenue.
Vice Chairperson Beraud recessed the hearing at 8:58 p.m.
Vice Chairperson Beraud called the meeting back to order at 9:05 p.m.
Aeron Arlin Genet, Planning Manager for the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution
Control District, stated that this is an excellent example of the type of project the District
supports as it preserves the environment by reducing air quality impacts.
Joanne Main, President/CEO Atascadero Chamber of Commerce, explained why the
Chamber supports this project.
Steve Martin, Executive Director Atascadero Main Street, stated their support for this
project, which will fall within the Main Street boundaries.
Mary Chastain as Chairman of the Board Atascadero Chamber of Commerce reiterated
their support for the project. Speaking as Vice President/Financial Services Manager of
Mid State Bank she stated they were pleased to be able to reach a parking agreement
for this project.
Eric Greening stated his support for the incorporation of public art within this project and
questioned how it would be funded.
Tom O'Malley, Atascadero City Council Member, stated he was happy to see the
community come together on this project, and commended staff and the developer for
their work.
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Bob Richmond and Patrick Seigman addressed several issues raised during the public
comment period.
Vice Chairperson Beraud reviewed questions raised during public comment and asked
staff to comment.
David Foote, applicant's landscape architect, addressed questions regarding
landscaping under the existing trees.
Vice Chairperson Beraud closed the public Comment period.
Commissioner comments were as follows:
Commissioner Jones:
■ Appreciates the superior architecture of theater
■ Supports the free market approach to the parking associated with building D
■ Important to insure the dedicated access to Rancho Tee
■ Wants to see a condition for building A to come back to Commission if not
completed/permits pulled within 12 months
■ Parking spaces across from theater could be used for theater drop off
■ Encouraged the applicant to exceed the minimum for handicapped parking
■ Commended Mid State Bank for their help with the parking agreements and
stated those for Citibank and Bank of America will work themselves out.
Commissioner O'Keefe:
■ Concerned with speed limits on EI Camino Real in front of the project
■ Would like to see the 14 extra parking places removed, and staff and applicant
work together for a more creative use of that space.
Commissioner Kelley:
■ Had concerns about parking, but is now convinced parking will not be an issue
and could support reducing some parking spaces to create a drop off zone in
front of the theater.
■ Concerned with the EI Camino exit and would like to see applicant work with staff
to rectify it in the preliminary stages of the project.
■ Phasing will be economically driven and should not be a problem.
Commissioner Fonzi:
■ Would like the dedicated access for Rancho Tee included in the conditions
■ Employee parking issues are very important and she would like to see this
resolved by a parking agreement with Citibank, which should be incorporated into
the conditions along with creating a seamless access point from the bank to the
project.
■ The dangerous grade of the driveway going in off of Highway 41 must be
addressed.
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■ High visibility crosswalks within the project and across Capistrano must be
addressed.
■ Concerned with safety issues related to outlying parking areas; lighting these
areas must be carefully looked at by staff.
■ Additional handicapped parking is important.
Commissioner Patel:
■ Exits from the theater at the rear toward Citibank must be well lighted.
■ Would like to see more architectural detail on the theater building along Highway
41.
■ Easement and access rights for Rancho Tee are important.
Vice Chairperson Beraud:
■ Supports removal of the 13 parking spaces between the bollards to make a more
functional pedestrian area and drop off zone for the theater.
MOTION: By Commissioner Jones and seconded by Commissioner
O'Keefe to adopt Resolution PC 2005-0048 certifying Proposed
Mitigated Negative Declaration 2005-0020; and adopt
Resolution PC 2005-0049 approving Conditional Use Permit
2004-0127 (Master Plan of Development) based on findings
and subject to Conditions of Approval and Mitigation
Monitoring and with the following conditions:
1. After 12 months the project should return to the Planning
Commission rather than staff should building or
demolition permits not be pulled.
2. Dedicated access for Rancho Tee.
3. Staff will have the flexibility to work with the applicant for
the removal of up to 14 parking spaces to facilitate traffic
stacking, loading and pedestrian areas.
4. Last building will be finaled within 18 months of the first
building being finaled.
5. Applicant to address the change of grade at the entrance
onto highway 41.
6. Conditions of staff addendum added as follows:
■ Condition of Approval No. 4 to read: Approval of this
Conditional Use Permit shall be valid for twelve (12)
months after its effective date. At the end of the
period, the approval shall expire and become null and
void unless the project has received a building or
demo permit.
■ Add to Condition of Approval No. 24: Chanae timing
of cost sharing for pedestrian bridge to prior to final
occupancy of the theater.
Motion passed 6:0 by a roll -call vote.
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Vice Chairperson Beraud recessed the hearing at 10:20 p.m.
Vice Chairperson Beraud called the meeting back to order at 10:26 p.m.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AND REPORTS
None
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Community Development Director Warren Frace distributed to the Commission the
marketing agreement for billboards related to the Carlton and gave an update on the
issue. Director Frace reviewed the agenda for the next Planning Commission meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Vice Chairperson Beraud adjourned the meeting at 10:30 p.m. to the next regularly
scheduled meeting of the Planning Commission on September 6, 2005.
MEETING RECORDED AND MINUTES PREPARED BY:
Grace Pucci, Recording Secretary
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