HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes 09-04-07CALL TO ORDER
CITY OF ATASCADERO
PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, September 4, 2007 — 7:00 P.M.
Chairperson O'Keefe called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and Vice Chairperson
Fonzi led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present
Absent
Others Present
Commissioners Heatherington, Marks, Slane, Fonzi and
Chairperson O'Keefe
Commissioners O'Grady (excused), and Commissioner Jack
(joined the meeting at 7:04 p.m.)
Recording Secretary Grace Pucci
Staff Present: Community Development Director Warren Frace, Public Works
Director / City Engineer Steve Kahn, Deputy Community
Development Director Steve McHarris, and Planning Technician
Mathew Fawcett.
Chairperson O'Keefe read the decorum guidelines.
PLANNING COMMISSION BUSINESS
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: By Vice Chairperson Fonzi and seconded by Commissioner
Marks to approve the agenda.
Motion passed 5:0 by a roll -call vote.
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DISCLOSURE OF EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS:
■ Commissioner Marks stated he visited both sites on tonight's agenda.
PUBLIC COMMENT
ILIreMW
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETING ON AUGUST 21, 2007.
2. APPROVAL OF TIME EXTENSION ON TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 2005-0076,
4705 EL CAMINO REAL, (THE ACACIAS DEVELOPMENT, LLC)
Items pulled: Chairperson O'Keefe, Item #2.
MOTION: By Commissioner Heatherington and seconded by
Commissioner Marks to approve Item #1.
Motion passed 4:0 by a roll -call vote. (Fonzi abstained)
Commissioner Jack joined the hearing 7:04 p.m.
Item #2:
Chairperson O'Keefe suggested the Commission read through the new corrections for
Item #2 prior to a motion.
MOTION: By Commissioner Jack and seconded by Vice Chairperson
Fonzi to approve Item #2.
Motion passed 6:0 by a roll -call vote.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF REPORTS
3. PLN 2007-1229, TREE REMOVAL PERMIT FOR 1320 EL CAMINO REAL
Owner:
Ross Trust, PO Box 529, Santa Margarita, CA 93453
Certified
Arborist:
Steven Alvarez, A&T Arborist, 1565 EI Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422
Project Title•
PLN 2007-1229/Tree Removal Permit 2007-0114
Project
Location:
1320 EI Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422
APN 049-093-015 (San Luis Obispo County)
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Project A request to remove two (2) California Black Walnuts (13" and 24" at dbh) and three (3)
Description: Coast Live Oak (6", 5", and 14" at dbh). The two California Black Walnuts are located in
the public frontage along EI Camino Real and the Coast Live Oaks are directly impacted
by construction.
Planning Technician Mathew Fawcett gave the staff report and answered questions of
the Commission.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Glen Ross, applicant, answered questions of the Commission.
Chairperson O'Keefe closed the Public Comment period.
MOTION: By Vice Chairperson Fonzi and seconded by Commissioner
Jack adopt Resolution PC 2007-0076 to approve the request to
remove two (2) California Black Walnuts and three (3) Coast
Live Oak subject to findings and Conditions of Approval.
Motion passed 5:1 by a roll -call vote. (O'Keefe opposed)
Chairperson O'Keefe stated for the record she voted no because she does not believe
she has been given sufficient proof that the building could not have been designed to
have fewer impacts to the two oaks trees.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AND REPORTS
Commissioner Marks asked about a memo he had received regarding ex parte
communications. Community Development Director Warren Frace stated he assumed
that the Commission and Council had received the same information and explained that
the City is in the process of selecting a new City Attorney and there should be a new
training session on these issues in the future.
Commissioner Marks spoke about an issue raised at the last City Council meeting
regarding ex parte communications in which his name was mentioned. Commissioner
Marks stated for the record that he has 30 years of professional experience in the waste
water industry. His responsibilities included protecting public health and environmental
quality through application of basin plan requirements, part of which is the issue of
septic systems. He further stated that if, during his deliberations on the project in
question he had felt that he had to contact Water Quality he would have done so and
then disclosed that in his ex parte communications.
Commissioner Jack stated that he had attended the Energy Conference at Cal Poly with
Commissioner Marks. He reported the conference was instructive with many good
ideas about the need to become sensitive to trying to find alternatives to energy use.
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Commissioner Marks offered to prepare a brief synopsis of the energy conference for a
future Commission meeting. He reported that participants got a great feel for what all
the incorporated communities in this county are doing, thinking and proposing to
address green house gas issues.
Chairperson O'Keefe referred to a project on EI Camino Real just before Del Rio and
expressed concerns regarding the Colony House and grading. She asked what the
responsibility of the developer would be as she is certain more trees will be impacted.
Director Frace explained that all the issues raised by Chairperson O'Keefe are the
responsibility of the developer who has been very unresponsive for the last 9 months.
He stated staff recently sent another letter regarding the health of the trees, and will
follow up, possibly turning this into a code enforcement action.
Commissioner Marks asked if the Request for Qualifications for the City's economic
consultant is available at this time. Director Frace explained that the RFQ should be
issued next week.
Vice Chairperson Fonzi questioned the tenants at the Annex project. Director Frace
stated the developers do not have a formal agreement with Marshalls, but are still
negotiating with them, and that Big 5 and Office Depot are under construction and will
open soon.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Community Development Director reviewed the agenda for the next Planning
Commission meeting, and reported that the Santa Ana Map denied by the Commission
is being appealed and will eventually go to the City Council.
Public Works Director Steve Kahn commented that the Finance Director will give a
budget update at the next meeting, and reported on the successful first meeting for the
transit center site selection. The second meeting will be held on September 18th at 5:30
p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
Chairperson O'Keefe adjourned the meeting at 7:46 p.m. to the next regularly
scheduled meeting of the Planning Commission on September 18, 2007.
MINUTES PREPARED BY:
Grace Pucci, Recording Secretary
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