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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes 03-18-08CALL TO ORDER CITY OF ATASCADERO PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 18, 2008 — 7:00 P.M. Chairperson Fonzi called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. and Commissioner Heatherington led the Pledge of Allegiance ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Heatherington, Jack, Marks, O'Grady, O'Keefe, Slane and Chairperson Fonzi Absent: None Staff Present: Community Development Director Warren Frace, Public Works Director / City Engineer Steve Kahn, Deputy Community Development Director Steve McHarris, Senior Planner Kelly Gleason and Administrative Assistant Annette Manier. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: By Commissioner Jack and seconded by Vice Chairperson Slane to approve the agenda. Motion passed 7:0 by a roll -call vote. PLANNING COMMISSION BUSINESS DISCLOSURE OF EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS: ■ Commissioner Marks stated he visited the Rite Aid site. ■ Chairperson Fonzi stated she visited the Rite Aid site. PC Minutes 03/18/08 Page 1 of 6 ■ Commissioner Jack stated he visited the Rite Aid site. ■ Commission O'Grady stated he visited the Rite Aid site. PUBLIC COMMENT None CONSENT CALENDAR 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ON FEBRUARY 19, 2008. 2. APPROVAL OF TIME EXTENSION ON TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 2001-0011 6340 ALCANTARA AVE. (RUSSELL). MOTION: By Commissioner O'Grady and seconded by Commissioner Jack to approve Item #1. Motion passed 7:0 by a roll -call vote. Item #2: Community Development Director Warren Frace and Deputy Community Development Director Steve McHarris answered questions of the Commission regarding Item #2. Commissioner O'Grady stated this project has had three time extensions and in the five years since the original project was approved the needs of the City have changed significantly. For that reason, he would vote not to extend in the hope that this would revert to a multi -family apartment development, which he believes is now in the best interest of the City. PUBLIC COMMENT Loraine Russell, applicant, explained why she was asking for the time extension and answered questions of the Commission. Chairperson Fonzi closed the Public Comment period. MOTION: By Commissioner O'Keefe and seconded by Commissioner Marks to approve Item #2. Motion passed 6:1 by a roll -call vote. (O'Grady opposed) COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF REPORTS PUBLIC HEARINGS PC Minutes 03/18/08 Page 2 of 6 3. PLN 2008-1273, RITE -AID DEVELOPMENT, 7055 EL CAMINO REAL Property Owner• Epsteen and Associates, 5034 Carpinteria Ave, Carpinteria, CA 93013 Project Title: PLN 2008-1273/CUP 2008-0223 — Rite-Aid Development Project Location- 7055 EI Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422 APN 030-081-037 (San Luis Obispo County) Project The proposed project consists of an application for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to Description• allow a new 17,340 square -foot Rite Aid development with drive-through pharmacy and remodel of an existing 21,500 square -foot retail building. The Conditional Use Permit will establish a Master Plan of Development for the site that will include all site development and architectural standards for the project site. The proposed new building and existing building are located within an existing shopping center at the intersection of EI Camino Real and Highway 41 (Morro Rd). The project takes access off of EI Camino Real and Highway 41. No native trees are proposed for removal. General Plan Designation: General Commercial (GC) Zoning District: Commercial Retail (CR) Proposed Based on the initial study prepared for the project, a Mitigated Negative Declaration is Environmental proposed. The proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration is available for public review Determination• at 6907 EI Camino Real, Community Development Department, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Senior Planner Kelly Gleason and Community Development Director Warren Frace gave the staff report and with City Engineer Steve Kahn answered questions of the Commission. PUBLIC COMMENT Tom Jess, applicant's representative and architect, introduced the design team, spoke about the project, the importance of the drive-through, and answered questions of the Commission. Mike Hieshima, project developer, explained that in the past Rite-Aid controlled the entire three acres of the development so that he had no ability to control maintenance and other issues the Commission perceives as negatives on the site. However, through this process his group has been able to gain control and improve the entire center and this development. He further explained that they did their best with the requirements placed on the project by Rite-Aid, and any change to what is being presented tonight will require Real -Estate Committee approval from Rite-Aid and the chances of that approval are about 50/50 at this time. Mr. Hieshima answered questions of the Commission. Chairperson Fonzi recessed the hearing at 8:55 p.m. Chairperson Fonzi called the meeting back to order at 9:00 p.m. PC Minutes 03/18/08 Page 3 of 6 Joanne Main, President / CEO Chamber of Commerce, urged the Commission to pay attention to the letters from two previous mayors of Atascadero encouraging Rite-Aid and the new developers to improve the site. She stated the project would enhance the corner and meets the City's goal of economic development. Chairperson Fonzi closed the Public Comment period. Commissioner Comments: Vice Chairperson Slane ■ Supportive of this new project coming into Atascadero. ■ Understands some Commissioner's concerns regarding architecture, but likes simplicity and provided the colors and fapade fits with the rest of the complex, he does not have a problem with it. ■ Landscaping will soften the effect of the roofline. ■ The new building and changes to the old Rite-Aid building will improve the site and be good for the community. ■ Given the economic times, this is an opportunity for the City to show it is supportive of business. ■ Concerned with the monument signs, would like to see those eliminated and provide more signage on the building. Commissioner O'Keefe ■ Recognizes there are a lot of constraints on the site and a lot of thought has gone into making the area better. ■ Her main concern is with the plainness of the architecture, primarily the roof, and for this reason, she cannot support the project as this will be at the location for a long time and she wants something that looks nice. ■ Issues of traffic movement and pedestrian access have been dealt with. ■ Signage should be addressed as it is excessive. Commissioner O'Grady ■ This is an important site for the City and it is unrealistic for any project to get through with only one Planning Commission review. ■ Would like the developer to present some of the issues raised by the Commission to Rite-Aid and come back to the Commission for further discussion. The other alternative would be to heavily condition the project, which could be turned down by Rite-Aid. This would not be a good option, as he really supports a major improvement to the site. ■ Concerned about the maintenance of the existing driveways along EI Camino Real that do not meet current separation standards and that pose a significant safety hazard to the public. Commissioner Heatherington ■ This is an improvement to the area. PC Minutes 03/18/08 Page 4 of 6 ■ She does not support drive-through's and would vote for the project tonight if there were no drive-through component. ■ A drive-through would have to be offset by other major improvements for her to support it. ■ Important for businesses to realize the sense of place in a community. ■ Not comfortable with being held hostage by Rite-Aid. ■ Wants to see this project go forward and making a few roofline changes shouldn't be a significant change for Rite-Aid and would allow the store to fit into the community better. Commissioner Marks ■ Agrees with Commissioners O'Grady and Heatherington. ■ This Rite-Aid will be the gateway feature at Highway 101 for at least 20 years, and he is not prepared to accept the architecture as it is. ■ A tiled / gabled roof will be essential. ■ Rite-Aid came to the City because it wants a drive-through, so the City has something to offer them. ■ The best thing to do would be for Rite-Aid and the owner of the property to come back with revised architecture. Commissioner Jack ■ Does not want to take the chance that he would have to look at the existing blank, gray concrete building for the next 23 years as the City's gateway. He would rather look at the building that is being proposed, thought it does not have all the aesthetics he would like it to have. ■ The project is a plus and will help the City develop its retail base and will tie into the Colony Square project. ■ The project could be conditioned to accommodate many of the Commission's concerns. ■ He can support the project. Chairperson Fonzi ■ This is an improvement in increasing the depth of the commercial area along EI Camino Real by adding an additional store in the front. ■ Agrees with eliminating the vast expanse of driveway, potholes and problems behind the stores, trash, etc. ■ The additional landscaping is a plus for this gateway location. ■ Pedestrian access improvements are good. ■ As a whole this is a good project in many ways. ■ This is an important enough project that it should be continued and brought back with alternative plans rather than take it to a vote tonight. ■ Believes there will be no site improvements without this store. ■ Would like to see one or two alternatives brought back for further consideration. MOTION: By Commissioner O'Keefe and seconded by Commissioner Marks to continue this and have staff work with the client with PC Minutes 03/18/08 Page 5 of 6 regard to architectural enhancements, specifically focusing on the roof or to reduce the square footage of the signage. The Commission is generally in favor of the project but has serious concerns regarding the architecture, which can be improved. Motion passed 7:0 by a roll -call vote. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AND REPORTS Chairperson Fonzi reported on the meeting between the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem and Commission Chairs and Vice Chairs. Topics discussed included drive-through's, code enforcement, and Commissioner comments in minutes. There was Commissioner discussion regarding the topics covered in the meeting. Chairperson Fonzi requested the name of the Planner writing a report be included on the front page of a staff report. Commissioner O'Grady complimented the Commissioners on their deliberations this evening. Commissioner Heatherington spoke about the importance of improving the corner under discussion this evening and how she could balance the possibility of a drive-through at that site if other improvements to this gateway location were considered. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Community Development Director Warren Frace reported on the Wal-Mart/Annex project, the drive-through issue, Council changes to rules for public hearings, and reviewed the agenda for the next Planning Commission meeting. Director Frace answered questions of the Commission regarding Colony Square, the status of the Historic City Hall repair, and the Printery. ADJOURNMENT Chairperson Fonzi adjourned the meeting at 9:48 p.m. to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Planning Commission on April 1, 2008. MINUTES PREPARED BY: Grace Pucci, Recording Secretary \\Cityhall\cdvlpmnt\— PC Minutes\PC Minutes 08\PC Minutes 03-18-08.doc PC Minutes 03/18/08 Page 6 of 6