HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes 09-01-09CITY OF ATASCADERO
PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
Regular Meeting - Tuesday, September 1, 2009 — 7:00 P.M.
City Hall Council Chambers
6907 EI Camino Real, Atascadero, California
CALL TO ORDER - 7:02 p.m.
Chairperson Jack called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. and led the Pledge of
Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chairperson Jack, Vice Chairperson Moreno, Commissioners
Bentz, Schmidt, Sturtevant, and Ward
Absent: Commissioner Colamarino (excused)
Others Present: Recording Secretary Annette Manier
Staff Present: Community Development Director Warren Frace, and Contract
Planner Mimi Whitney.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: By Commissioner Bentz and seconded by Vice
Chairperson Moreno to approve the agenda.
Motion passed 6:0 by a roll -call vote.
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PUBLIC COMMENT - None
Chairperson Jack closed the Public Comment period.
PLANNING COMMISSION BUSINESS - None
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETING ON AUGUST 4, 2009.
2. APPROVAL OF TIME EXTENSION FOR CUP 2005-0157 FOR 1155 EL
CAMINO REAL (WEHN GROUP, LLC/EDA).
MOTION: By Commissioner Bentz and seconded by
Commissioner Sturtevant to approve the Consent
Calendar.
Motion passed 6:0 by a roll -call vote.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF REPORTS - None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
DISCLOSURE OF EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS:
• No Ex Parte communications.
3. PLN 2009-1328, CITYWIDE HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE
Applicant:
City of Atascadero, 6907 EI Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422
Project Title:
PLN 2009-1328, 2009 Housing Element Update
Project Location:
Citywide, Atascadero, CA 93422, (San Luis Obispo County)
Project
The project consists of amendments to the 2009 Housing Element Update.
Description:
The purpose of this public hearing is for the Planning Commission to take
public testimony on the proposed amendment and formulate a
recommendation to the City Council. The Planning Commission will consider
a draft of the 2009 Housing Element Update and provide the public an
opportunity to make comments. Staff and the City's consultant will present
information on the following:
• Housing Element Update Process
• Regional Housing Needs Allocation
• New State Laws affecting Housing Element Content
• Review Draft Housing Element
Proposed
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Section 15061.(3) Review for
Environmental
Exemption) exempts activities which are covered by the general rule that CEQA
Determination:
applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect
on the environment.
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Chairperson Jack explained to the audience that the Housing Element Update is a State
requirement, and in order to meet its objectives, the Commission will review the draft
document and then any recommendations will be forwarded to the City Council. He
then turned the meeting over to Community Development Director Warren Frace.
Community Development Director Warren Frace also explained that the Housing
Element draft document is in front of them. After changes are made to the draft, it will
go before the City Council, be submitted to the State, and then there will be a series of
revisions and changes that will take place before it comes back for formal adoption by
the Planning Commission and City Council.
Community Development Director introduced Lisa Wise, the City's Housing Consultant
who gave the presentation to the Commission. Ms. Wise answered questions of the
Commission.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Pearl Munak, President of Transitional Food and Shelter, Inc., explained that she is with
a non-profit group which serves disabled homeless people. They also serve temporarily
disabled people as well as permanently disabled. It is difficult to get this group into
housing, and the program keeps them too long in this temporary program. Most of the
subsidized housing projects don't fit this group of people. She would like to ask the
Commission how to get housing for people whose income is so low that they would be
stretching to pay $600/mo. There may be approximately 100 new people a year in
Atascadero that may fall into this category.
Susan Warren, Director of North County Connection, works with families who are clean
and sober, and who are staying with friends or other people in sober living
environments. She is concerned about this population and their housing needs. She
would like to encourage multi -family units to make sure they are providing Section 8
housing, which would allow people to stay in the community.
Chairperson Jack closed the Public Comment portion of the meeting.
The Commission had additional discussion and Community Development Director
Warren Frace and Lisa Wise addressed the questions and concerns raised during the
Public Comment portion.
The Commission reviewed housing goals, one at a time, and made revisions throughout
the document.
The Commission needed further clarification from the two public speakers on the types
of people who need housing, so Chairperson Jack agreed to re -open the public
comment portion of the meeting for further clarification.
Chairperson Jack re -opened the Public Comment portion of the meeting.
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Pearl Munak, President of Transitional Food and Shelter, Inc., said that the temporarily
disabled people who are homeless can go to Echo, but it's the totally and permanently
disabled housing that is needed. Doctor's orders keep them permanently disabled and
homeless as a classification. Some may come directly out of a hospital who need
assistance.
Susan Warren, Director of North County Connection, said the people in recovery as
commonly referred to as "sober living environments" until they can afford to have their
own unit. It's a transitional time (6 months to a year). These people need housing.
Chairperson Jack closed the Public Comment portion of the meeting.
Director Frace said that tonight's revisions will be made, with strike -through and
underline, and will be published in the City Council packet for the meeting of September
22, 2009. It will also be available online so the Planning Commission can read a copy
with their suggested revisions. If the Council approves it, it will go on to the State for a
60 -day State review. After further revisions, it will come back for final adoption.
MOTION: By Commissioner Bentz and seconded by Vice
Chairperson Moreno to adopt PC Resolution 2009-0029
recommending that the City Council submit the Draft
Atascadero 2007-2014 Housing Element to the State
Dept. of Housing and Community Development for
certification, to include the following changes as
recommended by the Planning Commission:
Page 65 (Section G.1, Governmental Constraints, Global
Climate Change) — Remove first paragraph discussing
the effects of greenhouse gasses and large scale
climate change
Page 72 (Section H, Program 1.1-7) — Add the language
"Taking into account market conditions and
development costs, the City..." at the start of the second
sentence
Page 72 (Section H, Program 1.1-10) — Change "shall" to
"should" in the third sentence of the program
Page 73 (Section H, Program 1.1-12) — Add "and
consider an amnesty program that would reduce or
eliminate fees for unpermitted second units" to the end
of the first sentence of the second paragraph
Page 76 (Section H, Program 3.1-4) — Replace "solar
panels" with "energy efficiency improvements" in the
first sentence
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Page 78 (Section H, Policy 4.3) — Replace "funds" with
"loans and grants" in the first sentence and add in
parenthesis at the end "This policy assumes that
housing set aside funds are not affected by State budget
take aways"
Page 79 (Section H, Policy 4.3) — Add Program 4.3-6
"Work with nonprofits and identify funding to address
the housing needs of extremely low-income households
and totally and permanently disabled persons"
Page 81 (Section H, Policy 6.1) — Add Program 6.1-7
"The City shall establish policies, standards, and
procedures that encourage and facilitate the
development of single -room occupancy units (SROs)"
Page 82 (Section H, Policy 6.1) — Add Program 6.1-8
"The City shall review impact fees and the capital facility
fee schedule to reduce fees and barriers to affordable
housing development. (See also Program 4.3-2 for the
potential use of Redevelopment Agency Set -Aside
Funds for fee waivers)"
Motion passed 6:0 by a roll -call vote.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AND REPORTS
Commissioner Schmidt was happy to see the discussion on the Atascadero Lake algae
bloom in the newspaper and asked if the lake was in the Redevelopment Area.
Community Development Director Warren Frace said it was not. Commissioner Bentz
suggested that the Redevelopment Agency could make a finding to use funds through a
specific finding to assist with this area. Community Development Director Frace said the
City does monitor the lake and its condition, and that lack of rain is the basic issue.
Chairperson Jack would like to offer any assistance or support of the Commission if
there is anything they can do.
Vice Chairperson Moreno said she is in her 6t" year in Atascadero, and recently
attended a "Concerts in the Park." It was a treat to see so many people she knew, and
she enjoys this community event.
Commissioner Ward announced that there will be a 2nd Annual Poker Run Benefit Ride
on September 12, 2009, to benefit the Atascadero Veterans Memorial. They are
expecting about 650 people, and he is inviting everyone watching Channel 20 to come
out to this great family event for a wonderful cause. Funds will be used for capital
improvements for the Atascadero Veterans Memorial.
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DIRECTOR'S REPORT
• Community Development Director Warren Frace introduced Mimi Whitney,
Contract Planner, who will be supporting the Community Development
Department while Senior Planner, Kelly Gleason, and Associate Planner, Callie
Taylor are out on leave.
• Community Development Director Warren Frace announced that the next
meeting is scheduled for September 15, 2009, but that meeting will likely be
cancelled due to lack of items.
• We are still waiting for Walmart to submit their revised application, and he is
hoping to hear something from them next week.
• The Tractor Supply Company has submitted their grading plans, which is in 1st
plan check. This project is on track and moving forward.
• The Colony Square project is also still moving forward.
ADJOURNMENT - 9:50 p.m.
The next regular meeting of the Planning Commission is scheduled for September 15,
2009, at City Hall, Council Chambers, 6907 EI Camino Real, Atascadero.
MINUTES PREPARD BY:
Annette Manier, Recording Secretary
Il Cityhalllcdvlpmnh- PC MinuteslPC Minutes 091PC Draft Minutes 09 01 09.doc
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