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Home My WebLink AboutPC Minutes 03-11-10_SpecialSpecial Joint Meeting City of Atascadero City Council and Planning Commission LA PLAZA THEATRE DEVELOPMENT STUDY SESSION THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2010 - 6:00 p.m. MINUTES Mayor Fonzi called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and Council Member Kelley led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: Present: Council Members Clay, Beraud, Kelley, Mayor Pro Tem O'Malley, and Mayor Fonzi Planning Commissioners Colamarino, Schmidt, Ward, Sturtevant, Vice Chairperson Bentz, and Chairperson Moreno Commissioner Jack joined the meeting at 6:05 p.m. Absent: None Staff Present: Community Development Director Warren Frace, City Engineer/Public Works Director Russ Thompson, City Manager Wade McKinney, and Recording Secretary Annette Manier CC/PC Minutes 03/11/10 Page 1 of 5 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS Community Development Director Warren Frace explained the format for this meeting and introduced the applicants, Mr. John Roush, Mr. Michael Sherer, and Mr. Larry Wysong. MEETING PURPOSE AND OVERVIEW Community Development Director Warren Frace explained the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) process which is part of the Zoning Ordinance. A theatre of this size is classified as a CUP. He discussed the Planning Commission and City Council roles and the findings for a CUP. The Road Abandonment portion of the project will go to City Council, so the whole project will go to the City Council for approval after it goes to Planning Commission. APPLICANT PROJECT PRESENTATION Michael Sherer, Realtor Estate Broker with Peabody & Plum, introduced himself and stated that he is representing the Hoff family and Tim and Mary Beth Alvord. Mr. Sherer introduced John Roush, theatre operator, and Larry Wysong, the building contractor and developer. John Roush gave a presentation to the City Council and Planning Commission and answered questions of the Council and Commission. PUBLIC COMMENT: Eric Greening asked if it would be possible if one of the larger auditoriums could include a stage and back stage for live -type events as well as having a screen that could pull down. He also asked if the theatre would be able to accommodate a bus stop along the frontage. Jim Wilkins, President of the Atascadero Historical Society, thinks it would be good for the downtown, but would like to see the pedestrian tunnel, which is very small, visited when looking toward the future. Sheryle Machado, applauded the efforts of the applicant. She would like the theatre to have the ability to have a performing arts theatre. She asked if there would be a place in the project to have table seating so someone can rent a portion of the building. She also encouraged the City to think about the need for more public restrooms in the downtown which would be needed in the downtown if there is more development. Katrin Colamarino thinks it is a good idea to expand the downtown. She is an advisory board member for the Performing Arts Center and they have done a feasibility study which has established a need for a Performing Arts Center in a north county location. CC/PC Minutes 03/11/10 Page 2 of 5 George Schroff stated that the LaPlaza Theatre project is not an intelligent proposal for Atascadero. He read from his letter and turned it in for the record. (Exhibit A) Charlie Carlin said that Mr. Roush knows his business and believes two theatres could support our 27,000 people in Atascadero. We support multiples of all kinds of things. He urges the Council to vote for the project. It will help our downtown and will bring more people and upgrades to Atascadero. Robert Winslow stated that the market will determine whether the theatre will make it or not. He encouraged the Council and Commission to determine if the project complies with the Zoning Ordinance and General Plan. The lot was identified in the Downtown Revitalization Plan as a key area for being able to maintain view shed from the freeway. He asked if there was a height variance requested with the project. The Zoning Code specifically says "a wide range of retail shops" is encouraged in the downtown district and asked if two 10 -screen theatres would do this. As a civil engineer, EI Camino Real has been characterized as one of the most underutilized roads in the County. If you take it down to one lane it will be clogging an artery and more people will get on the freeway to go around town instead of through it. The environmental requirements should have an economic study to make sure this project would not be to the detriment to other projects downtown. Thom Jess, Architect with Colony Square project and the other movie theatre said he is not anti -development. He has a number of questions he would like addressed in regards to the scope of the project, parking requirements, and height which will block the view from the freeway, as well as the amount of street frontage being taken out. Karyn Sturtevant encouraged Council and Commission to pursue the project so the developer can move forward. She understands the concern about the height, but commented that you cannot see the Rotunda from the freeway. We are trying to get the downtown going. We have an opportunity and a local man who is willing to put his own money into our city and he is willing to take it seriously. Lee Perkins had some concerns about two competing 10 -screen theatres, but with the explanation she heard tonight, the project sounds nice and interesting. She likes the idea of making EI Camino Real one lane. Jim Shores said his family has been in downtown 56 years. Back then we had competition, a bowling alley, and grocery stores. Competition makes for a lot of foot traffic. We spent a lot of money on Sunken Gardens and the park. He was in Paso Robles Friday night and could not believe the foot traffic, that's what creates business. Atascadero needs a parking problem. Let's prove we can do this as businesses are suffering. CC/PC Minutes 03/11/10 Page 3 of 5 Edward Veek has to go to Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo to go to the movies. If we had two theatres, we could have two different types of films. He is looking forward to having a 2nd movie theatre in town. Bill Arkfeld and Bobbie Nunez own The Artery in downtown Atascadero. They are 100% behind this proposal. The idea of EI Camino Real being one lane is a good idea as it will support retail. Mayor Fonzi closed the Public Comment period. City Council Members, Planning Commissioners, staff, and the applicant had more discussion and addressed questions and comments brought up during the public comment portion of the meeting. Mayor Fonzi adjourned the meeting at 7:50 p.m. for a break. Mayor Fonzi called the meeting back to order at 7:55 p.m. DISCUSSION OF KEY ISSUES Community Development Director Warren Frace spoke about the following six key issues: • Project Feasibility • Future Phases • Parking • Road Abandonments • Height Restriction Waiver • Deferred Plans Council Members and Commissioners asked the applicant questions regarding the above -key issues. The applicants and Community Development Director Frace answered the questions from Council and Commission. Mayor Fonzi re -opened the Public Comment portion of the meeting Jim Harrison, owner of the Colony Square Movie Theatre said this meeting is like a circus. He said that Mr. Roush said something about spending $23,000; he (Mr. Harrison) spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on drainage, utilities, and easements for the Colony Square project. What he is hearing is that everyone wants to approve the project right now. There appears to be no consideration in the 7-8 million dollars spent on the Colony Square project, even after the City's consultant said the project would not be feasible financially. Despite that, they proceeded because of the importance of this gateway to Atascadero. The circumstances of Mr. Roush withdrawing from Colony Square project have not come out publicly. It appears that the most important thing is CC/PC Minutes 03/11/10 Page 4 of 5 that these three gentlemen are living in this town. It appears that some issues are being shoved under the carpet in a rush to "get more retail." The Colony Square theatre is doing the same thing that Mr. Roush is proposing with the high tech digital equipment and they are putting 31/2-4 million dollars into the interior with the digital and electronic equipment. He is disappointed and flabbergasted. Mayor Fonzi closed the Public Comment period. WRAP UP Mayor Pro Tem Fonzi said she believes they have given staff direction on where they want to go and questions they would need to have answered. Dr. Harrison has raised some points and we will give that some thought. The Council's direction has been that economic development is the City's #1 priority. She would like to see what they get back in terms of product and will give it consideration at that point. ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Fonzi adjourned the meeting at 9:12 p.m. MINUTES PREPARED BY: 9T�f i:�,21uP/l Annette Manier, Administrative Assistant The following exhibits are available in the Community Development Department: Exhibit A — Letter from George Schroff Adopted by PC on 4-6-10 Adopted by CC on 4-13-10 \\Cityhall\cdvlpmnt\- PC Minutes\PC Minutes 10\PC CC Minutes 03 11 10 -Joint Session La Plaza.docx CC/PC Minutes 03/11/10 Page 5 of 5