HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 01/14/2014Planning Commission Meeting of January 14, 2014 Page 1
City of Petaluma, CA
City Council Chambers
City Hall, 11 English Street
Petaluma, CA 94952
Telephone 707/778-4301 /Fax 707/778-4498
E -Mail cdd@ci.petaluma.ca.us
Web Page http://www.ci.petaluma.ca.us
Planning Commission Minutes of January 14, 2014
Tuesday, January 14, 2014 - 06:59 06:59:13 PM
Regular Meeting
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
* Swearing in of new Commissioner(s)
* Election of Vice Chair
* Appointment of Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee Representative (07:00 PM)
Present: Kathy Miller, Richard Marzo, Jocelyn Yeh Lin, Diana Gomez, Bill Wolpert, Gina
Benedetti-Petnic, Jennifer Pierre
Eric Danly, City Attorney: City Manager John Brown has been deputized to swear in new
Commissioner.
John Brown, City Manager will swear in Commissioner Diana Gomez
Commissioner Gomez
Chair Wolpert
Council Member Miller
Commissioner Pierre
Motion: Elect Jennifer Pierre for the Vice Chair of the Planning Commission.
Moved by Kathy Miller, seconded by Bill Wolpert.
Vote: Motion carried 7-0.
Yes: Kathy Miller; Richard Marzo; Jocelyn Yeh Lin; Diana Gomez; Bill Wolpert;
Gina Benedetti-Petnic; Jennifer Pierre
Chair Wolpert
Council Member Miller agreed to be both the Council Liaison and Planning Commission Liaison
for the Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee Representative is permitted.
Heather Hines, Planning Manager
Planning Commission Meeting of January 14, 2014 Page 2
Mr. Danly will report back at next meeting if Council Member Miller will be permitted to serve
as a Liaison to both City Council and Planning Commission for the Pedestrian and Bicycle
Advisory Committee.
Council Member Miller agreed.
3. PUBLIC COMMENT (07:06 PM)
The Committee will hear public comments only on matters over which it has jurisdiction. There
will be no Committee/Commission discussion or action. The Chair will allot no more than three
minutes to any individual. If more than three persons wish to speak, their time will be allotted
so that the total amount of time allocated to this agenda item will be 15 minutes.
Open Public Comment
Close Public Comment
4. PRESENTATION (07:06 PM)
A. N/A
Heather Hines, Planning Manager
Chair Wolpert
5. COMMISSION COMMENT (07:07 PM)
A. Council Liaison (07:07 PM)
Council Member Miller
Discussed results of polling on potential tax measure. There was positive feedback for
community support for tax measure. At Special Workshop we discuss the current water
shortage issue. I Attended the Court of Appeals hearing on the Dutra Plant, we should hear the
decision around six weeks or longer.
Eric Danly, City Attorney
B. Pedestrian and Bicycle Committee (07:13 PM)
Council Member Miller had nothing to report
C. Tree Advisory Committee (07:13 PM)
Commissioner Benedetti-Petnic
We successfully removed the diseased redwood tree from Center Park and have salvaged the
redwood from the tree. Now we need to decide how to use the wood from the tree and how to
deal with Center Park and re -utilize and salvage the redwood material. We are calling it the
Redwood Center Park Opportunities. We are also working on developing new standards to
propose to staff for tree planting and irrigation for the public right of way.
6. STAFF COMMENT (07:16 PM)
A. Planning Manager's Report
Heather Hines, Planning Manager
Planning Commission Meeting of January 14, 2014 Page 3
Maria Drive Apartments is schedule to come back to Council on January 27, 2014. Council had
some concerns about potential impacts and have asked the applicant to reconsider their design
and issues such as density. This item will go back to Council at the end of the month.
Lynch Creek Plaza representative from Browman Development had requested Council to
eliminate the direction from Council to remove the drive through from the project and the
Council denied this request and asked that the applicant return to Planning Commission with a
revised design. They have not submitted a revision of the project so we are not sure when or if
we will see that back again before this body.
7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (07:17 PM)
A. Approval of Minutes of Regular Planning Commission Meeting of Tuesday, September 24,
2013.
Chair Wolpert
Commissioner Gomez asked is she should recuse herself from vote since she was not on the
Planning Commission at that time.
Eric Danly
Mr. Danly stated that you do not need to recuse yourself - treat the minutes as deemed
approved unless there are objections or corrections from the body.
Motion: Approve the September 24, 2013 Minutes
Moved by Richard Marzo, seconded by Jennifer Pierre.
Vote: Motion carried 5-0.
Yes: Kathy Miller; Richard Marzo; Bill Wolpert; Gina Benedetti-Petnic; Jennifer
Pierre
Absent: Jocelyn Yeh Lin; Diana Gomez
S. OLD BUSINESS (07:18 PM)
A. N/A
9. NEW BUSINESS (07:19 PM)
A. Discussion of Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for public comment on the
Riverfront Mixed -Use Project. The project would create the appropriate zoning and lot
layout (through a 144 lot and 4 -parcel Subdivision, Rezone, and Master Site Plan and
Architectural Review) for development of the Riverfront Mixed Use Project, including
commercial, residential, and park land uses.
Project Location: 500 Hopper Street,
File Number: 11TSM0130,
Staff: Olivia Ervin
Staff Report
Olivia Ervin, Environmental Planner
Planning Commission Meeting of January 14, 2014 Page 4
Heather Hines, Planning Manager
Ms. Ervin
Chair Wolpert
Mr. Ervin
Chair Wolpert
Commissioner Pierre
Ms. Ervin
Commissioner Pierre
Ms. Ervin
Commissioner Pierre
Ms. Ervin
Commissioner Benedetti-Petnic
Ms. Ervin
Commissioner Marzo
Ms. Ervin
Council Member Miller
Ms. Ervin
Council Member Miller
Ms. Ervin
Commissioner Gomez
Ms. Ervin
Commissioner Gomez
Ms. Ervin
Commissioner Pierre
Ms. Ervin
Commissioner Lin
Geoff Bradley, Principal Planner
Commissioner Marzo
Curt Bates, City Engineer
Commissioner Marzo
Ms. Ervin
Planning Commission Meeting of January 14, 2014 Page 5
Commissioner Gomez
Ms. Ervin
Dalene Whitlock, Principal W -Trans
Commissioner Gomez
Ms. Whitlock
Chair Wolpert
Ms. Whitlock
Chair Wolpert
Council Member Miller
Ms. Ervin
Council Member Miller
Mr. Bates
Chair Wolpert
Ms. Ervin
Chair Wolpert
Ms. Ervin
Commissioner Wolpert
Ms. Ervin
Council Member Miller
Commissioner Pierre
Chair Wolpert
Ms. Ervin
Chair Wolpert
Ms. Ervin
Chair Wolpert
Ms. Ervin
Chair Wolpert
Commissioner Benedetti-Petnic
Ms. Ervin
Chair Wolpert
Public Comment Opened
Planning Commission Meeting of January 14, 2014 Page 6
Carl Sanchez, Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 104 Representative. Finds shortcomings to the
project site. Concerned about soil contaminant and their hazard to the workers on site, we
need to protect workers. He is also concerned about the sea level change, and flood level
issues.
Jack Buckhorn, Electrical Workers Union Representative, stated that there are substantial
problems with the Draft EIR. I'm again the shortcuts that have been given to this developer. I'm
concerned about the flood level and sea levels rise, and hazardous soils. I would like a more
thorough surveys done on the sea level and soil. Also concerned about traffic and the need for
traffic impact fees to be paid by the developer.
Richard Kenney, Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 104 and Petaluma resident of 47 years,
Proud of my union and the comments made tonight. Small steps have been taken to make this
project better, but the big issues have not been addressed in this EIR. The developer is
sweeping the big issues under the rug and failing to protect those that live here. We need a
better EIR.
Frank Cuneo, long-time resident and Bay Area Sheet Metal Apprenticeship Coordinator.
Concerns about the project and the diligence of the EIR - specifically about the soils treatments
and liquid fact, flood plain, traffic, and parking for riverfront park access. Concerned about boat
house design and when it is to be built.
Commissioner Wolpert
Public Comment Closed
Chair Wolpert
Commissioner Pierre
Ms. Ervin
Commissioner Lin
Commissioner Gomez
Ms. Ervin
Commissioner Pierre
Chair Wolpert
Commissioner Pierre
Commissioner Benedetti-Petnic
Chair Wolpert
Commissioner Benedetti-Petnic
Council Member Miller
Commissioner Marzo
Commissioner Marzo
Planning Commission Meeting of January 14, 2014 Page 7
Commissioner Lin
Commissioner Gomez
Chair Wolpert
Ms. Hines
Chair Wolpert
Ms. Hines
Commissioner Pierre
Ms. Hines the comments from the Commissioners will be summarized and feedback will be
provided to Council for when they look at this draft document.
Chair Wolpert
10. ADJOURN (08:44 PM)
Next Meeting of the Planning Commission scheduled for Tuesday, January 28, 2014.