HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 08/25/1998Planning Commission Minutes - August 25, 1998
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CITY OF PETALUMA, CA
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING August 25, 1998
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 7:00 PM
CITY HALL - PETALUMA, CA
Commissioners: Present: Bennett, Feibusch, Torliatt, Thompson *, Vieler;
Absent: Broad, Healy
Staff. Pamela A Tuft, Planning Director
Vincent C. Smith, Principal Planner
Jane Thomson, Senior Planning Technician
*Chairperson
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
MINUTES OF: July 14, 1998 (as corrected) were approved; and Minutes of August 11,
1998, will return for approval.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT: None.
COMMISSIONERS' REPORT: None.
CORRESPONDENCE: None.
APPEAL STATEMENT: Was read.
LEGAL RECOURSE STATEMENT: Was noted on the agenda.
NEW BUSINESS:
I. A & M TOWING; 1221 Petaluma Blvd. North (Sycamore Lane), APN 006-
450-001 akt).
Request for a Conditional Use Permit to authorize open storage of towed vehicles.
Continued to September 9, 1998.
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Planning Commission Minutes - August 25, 1998
1 II. DOWNTOWN AUTOBODY; 715 Petaluma Blvd North, APN 008 - 194 -028
2 U kt).
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4 Request for a Conditional Use Permit authorizing Downtown Autobody to tow
5 and store operable undamaged vehicles resulting from Petaluma Police and CHP
6 rotation calls.
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8 Senior Planning Technician Thomson presented the staff report.
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10 The public hearing was opened.
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12 SPEAKERS:
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14 Commissioner Torliatt - Is the storage area completely enclosed?
15 Jane Thomson - Yes, it is fenced but no roof, specific requirements required by Police
16 Department for storage area.
17 Commissioner Bennett - Is the only change in the operating hours for towing? (Answer -
18 Yes); Regarding the minimum hours of operation (8AM - 5PM) what about holidays?
19 Pamela Tuft — Staff will clarify with Police Department regarding holiday hours of
20 operation.
21 Joe Durney - 620 2nd Street - Spoke with neighbors (senior apartments across street)
22 many neighbors are worried about hours of operation, noises, more traffic; notice did not
23 state operation was to be 24 hours; operator has had trouble with current CUP conditions,
24 but has made many improvements recently; has cut back on cars parked outside (by river);
25 lot is full, tow trucks parked at night outside of fence; employees park in Foundary Wharf
26 and go through back gate; use should not be allowed to expand; original CUP conditions
27 did not allow 24 -hour operation; concerns with noises all night long; turn down this
28 request.
29 Commissioner Thompson - How often do these problems occur now?
30 Joe Durney - There are times when cars are towed and parked at night; engine noises of
31 tow trucks left running is loud; rubber coated chains will help, but not eliminate noises.
32 Patricia Tuttle -Brown - 513 Petaluma Blvd. S. - Have attempted to create a sense of
33 neighborhood in this downtown riverfront area; point of view of neighborhood is that this
34 should not be a 24 -hour towing operation; this parcel is part of Riverfront Warehouse
35 Zoning District; use of this type does not fit in with mixed use goal of the R -W District,
36 not consistent with other neighborhood uses; do not add 24 -hour towing to this site, not
37 intent of this zoning district; 24 -hour towing will cause a nuisance; this would be a
38 precedence to allow this type of use; this neighborhood needs more respect; protect our
39 neighborhood diversity.
40 James Wilen, Jr. - 710 Petaluma Blvd. S. - Family has owned property for five
41 generations; has seen neighborhood change from residential to mixed use; wants to be part
42 of riverfront area - making improvements to his property; senior citizen apartments in
43 vicinity will be disturbed; everyone looks out for each other in this neighborhood; dogs
44 will bark 24 hours if there is activity with a 24 -hour towing facility.
45 Dion Reif - Applicant, 715 Petaluma Blvd. S. - Has worked hard to fit into this
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Planning Commission Minutes - August 25, 1998
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neighborhood; tries to keep noise down; needs to be able to bring cars in when necessary
during the night; is a part of Police Department "STOP" and "DUI" Programs; would be
the fifth towing company on rotation; would probably get a call only once every 2 1/2
days; storage yard is adjacent to Van Bebber property; will keep noise down as much as
possible; is not as loud as the nearby bar, which is open until 2AM; doesn't store vehicles
longer than 45 days; doesn't use the rear (2nd Street) gate; have been towing wrecked
cars at night now (part of existing Use Permit); these cars will be driveable; adjacent
empty lot used for unloading (used by Van Bebber during the day); has given back to
community through charitable organizations - has invested $200,000 in tow trucks to be
able to be part of Police rotation; this is not very much of a change to existing conditions -
only non - wrecked cars are to be involved; already brings wrecked cars in at night; no new
lights will be added; minor change; will work with neighborhood.
Commissioner Vieler - Clarify that wrecked vehicles are being towed at night now.
Dion Reif - Yes, wrecked cars towed at night, emergency calls, guarantee timely service
to his customers.
Commissioner Vieler - Where would unloading occur?
Dion Reif - On right side of building, drive into lot.
Commissioner Vieler - Is it possible to unload and drive out the back to avoid back -up
maneuvers? More or less disruption?
Dion Reif - Gate in back is more disruptive (to Durney property); could unload on side
and drive onto street and into storage lot.
Commissioner Vieler - Can flashing tow truck lights and back -up warning noise of trucks
be lessened? Is night towing allowed by existing CUP?
Pamela Tuft - Existing CUP does not allow after -hours towing.
Commissioner Vieler - So has after -hours towing been done illegally for the last two -plus
years? (Answer from applicant - Yes).
Commissioner Thompson - Clarify number of vehicles involved in this change - one
vehicle every 2 -3 days, more on weekends?
Commissioner Torliatt - Any fee involved in applying for Police rotation?
Dion Reif - No actual fee, Police require certain amount of trucks - has invested over
$180,000 in three new tow trucks.
Commissioner Torliatt - Have cars been parked along river?
Dion Reif - Van Bebber has allowed some cars (owned by my employees or myself) to be
parked in gravel area next to Van Bebber building.
Commissioner Torliatt - Are you the original applicant of this business?
Dion Reif - No, the original applicant is no longer with the company.
Commissioner Torliatt - I am thinking of a six -month CUP to see if this will work.
Commissioner Bennett - Are you only planning to tow undamaged vehicles at night?
Dion Reif - No, they may be damaged.
Commissioner Bennett - Could you drive vehicles a short distance so unloading would
not occur in front of residences?
Commissioner Vieler - Will there be more wrecked vehicles towed here as a result of this
extended 24 -hour use?
Commissioner Torliatt - Downtown Auto Body was allowed to be reestablished. without
Planning Commission approval (done administratively), maybe Mr. Reif was unaware of
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Planning Commission Minutes - August 25, 1998
1 the neighborhood testimony for the original CUP.
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3 The public hearing was closed.
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5 Commissioner Vieler - Approves with conditions listed by staff; disconnect back -up
6 warning alarm from trucks; if possible, unload in neighboring vacant lot (Van Bebber), but
7 not as a condition of approval; understands neighbors concerns; this request is a minimal
8 change to CUP.
9 Commissioner Thompson - Agrees with staff recommendations; agrees with
10 Commissioner Torliatt to monitor and return if neighborhood complaints are received.
11 Commissioner Feibusch - Agrees with a one -year review; lights and back -up alarms on
12 tow trucks may be necessary for safety; could trucks drive straight through lot, drop
13 vehicles and not back up?
14 Commissioner Bennett - Would like to monitor this use (no mandatory return after one
15 year) - recall for review to Planning Commission if complaints are received; minimal
16 neighborhood disruption is everyone's goal.
17 Commissioner Torliatt - Clarify notice - did the notice state that this would be a 24 -hour
18 use?
19 Pamela Tuft — Read the original notice; original notice did not indicate a 24 -hour use;
20 Staffwill renotice and rehear this project.
21 Commissioner Torliatt - It does sound like applicant is trying to be a "good neighbor".
22 Commissioner Vieler - Agrees with a six -month review period; how can we deal with
23 dogs barking in connection with this use? Review at staff level in six months.
24 Commissioner Bennett - CUP would only need review /recall if complaints are received.
25 Commissioner Vieler - Would like a six -month progress report from staff.
26 Commissioner's Torliatt/Vieler - Work with neighbor /staff to have written agreement to
27 allow unloading on vacant lot next door to formalize applicant's intention.
28 Pamela Tuft - Will renotice and bring back to September 9 Planning Commission
29 meeting.
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31 This item was continued to the Planning Commission of September 9, 1998 (Wednesday).
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34 III. BANTAM TERRACE; 700 Bantam Way, APN 006 - 441 -022 (bl).
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36 Request for General Plan Amendment and Tentative Subdivision Map to allow a
37 seven -lot residential development on a 2.7 acre portion of the School District
38 surplus property for Petaluma Junior High School.
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Continued to September 23, 1998.
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Planning Commission Minutes - August 25, 1998
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CONTINUED COMMISSION BUSINESS
IV. HOLMBERG UPDATE
(Continued from the Planning Commission meeting of August 11, 1998.)
DISCUSSION:
Principal Planner Smith - Update on memo from Craig Spaulding (City Civil Engineer)
regarding installation of valve/backflow prevention device.
Mark Berardi - 16 Cedar Grove Parkway - Presented safety data sheet on dust control
product installed (good for one -year of control); trying to clean-up site; talk with
neighbors - has given Mr. Chaney his telephone number; relocated staging area further
away from Rocca to lower noise levels; trying to alleviate problems - call if there are
problems.
V. GOAL SETTING
Discussion and possible direction to staff on Commission goals.
Continued to September 9, 1998.
VI. LIAISON REPORTS
Bicycle Committee Meeting tomorrow; Redevelopment Agency Status
Meeting August 31, fpm at the Community Center.
ADJOURNMENT: 8:25 PM
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