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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 03/15/1994164 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES SPECIAL.MEETING March 15, 1994 CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 7:00 P.M. CITY HALL PETALUMA, CA PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. ROLL CALL: Bennett *, Parkerson, Rahman, Shea, Thompson, Torliatt, vonRaesfeld STAFF: Warren Salmons, Assistant City Manager Kurt Yeiter, Principal Planner Jim McCann, Principal Planner Chairman PUBLIC COMMENT: (15 minutes maximum). The Commission will hear public comments only on matters over which they have jurisdiction. There will be no Commission discussion or action. The chairman will allot no more than five 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. DIRECTOR'S REPORT: COMMISSIONER'S REPORT`. CORRESPONDENCE: COMMISSION DISCUSSION: I. GENERAL PLAN REVIEW, FILE NO. GPA92003(ky). Phase 3 of 4 - Local Economy Planning Commission discussion on information received and considered during public workshops and key topics raised during Commission General Plan Issue Focus Meeting. Assistant City Manager Warren Salmons - Introduced guest speaker, Rob Baker; Mr. Baker works with local jurisdications wishing to better position themselves for restructuring /reinforcing their local economies. Rob Baker - Think about why businesses change or go away. Indicators are that California hasn't hit bottom of depression yet; corporate downsizing will continue for at least.5 years. Economic strategies, won't work unless you know what is causing, businessesr to leave /go broke. Large discount stores (food, hardware) will kill smaller businesses; smaller businesses need to fill special niches to survive. Discount stores will kill business even if 1 3 4 7 8 9 10 C0 C9 20 21 22 23 24 25 6 8 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 0 1 2 53 Planning Commission Minutes - March 15, 1994 they locate in other communities. Most North Bay residents commute out to work; City should not depend on low paying jobs for local economy; must think of area as region, depend on other cities and must improve regional transportation systems (especially light rail). "Quality of Life" will attract and /or keep businesses; Case Study: San Luis Obispo - surveyed key players, identified 'problems for economic growth, projected scenarios, developed conceptual strategies. Need to keep what you like, fix problems. Someone must be responsible for economic vitality. Tourism is good for local economy, hires lots of people. Need short-term and long -term strategies; can market Petaluma's sense of place, attract tourists (e.g., specialty food, products /tours on local ranches). Federal money may be available (e.g. CDBG) for local market studies. "Sustainable communities" are "footloose "; able to change rapidly, find new niches. Does not recommend high tech jobs because. they are downsizing, employees fit too narrow of a niche. Commission Comments Commissioner Shea - Do some businesses work better together? Rob Baker - Yes, called "clusters ", such as Silicon Valley, where manufacturers can shop parts, use best of different talents. NorthBay has cluster based on interactive media, centered on Lucasfilms who sells to education industry; Junior colleges can be used as retraining grounds by local industries if clustering available. Commissioner Bennett - Advice for Petaluma? Can we improve General Plan for economics? Rob Baker - General Plan too inflexible to respond to economic changes; need to involve all segments of society, need to create jobs. Commissioner vonRaesfeld - Are we too dependent on development fees in California? Rob Baker - Yes, Proposition 13 did damage; need to reduce public sector employment as percentage of communities' employment base; need to identify "highest and best use" from economic value, too, not just zoning; need regional focus. Commissioner Bennett - Perhaps use General Plan as initial step, perhaps not in detailed fashion, abut to spur additional study /action. Assistant City Manager Salmons - Many economic directives are already in the General Plan; Planning Commission should review those, discuss them later. Commis ° sioner Bennett - General Plan is not good business plan; City needs business plan; Redevelopment Agency is business corporation, but they operate without an adequate business; plan. Assistant City Manager Salmons - PCDC must, by new State law, have a five -year redevelopment strategy by end of 1995; ours, now, is focussed on infrastructure; current staffing for economic development focuses on "point of entry" for local businesses, Chamber of Commerce, and commercial broker; convinced that redevelopment staff does not need to go out soliciting businesses, better to rely on commercial brokers. Commissioner Bennett - County Chamber came to same conclusion; commercial brokers doing adequate job. Commissioner Torliatt - We should find out who vendors are and solicit them. Commissioner Thompson - For instance, why are there no ice cream manufacturers here, where dairies are large employer? We need follow -up "report card" proposed by speaker to check our progress. Commissioner Rahman - We need to update General Plan or put flexibility in document to accommodate economic factors. ADJOURNMENT 9:00 PM min0315 / planjt2 2 166 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CITY HALL Tuesday, March 22, 1994 7:00 P.M. PEI'ALUMA, CA PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. ROLL CALL: Bennett *, Parkerson, Rahman, Shea, Thompson, Torliatt,'vonRaesfeld STAFF: Pamela Tuft, Planning Director Kurt Yeiter, Principal Planner Jim McCann, Principal Planner Jennifer Barrett, Associate Planner Warren Salmons, Assistant City Manager Chairman 22 23 24 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes of March 8, 1994 were approved as printed. . PUBLIC COMMENT: None. DIRECTOR'S REPORT: None. COMMISSIONER'S REPORT: None. CORRESPONDENCE: Response to comments (FEIR) for Roundwalk Village project; Responses to Statements made by Sonoma County Conservation Action Flyer regarding the Rainier Avenue cross -town connection and US 101 Interchange Project and Errata Sheet for the Rainier Draft EIR. APPEAL STATEMENT: Was noted on agenda. LEGAL RECOURSE STATEMENT: Was noted on the agenda. OLD BUSINESS I. CITY OF PETALUMA; RAINIER FINAL EIR; FILE NO. 11.863. Recommendation to City Council to: 1) Certify the Final EIR for the Rainier Avenue Extension and project as adequate for the purposes of decisionmaking; and 2) To approve the project as proposed with mitigation measures conditions of approval. Interchange adopted as 0 Planning Commission Minutes - March 22, 1994 1 COMMISSION DISCUSSION 2 3 Associate Planner Jennifer Barrett - Presented a summary of the project, previous actions 4 and key issues and responses. Discussed the history of the project dating back to the 5 original 1962 General Plan. Traffic projections reflect estimates of traffic generated from 6 all existing and approved projects and from all developable lands within the urban 7 boundary and from regional growth. Discussed benefits of the project to E. Washington 8 Street corridor based on two factors - the level of service and the level of improvements 9 required. The project would maintain existing level of service through build -out of the 10 General Plan at McDowell /E. Washington intersection and improve LOS at all other 11 locations on the E. Washington Street corridor at build -out. The project reduces the scope 0 of needed improvements at McDowell /E. Washington and eliminates need for widening of CO E. Washington St. and intersections at Lakeville and Petaluma Blvd. Corona Road would Ce not need to be widened and Payran Street benefits by lower traffic volumes. E. Washington Street Interchange Alternative was previously considered in a 1985 study and would not meet the project objectives to relieve congestion. Interchange improvements attract more traffic and' makes matters worse on E. Washington Street corridor, where there is not enough capacity. Improvements at E. Washington Interchange 20 not plausible without Rainier extension and interchange to reduce scope of improvements 21 at the intersection of McDowell. 22 23 The City also looked at a Reduced Demand Alternative by assuming 30 percent reduction 24 in work- trips in major employment areas - only reduced traffic by 5 to 15 percent at 25 spot locations; trip reduction measures recommended for E. Washington St. 1 6 7 A review of the traffic data revealed Rainier traffic levels would nearly double under any �8 future scenario. The interchange increases traffic on Rainier by 10 percent over No Project 29 or Alternate; with several measures recommended to address traffic and pedestrian safety. 30 31 Project funding will be through redevelopment funds, developer fees and contributions and 32 an assessment district. No assessments on existing residences or developed properties are 33 anticipated. 34 35 Staff recommends certification of the FEIR based on findings. in Exhibit A and project 36 approval as proposed with mitigation measures and monitoring program adopted as 37 conditions of approval based upon the findings and statement of overriding considerations 38 as stated in Exhibit B. 39 40 Rainier works better because it allows traffic level of service standards to be met at build - 41 out of the General Plan, is more centrally located and better supports development 42 patterns' envisioned in the General Plan. Rainier has less impacts to land use, wetlands, 43 growth - inducement and regional traffic /rural areas. 44 45 Commissioner Parkerson - Access road to transit site location? 46 Associate Planner Barrett - The recommendation is to reduce fill beneath Rainier to 47 enable a future access road under Rainier to the transit site. 48 Commissioner Torliatt - Questions regarding assessments on existing residential homes; 49 response to comments - no assessment is "anticipated" - clarify? - 0 Assistant Cite Manager Salmons - There will be no assessment on existing residential 1 homes or developed properties. 2 Commissioner Torliatt - Wanted to make assessment question clear; If Rainier is built as , 3 proposed, no improvements to E. Washington or Corona? 167 168 Planning Commission Minutes - March 22, 1994 Associate Planner Barrett - No widening of E. Washington corridor; no improvements to Corona needed; Corona Road overpass would be rebuilt (lengthened) for 101 widening. City Engineer Tom Hargis - If 101 is widened, reconstruction of overpass would .structures be a State project, not locally initiated project; quake. retrofit would be by State. Commissioner Bennett - Clarify no changes to E. Washington, we have some improvements planned in CIP; will widening of E. Washington ,result in full cloverleaf? City Engineer Hargis - In late '60's State of California did a study in this area - looked at on- ramps with severe impacts to residential neighborhoods plus a ramp near the Jr: High School; State has never pursued these improvements. City is studying the feasibility of improvements at McDowell intersection and 101 ramps - but no street widening between freeway and downtown.would be .needed with Rainier. Commissioner vonRaesfeld - Transit site should be planned to be large enough with proximity to rail; Rainier better than Corona. Address possible growth inducement to extend Rainier across Petaluma Blvd. North westward: Associate Planner Barrett - The potential for growth inducement west of ,Petaluma Blvd. was not considered significant as the area is partially built -out with rural residential and has very limited development" potential (utility restrictions, smaller acreage parcels). Commissioner Torliatt - Question ;regarding sight distance at the new connection to Petaluma Blvd. North where existing hill blocks view will there be a site - distance problem ?. Traffic Engineer Allan Tilton We can install. a detection device as part of the signal design near Old Mexico Restaurant. Petaluma Blvd. built to high standard for site distance because it was old highway. Commissioner Shea What about access roads ?' Associate Planner Barrett - None included with this project. General. Plan shows a future access road to loop northward to Corona Road. Staff evaluated access to the: future transit site as part of EIR, but they will be designed and constructed by adjacent development. Commissioner Parkerson - Looked hard at Corona alternative; found .it inadequate and disruptive /growth inducing at edge of City. Rainier is designed to provide relief to existing congestion, support Corond /Ely area, and keep traffic within City area.. Rainier is "most reasonable" alternative in light of General Plan. FEIR adequately answers all questions and issues raised. Commissioner vonRaesfeld - Agrees with Commissioner Parkerson; Rainier better supports Urban Limit Line and growth management. FEIR addresses environmental issues; would like to discuss funding and other non -EIR issues. Commissioner Torliatt - Thanked staff. for excellence and thoroughness of work; thanked public for interest, clarity of letters and expression of issues; FEIR adequate to make decision; Future EIR's should be more objective, fewer recommendations in document; Planning; Commission should look. more at Fall aspects including finances of traffic improvements so that decisions are more balanced. Commissioner Thompson - Staff did excellent job!. project is needed, supports it. Commissioner Rahman - Agrees with things stated so far; does not. want to minimize nei *hborhood concerns; believes an additional cross -town connector at Rainier seems optimum for community -wide benefit; compared this project with her experience as a Caulfield Lane resident: did not know about plans for road when she moved in - but its not as bad as she thought; with growth and traffic comes other improvements, amenities (such as SRJC); understands concerns of ' Rainier residents; believes attitudes will change after project is built. Commissioner Shea - Understands need for Rainier, town was planned around it; change will be accepted over time; cost /benefits must affect decisions; Corona is too rural for interchange. The FEIR is adequate. Commissioner Bennett - Has discussed issue with Rainier area residents; project makes sense in context of whole City growth; was planned in context of whole town plan; award - winning General Plan and Corona /Ely Specific Plan depended on .Rainier; there is no other adequate alternative; somebody will be affected no matter where project goes; may 3 Planning Commission Minutes - March 22, 1994 1 as well put it where it makes the most sense, to spread the impact; congratulations to staff 2 for thoroughness of reports. 3 Commissioner vonRaesfeld - Exhibit B, Page 2 - try to incorporate high canopy trees along 4 Rainier without lessening line of site; Page 11 - Emphasize 4.1b - smooth surfaces to 5 "naturalize" new fill; Page 21 Explain /address potential growth inducements on Petaluma 6 Blvd. North at Rainier. 7 Commissioner Torliatt - Should remove reference in the Draft EIR to 200' setback in River 8 Plan since it is still in discussion with River Committee; insure mitigations make sense; 9 recommend planting of new redwoods behind Commercial Center along US 101 so that it 10 won't be a problem for later improvements; need to stress alternative modes of travel in all 11 alternatives; bike lane access to river trails and. Petaluma Factory Outlet Village must be C assured; intercity transit - look at coordinating bus schedules with high occupancy uses (e.g., SRJC). Associate Planner Barrett - References to setbacks in the River Plan are identified as recommendations, the data is presented to reflect the intent and adequacy of mitigation. Principal Planner Yeiter - In the project area there is a 400' floodway easement already in place pr', ohibiting structures. A motion was made by Commissioner Parkerson and seconded by Commissioner 20 vonRaesfeld to recommend to the City Council certification and adoption of the Final EIR 21 based on the facts and findings included in Exhibit A as follows: 22 23 COMMISSIONER SHEA: Yes 24 COMMISSIONER PARKERSON Yes 25 COMMISSIONER RAHMAN: Yes 26 COMMISSIONER THOMPSON: Yes 27 CHAIRMAN BENNETT: Yes 28 COMMISSIONER TORLIATT: Yes 29 COMMISSIONER vonRAESFELD: Yes 30 31 Findin 's: 32 33 1. The Final EIR, consisting of the Draft Environmental Impact Report, July 1993; 34 Draft Biological Mitigation Plan, September 1993; Draft Mitigation Monitoring and 35 Reporting Program, September 1993; and, the Response to Comments, February 36 1994, has been completed in compliance with the intent and requirements of the 37 California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the State CEQA Guidelines and 38 the City of Petaluma Environmental Review Guidelines. 39 40 2. The Final EIR was presented to the Planning Commission and was reviewed and 41 considered prior to making a recommendation on the project. 42 43 3. The Final EIR reflects the independent judgement of the City of Petaluma and 44 represents an adequate documentation of the environmental implications and 45 possible mitigation measures of the proposed Rainier Avenue Extension and 46 Interchange project for use in decision - making. 47 48 A motion was made by Commissioner Parkerson and seconded by Commissioner 49 vonRaesfeld to recommend to the City Council approval of the project as proposed to 1 50 extend Rainier Avenue from McDowell Boulevard North to Petaluma Boulevard North 51 and construct a full freeway interchange with US101; incorporating staff recommendations, 52 mitigation measures and the monitoring program as conditions of approval as defined in 53 Exhibit ! t incorporating changes as recommended by the Commission; and adopting the HM 4 170 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Planning Commission Minutes - March 22, 1994 findings and overriding considerations identified in Exhibit B of the staff report dated March 22, 1994. COMMISSIONER SHEA: Yes COMMISSIONER PARKERSON Yes COMMISSIONER RAHMAN: Yes COMMISSIONER THOMPSON: Yes CHAIRMAN BENNETT: Yes COMMISSIONER TORLIATT: Yes COMMISSIONER vonRAESFELD: Yes II. PROJECT STA'T'US REPORT 1 McNear's Landing (Appeal) 2 RoundWalk Village 3 Corona Creek PUD ADJOURNMENT 8:35 PM min0322 / planjt2 1 5