HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 10/25/1994305
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PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING October 25, 1994
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 7:00 P.M.
CITY HALL PETALUMA, CA
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
ROLL CALL: Parkerson, Rahman, Thompson *, Torliatt, vonRaesfeld, Wick (arrived at
8:20PM); Absent: Stompe
STAFF: Pamela Tuft, Planning Director
Jim McCann, Principal Planner
Chairman
APPROVAL OF MINUTES of October 11, 1994 approved with corrections.
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22 PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
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24 DIRECTOR'S REPORT: Two planners (one current team, one advanced team) attended
5 APA Conference in San Diego last week.
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7 COMM'ISSIONER'S REPORT: Commissioner Torliatt - Stoplight at McDowell
?8 Blvd. /Baywood in CIP; make sure that improvements are necessary; do residents need
29 these improvements? Good for the City? Commissioner Rahman - development of
30 Washington Square - will on -site thoroughfare be blocked? (Principal Planner McCann -
31 traffic will meander, jog).
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33 CORRESPONDENCE: Letter from William Davis regarding Riesling Road.
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35 APPEAL STATEMENT: Was read.
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37 LEGAL RECOURSE STATEMENT: Was noted on the agenda.
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39 CONSENT AGENDA: Items recommended for consideration under the Consent Calendar
40 are considered to be routine in nature by staff and are recommended to be acted upon by a
41 single motion by the Planning Commission at the beginning of the meeting with no further
42 discussion. The item may, however, be removed from the Consent Calendar for discussions
43 in its normal order on the agenda by the applicant, a Commissioner, or an interested
44 member of the public by a simple request.
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47 CONSENT AGENDA
48 NEW BUSINESS
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0 I. A -1 TAXI; REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF A CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC
1 CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR A -1 TAXI TO OPERATE INSIDE CITY
2 LIMITS.
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The following actions are required:
1. Determine that the request is exempt from CEQA.
5 2. Recommend approval of the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity
6 to the City Council.
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8 This item was removed from the Consent Agenda for discussion.
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10 Principal Planner Jim McCann presented the staff report.
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Commissioner vonRaesfeld - questioned adequacy of insurance submitted (response by
Planning Director: adequate proof of insurance will be required by Risk Management
Officer prior to commencement of service).
cm Walter Watkins - applicant - there will not be a dispatcher, phone will be used and cars will
cm be dispatched by cellular phone in cars; would like to allow taxi to park at home for
dinner /breaks, will not be stored at home address.
Planning Director Tuft - wants to insure that home will not become a base for staging and
dispatch.
21 A motion was made by Commissioner Parkerson and seconded by Commissioner Rahman
22 to recommend to the City Council finding this proposal exempt from the requirements of
23 CEQA and approve a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for A -1 Taxi based
24 on the findings and subject to the conditions listed below:
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26 COMMISSIONER PARKERSON: Yes
COMMISSIONER RAHMAN: Yes
t 9 8 CHAIRPERSON THOMPSON: Yes
COMMISSIONER WICK: Absent
30 COMMISSIONER STOMPE:.Absent
31 COMMISSIONER TORLIATT: Yes
32 COMMISSIONER vonRAESFELD: Yes
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34 Findings:
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36 1. The proposed taxi company, as conditioned, will conform to the requirements and
37 intent of the Petaluma Municipal Code and the Petaluma Zoning Ordinance.
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39 2. The proposed taxi company, as conditioned, will conform to the requirements and
40 intent, goals, and policies of the Petaluma General Plan.
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42 3. The proposed taxi company, as conditioned, will not constitute a nuisance or be
43 detrimental to the public welfare of the community.
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45 Conditions
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47 1. This Certificate of Public Convenience may be suspended or revoked for violation
48 of any of the terms of Chapter 14 of the Petaluma Municipal Code, or for violation
49 of any of the terms of the certificate, or for misuse or abuse of the privilege hereby
50 granted, pursuant to Chapter 14 of the Petaluma Municipal Code.
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2 2. A -1 Taxi shall comply with all applicable provisions of Petaluma Municipal Code
3 Chapter 14.
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3. The fare rates as proposed by the applicant are hereby fixed, and may only be
changed by City Council action.
4. Before operations may commence, all vehicles owned and operated by A -1 Taxi
shall be inspected by the Police Department. Any defects uncovered during the
inspection shall be corrected and the vehicles reinspected by the Police Department.
5. All drivers of A -1 Taxi vehicles. shall obtain a (taxi) driver's license issued through
the Central Permit Bureau (Finance Department of the City of Petaluma) before
commencement of operations.
6. All vehicles owned and operated by A -1 Taxi shall obtain annual vehicle permits
issued through the Central Permit Bureau (Finance Department of the City of
Petaluma) before commencement of operations. All permits for taxicabs shall
expire annually the thirtieth day of June.
7. Before a vehicle permit may be issued, and prior to the operation of any of such
vehicles, there shall be filed with the City Clerk a policy of public liability insurance
executed and delivered by a company authorized to carry out any insurance business
in the state, the financial responsibility of which company has been approved by the
City Manager.
8. Any proposal for increase in the number of taxicabs shall be reviewed and approved
by the City Council before expansion of service is made.
9. A Home Occupation. Permit to allow use of 372 Park Place Drive as the radio
dispatch office shall be obtained from the Planning Department before
commencement of operations.
10. Drivers shall not meet or congregate, nor shall taxis be garaged at 372 Park :Place
Drive.
DEPARTMENT REPORT
II. RIESLING ROAD ALIGNMENT THROUGH THE GATTI PROPERTY; CITY OF
PETALUMA.
Discussion of land use issues and the adopted alignment and alternate alignments
suggested by residents of the Sonoma Glen Subdivision for the Riesling Road
extension through the Gatti Property in the Corona Ely Specific Plan.
Principal Planner Jim McCann presented the staff report.
SPEAKERS:
Mike Kline 702 Riesling Ct. - impact to neighborhood has not been taken into
consideration; primaty,route to the retail area will be through existing neighborhoods; lots
of traffic will be: generated through Colombard /Riesling area; assuming Rainier overpass
installed, 1993 ,traffic study centered around Gatti property, but did not take traffic through
neighborhood into consideration; concerns with quality of life, market value of homes will
decline. - submitted letter from Brent Babow and Karen Levin.
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1 Chris En" lag_ rider - resident of Sonoma Glen - part of problem,, notification of 1993 land use
amendment was not very effective because very few residents existed within 300 feet of
Gatti property; there are more ways to gain access to commercial site; believes that
adequate access to the retail site was provided with the original configuration of land uses
5 per the adopted Specific Plan; opposed to signalized 4 -way intersection at Riesling;
6 referred to the closure of Columbard Road at Maria Drive and noted that the condition
7 contributes toward congestion and unnecessary trips within the neighborhood; suggested
8 that an area -wide circulation evaluation needs to taka place; don't take a 'band -aid"
9 approach.
10 Brenda Kline - 702 Riesling Court presently a signal at Jr. college, another one will be
11 only about 300 feet away; concern' regarding insufficient distribution of staff report, only
received packet today, not enough time to analyze situation; concerns for safety of children.
Karen Campbell - 1613 Zindanfel- agrees with what other neighbors stated; comments on
public notice; packets not distributed until last week; did not receive one herself; active in
getting petitions together.
Emiel Andersen - 1614 Zindanfel - didn't receive notice of this meeting; large vehicles
parked on Zinfandel block motorist's vision; school children walk home from Meadow
School along Zindanfel (only new stop sign has helped a little; neighbors suggested
having intersection out of alignment; maybe left hand turn only could be allowed.
20 Jeff Butcher - 1707 Zinfandel - lots of people run through new stop sign on Zinfandel and
21 still speed; when petitions went out, many areas were not fully developed; as people move
22 in and roads are blocked off, access ,is becoming limited; agreed that Columbard should be
23 extended to connect to Maria; another petition will be presented at next public hearing.
24 Larry Finkel - 1736 Kohoutek Ct. - Morningstar what will distance between proposed stop
25 light and existing stop light at Jr. College be? people travel at 55 MPH down Sonoma
6 Mountain Parkway; when kids from Jr. College get out of class at same time as people
7 returning home from work, there will be too much traffic; why would two stoplights be
8 placed so close together? how will this be any better?
9 David Panneton - 1791 Inverness Dr. - not notified of any of this, does not want to see
30 intersection where proposed; proximity of proposed intersection to Jr. College will not
31 work; does not want to live on top of an intersection;
32 City Traffic Engineer Allan Tilton - presented recent traffic counts done in area; major
33 traffic volumes on Lancaster are approximately 550 vehicles /day; Zinfandel and Sonoma
34 Mountain Parkway, 1,200 vehicles /day; speed limit on Sonoma Mountain Parkway lowered
35 to 40 MPH, speeds are actually slowing with more development; area somewhat
36 landlocked, 500 -600 vehicles per day is typical of nature of development in this area.
37 Principal Planner McCann - noticing was done on a large scale - over 300 notices, full
38 packets mailed to 6 -10 people who staff was aware of through past discussion with staff;
39 issue is area -wide traffic circulation; opening of Colombard has been discussed with school
40 board; good point to look at whole system, look at Colombard; distance between signals is
41 approximately 500 -600 feet at both areas (SRJC /Riesling and Ely /Riesling alternative by
42 neighbors).
43 Commissioner Torliatt - how is noticing done?
44 Principal Planner McCann - most recent tax records available to staff.
45 Planning. Director Tuft - more fully described noticing process.
46 Ed Haworth - representing Gatti property owners - planning process has been going on for
47 several years; one reason for present street configuration is to minimize traffic on Sonoma
48 Mountain Parkway; retail center originally had 3 separate property owners; significant
49 safety factors at curve on Ely; access major problem; City saw that there will be a need for
0 0 a collector status road; land use changes to allow left turn pocket into commercial,
1 provided access to park site, multi- family site; original meetings dealt with problem with
2 signalized intersection, not as much as extension of Riesling; consideration here is to
3 reconsider alignment; shopping center - high priority, negotiating with potential tenants on
4 hold until access issue is clarified; re: traffic - traffic counts suggest area not being used as a
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by -pass now; somewhere there has to be access; proposed option has fewest problems;
minimum is to have a signalized intersection.
Commissioner Wick arrived - 8:20 PM.
Mike Kline - not clear on City staff's safety concerns with, the neighbors proposed
alignment.
Allan Tilton by positioning intersection as proposed, access will be, easy to commercial
site; without benefit of signal, broad spectrum of users of this roadway will be lost.
Don't take neighbors lightly, all have concerns with massing of site; this is about serving
concerns of commercial business, not people who have bought into this neighborhood.
Just because there are only 10 people, here; doesn't meari neighborhood doesn't care;
developer has an I don't care attitude; they want access to make money.
Mike Kline - most of new traffic will come from other side (west) of Maria. Drive; most
direct route.
Emiel Andersen - traffic counts taken in period of time when property was vacant when
commercial site developed and school built, numbers will change.
David Panneton - did not have real opportunity to make voices known at City Council;
noticing was not done very well; challenge. to keep our faith in the system.
List of names with strea addresses submitted to Planning Director Tuft.
Commissioner Torliatt - Commission is just like other residents - trying to make City as
good as possible.
COMMISSION DISCUSSION:
Commissioner Parkerson in favor of as much public access as possible; hope that in
planning °process, system will work; commercial designation established through Specific
Plan to add shopping within neighborhood, amount. of land set aside essentially a
neighborhood shopping center, if commercial area reduced, will' not be adequate;
circulation network trying to be worked out to suit all; City trying to develop overall.
Commissioner t hat work, as pedestrian friendly as possible.
vonRaesfeld - early in Corona /Ely development plan, only large
landowners, no residents involved; should have fought harder for grid road. systems; people .
don't want cars in their neighborhood;, tonight's discussion emphasizes choices for multiple
vehicle access; park area. 4 times size of Wickersham, retail area equivalent to 6 downtown
city blocks; enormous pieces of land; sites need to be dissected, more thought is needed;
whole site, all uses need to be looked at; Colombard needs to go through; due. to
magnitude of site, good work has gone into this plan, still need to try to look at whole
picture; needs more discussion of broader area circulation needs before decision could be
made..
Steve Fugate - 1610 Cabernet - 4 major changes already made to master plan; Cygnus has
been
closed off;I Colombard closed off; commercial site relocated.
Commissioner Rahrnan - committed to General Plan and Corona Ely Specific Plan - when
plan has been changed, more thinking needs to be done before going forward with entire
plan; proceed carefully ;, keep reevaluating and reassessing; can't make a decision without
looking at whole picture; would not want something like Gateway Center close in
neighborhood; if done right, neighborhood store can be wonderful and convenient; parking
around college will probably be a problem; stoplight right :outside of bedroom and busy
streets need to be put up with, work together; can't. make a decision about Riesling, maybe
d ave to have as much impact as neighbors, are worried about.
Commissioner do Torliatt - Sonoma Mountain Parkway is a freeway; staff needs to. clarify
distance of stoplights; Colombard access needs to be clarified; 9.4 acre site for shopping
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1 center, design has not been determined yet; need to focus on larger picture of planning
access for everyone.
Commissioner Rahman - speed on Sonoma Mountain Parkway - more lights might be
better for safety reasons.
5 Commissioner Torliatt - motorists are more likely to take alternate routes if there are many
6 stop lights to contend with on the primary route.
7 Commissioner Wick - not altogether happy with planning in this area; look at all issues
8 being raised.
9 Chairman Thompson - several Commissioners should form a task force to study and return
10 to Commission with more detailed information.
11 Commissioner Parkerson - would rather have more detailed information and options from
staff and further Commission discussion; more study needed.
Chairman Thompson - (to audience) call Commissioners if you'd like us to come out to
look at specific sites.
Planning Director Tuft - tonight's input will be summarized and more information supplied
to Commission; no concrete proposals for commercial site; proposes to return in
approximately one month - first meeting in December - will renotice - December 13.
Commissioner Rahman - likes idea of task force; staff /Commission /neighbors to discuss
options; work together; some new ideas; need creativity.
20 Steve Fugate - member of school board; school board issue regarding extension of
21 Columbard is just a yes /no vote; believes school board will support extension.
22 Commissioner Rahman - doesn't want to do tonight over again, that is idea behind task
23 force.
24 Chairman Thompson - Commission members need to be involved on task force.
25 Planning Director Tuft - hard to ask citizens to commit to committee in
'S November /December, try to schedule if holidays don't get in way, can be held until early
next year.
Commissioner vonRaesfeld - applicant /owner needs to be involved on committee; needs to
know more about plan for this property.
30 Commissioner Parkerson - owner part of process, but only part of process.
31 Ed Haworth - applicants representative; regarding issues raised tonight; size of retail center
32 discussed in depth of Commission and City Council in the past; existing Commission was
33 not on original. Commission may lack historical perspective of Specific Plan's intent; Gatti's
34 did not propose retail center, City proposed land use plan through the Specific Plan
35 process; not initiated by Gatti's; would like to be part of task force.
36 Commissioner vonRaesfeld - not suggesting these sites (Retail /Park) be moved or changed
37 in size, rather that they be considered in the circulation discussion.
38 Commissioner Rahman - trying very hard to keep us out of our cars and still have some
39 access to services; will do homework before future meetings; Mr. Davis should get a copy
40 of this tape to view.
41 Chairman Thompson - will call Pamela Tuft this week, develop game plan, contact people
42 who spoke.
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45 III. PROJECT STATUS REPORT:
46
47 - Special Topics /Subcommittee Discussion - back in November
48 - Petaluma Cinemas - approved by City Council
49 - Petaluma Queen - floating storage vessel appealed to City Council
- Holmberg Roofing - grading permit issued; staff spoke to Holmberg's today -
must apply to SCWA this week - 2 week turnaround; Commission not happy
with status.
on
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1 Commissioner Parkerson - Regarding Petaluma Cinema, Council included in
2 conditions of EIR : same references in terms of achieving a village -like atmosphere
3 regarding Cinema expansion.
4 Commissioner Rahman - For the record, viewed Commission meeting October 11
5 (from home).
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8 ADJOURNMENT 9:40 PM
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10 min1025 / plan56
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