Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 05/08/2018Planning Commission Meeting of May 8, 2018 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 Tuesday, May 8, 2018 — 07:00 PM Regular Meeting FINAL MINUTES 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Gina Benedetti-Petnic, Bill Wolpert, Richard Marzo, Heidi Bauer, Scott Alonso, and Council Member Healy. ABSENT: Diana Gomez. 3. PUBLIC COMMENT The Commission 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. Chair Benedetti-Petnic 4. COMMISSION COMMENT A. Council Liaison — Mike Healy Council member Healy reported that he missed the past three City Council meetings since he was traveling and testifying before US Senate. He was also in Sacramento for the Legislation Action Day with the League of Cal Cities the day after SB 827 was denied. B. Pedestrian and Bicycle Committee — Bill Wolpert Planning Commission Meeting of May 8, 2018 Page 2 Commissioner Wolpert had no report due to a cancelled meeting. C. Tree Advisory Committee — Gina Benedetti-Petnic Chair Benedetti-Petnic reported that the April meeting was cancelled and was hopeful that the May meeting will not be cancelled. Ms. Hines D. Other Committee Comment S. STAFF COMMENT A. Planning Manager's Report Heather Hines, Planning Manager, reported that the SID Commons project is scheduled to be heard by the City Council on May 21, 2018. There have been two community meetings on the Water Street Public Art that were well attended and the public expressed strong opinions. 6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Approval of Minutes for meetings of Tuesday, March 27, 2018, Tuesday, April 10, 2018 and Tuesday April 24, 2018. Draft minutes 3/27/18 Draft minutes 4/10/18 Draft minutes 4/24/18 Chair Benedetti-Petnic The 3/27/18/, 4/10/18, & 4/24/18 minutes were approved as submitted. 7. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Courtyard Marriot at Riverfront. Reactivation of Site Plan and Architectural Review approval for development of a 122 -room, four-story hotel with associated amenities and site improvements as part of the approved Riverfront development project. Project Location: 500 Hopper Street File Number: PLSR-18-0012 Staff: Emmanuel Ursu, Principal Planner Marriot Staff Report Attachment A - Draft Resolution Planning Commission Meeting of May 8, 2018 Page 3 Attachment B - Resolution 2017-08 SPAR Approval Commissioner Alonso Chair Benedetti-Petnic Ms. Hines Chair Benedetti-Petnic Chair Benedetti-Petnic opened public comment Chair Benedetti-Petnic closed public comment Chair Benedetti-Petnic Motion: Approve Reactivation of Site Plan and Architectural Review approval for a 122 - room hotel in the Riverfront Mixed Use development project located at 500 Hopper Street made by Council Member Healy, seconded by Richard Marzo. Vote: Motion carried 5 - 0. Yes: Gina Benedetti-Petnic, Bill Wolpert, Richard Marzo, Heidi Bauer, and Council Member Healy. Abstain: Scott Alonso. Absent: Diana Gomez. 8. NEW BUSINESS A. Lands of Johnson Tentative Parcel Map Modification. Modification to allow a tentative parcel map to split the existing lot to create two lots - a 21,565 square foot (0.49 acre) lot and a 108,164 square foot (2.48 acre) remainder parcel. This item is to be processed administratively consistent with Petaluma Municipal Code Sections 20.20.040 and 20.40.075. No action by the Planning Commission will be made. Project Location: 1478, 1480, 1482, 1484 Petaluma Blvd. North File Number: PLTP-17-0001 Staff: Cailin Notch, Assistant Planner 2018-05.08 Johnson Memo Chair Benedetti-Petnic Ms. Hines B. Safeway Fuel Center. Site Plan and Architectural Review for development of a new gas station on a 0.71 acre site within the Washington Square Shopping Center. Improvements include a fuel center with 16 covered fuel pumping stations, a 697 -square foot retail Planning Commission Meeting of May 8, 2018 Page 4 convenience store, two 20,000 gallon underground storage tanks, landscaping and parking. Project also includes the demolition of the existing 13,770 square foot commercial building and improvements. Project Location: 335 South McDowell Blvd. File Number: PLSR-13-0012 Staff: Adam Peterson, Senior Planner Safeway Fuel Center Staff Report Attachment A - CEQA Resolution Attachment A - Exhibit 1- Public Draft IS MND Safeway Fuel Center (3.29.18) Attachment A - Exhibit 2 - Safeway MMRP (4.12.18) Attachment A - Exhibit 3 Errata to Draft IS/MND Attachment B - SPAR Resolution Attachment B - Exhibit 1- Safeway Conditions of Approval Attachment C - Plans Attachment D - Public Correspondence Public Comments after packet distribution - 5/8/18 Chair Benedetti-Petnic Adam Peterson, Senior Planner Ms. Hines Council member Healy Ms. Hines Council member Healy Ms. Hines Commissioner Alonso Mr. Peterson Commissioner Alonso Chair Benedetti-Petnic Commissioner Marzo Ms. Hines Planning Commission Meeting of May 8, 2018 Page 5 Chair Benedetti-Petnic Mr. Peterson Olivia Ervin, Environmental Planner Council member Healy Ms. Ervin Council member Healy Ms. Ervin Council member Healy Ms. Ervin Ms. Hines Ms. Ervin Ms. Hines Commissioner Marzo Ms. Ervin Chair Benedetti-Petnic Matt Francois, Applicant Chair Benedetti-Petnic Mr. Francois Natalie Mattei Mr. Francois Chair Benedetti-Petnic Mr. Francois Ms. Mattei Mr. Francois Commissioner Alonso Lisa Tennenbaum, Assistant City Attorney Chair Benedetti-Petnic Chair Benedetti-Petnic opened public comment Planning Commission Meeting of May 8, 2018 Page 6 Lauri Anderson, Principal of McDowell Elementary School, neighbor of Safeway, stated that she received notice on.May 2nd and they are within 60 feet of the proposed project. She noted that she had serious concerns of the health of the community's children and that this proposed project must be put on hold. She feels the need to fully understand the effects of the project and the students need to be considered. She noted that approximately 100 signatures that were collected in one day in opposition of the project. Chris Thomas, Petaluma City School District, found out about the public hearing late Thursday (May 2nd) and spoke to a representative from Safeway on Friday. He felt that there was not enough time to respond to concerns and requested a deferment of the decision in order to assess the situation. Chair Benedetti-Petnic disclosed that she is on the board of directors of the North Bay Children's Center and that her firm does contract construction work with them, both pro-bono and paid. Genie Praetzel, Petaluma resident, stated that she was not aware of the project and thought it died. She was concerned about the 3 — 5 -year old children playing outside and very close to the project, with wind blowing particulate matters into the lungs of children. The project should not take priority over the vulnerable children and the City should prioritize reducing air pollutants. Mathew Pederson, Petaluma resident, stated that he is a pedestrian and notices walking conditions wherever he goes. He noted that the cross walks by a gas station are most likely in bad condition and areas near gas stations are prone to impulse criminal activity. Dale Wannen, Petaluma resident, noted that most car manufacturers have committed to going electric by the year 2023 and does not support the proposed project. Elizabeth Ambrosi, Petaluma resident, noted that the Petaluma General Plan outlines a vision for quality of life for residents and visitors and believes that this project presents a quality of life issue. She stated that the neighborhood adjacent to the proposed project is a very busy area and its approval would add to the congestion and reduce the quality of life in Petaluma. Carol Waxman, Petaluma Adult School, requested the Commission consider a continuance for the proposed project. She is concerned about the children that attend child care who are out in the yard with sensitive young lungs. Frances Frazier, Petaluma resident, believes that the project will have an impact on traffic and finds it hard to believe that 16 pumps will not cause traffic. She noted that the McDowell Elementary School and the two preschools are not mentioned in the Initial Study and would like to see a continuance of the process. Planning Commission Meeting of May 8, 2018 Page 7 Adriann Saslow, Petaluma resident, noted that there are many kids and families nearby that should not be next to a gas station. She believes that there are currently many accidents, and the gas station would create gas exhaust and garbage that the children would be exposed to. Horst Steinfels, Petaluma resident, stated that many validations have been made about children being exposed to gas stations and believes that the area does not need a sixth gas station. He also noted that in 10 - 15 years, less gas will be needed due to electric cars. Oliver Steinfels, Petaluma resident, was concerned about the children who play across the street from the proposed project and believes this is a quality of life issue. Rebecca Hachmeyer, Parent of child at 4CS Petaluma Child Development Center, stated that the Child Center is 50 feet from proposed site and houses five school programs. The programs are state subsidized, and the most fragile. She stated that this is a walkable family neighborhood and would like to see people get away from gas and encourages people to walk. Alexander Saslow, Petaluma resident, noted his interest in the data and use rates and thought that it is hard to believe the report in regards to particulate matter rates. He was also concerned with noise, traffic and exposure rates. He was concerned because his daughter, who is both a resident and student, would have double exposure. Maureen Rudder, resident who lives close to Safeway, and former principal of McDowell Elementary School, stated that a Safeway representative spoke to her regarding the project in 2014, but never reached out to the parents. She believes that there will be extra trips to buy gas and many people will exit the highway just to get gas. She noted that Maria Drive is a narrow street and is concerned about the additional traffic. Tim Harvey, Petaluma resident, expressed concern about the proposed project, wanted to know the reason for another gas station and noted that it would affect many people's lives. Ginee' Harvey, Petaluma resident, stated that she would like to start a family in Petaluma in a safe environment for children and not be exposed to "insignificant" rates of cancer. She encouraged the Commission to keep Petaluma a small town. Anna Simson, Petaluma resident, feels that the proposed project will negatively impact her life and that it doesn't make sense to build a huge gas station so close to an elementary school. Maribel Baron, Petaluma resident, was concerned about her son being double exposed and doesn't want that for her family and is considering the option to move. She believes that the children at the daycare center are 0 - 3 years old, are very fragile, and are from families from high risk neighborhoods where living near a gas station would have a negative impact on their quality of life. In addition, her parents are getting ready to retire and would not want to live their later years near a gas station. Planning Commission Meeting of May 8, 2018 Page 8 Makenna Pearson, Petaluma resident, works with kids and is concerned about the allotted hours for construction, noting that due to the short attention span of children, they will not be able to focus on their schooling during the year of construction. Chair Benedetti-Petnic closed public comment period. Chair Benedetti-Petnic Council member Healy Commissioner Bauer Commissioner Marzo Chair Benedetti-Petnic Commissioner Wolpert Commissioner Alonso Chair Benedetti-Petnic Ms. Hines Motion: Continue to a date certain of June 26, 2018 Site Plan and Architectural Review for the Safeway Fuel Center project to develop a new gas station within the Washington Square Shopping Center located at 335 South McDowell Blvd. made by Gina Benedetti-Petnic, seconded by Council Member Healy. Vote: Motion carried 6 - 0. Yes: Gina Benedetti-Petnic, Bill Wolpert, Richard Marzo, Heidi Bauer, Scott Alonso, and Council Member Healy. Absent: Diana Gomez Ms. Hines Commissioner Alonso Ms. Hines Chair Benedetti-Petnic Ms. Hines The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 PM. 9. ADJOURN Next Meeting of the Planning Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, May 22, 2018.