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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 08/04/198100 PETALUMA PLANNING COrLMISSION AUGUST 4, 1981 SPECIAL:MEETING 7:30 P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL PETALUMA, CA The Planning Commission encourages applicants or their representative to be available at the meetings to answer questions., so that no agenda items need be deferred to a later date due to a lack of pertinent information. PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG ROLL CALL: Comm. Harberson Head Lavin Popp Shearer Tencer Waite STAFF: Gregory Frei.tas, Community Development & Planning Director PUBLIC HEARING: 8. OLD ADOBE / FRATES RANCH PROJECT G &W MANAGEMENT & WK11, INC. LAKEVILLE AND FRATES ROAD DRAFT EIR ON GENERAL PLAN/ EDP AMENDMENT /PCD PREZONING/ ANNEXATION /TENTATIVE MAP (11.619/8.61/3.252) (Public'Hearing opened - continued) ADJOURNMENT 67 1. Public Hearing to consider the Air Quality section of the Draft Environmental Impact Report prepared by Wagstaff and Brady, consultants, for the Old Adobe /Frates Ranch Project. 2. Public Hearing to consider the proposed General Plan /EDP amendments from Planned Residential and-Agricultural/Open Space to Planned Residential, Industrial and Agricultural /Open Space. Amendments to major roadways and the urban separator will also be considered. NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVED BY THE PETALUMA PLANNING COMMISSION M I N U T E S PETALUMA PLANNING COMMISSION AUGUST 4, 1981 SPECIAL MEETING 7:30 P.M. CITY.HALL PETALUMA, CA Present: Comm. Harberson *, Head, Popp, Shearer, Tencer, Waite *Arr. 7:35 p.m. Absent: Comm. Lavin Staff: Gregory Freitas, Community Development and Planning Director Warren Salmons, Principal Planner MINUTES: The minutes of July 14, 1981 were approved as submitted. OLD ADOBE /FRATES RANCH PROJECT - DRAFT E.I.R AIR QUALITY SECTION (Tape 001 - 392 /Side 1) Item 11.619 - to consider the Air Quality Section of the Draft Environmental Impact Report prepared by Wagstaff and Brady, consultants,'for the Old Adobe/ Frates Ranch Project. . Mr. Freitas noted that correspondence had been received from 1) Williams and Mocine,, letter dated July 30, 1981_; 2) letter from Mrs D Underhill., dated July 31, 1981, in favor of the project; 3)letter from Sylvia Edwards, dated July 29, 19.81, supporting project; 4) letter from Dianne M. Lando, dated July 30, 1981, in favor of project. The public hearing was reopened and.continued to the meeting of-August 11th. The Chairman indicated that comments tonight should directed only to the Air Quality Section of the Draft E.I.R. Speakers: - Gregory Freitas, City of Petaluma Community Development and Planning Director Warren Salmons, City of Petaluma Principal Planner William Borgess, Wagstaff & Brady Comments Mr. Borgess of Wagstaff & - Brady pointed out that generally the quality levels (auto emissions) in Petaluma are moderate and conditions are favorable .for maintaining these pollution levels. Dr. Wayne Williams, 920 St. Francis Drive, an Air Quality Scientist, was concerned about the present air quality in this community. The . pollution is manifest in damage to a wid_e.variety of plants, including grapes, pine trees and others at this time. He,r.equested the following mitigating measures. be looked into: 1) Solar units be mandated on all houses of $100,000.or more.; 2) Prohibit use'.of golf carts; Prohibit the placement of fire places in .these houses,,; 4) Mandatory to.have only 4 engines for transportation;, 5) Make sure Golden Gate Transit has bus routes directly into the project. 169 PETALUMA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES AUGUST 4, 1981 Ernie'Curtis, 1277 Ely Road, stated when we have houses with beautiful trees, shrubs and lawns, they will go through the.biclogical, ecological process of absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide /monoxide when it percolates over into the carbon dioxide field. I_t seems that by looking at the wind patterns in this valley, this air.pollution thing has been puffed all out of shape. Warren Meyer, 338 English Street - Questionned the capability of the ABAG,niodel. How many years has the model been able to predict the way future pollution would be building up over the Sonoma Valley? How capable and successful was the model.. Was the potential of other projects that are forthcoming in the valley included in these calculations of standards that would be exceeded,or was there an assumption there would be a glass Q bell put over the Adobe Road area and none of the other possible polluting projects would be included in the calculations. Response (W. Borgess) - The ABAG model is an automated version of a model put out by the Bay Area Air'Quality Management District. The district prepared a set of guidelines and calculation sheets for making estimates of emission levels from projects at three different scales. 1) sensitive receptor scale, situated adjacent to roadsides; 2) local scale, one kilometer square area around the project site; and 3) the regional scale, which is the entire bay area. The model itself is based on standard diogazian plume models. It is'a simplified version. ABAG has automated this model. In both the setting and the impact section, the projects that have been pro - pose&'.or approved recently for the east side„ around the site, were included in the calculations., so we have the cumulative air quality effects as well as isolated air quality effects of the project. This particular model gives general indications of exceedences. It is not in any sense an absolute predictive tool, nor is any modelling technique. It will not give you an exact forecast of what is going to happen 20 years hence. Comm. Tencer asked,based on prior predictions on completion of certain projects, has there been a comparison made between what was projected and what came about in certain areas? Response (W. Borgess) - He was not aware of any research that the district has done to go back and review the projects to see.what would-be the case. Mary Lou Hadditt, 427 - 4th Street - Asked in figuring the air pollution in the valley, was it taken into account what would happen= in Rohnert Park and Santa-Rosa,;or was.Petaluma isolated from the rest of the valley? Therewas,.data for the year 2000 with and without the Frates Ranch project. Where,would it without Frates Ranch, and what would the percent of increase be without' construction of the Ranch? -2-: HE PETALUMA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES AUGUST 4, 1981 Res: onse p (W. Borges) - The information is included in the assessment where we take a look at what the increases would be without the project; those are found in the setting section, and then we `take a look at what the increases would be with the project, those are found in the impact section. Under the regional scale calculations, the ABAG model took into account the bay areas as a whole, but did not isolate the portions of Sonoma County north of here. Ned Davis,'7000 Soldiers Road, Penngrove - For 16 years saw no.po'llution at all emitting from the Petaluma area to any great degree. Pollution is mostly coming up the valley, from the east side of the bay, not-Petaluma. This has been the worst year in 20 years for our young people to get jobs. Anything that will ,increase an opportunity for our young people.to get jobs should be.encouraged. The idea proposed has a sound objective. Bill White, 1050 Northgate Drive„ San Rafael - (developer of the project) There'is an' incredible amount of _gasoline used,and energy used, and Pollutants created by the many people that commute into the areas where the pollutants are coming from. This should be a strong mitigating factor as people will be able to work locally'.and not have to drive.into the other areas. An open area will be created around the business park, primarily with the use of the golf course. There will be strict GCandP.S, significant setbacks,.up to 50 feet on the buildings. It is a situation that will attract the type of businesses that have not to -this point come into Petaluma. Bill Murphy,.developer of Frates Ranch Project - The purpose of an EIR is to setforth guidelines. by which the community and-developers can work together to mitigate impacts. He felt this EIR had done this.. It has pro- vided information to accomplish those goals. The EIR has reacted a point where it has given us a track to run on. Silence from some of the audience at 'the July 14th meeting should not be misconstrued as a lack of support for the project, as, there we're.more people at that meeting in favor of certifying.the EIR and. the Frates•Ranch Project. Rob Carpenter, 5742 Dexter Circle ., Rohnert Park - quoted Carpenter's Law - Wherever in the universe one goes to attempt to escape Los.Angeles, someone will arrive to bring it to them. Lynn Woolsey, 923 B Street - Was the wind factor in Petaluma taken into consideration in the Quality'Report? Response, (W. Borgess) - The model itself doesn't include the wind factor in Petaluma.. The.wind factor is considered as one of various climatic conditions that minimize the occurrence of adverse air quality episodes. The model only addresses when conditions are at their very worst and what the air-- pollution level will be. The public hearing was continued to August 11, 1981 -3- 1 '71 PETALUMA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES FRATES RANCH PROJECT. - GENERAL PLAN /EDP AMENDMENTS (Tape,393 /1480 /Side 1 and 001 /Side 2) 8.61 - to consider the General Plan /EDP Amendments from Planned Residential and Agricultural /Open Space to Planned Residential, Industrial and Agricultural /Open. The public hearing was opened and continued to August 11th. AUGUST 4, 1981 Comments 7 Rose Eiserich, 931'D Street - On Page 100, a summary of annual public service costs for Phase I includes only three items, police and fire protection and road maintenance.. Much has been omitted from the"Frates costs. It excludes city Costs in - planning and water, sewer capital costs and operating costs, off site transportation improvements required by the project, education, recreation, city overhead, such as new personnel, storm drainage and road improvements and sanitation. 1)Assuming the proposal will be approved, in what way will the tax payer benefit financially; 2) In what way will the Petaluma tax payer be required to pay for the inevitable deficits which are predictable in both the Frates - and Fairway Glen projects? What new fees will be initiated, and which existing fees will be increased? The EIR does not address the impact'on the taxpayer. Warren Meyer, 338 English Street - Concerned about figures given in that we are not really,going to be able to guarantee we will have a reasonable development. It is the obligation of the Commission to find industrial land within the General Plan area, before considering expanding the City limits. Gene;Benedetti, $990 Poplar Avenue, Cotati - With regards to claims there is a C' shortage of milk in this area - -- today there is more milk in the entire US__ than ever before-produced. We have one of the most efficient dairy industries in Sonoma County. The consumer is buying milk cheaper here than;any other place in the world, as there are some successful people in the dairy production business who have kept up with modern ,proper dairy facilities, to.where they can compete. The report speaks of taking 450 acres -of land out of agriculture and putting it into industry and a golf course. The agricultural industry has kept the green belt which has not cost the tax payer a penny. This project is going over land that is presently the lowest producer and recovery of any valued land we have. We can - turn that 450 acres into a real- productive acreage. We .need jobs in.this area and in this County. With a good sound market and some homes and a green belt with it, we can't miss. Dan Libarle;, 1319 I Street - The city has a chance to take hold of something that will meet a lot of needs. It will take care of recreational problems and some industrial uses. We need the jobs and we need;.6e homes. We need the economy this business park will bring. Weo',have,a to grasp a unique situation. Ray &ndrews,!�1294,Ramona Lane - An airport development should be considered along with the Frates project. -4n x:'72 PETALUMA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES AUGUST 4 1981 F.RATES RANCH PROJECT - GENERAL PLAN /'EDP AMENDMENTS CONT'D Keith Hayenga, 1582 Creekside Drive - Concerned with the symbolic the political and psychological impacts. The purpose of the golf course is not to play golf, and is not to get rid of effluent. The primary purpose,is to enhance the value of the land around it. Urged the Commission to hold the line where it is. Grace Biswell, 419 Keller 'Street Petaluma will continue to grow. Many people have read about the tax revenue that will be generated by the Frates Ranch project. The following figures reflect this much needed tax revenue. Net revenue to Petaluma to 1990 will be $225,000; net revenue to Petaluma to year 2000 would be $499,000. Caroline Ramberg, -1431A Town'& Country Drive, Santa Rosa, representng League of Women Voters of Sonoma County. She read a prepared statement, darted August 4, 1981. The League recommends denial of the project for - 1) The project would have significant and .irreversible negative impacts on agriculture; 2) It would violate a key principle of the Sonoma County General.Plan, city centered growth; 3) It would have a negative impact on affordable housing; 4) It would generate significant cumulative impacts. Clark Rosen, 1391 Mountain View Ave - Came to Petaluma for a certain quality of life. Once here, now we want to close the gate. If the project were not as large as it is, there would not be as many people present. He stated this is a -rare opportunity for the City to do some outstanding p1 naming -in lieu of piece meal planning. The most outstanding feature of the project is its size. Clark Thompson,. 1013 Palmetto'Way - The Frates Ranch project offers an environment for the kinds of jobs and businesses we do not have in.Petaluma - .. high technologies -,- electronics companies, research and development com- panies and executive offices. Petaluma has in the past been skipped over because we do not have the type of business park these companies are looking for. It is now time we create jobs here in Petaluma. Rob. Carpenter, 5742 Dexter Circle,.Rohnert Park We are invest-ingin our own destruction when'we are. - covering up our farm land at.a very fast rate. It is happening in areas where there is a tremendous amount of population and. urban sprawl; and he did not want it to see it happen here. Violence is a product df over population concentrated in urban areas. We should not let this County go too far out of hand. Asked that they move slowly and carefully. L. Campbell, 392 Fallon .Road, stated the Sonoma County Farm Bureau Board took a position in opposition to.the Frates Development as an intrusion.into agricultural land requiring an amendment to the General Plan., which"is unnecessary-at this time or for some in the future.. 00 C ETALUMA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES AUGUST 4, 1981 FRATES RANCH PROJECT - GENERAL PLAN /EDP AMENDMENTS CONT'D John J,; King, I Street Extension - This project would be a great thing for Petaluma. Hoped there would be a place in this community for his grandAildren. This land is good for one crop a year of oat hay. The only rjeason these people have been able to-survive on this land is because of the Williamson Act. This Williamson Act, was never intended to zone agricultural land, The purpose of it was to save it for the farmer that wished to stay in farming_ If there was no Williamson Act, this land would have been used for some other purpose sometime ago.. The net loss to agriculture. of this 500+ acres is nil. RalphjSartori, 901 Palmetto Way - President of the Petaluma Chamber of Commerce - reported the Chamber believes the project.is the most unique development in recent southern Sonoma County history, combining housing, a golf and alindustrial business park. The Board of Directors supports the concept of the Frates Ranch project. Ed Robert, 518 Vin Rose'. - A time advocate of a golf course for the community. This city deserves and needs a championship caliber golf course. There its a definite need; it will be self - sustaining and not a burden on the taxpayer. Take the bull-by the horns and approve the project. Ray Gambonini, 3270 Old Adobe Road - Concerned about the Williamson Act. This project does not cancel the Williamson Act jursidction, it does propose to amend the boundaries and change them somewhat. None of his neighbors feel this proposal will be a threat to agriculture. FIELDOTRIP BY ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM There will,be field trip to assess the adcumulative impact of the 314 -acre Hewlett- Packard plant site in Rohner`t Park, the 1260 acre .Fountain Grove development in Santa Rosa and the 581 acre Old Adobe /Frates Ranch business and industrial park proposed for Petaluma. The field trip will be on August 8th and begin at 9:00 a.m. from Rohnert Park and is open to the public. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 11:15 p.m. Attest Cb uni y e e opment an P1 nni�g Director -6� . 173