Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 12/18/1973A G E N D A PETALUMA CITY PLANNING COMMISSION DECEMBER 18, 1973 REGULAR MEETING 7:30 P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS', CITY HALL PETALUMA,'CALIFORNIA PLEDGE A TO THE ,F ROLL CALL: Comm. Balshaw Bellovich hilligoss Mattei i1 Popp Waters Bond I1 STAFF: j Frank B. Gray, Acting Director of Community Development APPROVAL OF MINUTES -CORRESPONDENCE: ECOLOGIC RESOURCES ELEMENT OF „THE -GENERAL PLAN: ADJOURNMENT' Sonoma County Referral - Gossage Avenue -s- -F- intersecti on modification. Public Hearing to consider the adoption of an Ecologic Resources Element to the General Plan. I M I N U T El PETALUMA CITY PLANNING COMMISSION DECEMBER 18, 1973 REGULAR MTLN P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CITY HALL PETALUMA, CA 94952 PRESENT: Comm., Balshaw, Bellovich, Bond, Hilligo'ss, Waters ABSENT: Comm. Popp, Mattei STAFF: Frank B. Gray „Acting Director of Community Development APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of December 4, 1973 were approved as submitted. CORRESPONDENCE: The Commission advised of an announcement from the League of California Cities regarding the Third Institute for Planning Commissioners to be held February 6 - 8, 1974 at the Riviera Hotel, Palm Springs. Applications are available in the - Department of Community Development; however, all expenses and,tuition would have to b'e borne by the Commis sioner attending as money is not available in the budget for this item. Sonoma County Referral - Mr. Gray explained that the' proposed for the Gossage Avenue intersection had previously been brought before. the Commission and the Commission had expressed their concern to-the. County about the removal of eight trees. The Countv had been asked to explore the alignment further to see if they could come up with a plan that would afford the safety desired without removing the trees. Mr. Gray informed the Commission that the County had now come up with another plan which called for the removal of only two trees and afforded a gentler curve in the road. Mr. Don Head and Mr. John Morelli from the Sonoma County Public Works Department were present. Mr. Morelli utilized the proposed plan to show the intended alignment and the placement of addti.onal.widening to facilitate a bus stop. Mr. Head advised he was coordinating with the Golden Gate Transit District for a bus stop at this intersection which would accomodate pulling off the road to load passengers. ,Comm. Waters suggested changing the speed limit �. to 35 m.p_.h.. and adding a blending lane off of Go'ssage Avenue. Petaluma City Planning Commission Minuted, December 1.8, 1973 Mr. Emil Renati a resident of Gossage Avenue, addressed Comm.`Wa.ters and advised that it was extremely difficult and hazardous to get onto Petaluma Blvd. from- Gossage Avenue. He added that he felt the revised plan presented this evening was satisfactory. Comm. Waters replied that he realized that this was an extremely dangerous intersection, but felt that a less expensive method of solving the problem should be explored. Mr., Head .advised that on the original plan a 48" oak had been given priority over the sycamore trees.- The revised plan was now feasible because the oak tree had fallen over and 'only two sycamores would now have to be removed.. Mr. Lloyd Stewart and Ray Peterson, both of Gossage Avenue, addressed the Commission and confirmed what Mr. Renati had said regarding the hazards of this intersection. Chairman Bond Mr. Head if there were any Engineering problems that the Commission should be aware of and Mr. Head replied that there were not. He added they would be putting a guard rail in front of the trees just south of the intersection. Mr. Gray informed the Commission that it was the recommendation of the staff to write a letter to the County informing them that the proposed modification was acceptable and to urge their immediate action from the standpoint of safety. Comma Balshaw suggested this letter be forwarded expressing the Commiss:ion'.s agreement to the 'proposed modification and the other members of the Commission agreed.. Comm. Waters wished to add the proviso that.no turn would be permitted from Gossage Avenue across Petaluma Blvd. North. Mr; Head advised that , an EIR had been completed, an addendum would be made to it., and the matter would be then taken before their Planning Commission and then out for bid. ECOLOGIC RESOURCE'S Mr. Gray advised the.Commission that in accor- O ELEMENT OF TH -E dance with State requirements Conservation and GENERAL PLAN: Open Space Elements had to be completed by 'December 31, 1973. Some cities, including Petaluma, had asked the State if the various -2- Petaluma City Planning Commission Minutes, December 18, 197 r 'i ., elements which would eventually be mandatory could be included in one element and the State agreed. There -fore, the staff created the Ecologic Resources Element which will eventually contain all the elements such as the Seismic Safety Element, Noise Element, Scenic Highways Element, and a Safety Element. The staff chose to use a base that could be put into a machine so that eventually the material could be matched by.a computer. The maps are basic grid maps and ;represent a universal base, consisting of approximately acres per cell. Mr. Gray summarized the contents of the Ecologic Resources Element by briefly reviewing the various i sections. The four resource maps were explained and the�goa,ls and policies relating to open space reviewed. The regulation and control of development on slopes in excess of 15% was discussed. The staff explained that the goal was meant to regulate and i. control, not to prohibit, and that the greater the slope the larger the amount of land that would be required for development. Mr. Gray went on to explain that the budget had included money f.or the funding of a computer type mapping system within the City limits. This ! sys'tem.would be broken down into a 100 meter grid and could produce a slope analysis. The ultimate r esult the computer programming would be to relate all specific factors regarding any one parcel within the City limits. Comm,. Balshaw expressed concern regarding the actual implementation of the goals and policies in addition to all the o.therc prior policies of the City. It was explained that although the goals ,and policies were probably idealistic, they were in accordance with State mandates. Mr. Gray advised that a handbook, was being prepared which would contain all the different policies and regulations of the City regarding open space in one document. ..Discussion followed regarding the Tolay Fault and its possible impact on future developments. The staff advised that exact location of the fault line could be identified by requiring the individual developers to make specific findings on the site. Here again, it was brought out that this type of hazard was required to be identified -3- Petaluma City Planning Commission Minutes, - December 118, 1973 by State law and that •a Seismic Safety Element would be required to_be completed and approved ;I prior to August of Comm. Balshaw requested ' that the Seismic Safety Element be the first of the mandatory elements to be initiated. 1 Comm. Waters ' -stated he felt that "public in formation sould be included in the goal stated i in Section 2.07.04a,'page 58. Mr. Gray agreed and said it would be added. li The Public Hearing was opened. No comments were offered from the audience and the Public Hearing was closed. Mr.. Gray advised that the Secretary of Resources had been consulted regarding the necessity of preparing an EIR on th -is 'element. One circum- stance the Secretary of Resources had stated which would not necessitate an EIR was that if a statement was incorporated into the resolution adopting the element which `stated that the plan identifies problems and indicates mitigating measures. • Mr: Gray read the resolut -ion, for the adoption of the�Ecologic Resources Element and Comm. i Waster's made a motion for approval. Comm. f Bellovich seconded the.motion. f AYES 5 NOES 0 ABSENT 2 Mr. Gray informed the Commission that the City Council would consider the element on January 7, 1974 and it must be sent to the Secretary of Resources after the Council's approval. OTHER BUSINESS: The new Assistant City Manager, David A. Bre..ninger, was present in the audience and Mr. Gray intro- duced :him to the Commis on. Comm. Balsh,aw remarked that, lthough the Planning :Commission was required : to pass on EIR's on projects carried out by the City, none had been received for review although he thought there were some major capital improvements in the Engineering budget;. Mr. Gray advised that the projects the City were currently working on-were - the ones approved two to three -years acre. It was noted that the dredging of the river would require an EIR and that Sonoma County had -4- Petaluma City Planning Commission Minutes, December 118, 1973 W submitted an EIR fox review by the City with regard to the Russian River aqueduct pro3ect. i FA Mr. Gray advised the Commission that a group of citizens and realtors on North Petaluma Blvd. have asked that a special as°sessmen.t district be-created for a sewer extension. The `City Council had referred the matter to Planning and the Commission to determine the impact of such a project. A report will be submitted to the Commission in the near future for their consid- eration. ADJOURNMENT: There being no .further business the meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m. Chairman Atte -5-