HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 05/04/1976A G E N D A
PETALUMA.CITY .PLANNING COMMISSION MAY 4, 1976
r REGULAR MEETING 7:30 P-M.
CITY•COUNCIL CHAMBERS, GITY.HALL.. PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA
The. Plan-ning. Commissl:Yi•c.
ants or..their representatives to 'be '
,.on,,encourage&dppavailable. at, the ;meetings. ao, 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 GALL': Comm. Bond Head Hlligoss Horciza Popp'
Waters- Wright.
STAFF: Frank B. Gray, Act-ing Planning'Director
APPROVAL.OF MINUTES
CORRESPONDENCE
'i
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. Environmental impact assessment _for the, proposed
ASSESSMENT:- WASHINGTON- Washington Creek and Lynch Creek Channel Improve -
CREEK & 1YNCH CREEK. menu between 'U.: S .; Highway �-101 and' -the -outlet of
CHANNEL`IMPROVEMENTSt. both°waterways with the:. Petaluma River..
E.D.P: TASK 'FORCE ,COMMITTEE Sfa.tus..report',to, the Planning .Commiss.ion by the
STATUS REPORT: :Chairman, of, they E.D.P.•.Task Force, Committee.
DOOLITTLE PAINT MART 1.. E,.I.Q. evaluation for the proposed wholesale
E.I..Q,. EVALUATION/.VARIANCE -,paint outlet and -small rental area to. be located
V.5-76/SITE DESIGN IEVIEW.:. at 451 Lakeville -Highway.,
2., Variance.consideration for the project to allow
d i h i d df 25ft
DE SCHMIRE RESTAURANT'--
E.J J.Q. EVALUATION/USE
PERMIT'U6-76/SITE DESIGN
REVIEW:
LAFRANCHI,,. BETTINELLI,:`&
MICHELSEN,- E..I.,Q..
EVALUATION/REZONING Z3 76•.i
a..re uction n t e requ re rear par rom.
to,,'12 ft.
3. Site, design Freview considerationa -for .the -pro-
posed wholesale .paint , outlet,'. and rental area .,.
-1.. Public- Hearing- `to evaluate. the! 'E .I .Q, and
consider a Use Permit to allow the sale of
alcohol in<.a proposed restaurant to be located
at 304 Bod'ega Avenue:,; submitted . by Guy Scohy �
,and Carol Stastny.,
2. 3i'te design review considerations for the
proposed, restaurant andparking area.
Public Hearing to evaluate the ,E.I.Q,. and the
proposed -rezoning of property located at 205 Keller
Street from an ,R ;M-GI District., to,'a. C-0 District to
,construct a professional -office building
.Petaltffid`City Planriing, Commission Agenda,, ;Play 4•,. •1976
,S & M. CONSTRUCTION `- E:I,.�Q, L. Public Hearing to ''evaluate' 'the".E'•.;I ;.Q:_. 'and -'consider
EVAT,UATION/REZONING Z4-76/, the rezoning- application submitted by S & M
SITE DESIGN REVIEW/ Construction'to'rezofi6.p'ropertylocated-at-
TENTATIVE,MAP: z u 303 Grant Avenue•from R-1=6•„50U and..Planned:Unit
Districts 't'o 'a Planiied -Unit District.
2.. Site design review for the proposed, Planned Unit
'Disa'rict• .deve.lopment..', _.
t, 3: Consideration of the Tentative Map submitted for
the `11-1o•t- subd-ivision..
1` ADJOURNMENT
_ • -l' -r. ,tr � 1. u:.h V .'3, �. i. .r cr o ` f F r ., - ' •
M I N U T E S
•P.ETALUMA CITY PLANNING COMMISSION''
REGULAR MEETING '
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS; CITY'HALL =
PRESENT: Comm: - Bond; Head, Hilligoss, 'Hor,c•iza,. Popp,
ABSENT: ' ,Comm. Wright
Waters
MAY 4, 1976
7:30 P.M.
PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA
STAFF: Frank'B. Gray, Acting Planning Director
Fred E. Tarr, Associate�Planner
Leo P. Rachal, Associate Planner
APPROVAL-OF.MINUTES:: The minutes -of April 20, 1976, were approved with the correction
of -a .,typographical error on -page 4, line 28, "without."
CORRESPONDENCE: Mr. Gray informed the Commis'sioiier-s -that copies of the summer
schedule of courses' for the University;of California Extension in -
Berkeley were available for' those who -were interested.
ENVIRONMENTAL ,IMPACT Mr. Carl Jackson of the Sonoma County Water Agency addressed the-
ASSES'SMENT - -Commission-arid-briefly exp'lained,.,the proposed project for im
WASHINGTON CREEK '& provement of --.Washington an'd --Lynch -Creeks f or the west side`' --of town
LYNCH CREEK, -CHANNEL up to-the•:f'reeway. He advis'ed.that•there were no large structures
IMPROVEMENTS: to replace and the.improvements'would conform to the existing box
culvert-under'Madison•Street with some modifications: Mr. Jackson
also advised that landsc'aping- plans would be furnished at a later
date and would:be coordinated:with,the'City.
Mr. Gray asked Mr. Jackson to explain the drop structures where
the outlet comes in against the old, .'Linda Del Mar 'Subdivision..
Mr:'Jackson replied that the Water Agency was aware of past: -prob-
lems with°these property owners'_in trying to -maintain the banks.
He advised that the-intent.at' thistime was to •try to realign the
channels to.bring them in•a't' a•tangential arrangement with the
Petaluma River rather than perpendicular to try to mitigate the
-thrust of ithe water -so the direct force of both streams would not
be flowing -against those banks.
In reviewing the minor concerns stated.in the staff report, Leo
Rachal,-Associate Planner, -,stated -that -one concern was the ques-
tion-of-whoowould-be respons.ible.for•improving low areas where
there was -no excess spoil materials and low.spets•existed. He
advised that a conversation with.the City Engineer indicated that
the Sonoma County Water Agency and the City would have -to make a
joint effort to make sure -that such residential back lots were -riot
completely lost, -even -after channel -improvements -had been com-
pleted.
Comm. Popp stated he�was•,familiar with`the past problems of the
Linda' Del Mar residents -and felt there should be some stipulation
in,City or County ordinances.to•take care of these properties.
Mr. Gray questioned how.the low spots would be filled to insure
Petaluma City -Y
Planning Commission,, Minutes,, M�L 4, 1976
drainage towa-rd, the creek and -preventA pools :,,f r.om',,forming-. 'Mrs.,
Jackson replied that basica,ily.the"material'?generati-d durin .1g,-he,t _.;
excavation is the,p-j�qp I ?_rty ,that the right -of -
way -has back to �.,qFners,.
way -has been purchased from. InIthis particular. project, he
stated. it, would,, -be. 1-ogicallto.,glvew it -back to -the: properties ,who
haV6 retained lArgp,owned, ';r a'd.-the,-materials would'be
p7 qp erties n
wasted on -the s low spots,- in such a manner- - that It. -is. entirely.-
drainable. Mr,. Jackson advised that the AraInage,,drawings in-
dicate how the-cohtracto,r,Is,4 to* leaver -'the, =pToperty,, and he the,re-
f6re did not anticipate
Po 'questioned if,. the, Sonoma Coiunty,.Vaterl Agency would,_have*..,.-,.-_-,
pp7,ques. don y
j urisdiction over the property along tfie'c'kee'k- Mr. Jackson
.,exp ft entirely-
,��a.b ed-that, at this point �-in,, time ,.the; �channe,� s��.are, e
-under private,, ownership'," with - the, �property line. running. to the
center - of the tributaries. ,- He advised that in 'fhe, pAste- the only
-procee(.ing against
j,drisdicti6A: the County had was : an enf or,cement
-individuals -who had-.. done ;;something , within; the channel ,.of; an •ob-7
structiv �e; nature.,: by .-making, that,_pqt,!§on,.sect-ify" whathad been done
-
-:wrong. -� Mr.. Jackson, further explained that after the right-of-way
has'been-physically purchased "it -would be their responsibility.
,
,Comma Head, questipned,ithiq,,f the completion of. E�Ct'wO�Uld
;allow .,those .properties ,,,ptesentl -in ;the, category of a.flo,9:4.
Y.
-hazardous, area .�to,,b,e reevaluated!, and also ,,qu6st.ioii.ed,,j74hq.,.,would :..be
regp'qXis',ib,le,.for ---irftplement,,i.iig he,rep Ar i; -Jackson yalqation_.
'rep lie&:that -it:, couldi�a, a.. difference flood'irisiiraiic&,"'for ,7.,
some..,of. the,pro it -Y perties, �and .;,�ould_be: the responsibil it
_:01
City to; ;request an evaluation .-Mr .- Gray stated that a'rate,-study
was =.presently in process .and a -prbj',,e c.t of this type would make ,,a . . .
difference in such an�evaluatidn.
Mt. "Gray --asked Mr. -: Jackson to ,clarify th:& amount of freeboard over
-1 would., have,
e
th,e%,100 year' storm a and verify the
c -�wo ld-, ._sufficient: �those homes' 43�om'.d
channel , . u b e b f I
10 0ear storm and'kw4it&r-_f Loods, He,-iAlso; reminded Mr,'.Jacks,on',
, backwater that t-
ah,,mea.n. ='the drainage:..-
f romthe -,lots- would.,go., out to the ck, to the
channel. Mr. Jackson stated.. that, Mr, .,•Gray �s? comments weretac-
curate. He -also advised'. that -:the:. —yards under discussion had lost -
A good dealofbackyard-area overl-the years,, -and. the -project would'
restore the. backyards' of some,.,of,:th6;e:people: - Mr. Jackson �expla:in*ed.that,, because the, property owners' -presently have owner-.,
—ship to the,. -center- of ..the.,:,creeik, and.,>the_, County would buy the,
_.
right -of, -way;; , there wou'Ur-b'e a,�buf f err zone from the . top, o,f the
newly .constructed ,bank.,to..what -was; the; -top of "the bank of.,the
existing zchann6l,-- and-, this ;property mould, go back: to property
2: ne&,to,conc-rkte.,line* the.
Chairman Horciza asked "if; was
R b
.entire chann I e,l-. Mr., Jackson stated that 'it vieutld,be earth 'lined
:at a -6 'tor.-Ik_ except. for -,one -'portion between-,. Madison Street
and. Ellis:, Stteet,,which-As', critical.•and would have a rock. lined
_2"
Petaluma City Planning Commission -Minutes, May 4, 1976
'section-. Chairman.Horciza asked'.if the meandering of.the:creek
would dead t'o..erosion,.problems. 'Mr. Jackson replied that in -.-the,
total..design-job-they had`tried to physically change the invert to
control the velocity ,of the water toi, keep it below erosive levels:
Mr- Rachal.r.ead the. -land use and right-of-way acquistion and
traffic considerations indicated in.the staff report, and also
read�the•recommended conditions under„which the Commission should
grant-:environmental.approval: In regard to open space, he advised
there.was-a possibility of _trails'leading-to Lucchesi Park. Mr.
Rachal -stated that since the -Board :of ;Supervisors, who are also
the -Board of Directors for ,the Sonoma, County Water Agency, would,
look at this on May 17th, he felt the Planning Commission should
forward. -their comments regarding open,spat a and conservation at,
this time: .
Mr..'Gray'reques,ted the Commission to -pass -on two considerations to
the -.County: .1.) That'they recognize;,Lynch Creek as -a recreational
resource; since it could link the central portion of,the City to
Lucchesi Park; and 2) that the Planning -Commission and City staff
reserve their comments -on the specific development --plans to see
what the actual construction would-be.
Chairman Horciza questioned,what-,tools would be used to develop
the upper portion toward-Lucche'si Park. '-Mr. Gray replied that the
. intent was-to.reserve•the right to develop it�as open space inithe•
future, and development would occur as�the Millmeister property
and Lucchesi Park developed. Mr. Gray advised the Commission he,
did not„ see any ; problem in -.keep n'g, abreast of the progress of this
project-, since the Sonoma County Water -Agency has always provided
the City with -adequate plans in•the past.
1�
A short discussionfollowed,,,af.ter which Comm. Bond moved to
inform th'e,Sonoma County Water Agency -that the proposed project
was.in..conformance.with•the City's plans,.that the environmental
asgessment-was adequate pending•rev„iew-of final construction plans
by„.tji'e',City, and also advise~the.•Water-Agency that the Planning
Comm ission.views Lynch'Creek as�a recreational resource: The
-motion - was - seconded by Comm. Waters:
AYES 6 NOES 0 ABSENT' 1
Comm., Waters asked -Mr. Jackson about the possibility of improve-
ments;alofig the unsightly area.of Washington Creek between Maria
Drive and',-Ely.Road. Mr. Jackson replied that such requests -are
usually brought -to their attention by,the Advisory Committee
members, but he would.'be glad to take the -message back to the
Committee_ He further advised there were no formal plans to take
care of this section of the creek at this time.
:xz
Petaluma City Planning
Commission,.Minutes, May, '4., 1976 .
P. TASK FORCE
Mr. John. Balshaw, Chairman - of ,the, E.D:.;P': Task-` Force Committee,
COMMITTEE' --STATUS. '
`inforined' ,the.•Commission.::that th"e 28=member Committee has -beep -
REPORT:
broken .down:' to' three>.'bubcommit.tee_'s=sidential,' business,, and
" -
'services": H&'advis'e'dr:that -each;:.of.:ahese: subcommittees have agreed
that ,the original, Environmen:talr:Des igr,r.P,1an is still a valid
d'ocumen.t with ;some' -qualifications,, and they, ar'e:presently.working
on these, areas:"to 'assemb'l-e;a, firial:.versioh-As .a i.Commi.ttee as a •
whole. �, Mr.. .!Ba;lshaw antic paced, :that.*,diter approximately, . two more.
meetings, a ,=draf,t 'r,epor.t,-,,would be re'ady.;;addressing,: 1) General
',policy' recommendations;; '2:)..:How:these:po,l +cy _r•;ecommendations, wound
:a_f=feet the `existing ;E.D..P , -:3) A.� sect on -.a'ddressing comments.
".brought :up .by the -,City Council; and, .4) :,'Implemen;tation ;procedures
:for' proposed :.policies
The time, .schedule -involved.:was..d •scus,sed., :and .Mr., :Gray informed
the •Commission. that the tentative=:sc'hedule •:indicated °f:orwardng of -
the changes to the City 'Council in .August .and the,•Commission would., -
have to hold . public •.hear:ings::b,efor.e • that` time. Mr,. Balshaw
irif'ormed 'the.•Commi'ssion a draft copy would -''be forwarded .to them as
so'on:as possible before: the E.D.P.,'Task'Yorce Committee 'finalized
any:' recommendations:-
DOOLITTLE PAINT :MART -
.Mr::..,Gray brief ly„reviewed .the; request •'for a ,proposed wholesale.
EVALUATION/.
paint outlet and small ;rental• area -'to -be''located at 451 ,Lakeville'
VARIANCE V5 76/8ITE
:Highway.: 'Elevations' •were . furriished, ,the Commissioners and. the.
DESIGN REVIEW.:
location of the project on tlie••site -was indicated. A lir ef';`•
•
n
discussion,follow,ed.
Comm. Waters moved' to direct' ,the • Planning Director °to prepare. aiid ..
pos.t.,a -Negative Declaration, for .tlie,groj,ec.t.. 'T_he motion' -was -
secorided by Comm. Popp- .1
AYES..6 NOES 0 ABSENT'. l' `
Mr.. Gray..explained -.the variance • request `and -the Justifications
given by'.the applicant The four" points- the -Commission -must .
consider .to Justify .granting a variance mere read' from the staff..-
reporto.'Mr'. Gray nformed'ahe Comuissa;gri•all, pr.operty .owners
within 300 feet.had been ,rio,tifed. The'�sze of the loading area
and: the • amount., of truck.. deliveries were_ ques:tioned-. Mr: Dick Lieb ,
speaking for the applicant,; advised-that.,the delivery truck is
ft wide and .would ;'have ,a clearance' of" two feet on' each.
eight.feet
side.,, Mr. Doolittle 'inyformed' the'•Commission, he,:would -have, .one: big,';. :..,
,. .
delivery'• a.week, ' with some;';, otfferi 'small •dbliveries such as UPS'..
x
„ Comm. ;Head* questioned; if' ad'eq.uate fire protection• Maas; 'being -pro-• .,
vided-. , Mr: Lieb explained that construction 'of • the building would
.{.,
in .fact .exceed' ttie. -fire. 'stan.dards"',required :for that zone;:, He also':
informed' the -'Commission:'.that 'Mr,. Art: Agnew, Jr.: ' of Sunset Line" , and _
Twine; had" indicated --his :approval , of the project .7-- wHe- :also .advised
that Sunset:L n6 arid Twine: was.pr-opos ng additional landscaping,
and parking around .their structure.,.
-4-
Petaluma City Planning Commission Minutes,,May 4, 1976-
Comm. Bond° -,questioned if the truck traffic from this business
would�be more:than from.the present, -business, and expressed his
concern of trucks backing,up into the -street. Mr. Doolittle
replied that he would still only have.his regular shipment day,
and that the truck°was..not that large to cause concern.
Comm. Hilligoss questioned who would use the rental area. Mr.
Doolittle replied that they would•probably need to utilize the
whole., building themselves...
Chairman-Horciza asked for -comments, from -the audience; however, no
comments were offered.
Comm. Bond moved to grant the variance based on the findings
indicated in the staff report. Comm. Hilligoss seconded the
motion.
AYES 6 NOES 0 ABSENT 1
Mr.. Gray advised that the site. -design for the proposed project was
r -basical'ly compatible with the.ex-isting Sunset Line and Twine; and
that the.Architectura.l & Site Design,Review,Committee had reviewed
the project and,made recommended:changes to the staff's recom-
mendations for approval. Chairman Horciza, a member of this
Committee,,, clarified that..the;app.licant had not disagreed with any
of the recommended conditions of approval at the time of the
• meeting.
Comm.. Hilligoss moved -to approve the.site design with conditions
of.approval'as,agreed upon.at�-the time of the Architectural & Site
Design-Review-Committee.meeting. Comm. Waters seconded the motion.
AYES .6 `.NOES 0 ABSENT .1
DE SCHMIRE RESTAURANT
Mr. Gray briefly explained the request. by Guy Scohy and Carol
- E..I.,Q:. EVALUATION/
Stastny to locate a French restaurant at 304 Bodega Avenue. He
USE PERMIT U6-76/SITE
'explained that.a Use Permit_ was necessary to allow serving,of.beer
DESIGN,'REVIEW:
and-wine•with the meals in a C--N District: The environmental
considerations were then reviewed.
L
.
The public hearing relating,'to the Environmental Impact Question-
naire was opened. No comments -were -offered from the audience and
the public.hearing was closed.
A brief.discussion followed -regarding the utilization of the
overflow parking area across'Bod`ega Avenue. It was also clarified
that there. would be nine parking spaces behind the restaurant and
the^facility-would only be designed to seat•25-customers. Mr.
Scohy stated,.the employees..would,,be.mainly himself and his wife,
and.:therefo_r.e these parking spaces.would not .be taken -up by
employees
Comm. Popp moved to direct the Planning Director to•prepare and
post a'•Negative Delcaration for the' project. The motion was
seconded by Comm. Head.
AYES 6 NOES 0. ABSENT 1
-5-
Petaluma City Planning Commission Mibdt.es,'May 4,°197:6..
The `�ubli-c h:earing' re'la`ting;;::to, the._Use.:P:•ermit was opened. No
c6mment's• werE offered'. from, thei audience and the public hearing waas
closed".
';Carom. Bond guesttoned" if the' restaurant'•s. sale of beer, and wine
had to be licensed by the ABC, and what •the 'Commi•ssion's function
;in reviewing -the 'Use :Permit was,. Mr. Gray replied that although
"
the••ABC- had to grant tthe liquor license,, the Commission"s function
was to insure the' compatibility of the °us'e 'with the surrounding
neighborhood.. He further advised that complaints by residents in
the neighborhood- would, be. a reason. -not .to' grant the Use Permit.
Comm. Popp moved to .grant, the Use -Permit with -conditions' of
approval as stated in, the st.af f report.. Comm. Hilligoss seconded
'Ehe.motion.
AYES 6 NOES 0 ABSENT 1
The 10 conditions of approval for the site..design as recommended
by the staff and concurred with by ,the Architectural & Site Design.
Review Committee were then read. 'Comm;. Head questioned how the
`applicant felt about these conditions.,'since he felt some of 'the
requirements were rather' expensive for -a.small businessman,
particularly the need to widen the.. driveway to. 20: feet. Mr. Gray
replied that re.si.dentia_1 prop erties'surrounding commercial •uses
must`be protected, and that was the intentof the conditions of
approval. He further stated that the parking area across the
•
,street was already an oiled surface. The landscape plans for, the
.:project -were, furnished•'by the applicant.•'and br:ief-ly examined. A
short discussion followe& with regard -to -the recommended condi-
tdons' of approval..
Comm. Popp maved•for approval of the site design, with conditions
of'approval as recommended by the staff and concurred with•by the
Architectural- &' S .te Design "Review Committee. 'The motion was
•seconded°•by Comm. Hilligoss..
AYES 6 NOES 0 ABSENT 1
LAFRANCHI,, BETTINELLI
Mr. Gray briefly explained the request 'for rezoning of property
& MICHELS'EN = E..I:Q.
"ldcAted at ,205'Keller Street .from. an R-M=G District to a C-0
EVALUATTON/REZONING
District for 'the purpose of constructing a professional•office
Z3-76:
building. Plans for. the pro,posed•,building•were furnished the
Commission 16r review.: Mr. Gray stated that -the Commission should
consider 'the fact that 'the'only�access .for the project would be
`ont`o• Keller' SiOreet, and', that the City had applied for Housing and
Commuriity'•-Dedeloptnent. Act' monies -to purchase this parcel for a
senior -'citizen housing pr.oj:eet. H'e.informed the•Commission 'a
'
traffic ana_lys s�'had been .prepared 'by. Mr. Martinez, a traffic
engineer;; 'whi.ch vindicated that the traffic generated by this
proposed office. building would be ver.-y ;small and. would -not have a
substantial impact;on-Keller Street• as a residential street.
,A•lthough the,traffic_generated would be three times as much as an
-6-
Petaluma,City Planning Commission Minutes, May 4,_197.6
apartment type•iise,'Mr'. Martinez; -,considered the,amount•still.to be
insignificant: Mr. Gray stated,.the.factor still remained that the
Planning Commission -would have to•dec'ide.where commercial develop-
mentrshould be stopped from spreading=into the residential areas.
Comm.:.Head•stated that since the proposed project was within the.
Redevelopment. Area, approval. -of -such a -project would be defeating
the purpose of upgrading the cor,e.area. He contended there were
.presently all -types -of commercial -buildings vacant within the core
area.and:the,City should concentrate:on the existing surplus.
Comm. Bond.questioned�the-buffer concept. Mr. Gray replied that'
it was-a.concept that.the neighbor's were.=apparently in favor of,
and that -the idea of,the buffer was,to:provide some -low -intensity
use operating during daytime hours, located between the core area
and the residential areas;, Mr, Gray stated that the neighbors
were'.in favor..of this proposal -because -of the low profile of the
building-:in:comparison to.a s'enior-citizens' project, which would•
be at least two stories in -height.
.Comm,. Head questioned•if there.was any other area in Petaluma that ,
could be utilized for the senior citizens' project. Comm. Hilligoss-
also questioned if there was,an-alternate.spot, and if,the Com-.
munity Development money-would,be affected if this property was -
rezoned. Mr. Gray replied that three sites -had been applied for--'
the -subject site, the St.. James Church..site, and the.old-General
Hospital site. He added•„that.rezoning of the subject site and
site. -design approval -for the project would•substantially eliminate
the .site .from consideration. Mt. Gray also advised that by re-
zoning the property-and.ap,proving-,site design plans, the value.of
the -land would be increased considerably, and if the City in turn
would buy the -property through..cond`emnation they would-be forced
to pay-much,more•for the land.
Comm: Water.referred to the•Redevelopment-Plan and asked how this
project fit into it: Mr. Gray stated it was currently designated
as a;.s,tudy area.in:the Redevel.opment:Plan because.the City had an.
active case,file.on it.
The public hearing relating to the,Environmental-Impact:Question-
naire was opened. Mrs. Gillette -informed the Commission she had -
bought -,the property adjacent-to,the site -approximately six months
before, and she.had-discussed the project with six to eight
neighbors who -were in -favor of this type of development and
against garden,apartme.nt type development. She also stated she
had not,been officially notified of the meeting. Mr. Gray replied
that all people -within 300 feet had been. -notified from addresses
taken off of the latest assessment -roles; and if she had purchased',
the property recently the•.records,had probably not been -changed.
He also stated the public hearing had been.published-in.the paper.
Comm. Bond questioned why she objected.,to the senior citizens
home.. Mrs. Gillette replied that although she had -not seen the
plans,.she would imagine it--would-increase-traffic in an area that
was already congested>and•where parking was practically nil:
-7--
Petaluma.City Planning Commission Minutes,•May 4;-1976
'Mrs; Fred' '•Schram,•• represent ng- the Chamber --'of Commerce, informed
the, Commission'there was=viftuiall'y no situation in�downtown
Pet:al�a.ma at • this time where �a ' firm. could ,'locate and have parking
in close proximity to ;their business: 'He -stated he felt the
project with the parking proposed -would be an advantage to the
community.
Mr. Dick Lieb, representing the applicant, stated.that there has
been a`frend in the past -for using,this''type of a use.as a buffer.
He also stated the''neighbois were in -fairor of the use since it
would•not have any weekend traffic. Mr. Lieb stated.he did not,
feel the topography was'ro.per'for a senior citizens' type de-
velopmente' He also informed Comm. Head that most available
commercial spaces in. the core -area were uisually located in•an-
tiqua'ted'`upstairs facilities that did riot:have additonal.parking.
Comm.' Head replied-that..it.was the intent to:'have additional
parking downtown within-'the,next five years;and he felt the only.
~alternative to encouraging property owners to. improve their
property was ,to insure that the City provided adequate parking for
tenants. He.further'stated•tha.t the downtown improvements would
cost °the ta.�payers-:additional money, and 'he objected to generating
additional•interferences'•such as the proposed rezoning.
Mr.- Gray advised'th'ut the parking proposed,In the -.Redevelopment
'Plan for the first-phase'for-l0-years-in-the,future was simply a
replacement-of'the parking that would be removed from Petaluma
'Blvd. and'Water Street from a public safety standpoint, and would
not provide•iany.ddditional,parking. He went -on to say that the 25
year long-range.plan.did' anticipate an increase in the parking
area, and it -was also hoped=that'the bus system. would help the
situation. Mr."Lieb'stated that the taxpayers -of the City had
loaned`,$50,000'to 'the.,tore:area Community -Development- Commission,
but if the project goes a'hea.d.it.woul:d,not be.costing the tax-
payers -additional -money; but would be costing the core.area.owners
and merchants. Comme Head argued that whatever. the deficit was,
someone was -going- to haue to pay -the money , and it ••would. be the
..taxpayer.- :Mr.'Lieb in;forined Comm. Head of the Community Develop-
ment-Comihission's,,intent to.have a self paying project, and
explained the principal behind redevelopment-throirgh assessmentsa
Mr." Lieb stated he did no,t 'feel that.�the' access off of. Keller
Street should -be consldered'�an environmental detriment, since -the
Sierra Bank already had-,aCccess onto�Kehler'Street and they had
loca�_ed_"the proposed- access close.to the -existing .one to avoid the
residential areas, -. Comm. Head saat'ed,he -felt there was a conflict
between ,th_e, redevelopment•-pr&J and -th`e .proposed rezoning. Mr.
Lieb'felt .that the Pr.oj`ect Area Committee did -not feel there was,a
great-conflict.and 'the„fe'elings of the neighbors had been inserted
into the • P. A. C`. hearing,, Comm,. Bond' again ,addressed the transi-
ton idea;land a great deal of discussion followed regarding the
maintenance -of the compact -as . pect of the downtown area and the
extent to which the, buff Or zone should"exist.
Mr. _ Emmett- Dado informed ,;the , Commission:,he , owned � property on
Liberty Street adjacent to the,proposed,site and he also repre-
~ Petaluma City. Planning:Commission-Minutes; May.•'4, 1976
.sented-.another' ro er,t p p y:,owner, Mr. Henry--Reynaud, who was unable.
to be, -present -this evening: He spoke about.traffic problems in
the-past..and `spoke•against.•development-of a senior citizens'
project, or an ap.artmeht-,garden.complex; stating he -did not wish
the additional tr,affic.that would result. Mr. Dado stated that in.
talking• wi-thi his- ne 'gb bors on : Liber.ty • and'- Keller, they also were
opposed to•apartment.type development: He closed by stating he
like the idea of the buffer zone•that'.the proposed project would
create.
Mr.'Bettinelli informed the Commission that he felt it was archaic.
Planning. to.haye an apartment'as a transition between commercial
-and resident iiaL uses,., and he•,felt the project would provide°an,
appropriate buffer. He,stated..he feltthe project would.be of
benefit-to.the-City,.s;ince the tax money would-be going for core
area.:redevelopment; and the•traffic,.st_udy had indicated that�the
traffic generated in the past from the parking area use was more,
than what -the intended use would-be. A discussionfollowed
regard"ing•the amount,�of units -,a senior citizens' project could
contain._and:itsfaffect on"the.sur.rounding-area. It was clarified
that a�-'two-story building,could accommodate approximately 20
senior citizen units: Mr. Gray informed.the Commission that he
had asked•the.present-building to -be so designed as to -not cast a-
shadow:bn any of the primary,structures around the proposed
development, -:,and thereby would protect the living environment of
the adjacent neighbors.
Mr, Bob-Koenitzer,spoke in favor .of. -the -project, stating that
although,it might increase the traffic during -the day; it was the
evening traffic that he -objected to: He,therefore preferred a use
that would•not,generate�such.traffic.
T-he.p.ublic.-hearing was closed. Comm. Head moved to require an
Environmental Impact-Report_-to•obtain additional information. The
motion died. for• a lack of a second.
Comm. Bond.moved-to direct the:Planning.Director to -prepare and
.post a•Negative Declaration for -.the project. The motion was
seconded by Comm. Popp.
AYES, 5, NOES 1' ABSENT, 1
The public hearing relating to;the rezoning was opened. Mr. Fred
Schram, speaking as--an.adjacent•property owner, informed the
Commission -of -,some -of the parking,problems in this area and spoke
in favor•of the proposed project. The public,hearing was then
closed.
Comm. Head:moved that the zoning remain-.thevsame.in•order not to
set a•precedent.,,.and therefore recommended denial, stating that a
line .must -be.d'rawn-where;the buffer zone-should,be. The motion
died for,ilack of a second,
Comm. Bond stated.he was 'concerned about -transitional -zoning and'
also: as - to: whether the .,project, was ;in fact "spot zoning."° However,
-9-
Petaluma City Planning Commis s 'ion . Mihutes.j . May- 4,, -? 19-.7 6,
--he st2ate&'he,. felt- the., use -was. -an;.appropr-iate transitional one, and
the'ref ore �ma:de- ;Ia.-.motion to -.recommend.- to the - City Council to rezon
the - subj ect:-, property. . to.a., C-O'. District. _Themotion was seconded
Waters.... Comm. I Popp spoke -In - f avor of - the project as a
transitional., use., 1".% Chairman Horciza stated he hoped • it would - cut
down . on,,, the,: traf
fic: and also stated that
-ideal.-spot.-for a senior citizen
-he. felt.: the wa:s, note. ahi
AYES 5 NOES I ABSENT 1
S & M�CONSTRUCTION;*- Mr..:* Gray informed the- Commission .,that: under the Fair Political
E.I.Q. EVALUATION'/'�, Practice Act` h6-had 'to. disqualify himself -from the discussion,
REZONING4'Z4,-7&[.SI_Tt since:. -he, -owned -property, across -the -street' from the proposed.
DESIGN -REVIEW/ develbpment,,, and- could! materially, benefit from .:rezoning of the
TENTATIVE` MAP: subject :property,. . He -therefore took. a •seat in the, audience.
"Fred .Tarr;, Associatt: Plann
ers. the request to
rezone. -property -Iocate& at 303 Grant Avenue from R-1-6.,500 and a
Planned -Unit -'District. -'to a Planned Unit -;,District.. The environ-
-ment a-1 cons iderat ions, If or. the -proposed!pr.oj ect were then reviewed.
Mr. Tart iftf orifted the:. Commission that, a , portion of the. property
r -eight units- and since
had P.±e viousIy, -received. an 'allotment .for
only,four units-remain6d.for consideration; 'they would not need -to
be,consideredby the zResidential -Deve-1:6pindn HE
Evaluation Board6
advi.s"'eied that the transfer of -allotments - had been granted -by the
City ,Council'.
Chairmah'. Horciza questioned- the . -.,developer, if -he, had decided to
build -. the triplexes - on Lots 7, and 8 of the subdivision,. Mr.
"Pac'hPtd-. 'replied that he 'had decide'd:to-bu'ild,,single-family -units'
A orft these two .'lots rather than -the •-triplexes... Mr; Tarr then read
the recOmme-tided. c:ond . iticin of the ArchltecturAl & Site Design
Revlew,Committee, stating, th
at in the event:th,at, single-family
constructed on Lots:, 7 and, 8 rather than triplexes; that
site-: design�,�-review shall be required- to - modify. the PUD plan.
Comm. Hillig&ss questioned -if, the development could not be,built
under R-1-6,j500 zoning,. .'Mr'.-, Tarr replied that., although - this
zoning could .be' applied,, Planned -Unit -District, -zoning would,
eliminate' the chanceof, the -.lots 'being .;subdivided further.
iComm., Bond que,,,>'tioned-the-addi-tional.traffic that would-be generated
�Iby thepkoject.,and, expressed c6ricern:,abou.t-any additional, traffic
.on Grant Avenue-; since, it was not ., f ully F developed - and also was-, the
location. of a school. Mr. Tarr replied that there would be'approxi-
_m�iteIY 90 additional . tr.Ips_per • day He .:advised' that at the Ten-
Ive -'Map stage stop."sIgns,, -on 'tat one-half- .width street -improvements on
'Grant standards. would-be required.
"Add -a.t:ul-de7-,sAc .'to :,City
Comm. Bond then. 'jue'st'loned the-size'_.'of'-t'h'e homes proposed. Mr.
cb - - 1: Is 2 JOU sq., f t. . and 10
Pgche��_ - replied that the -home on.i�!Lot, the
the ge%between 1j80,0 and 1,.900 sq. ft.*
.-rest t -homes would'
Petaluma City Planning Commission Minutes,: May .4,, 19.76 "
' Comm7.` Popp "remind'ed''the_ Commission., that_ the previously approved
pla)tP•had'access.from•the'"side:o'f:'the..property, with•only a 20-foot
private'13treet_ Hey therefore `,felt that .the proposed project,
which.. cons steed 'of a,',fu11 street •. was:• a -.big improvement over the
"prior. plan,iand-,provided bett°er irigress;-and egress -to Grant Avenue.
The public.hear.ing"tegarding-the Environmental Impact Question-
naire wass.opened. Mr. Runge; a resident of -the area, stated he
was.impr'essed .with what was pr,oposed"and he approved,of the
..project',. •provid'ing. that -the triplexes. are eliminated. Mr. Ray
Rickey,,:.. -an`, --'area: property_ eowne'r; at'ated • there was a lot of traf f is
in the evening from teenagers, but•he f,eht-the project would be a
nice addition to,the neighborhood. Mr: Dale Amsberry stated he
was concerned about+add tiona'k�,traf.fic;.since the condition of the
f street ims, .not .-good., -and he,was •:in:.favor of something being done
t to "iinprove:-lGr-ant,:•Avenue:. . He also,. expressed concern about any
proposed,stosm •drdinage'• and:-s.tated.he was- glad the developer had
decided to•eliminate,the triplexes: Mr. Harold Nelson also stated
he.was: glad .that the triplek proposal had been eliminated, and was -
in -favor of the project since _it.would•be located on a standard.
City street. Mr. Amsberry requested clarification that further
'lot• 'spl t.ting'•wouI'd•-n'ot: be- possible' under a Planned Unit; Develop-
ment-: Mr. Tarr replied that was correct:,,since any further lot
splitting-.wouldrequire rezoning,, which would -also require an
additional public,hearing.- The public hearing was then closed:
Comm. Bond moved -to direct the Planning -Director to prepare and
post.a,Ne.gative'Declaration for the -project. The.motion was
seconded by Comm. Popp.
AYES 6- NOES 0, ABSENT. 1
The public hearing regarding the rezoning was then opened. No.
comments were offered from the audience, and the public hearing
was closed:
Mr. Tarr read-the•six conditions of•approval for the PUD rezoning
as -recommended -by -the -staff. He also reminded the Commission.of
the additional condition recommended by the -Architectural & Site
Design,ReviewiCommittee that site design review-would.be required
to modify•the PUD plan if.single-family units were built on Lots 7
and 8,.,and the..developer:would then have to comeback before the
Architectural•& Site Design-Review,Committee for approval.
The four specific findings for -the proposed,Planned�Unit•Develop-
ment-necessary for -the rezoning,as recommended -by the staff were.
read. Comm: Popp moved to recommend approval of the proposed
Planned•Unit.District zoning to the City Council with conditions
of approval -as stated. .The motion.was.seconded by Comm. Waters.
AYES 6- .NOES 0 ABSENT 1
-11
Petaluma City Planning Commission Mi:nut;es,;. May;:.4,.• 1,9:;7.6
The: conditions. of.t app.rovaa- as: recommended, -by the staff and the
- Arch:itectural :fir .Sit.e: Design Review;::Commttee were reviewed. It
was:. 4etermined, to,, eliminate, Condit -ions,. No. 1 (:a) , 2, and 3. Comm.
t .,.Waters" moved to' approve the siteY•:des-igri, with, conditions of ap-
proval as mod-ified.'•:.The..:motion was seconded byComm. Hilligoss.
-.--AYES 6 NOES ; 0• . ABSENT, .,;l s
iThe, staff --report relating; to 'the:; Tentative 'Map for the proposed
11-lot:subdivision-was briefly -reviewed -,.and the•recommended
conditions of .apprgval .of the Planning', Depar,tment-• and City En-
gineer, were read_..:
:Comm: Hilligoss moored to. ;recommend ..to they City Council approval of
the .Tentative Map 'for the Pacheco Subdivision, subject to the
conditions of. the Planning Department.• and.. the,. City Engineer. The
motion was secgnded' by•Comm. P:opp..
AYES' 6:' NOES, ' 0 ABSENT 1
ADJOURNMENT:, There; being :no, further, -.business-,, the;,meet ng adfourned at 11:05
p,.m,
Attest: i ,...
.. 'Chairman CJ
=12^^ -