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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes 05/25/1971 M I N U T E S ® Adjourned, meeting of the, Petal uma City Planning; Commission was held on May 25, 1971,. at 7:30 o'clock, p.m. in the Courteil Chambers, City Hall, Petaluma; California. PRESENT: Comm. Brunner, Cerini., Hood, Waters, Stanley. ABSENT: None. STAFF: ; William C. McGive,rn,•Director of Planning. Richard D.A. Anderson., Assistant Planner. X.`CONTINUATION OF PUBLIC'HEARING TO CONSIDER PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT POLICY . STATE1,LENT ` FOR- THE CITY OF PETALUMA , RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING ADVI- SORY COMMITTEE.' ..Prior to.continuing the public hearing,carried over from the meeting of May 18, 1971, Chairman Stanley announced the; names of the people who had participated in formulating the policy statement. They are as follows:' City Council Representatives: Robert.A. Brunner, Jack Cavanagh, Jr., and Fred Mattei. Planning Commission Representatives: Paul R. Stanley, Lyle D. Hood, Edward.J. Schmelz. (Comm. Waters served as an alternate member). •�-County;Representat: ves; Philip J. Joerger,-S,upervisor and Walter Minogue, Member, -Sonoma County Planning Commission. Member `At -Large From the.Communi.ty: John Balshaw, Donald Carey, Mrs. Agnes McGillvar,"and-Mike Serpillo. City Staff: Robert H. Meyer,, City Manager, William C. McGivern, Planning Director, David A. Young_, City. Engineer, and Edouard Robert,; City Attorney. Consulting Planning Firm: Sidney H,. Willi-ams, Corwin R. Mocine, Margaret W. Rusche, and`Alison M. Massa,. Ch--airman..Stanle.y .read the remaining policy statements not covered at the previous meeting; -namely, Policies Related to, Commercial and Industrial Development, Policies Related to Ci.rcul.ation, and Policies 'Related t;o Government, Ordinance Administration and Finance. Comm. Waters asked whether the Old Core. Area Plan prepared by Rimov n & Associa.'tes i1,968 would be used. Mr. Sid Williams, Planning Consultant, informed the Commission, some port -ions, -of the plan were good, however, it would be developed,in stages as it becomes economicallly feasible to do so. Mr. To Gaffey, &80 West.Street, inquired h;ow the consultants envisioned development of the Central Business District could,be accomplished economically. Mr. Williams referred t'o the, possibility of using State Laws'for a redevelopment program. (1) PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES MAY 25,;,' 1971, 7: 30. o'clock p.m. COUNCIL CHAMBERS,, CITY HALL PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA Mr.,' Mr.,'Norman Rollins, 32 Branching Way, questioned as to the necessity of submitting detailed plans when applying for commercial zoning. The consultant answered that plans, along with a feasibility or market survey should be required for major rezoning applications. Mr.,Gerard Antheunisse, 620 St. Francis Drive,, asked about the. possibility of allowing bonuses, or inducements, in order to encourage industry. Mr. Williams replied that bonuses are a very questionable practice. Many modern industries prefer a community that re-q,ui.res high performance standards. Since the City Council has not elected to use this practice in the past, this program does not appear to be part of the•Petaluma industrial development policy. Mr.;;Donald Waite, candidate for City Council, requested clarification of the statement, "All existing commercial zoning will be reviewed every five years and excessive zoning reduced." Mr. Williams explained that some years ago there was a tendency to zone land along thoroughfares for commercial uses (it was assumed people did not1wish to live along said thoroughfares'). This practice often resulted in.creating.2.0 times more commercial zoning than was necessary. The .consultant indicated it is not a good planning policy to zone far in excess of demand. • . Mr. Vright asked the consultants whether industrial development will require landscaping to make the: developments attractive. Mr. Williams.said.this would be a requirement. Mr.'Manuel Amaral, 177 Canal -Street, San Rafael, (Property owner in -Petaluma).was of the opinion too much is zoned for industrial uses and stated Petaluma is a "bedroom"' for San Francisco. Mr. Zaffey asked what could be done -if ove-rzoning occurs in a particular -area. `Mr. Williams answered the legislative body has the power..to .ado.pt. any changes they feel would result in a better balance of use for the community. Ch;aiXman Stanley interjected that the results of the Sonoma County Flood Plain Study may reduce the amount of industrial zoned land since some -land. may fall in the flood plain area. Commissioner Waters rarsed'the -thought that some of the industrial zoned land may be in the wrong location. A provision should be made to rezone excess industrial land into some other use. Mr. Jack Garrison, local realtor, asked what protection will be given to investors in present industrial parks, Mr. Williams replied while the city should not be in. the position of. providing a monopoly type sight to investors in the industrial parks, neither should the development of outlying cheaper land be encouraged for industrial users which would be more appropriately located in industrial parks,. (2) w PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES MAY.25, 1971, 7.:30 p.m. o'clock COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA Other_ questions were asked relative to.indus rial zoning which were°.answered by the consultants. At one point Mr. Williams said everything should be done to protect the agricultural base of the community and to encourage the expansion of those types of agricultural industries (such as chicken processing plants, etc.) Referring to the policy relating to circulation the following was discussed: Mr..Charles Rosenbaum, local architect, and Mr. Robert Lagle of Novato, urged coordination between the Flood Plain Study and the .pedestrian walkways and equestrian trails proposed in the policy statement. Mr. Wright, Mr. Chuck Hunter, and Mr. Antheunisse stressed _the' importance of having clear circulation so that emergency vehicles can be made available in a short time to all parts of the city. Mr. Garrison and Mr. Gaffey expressed the need for a different approach to the east -west movement. Commissioner -Cerini voiced the need and desirability for a truck route to keep heavy traffic vehicles out of the downtown area. The consultants.ncted the various changes and additions requested in the circulation policy statement. Commisioner Cerini inquired whether the policy statement was based on just the .committee's recommendations or if it also reflected thefconsultants opinion. Mr. Williams indicated there are no statements included in the policy which are professionally unsound. The.Consultants were involved in the formation of the policy statement. Mrs. Donna Cook, candidate.for the City Council, inquired if the present council will act on the policy, and if so, would it not be:wiser to wait until the new council is: elected before endorsing the policy. Mr.!Williams indicated these are general policy statements. Both the,old:or .the.new council could change them. He further answered it would,be entirely appropriate for those members of the council who A nitiated the program to proceed with the adoption of the statement of,development policy. (3) PLANNING .COMMISSION -MINUTES MAY�i25, 1971,.'7:3.0 o'clock p.m. = COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL .AD' PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA Chairman Stanley closed the public hearing. The Commission will act .on the proposed statement of development policy, incorporating the revisions proposed as a result of the public hearings, on June 1, 1971. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the - Commission the meeting was adjourned. 1' ChairMari Attest: 1 ( 4 )