HomeMy Public PortalAboutPlanning Commission - Minutes - 2010-10-12 - Regularti
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PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
OCTOBER 12, 2010
INITIATION:
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
3. ROLL CALL:
Commissioners: 0' Leary, Valenzuela, Horton, Seibert
Also Present: City Attorney Murphy, Community Development Manager Lambert, and Planning
Secretary Venters
Commissioner Seibert - Made a motion to excuse Commissioner Chen for due cause seconded by
Commissioner Horton and unanimously carried.
4. TIME FOR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISH TO SPEAK:
No one came forth at this time.
5. CONSENT CALENDAR:
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: SEPTEMBER 28, 2010
RECOMMENDATION: APPROVE AS SUBMITTED
Commissioner Seibert - Made a motion to approve the Planning Commission Meeting minutes dated
September 28, 2010, with minor corrections seconded by Commissioner Horton and unanimously carried.
6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: NONE
7. NEW BUSINESS:
A. DISCUSSION: DISCUSSION REGARDING DRAFT CEQA GUIDELINES.
RECOMMENDATION:
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS PREPARED
DRAFT CEQA GUIDELINES WHICH EVENTUALLY WILL
BE ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL. AT THIS TIME,
STAFF IS REQUESTING THAT THE PLANNING
COMMISSION REVIEW THE DRAFT CEQA GUIDELINES,
DISCUSS THE GUIDELINES, AND PROVIDE STAFF
WITH INPUT REGARDING THE GUIDELINES. AFTER
THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S INPUT IS RECEIVED,
STAFF WILL PREPARE FINAL CEQA GUIDELINES FOR
PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEW. AT A FUTURE
MEETING, STAFF WILL REQUEST THAT THE
PLANNING COMMISSION MAKE A RECOMMENDATION
TO THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING ADOPTION OF
THE FINAL CEQA GUIDELINES.
1) HEAR STAFF REPORT
2) DISCUSS DRAFT CEQA GUIDELINES
3) TAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS
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Planning Commission Minutes
Date of Hearing: Oaober 12. 2010
• Chairman O'Leary — Asked for a Staff Report.
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4) PROVIDE STAFF DIRECTION
Community Development Manager Lambert — Gave the Staff Report dated October 12, 2010.
Chairman O'Leary — Asked if there were any questions or comments from the Planning Commissioners for the
Staff. The Planning Commissioners did have questions and comments at this time.
City Attorney Murphy - Stated that local CEQA guidelines are recommend for all cities. Stated that smaller
cities are usually one of the last ones to adopt their own CEQA guidelines because large swaths of
development rarely occur. Stated that the set of proposed guidelines are procedural and are in sync with the
State of California CEQA guidelines and will ensure that the Planning Commission carries the ability to approve
a mitigated Negative Declaration. Stated that this document was prepared by his colleague who is a CEQA
expert, and he has prepared this document to match the general pattern of development in the City.
Commissioner Seibert - Asked Community Development Manager Lambert if there would be any changes to
the current CEQA guidelines.
Community Development Manager Lambert — Stated that there are currently no local CEQA guidelines but our
current procedures will not change significantly.
City Attorney Murphy — Stated that once local CEQA guidelines are adopted, the guidelines will be laid out
clearly for developers.
Community Development Manager Lambert — Stated that the City's Municipal Code does not state that the
Planning Commission could not adopt a Negative Declaration, however, the local guidelines would backup the
State guidelines and would set forth how to proceed with a development regarding CEQA review. Stated that
the contents of the Staff Report outlines the role of the Planning Commission regarding approval of a Mitigated
Negative Declaration, a Negative Declaration, as well as exemptions, and that these guidelines will be set forth
in a Resolution once it has been approved by the City Council. Stated that for instance a Tract of five or more
parcels and the Negative Declaration for such a project would require the approval of the City Council,
however, if a residential development is less than five units the Planning Commission can approve the project
and the Negative Declaration. Stated that the Planning Commission would also act as an appeal board in the
event that an applicant felt that their project should be categorically exempt.
Commissioner Seibert - Asked Community Development Manager Lambert if the responsibility of the Planning
Commission is to make a recommendation to the City Council regarding the CEQA guidelines.
Community Development Manager Lambert — Stated that draft CEQA guidelines needed to be brought to the
Planning Commission for discussion. Stated that once the Planning Commission gives their direction, he will
work with City Attorney Murphy, return to this body with final guidelines to request a recommendation and the
City Council will eventually adopt a Resolution to set forth the final CEQA guidelines.
Commissioner Horton — Stated that page 6 section 2.1 item A lists Trustee agencies as the State Department
of Historical Resources, and is unsure if this is a different agency or if it should say State Historic Preservation
Office. Stated that if the two agencies are one and the same it should reconciled, and if they are two different
agencies he would like to know. Stated that he would also like to know how the local guidelines would conform
with the State Historic Preservation Ordinance.
City Attorney Murphy — Stated that there are special regional and state agencies that do not have the
responsibility or the authority that another State agency would carry, however, he would be willing to study how
the State Historic Preservation Office would work with other trustee agencies.
Commissioner Horton — Asked City Attorney Murphy if Section 106 of the Natural Preservation Act would
involve CEQA.
City Attorney Murphy — Stated that he will review the document to make sure.
Vice Chairman Valenzuela - Stated that he is in favor of the draft guidelines as this document clarifies what is
expected of a developer. Stated that page 17, Section 6.4 regarding notice to the public indicates that there
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P l a n n i n g C o m m i s s i o n M i n u t e s
D a t e o f H e a r i n g ' . O c t o b e r 1 2 , 2 0 1 0
a r e t h r e e w a y s t o a d v e r t i s e a N o t i c e o f I n t e n t t o a d o p t a N e g a t i v e D e c l a r a t i o n , o n e o f w h i c h w o u l d b e t o
a d v e r t i s e i n t h e n e w s p a p e r .
C o m m u n i t y D e v e l o p m e n t M a n a g e r L a m b e r t S t a t e d t h a t t h e C i t y i s r e q u i r e d t o n o t i f y t h e p u b l i c i n o n e o f t h r e e
w a y s i n o r d e r t o b e c o n s i s t e n t w i t h C a l i f o r n i a S t a t e l a w . S t a t e d t h a t t h e C i t y d o e s a d v e r t i s e i n t h e n e w s p a p e r
w h e n i t i s a p p r o p r i a t e f o r e x a m p l e ; i f a p r o j e c t i s l o c a t i o n s p e c i f i c t h e C i t y w i l l d i r e c t l y m a i l n o t i c e s t o t h o s e
w i t h i n a c e r t a i n r a d i u s o r i f t h e n o t i f i c a t i o n i s r e g a r d i n g a Z o n i n g C o d e A m e n d m e n t C i t y w i d e , a p u b l i c a t i o n
w o u l d b e p l a c e d i n a n e w s p a p e r a s w e l l a s p o s t e d a t t h e C i t y C o u n c i l C h a m b e r s .
C i t y A t t o r n e y M u r p h y S t a t e d t h a t a d v e r t i s i n g p e r g o v e r n m e n t c o d e w o u l d h a v e t o d o n e w i t h a N o t i c e o f I n t e n t
a n d t h e y a r e p u b l i s h e d i n t h e n e w s p a p e r a s w e l l a s c i r c u l a t e d b y d i r e c t m a i l i n g .
V i c e C h a i r m a n V a l e n z u e l a S t a t e d t h a t p a g e 2 2 , s e c t i o n 7 . 4 . 4 i t e m B i s r e g a r d i n g p u b l i c a v a i l a b i l i t y , a n d
t h o u g h t t h a t a n E I R s h o u l d b e p o s t e d o n l i n e .
C i t y A t t o r n e y M u r p h y S t a t e d t h a t i t i s g o o d p r a c t i c e t o h a v e t h e E I R p o s t e d o n t h e w e b s i t e f o r l a r g e p r o j e c t s ,
h o w e v e r , c r e a t i n g a n a c t u a l r e q u i r e m e n t t o p o s t e v e r y E I R i s u p t o t h e P l a n n i n g C o m m i s s i o n a n d t h e C i t y
C o u n c i l . S t a t e d t h a t o t h e r c i t i e s h a v e d e c i d e d a g a i n s t p o s t i n g e v e r y E I R d u e t o l a c k o f i n t e r e s t f r o m t h e
c o m m u n i t y , a n d t e c h n o l o g y c o n s t r a i n t s .
V i c e C h a i r m a n V a l e n z u e l a S t a t e d t h a t h e i s i n f a v o r o f t h e d r a f t g u i d e l i n e s , h o w e v e r , h e h a s f o u n d a n
i n c o n s t a n c y o n p a g e 3 2 , s e c t i o n s , 1 1 . 3 a n d 1 1 . 2 r e g a r d i n g a p p e a l s t o t h e a p p e l l a n t b o d y .
C i t y A t t o r n e y M u r p h y S t a t e d t h a t t h e a p p e a l p e r i o d s h o u l d b e a m e n d e d t o 1 5 d a y s a s o p p o s e d t o 1 0 d a y s .
C o m m u n i t y D e v e l o p m e n t M a n a g e r L a m b e r t S t a t e d t h a t h e h a s n o t p r o c e s s e d a n E I R i n T e m p l e C i t y ,
h o w e v e r , t h e P i a z z a d e v e l o p m e n t i n c l u d e d a M i t i g a t e d N e g a t i v e D e c l a r a t i o n t h a t h a d a h o s t o f s t u d i e s a n d
s u p p o r t i n g d o c u m e n t s . S t a t e d t h a t s o m e t i m e s a M i t i g a t e d N e g a t i v e D e c l a r a t i o n i s l a r g e r t h a n a n d i s a s
i n f o r m a t i v e a s a n E I R .
C o m m i s s i o n e r H o r t o n S t a t e d t h a t o n p a g e 2 2 r e g a r d i n g p u b l i c r e v i e w a n d t h e d r a f t E I R ; h e w o u l d l i k e t o
p r o p o s e t h a t i n l i e u o f p o s t i n g t h e f u l l E I R , p e r h a p s t h e c i t y c o u l d p o s t a n a l e r t o r b u l l e t i n o n l i n e t o n o t i f y t h e
p u b l i c , a n d t h e y c o u l d v i s i t C i t y H a l l t o o b t a i n a f u l l c o p y o f t h e E I R .
C o m m u n i t y D e v e l o p m e n t M a n a g e r L a m b e r t S t a t e d t h a t h e h a s b e e n e n c o u r a g e d t o u s e t h e C i t y w e b s i t e f o r
l a r g e r p r o j e c t s s u c h a s t h e R o s e m e a d B o u l e v a r d E n h a n c e m e n t a n d B e a u t i f i c a t i o n P r o j e c t a n d f o r t h e
r e c r u i t m e n t o f t h e P u b l i c S a f e t y C o m m i s s i o n .
C h a i r m a n O ' L e a r y A s k e d i f t h e r e w e r e a n y a d d i t i o n a l q u e s t i o n s o r c o m m e n t s f r o m t h e P l a n n i n g
C o m m i s s i o n e r s f o r t h e S t a f f . T h e P l a n n i n g C o m m i s s i o n e r s d i d n o t h a v e q u e s t i o n s a t t h i s t i m e . A s k e d i f
a n y o n e f r o m t h e p u b l i c w o u l d l i k e t o s p e a k i n r e g a r d s t o t h e d i s c u s s i o n . N o o n e c a m e f o r t h a t t h i s t i m e .
C o m m i s s i o n e r S e i b e r t - M a d e a m o t i o n t o d i r e c t S t a f f t o f i n a l i z e t h e d r a f t C E Q A g u i d e l i n e s w i t h t h e s l i g h t
a m e n d m e n t s n o t e d , s e c o n d e d b y V i c e C h a i r m a n V a l e n z u e l a a n d u n a n i m o u s l y c a r r i e d .
C h a i r m a n O ' L e a r y S t a t e d t h a t t h e d i r e c t i o n t o S t a f f r e g a r d i n g d r a f t C E Q A g u i d e l i n e s w a s a p p r o v e d 4 - 0 .
B . A P P O I N T M E N T O F
C O M M I S S I O N E R :
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N :
A P P O I N T O N E P L A N N I N G C O M M I S S I O N E R T O S E R V E
A S A N A L T E R N A T E L I A I S O N T O T H E Y O U T H
C O M M I T T E E .
1 ) H E A R I N T R O D U C T I O N F R O M S T A F F
2 ) A P P O I N T A P L A N N I N G C O M M I S S I O N E R A S A N
A L T E R N A T E L I A I S O N T O T H E Y O U T H C O M M I T T E E
C h a i r m a n O ' L e a r y A s k e d f o r a n i n t r o d u c t i o n f r o m S t a f f .
C o m m u n i t y D e v e l o p m e n t M a n a g e r L a m b e r t G a v e a n i n t r o d u c t i o n .
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Planning Commission Minutes
Date of Hearing. October 12, 2010
Chairman O'Leary — Asked if there were any questions or comments from the Planning Commissioners for the
Staff. The Planning Commissioners did have comments at this time.
Commissioner Horton — Stated that he would like to nominate Vice Chairman Valenzuela as an alternate liaison to
the Youth Committee.
Vice Chairman Valenzuela — Stated that he was under the impression that Commissioner Chen preferred to
volunteer as an alternate liaison to the Youth Committee. Stated that perhaps this item could be continued to the
next meeting for discussion when Commissioner Chen is present.
Commissioner Horton — Stated that he may not be present at the next Planning Commission meeting.
City Attorney Murphy — Stated that Commissioner Chen could be nominated and that this item could be discussed
at a later meeting if he had any objections.
Chairman O'Leary - Asked if anyone from the public would like to speak in regards to the discussion. No one
came forth at this time.
Commissioner Seibert - Made a motion to appoint Commissioner Chen to serve as an alternate liaison to the
Youth Committee seconded by Commissioner Horton and unanimously carried.
Chairman O'Leary — Stated that the motion to appoint Commissioner Chen to serve as an alternate liaison to the
Youth Committee was approved 4 -0.
8. COMMUNICATIONS: NONE
9. MATTERS FROM CITY OFFICIALS: NONE
• 10. ADJOURNMENT:
Chairman O'Leary — Adjourned the meeting at 8:01 p.m. to the next Planning Commission meeting of October
26, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.
Next Scheduled Meeting of:
City Council:
Parks & Recreation Commission:
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October 19, 2010
October 20, 2010