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PUBLIC HEARING – AGGRESSIVE ADDITIONS TO THE ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY WORK PLAN – Zoning Code text amendments to implement the City’s Economic Development Program focused on creating jobs and growing the economy.
Director of Community Development, Chuck Regalia gave the staff report.
Public Hearing:
- Duane DeWitt – Read from a portion of the Constitution of the US, quoting Paul Revere. He further stated this project has come forward because of business people are feeling difficulties and that we all need to bend to their will to get them out of their hole. He also stated that it was not environmentalist that got us into these difficulties but it was business folks. Stated he has concerns because it is a workaround specifically the Stony Point Road shopping center and also has serious concerns with 7-15 and 23-26.
Commissioners discussion ensued:
Extensions and Reactivations (Items 1-4):
All agreed with a straw vote and supported this section
Public and Private Improvements (Items 5-6):
All agreed with a straw vote their support for this section.
Allow More Uses By Right To Reduce Impediments To Business (Items 7-15):
Commissioner Byrd – stated that there needs to be some type of public vetting or additional input from the community.
Commissioner Poulsen – supports
Commissioner Bañuelos – is concerned about the restaurant/bars that serve food and has issues with no public input
Commissioner Cisco – no issues; but would like a definition for restaurant
Commissioner Caston – feels that most should be a permanent change stating he doesn’t want to create unequal opportunities for future business owners. Feels #9 (bars with restaurants) be restricted to just downtown core area and those outside the core area still require permitting.
Chuck Regalia responded that the Councils direction was for temporary not permanent and doesn’t feel it should be considered until it has been tried.
Commissioner Cisco – reiterated that it was for a 3-year period and that it would be a good test period. She agrees with Commissioner Caston’s idea of only the core area being restricted.
Commissioner Poulsen disagrees with limiting it to the core area stating that their goal is to get things closer to the people and would like to leave as is.
Commissioner Caston stated that going outside of the core area this kind of use could be located near residential neighborhoods that may not want a bar going in but would be okay with just beer and wine sales and that there are sensitivities outside the core area that the noticing and Minor Conditional Use Permit process would address.
Commissioner Banuelos – favors leaving it as is and to see what happens in 6-months and monitoring as they go and also agrees with Commissioner Caston’s suggestion.
Commissioner Byrd – is not in favor of moving forward tonight and commented that in the report some places said 6-24 months and some said 3-5 years and would like clarification.
For #9, feels it would be okay with some monitoring on a 6-months basis with an update and does object to it being restricted to just the core area.
Chuck Regalia responded that 6-months is not long enough to monitor suggested that there be regular feedback and that staff evaluate whether or not it’s successful and come back with a report after the first year.
Commissioner Cisco moved that #9 be restricted to the issue by right to the core area and Commissioner Bañuelos seconded. The straw vote resulted in:
4 ayes (Banuelos, Caston, Cisco, Poulsen)
1 no (Byrd)
Modify Design Review Process (Item 16-18)
All commissioners were in support of this section.
Signs (Item 19-21)
All commissioners were in support of this section.
City Initiated Rezonings (Item 22)
All commissioners were in support of this section.
General Plan Amendments (Item 23-24)
All commissioners were in support of this section.
Deferral and Impact Fees (Item 25-26)
Commissioner Byrd – commented his concerns of losing fees that support the department and the general fund.
Chuck Regalia responded to his concern explaining that impact fees are not used for staff resources but are only used for funding a list of Capital Improvements. Fees collected for permits will be collected later versus at time of permit issuance.
All commissioners were in support of this section.
Chuck Regalia reviewed the timeline as requested.
Commissioner Cisco commented that it was not in their purview to make a timeline, that the council would be interested in a review period and it would be up to the council to decide.
Commissioner Bañuelos expressed that she hopes there will be more public input when it goes back to City Council and is concerned with the long term ramification.
Commissioner Byrd hopes his comment regarding review/monitoring will be heard by the Council.
Commissioner Caston feels that the sunset period should be the review period and is comfortable with the 3-years.
Commissioner Cisco made a motion (modifying language in No. 9 to read, “Allow restaurants, with incidental bar, in the core area by right without requirement of a use permit”) and Commissioner Poulsen seconded to approve Resolution 11539: RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE SANTA ROSA CITY CODE TO IMPLEMENTING THE AGGRESSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MEASURES.
The motion carried with the following vote: |