1.

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Cisco called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

2.

ROLL CALL

Commissioners present:  Commissioners Bañuelos, Byrd, Duggan, Faber, Stanley and Chair Cisco.

Commissioners absent:  Commissioner Poulsen

3.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The Minutes of September 8, 2011 were approved with corrections.

4.

PUBLIC APPEARANCES

There were no speakers

5.

DEPARTMENT REPORT

Clare Hartman reported on the Annual Planning Commission seminar that was held at Sonoma State University and will forward the PowerPoint presentations to the Commission; she also reported on a memo she sent regarding the upcoming year and highlighted several of the projects with emerging issues. The commission stated they would like to have these projects agendaized for more discussion.

6.

PLANNING COMMISSIONER’S REPORT

Chair Cisco also reported on the Planning Commissioners conference.

7.

STATEMENTS OF ABSTENTION BY COMMISSIONERS

Commissioner Byrd will abstain from Item 9 due to financial interests.

8.

CONSENT AGENDA

None

9.

PUBLIC HEARING – CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT – MEMORIAL HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT EXPANSION – 1165 MONTGOMERY DRIVE – Proposal to allow a 4,900 square foot addition to the existing emergency department and interior renovation, to establish vehicle and bicycle parking requirements, and associated site improvements – File Number CUP 11-055

Ex-Parte Disclosures:

Commissioner Stanley visited the site

Commissioner Bañuelos visited the site

Commissioner Duggan did not revisit the site but is familiar with it

Commissioner Faber if familiar with the site

Chair Cisco is familiar with the site and also sat in on Waterways Committee meeting that reviewed the project

City Planner, Erin Morris gave the staff report.

Wesley Okamoto and Sylvia Botero from St. Joseph Health System gave a presentation.

There was some discussion concerning the expansion as it relates to the master plan, overflow parking in the neighborhood, and possible traffic impacts.

Public Hearing

No speakers

Commissioners discussion ensued:

Commissioner Duggan – likes the project and feels it is needed; expressed support

Commissioner Stanley – also stated it is a good project and expressed support

Commissioner Bañuelos – also supports the project and feels it is a good project; the only issued she has is the removal of trees but knows they will be replaced.

Commissioner Faber –supports

Chair Cisco – supports; appreciates attention to traffic study and ongoing signage improvements.

Commissioner Stanley made a motion and Commissioner Duggan seconded to approve Resolution 11596: RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA MAKING FINDINGS AND DETERMINATIONS AND APPROVING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR MEMORIAL HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT RENOVATION AND EXPANSION LOCATED AT 1165 MONTGOMERY DRIVE, 1177 MONTGOMERY DRIVE, 151 SOTOYOME STREET, 980 SONOMA AVENUE, 1144 MONTGOMERY DRIVE, 1150 MONTGOMERY DRIVE 1154 MONTGOMERY DRIVE, 1166 MONTGOMERY DRIVE, 1170 MONTGOMERY DRIVE, 1180 MONTGOMERY DRIVE, 525 DOYLE PARK DRIVE, 510 DOYLE PARK DRIVE, AND 500 DOYLE PARK DRIVE, APN’S  009-161-003, 009-151-017, 009-171-019, 009-171-023, 009-171-030, 009-172-022, 009-172-019, 014-081-023, 014-081-003,014-081-004,014-081-006, 014-081-027, 014-082-039, AND 014-082-041 – FILE NUMBER CUP11-055

The motion carried with the following vote:

AYES:

(5)

(Bañuelos, Cisco, Duggan, Faber, Stanley)

NOES:

(0)

ABSTENTIONS

(1)

(Byrd)

ABSENT:

(1)

(Poulsen)

10

PUBLIC HEARING – REZONING – 5171 SONOMA HIGHWAY – Proposal to rezone the two parcels totaling 5.41 acres from the existing Planned Development Zoning District to a standard zoning district consistent with the underlying General Plan designation of Retail and Business Services, as initiated by the City Council on August 30, 2011 – File Number REZ11-004

City Planner, Noah Housh gave the staff report.

Commissioner Stanley asked for clarification about the disclosure form listing Shops at Austin Creek.

Commissioner Bañuelos asked about issue of scenic road overlay and if there was any advantage of doing it later with Noah Housh responding that the main benefit would be to someone looking on how development would occur and that the general plan provides a lot of direction and those standards are worked out through the design review process and planning commission process. She also asked if the zone change was made and a project does come along if there would be an environmental review and if there would be an opportunity to look at the scenic road overlay at that point.  Noah Housh responded that there would be an environmental review but with regards to the scenic road overlay, it is essentially a zoning standard to implement a general plan and the applicants fees would not be used to do that as it is an internal project, but they could still use the scenic road overlay standards and development criteria in reviewing that project, and it would be brought before the Planning Commission or Design Review Board.

Commissioner Byrd asked about fees and costs with regard to rezoning if we would recoup any of that when a project comes forth. Noah Housh responded that he is unaware of any direction from the council to add additional costs to a development application to recoup the rezoning costs. Chuck Regalia also responded that it is something they are looking into but there isn’t anything developed as of yet.

Public Hearing:

• Scot Stegeman, stated he has no objection to rezoning but he does object to the loose ends and its doesn’t seem clear to when they would be cleared up; with regards to the scenic road designation he disagrees with staff stating that the zoning code has a number of policies and language that apply uniformly to all roads so if a -SR designation on this site is not adopted that corridor is held to a lower tree protection standard then should happen.  He also feels it would be a bad precedent to say we know it’s supposed to be designated but we don’t have the money for it so we will let a project go forward anyway. He is concerned regarding the pharmacy issue and feels it would be a good idea to have some clarification on that general plan versus zoning inconsistency before there is a project; and does not agree with the CEQA determination that the project is completely consistent with the General Plan. 
• Bruce Codding, one of the property owners – stated that any project would be brought before Design Review and go through all City process. Also addressed issue of trees stating that many of the trees are soft wood and ornamental and some would be removed for safety reasons.

Public Hearing Closed

City Planner, Noah Housh responded to the issues brought up by the public hearing stating that they considered putting this parcel into the combining district but because the funds were only designated for the rezoning of this site and the general plan designated an entire stretch of Highway 12, they wanted to be able to analyze parcels along that stretch to come up with specific development criteria that would be applied in an overlay district. The restrictions in the general plan are not as specific as the zoning code. With regards to the pharmacy issue stated that it was identified and will be addressed in a future work plan; and regarding CEQA issue, they consulted with the City Attorney’s Office and they felt comfortable with the exemption.

Commissioners discussion ensued:

Commissioner Faber – stated it feels like housekeeping and eases the path of development; supports

Commissioner Bañuelos – will support but does have concern over unresolved issues such as the scenic corridor issue and the pharmacy versus the market

Commissioner Stanley – agrees that this is housekeeping and getting in line zoning for redevelopment; also has concerns with loose ends but feels comfortable that we have processes in place to deal with those.

Commissioner Duggan – also agrees that it is good to clean up.

Commissioner Byrd – also agrees.

Chair Cisco – also agrees and stated she is glad to see these rezonings come forward; understands the concerns regarding standards for scenic road but feels that it will be resolved with different process. 

Commissioner Faber made a motion and Commissioner Byrd seconded to approve Resolution 11597: RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA RECOMMENDING TO CITY COUNCIL REZONING FROM THE PLANNED DEVELOPMENT 097 ZONING DISTRICT (PD) TO THE GENERAL COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICT FOR PROPERTIES LOCATED AT 5171 SONOMA HIGHWAY – FILE NUMBER REZ11-004

The motion carried with the following vote:

AYES:

(6)

(Bañuelos, Byrd, Cisco, Duggan, Faber, Poulsen)

NOES:

(0)

ABSTENTIONS

(0)

ABSENT:

(1)

(Poulsen)

Break

11.

PUBLIC HEARING – PREZONING AND ANNEXATION – 2200 PINER ROAD – Proposal to prezone one parcel totaling 10.4 acres to the R-3-30 Zoning District consistent with the underlying Medium High Density Residential Zoning District to allow the property to be annexed from the County of Sonoma to the City of Santa Rosa. The final annexation action is subject to LAFCO approval – File Number ANX07-004

City Planner, Noah Housh gave the staff report.

Public Hearing:

There were no speakers.

Commissioners discussion ensued:

All commissioners expressed their support.

Commissioner Duggan made a motion and Commissioner Byrd seconded to approve Resolution 11598: RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR THE 2200 PINER ROAD ANNEXATION/NWSR ANNEXATION 2-07 LOCATED AT 2200 PINER ROAD, APN 036-011-041 – FILE NUMBER ANX07-004

The motion carried with the following vote:

AYES:

(6)

(Banuelos, Byrd, Cisco, Duggan, Faber, Stanley)

NOES:

(0)

ABSTENTIONS

(0)

ABSENT:

(1)

(Poulsen)

Commissioner Duggan made a motion and Commissioner Byrd seconded to approve Resolution 11599: RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA RECOMMENDING TO CITY COUNCIL PREZONING THE AREA TO BE INCLUDED WITHIN THE 2200 PINER ROAD/NWSR 2-07 ANNEXATION LOCATED AT 2200 PINER ROAD TO THE R-3-30 DISTRICT – FILE NUMBER ANX07-004

The motion carried with the following vote:

AYES:

(6)

(Banuelos, Byrd, Cisco, Duggan, Faber, Stanley)

NOES:

(0)

ABSTENTIONS

(0)

ABSENT:

(1)

(Poulsen)

12.

ADJOURNMENT

Chair Cisco adjourned the meeting at 5:23 p.m. to the regular Planning Commission Meeting to be held at 4:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber at Santa Rosa City Hall on Thursday, January 12, 2012.

PREPARED BY:

Anette Niewald, Recording Secretary

ATTEST:

APPROVED:

Chuck Regalia, Executive Secretary

Patti Cisco, Chair