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, Poulsen, Stanley and Chair Cisco.

3.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The Minutes of December 8, 2011 were approved as presented.

4.

PUBLIC APPEARANCES

None

5.

DEPARTMENT REPORT

None

6.

PLANNING COMMISSIONER’S REPORT

None

7.

STATEMENTS OF ABSTENTION BY COMMISSIONERS

None

8.

CONSENT AGENDA

None

9.

REPORT ITEM – PLANNING COMMISSION 2012 WORK PLAN

City Planner, Clare Hartman gave a report.

Commissioner Byrd asked about the outreach and community input and about any comments that may have been received.

Clare Hartman responded that all of the outreach was specific to the site; she also stated most of the comments that have been received were positive and any concerns that were brought up were addressed.

Commissioner Faber stated that this was a very positive step and sends a message to the business and development community that Santa Rosa is proactive and is trying to expedite and make things more efficient.

Commissioner Stanley asked about the Climate Action Plan and the Station Area Plan and how they will be brought before the Planning Commission.

Chuck Regalia summarized the timeline process and the series of meetings, comment periods, and public hearings that will take place for both the Climate Action Plan and the Station Area Plan. The Climate Action Plan should come out in February and the Station Area Plan in March.

10

PUBLIC HEARING –  ZONING CODE TEXT AMENDMENT – Amendment to change the Business Park (BP), Light Industrial (IL), and General Industrial (IG) Zoning districts to increase permitted uses and expedite re-occupancies of existing structures – File Number REZ11-008

City Planner, Erin Morris gave the staff report.

Commissioner Faber asked about medical clinics needing a Conditional Use Permit if this was implemented using the example of Item 13 on the agenda. Erin Morris responded that if that particular item was implemented 40-60 days from now they would not need a Major Use Permit rather a Minor Use Permit would be needed.

Commissioner Stanley stated retail use and restaurant use was changed to need a Minor CUP under Light Industrial but not under General Industrial Use and asked if there was a reason to keep that as a CUP rather than allowing those uses to be allowed through a Minor CUP. Erin responded that there was a lot of interest in allowing restaurants in the Business Park district, so the proposed zoning code changes reflect demonstrated interest.  Also, at present, the Aggressive Economic Development Ordinance allows restaurant uses by right in the BP and IL zoning districts, which addresses demonstrated interest in these districts. 

Commissioner Byrd asked Erin how the zoning code changes will affect public noticing and the public’s opportunity to give input; does it eliminate the process for public appeal? Erin responded that where a use is permitted there wouldn’t be a public process or noticing of a public meeting where the decision would be made; essentially it would be allowed as long as it didn’t trigger any other codes. The goal with the zoning code changes is that the uses are permitted to the extent that they don’t have the potential to have negative effects on their neighbors or be problematic; she added that there would not be an appeal process.

Public Hearing:

No speakers

Public Hearing Closed

Commissioners discussion ensued:

All commissioners expressed their support.

Chair Cisco also added that our zoning code clusters medical doctors and psychologists together and feels that the definition and the use is very different then what the zoning code anticipates.

Commissioner Poulsen made a motion and Commissioner Duggan seconded to approve Resolution 11600: RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA RECOMMENDING TO CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF A ZONING CODE AMENDMENT TO AMEND SECTIONS 20-24.030 (INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT LAND USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS) AND 20-70.020 (DEFINITIONS OF SPECIALIZED TERMS AND PHRASES) – FILE NUMBER REZ11-008

The motion carried with the following vote:

AYES:

(7)

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

NOES:

(0)

ABSTENTIONS

(0)

ABSENT:

(0)

11.

PUBLIC HEARING –  REZONING – SANTA ROSA BUSINESS PARK – City Council initiated Rezoning of Santa Rosa Business Park on both sides of Dutton Avenue between West College Avenue and Jennings Avenue of 95 parcels totaling 57 acres from the Planned Development Zoning District to the Business Park (BP) Zoning District – File Number REZ11-007

City Planner, Erin Morris gave the staff report.

Commissioner Faber asked if there were any changes that would preclude any other uses with Erin responding that she was not aware of any uses that would become legal non conforming.

Commissioner Duggan asked about boundary of the business park that has two buildings in Light Industrial and two buildings that are in the Business Park and asked if it had any impacts those buildings. Erin responded that those buildings currently have split zoning and it there is no obvious answer as to why those properties have different zoning district and added that they wouldn’t be in worse shape after this zoning and perhaps could benefit as their part of their property would be zoned Business Park instead of PD.

Public Hearing:

No Speakers

Public Hearing closed

Commissioners discussion ensued:

All commissioners expressed their support for the application

Commissioner Stanley made a motion and Commissioner Byrd seconded to approve Resolution 11601: RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA RECOMMENDING TO CITY COUNCIL REZONING OF THE SANTA ROSA BUSINESS PARK COMPRISED OF 96 PROPERTIES LOCATED IN THE AREA GENERALLY BOUNDED BY JENNINGS AVENUE TO THE NORTH, EARDLEY AVENUE TO THE WEST, WEST COLLEGE AVENUE TO THE SOUTH, AND THE NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC RAILROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY TO THE EAST FROM THE SANTA ROSA BUSINESS PARK PLANNED DEVELOPMENT TO THE BP (BUSINESS PARK) ZONING DISTRICT – FILE NUMBER REZ11-007

The motion carried with the following vote:

AYES:

(7)

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

NOES:

(0)

ABSTENTIONS

(0)

ABSENT:

(0)

12.

PUBLIC HEARING – REZONING – MONTECITO SHOPPING CENTER – 560 MONTECITO CENTER, 6240 MONTECITO BOULEVARD, AND 6598 MONTECITO BOULEVARD – Proposal to Rezone three parcels totaling 18.24 acres from the existing Planned Development Zoning District to the Community Shopping Center Zoning District consistent with the underlying General Plan designation of Retail & Business Services, as initiated by the City Council on August 30, 2011 – File Number REZ11-005

DUE TO NOTICING ERROR  THIS ITEM HAS BEEN MOVED TO JANUARY 26, 2012

13.

PUBLIC HEARING –  CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT – AMY’S KITCHEN HEALTH CENTER – 2220 NORTHPOINT PARKWAY – Conditional Use Permit to operate an off-site health center for Amy’s employees – File Number CUP11-072

Ex-Parte Disclosures:

All commissioners visited the site.

City Planner, Lori MacNab gave the staff report:

Cindy Gillespie, applicant from Amy’s Kitchen gave a presentation.

Public Hearing:

No speakers

Public Hearing Closed

Commissioners discussion ensued:

All commissioners expressed their support for the application

Commissioner Poulsen made a motion and Commissioner Duggan seconded to approve Resolution 11062: RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA MAKING FINDINGS AND DETERMINATIONS AND APPROVING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR AMY’S FAMILY HEALTH CENTER A MEDICAL SERVICES (CLINIC) LOCATED AT 2220 NORTHPOINT PARKWAY – FILE NUMBER CUP11-073

The motion carried with the following vote:

AYES:

(7)

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

NOES:

(0)

ABSTENTIONS

(0)

ABSENT:

(0)

14.

ADJOURNMENT

Chair Cisco adjourned the meeting at 5:02 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 26, 2012.

PREPARED BY:

Anette Niewald, Recording Secretary

ATTEST:

APPROVED:

Chuck Regalia, Executive Secretary

Patti Cisco, Chair