2018/03/29 Planning Commission MinutesROHNERT PARK PLANNING COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
March 29, 2018
The Planning Commission of the City of Rohnert Park met this date in a regular session commencing at 6:00
p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 130 Avram Avenue, with Chairperson Adams presiding.
Call To Order
Chairperson Adams called the meeting of the special session to order at
approximately 6:00 p.m. with Chairperson Adams leading the pledge.
Roll Call
Present: (3) Commissioners: Commissioner Adams, Commissioner Blanquie and
Commissioner Borba were present. Commissioner Giudice and Commissioner
Haydon were excused.
Director of Development Services, Mary Grace Pawson and Recording Secretary,
Suzie Azevedo were present.
Declaration of
None.
Abstention
Acknowledgement of
Chairperson Adams acknowledged the posting of the Agenda of this meeting in
Public Noticing
three (3) public places, per the requirements of the Brown Act.
Approval of Minutes
None.
Unscheduled Public
None.
Appearances
Development Agreement
CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 2018-22, RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY
Amendment
COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED THIRD AMENDMENT TO THE
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG THE CITY OF ROHNERT
File No. PLDA17-0001
PARK AND SOMO VILLAGE LLC AND SOMO VILLAGE COMMERCIAL
Eric Reid/SOMO Village
Director of Development Services, Mary Grace Pawson, presented the staff report.
Ms. Pawson stated that there have been two issues that have been the subject of
letter agreements between the City and Developer for about a year. The first is a
connection between the Cotati Train Station and the development on the SMART
multi -use path. The Developer was conditioned to complete the project by 2014,
but under letter agreement completed the project in 2017 and the Development
Agreement acknowledges the improvement. The other improvement subject to this
amendment is an all-weather soccer field scheduled to be constructed in SOMO
Mountain Village in 2012, then extended the deadline to 2016. Neither deadline
was met, but through letter agreement the City and Developer reached an
accommodation now proposing to have the all-weather soccer field be constructed
at the City's Sunrise Park by the end of 2019.
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S): Reopen a public hearing that was continued from
the March 22, 2018, regular Planning Commission meeting, hear all testimony,
Planning Commission Minutes
March 29, 2018
and approve Resolution No. 2018-22, approval of the proposed third amendment
to the Development Agreement by and among the City of Rohnert Park and
SOMO Village LLC and SOMO Village Commercial.
Chairperson Adams opened the public hearing.
Commissioner Borba: 1) In terms of Sonoma Mountain Village where the soccer
field was to be located, how will that be addressed in the future? Will there be two
soccer fields, one at Sunrise and one at SOMO? Ms. Pawson stated that the
Developer is processing an amendment to their planned development right now.
The Developer indicated they do want to continue to have some park amenities to
the development. 2) Have the Parks & Rec Commission been kept informed of the
change of the existing Sunrise Park? Ms. Pawson responded yes. 3) Does the
placement of the soccer field impact the existing softball field? Ms. Pawson
responded that yes, the soccer field will have a relatively seamless all-weather
surface and lighting improvement. The outfield of the softball field will be part of
the all-weather surface.
Chairperson Adams: 1) After looking at the drawing, how much of the park is left
between the Sunrise Park neighborhood, soccer field and Expressway? Ms.
Pawson responded that the field is in the same place of the existing soccer field.
They are not changing the dimensions, just the surface. Impacts to neighbors or
vicinity to Rohnert Park Expressway will not change. 2) If used for tournament
play, will there be enough bleachers? Ms. Pawson noted the bleachers in the
drawing are what the Developer has agreed to provide and there is nothing that
would keep the City from making further improvements to the area. 3) Anything
done at this Park becomes property of the City like maintenance? Ms. Pawson
responded yes.
Commissioner Borba: 1) How will people address the issue of softball and soccer
game play at the same time? Ms. Pawson responded that we won't be able to play
them at the same time. Twin Creeks will have soccer and softball fields, so it will
help balance the sports at Sunrise Park.
Chairperson Adams: 1) How much are these fields being used and what's the
impact? Ms. Pawson stated she request that data. 2) Is there something else that
will be out there in SOMO? Ms. Pawson: there will be some park amenities there,
but we don't know what will be there at this point in time.
Commissioner Borba: 1) Why are we doing this again? Ms. Pawson: the
Developers are in breach of the DA. The change in location was a negotiated
settlement to the breach that would allow the soccer field to come on to the City
more quickly instead of the planned development at SOMO. 2) How many acres
were devoted to park space? Ms. Pawson: 5 acres per 1,000.
Commissioner Adams invited the applicant forward.
Representative of the applicant, Aaron Curry, was recognized. Commissioner
Borba: 1) What's the underlining basis for the field to be moved? Mr. Curry: the
letter agreement was the driving force. It arose from economic conditions and the
park not being built on the timeline. The change of location is a great solution to
bring the field on-line sooner. 2) Wouldn't the soccer field be built more quickly at
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SOMO than Sunrise Park? Mr. Curry was recognized and responded to the
Commissioners questions. Ms. Pawson: one of the sites at SOMO is subject to
California tiger salamander, which is why it was delayed at SOMO at the existing
field. South of the existing development at SOMO requires CTS mitigation.
Chairperson Adams closed the public hearing.
ACTION: Moved/seconded (Borba/Blanquie) to approve Resolution 2018-22,
approval of the proposed third amendment to the Development Agreement by and
among the City of Rohnert Park and SOMO Village LLC and SOMO Village
Commercial.
Motion carried by the following unanimous 3-0 vote: AYES: Adams, Blanquie,
Borba; NOES: None; ABSTAIN: None; ABSENT: Giudice, Haydon
Matters from Planning
None.
Commissioners
Matters from Planning
Mrs. Pawson shared with the Commission the annual report from the Sonoma -
Staff
Marin Water Saving Partnership that the City is a part of with the Sonoma County
Water Agency and their nine prime contractors. It has been a successful joint -
messaging and public information partnership.
Adjournment
There being no further business, Chairperson Adams adjourned the meeting at
6:24 pm.
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