2015/05/28 Planning Commission MinutesMINUTES
May 28, 2015
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 Blanquie presiding.
Call To Order
Chairperson Blanquie called the meeting of the regular session to order at
approximately 6:00 p.m. with Chairperson Blanquie leading the pledge.
Roll Call
Present: (5) Commissioners: Commissioner Blanquie, Commissioner Haydon,
Commissioner Adams, Commissioner Giudice and Commissioner Borba were
present.
Planner III, Jeff Beiswenger; Technical Advisor, Norm Weisbrod and Recording
Secretary, Suzie Azevedo were present. Interim Director of Development
Services, Mary Grace Pawson was also in attendance.
Declaration of
None
Abstention
Acknowledgement of
Chairperson Blanquie 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
A motion was made by Commissioner Haydon, seconded by Commissioner
Adams to approve the minutes of the April 9, 2015 meeting with the following
corrections:
■ Amendment to University District Landscape DAP items of discussion —
Add: Developer to indicate on drawings the use of reclaimed water in
medians.
• In the future, key discussion points, especially with respect to the Specific
Plans will be more clearly defined in the minutes.
The motion passed with a 4-0-1 vote. (AYES: Adams, Blanquie, Giudice,
Haydon; NOES: None; ABSTAIN: Borba)
Approval of the the May 14, 2015 will be deferred to the next meeting.
Unscheduled Public
None.
Appearances
Conditional Use
(CONTINUED FROM THE May 14, 2015 Planning Commission Meeting)
Permit/Site Plan &
Technical Advisor, Norm Weisbrod, presented the staff report. This item was
Architectural Review
continued from the May 14, 2015, Planning Commission meeting because of
Commission concerns regarding environmental review and removal of the
File No. PLUP2015-0001
existing underground tanks. Staff has been in discussion with Costco
Planning Commission Minutes
Mav 28, 2015
Kim Katz/Costco
REVIEW AND
DISCUSSION
Moratorium on Self
Storage Facilities
City of Rohnert Park
representatives. More information is needed to determine whether or not the
Categorical Exemption for Replacement and Reconstruction (Section 15302) of
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is applicable in this case or if a
more robust environmental analysis is necessary. This section of CEQA allows
replacement of a commercial structure if the structure will have substantially the
same purpose and capacity as the facility that is to be replaced.
Mr. Weisbrod stated that Staff recommends that the Planning Commission at this
time table this item. The reconsideration would require a public hearing notice, so
it is anticipated that the Planning Commission will rehear this item in July.
A motion was made by Commissioner Adams, seconded by Commissioner
Haydon to the table the item pending further information. The motion passed with
a 5-0 vote (AYES: Adams, Blanquie, Borba, Giudice, Haydon; NOES: None;
ABSTAIN: None)
Mr. Weisbrod, presented the staff report. At its meeting of May 12, 2015, the City
Council passed a 45 -day moratorium on issuance of permits or entitlements for
new or expansion of various types of storage facilities, identified in the Zoning
Ordinance as the following types of uses:
• Boat, RV and Outdoor Storage Facilities
• Self -Storage Facility
• Vehicle Storage Yard
Mr. Weisbrod stated that his report will outline discussion points regarding
consideration of amendments of Zoning and other regulations to such businesses
and activities. Mr. Weisbrod provided background information related to code
enforcement concerns (storage units used as habitable space), existing municipal
code requirements for these types of facilities and the number and location of
current self -storage facilities in Rohnert Park.
For discussion purposes Mr. Weisbrod outlined the following key topics:
• Retain the existing requirements
• Expand the requirements and restrictions under Footnote Y
• Remove Self -Storage facilities as a use in the Zoning Ordinance
• Vehicle Storage Yard; Boat, RV and Outdoor Storage Facilities
Staff recommends that after discussion the Commission express their concerns
and recommendations regarding self -storage facilities and vehicle storage
facilities. If the Council extends the moratorium, the item would be brought back
before the Commission for more formal action.
The following key points were brought up and discussed by the Commission:
• Who initiated the moratorium? Moratorium was initiated by staff.
• Public Safety: Is there a burden and at what cost?
• Current number of facilities seems appropriate per capita
• Utilize industrial space to promote uses that generate tax dollars
• Storage facility sales tax? Is this something City can initiate?
• Press Democrat site should be saved for commercial use
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Planning Commission Minutes
May 28, 2015
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Chairperson -//Secretabl
• Industrial lands are precious and job creation is number one
• Can City impose restrictions on current facilities, i.e fines etc. Legal
question that would need to be investigated.
The consensus of the Commission was to eliminate the use of storage facilities
out of the Zoning Ordinance and refine Footnote Y requirements/restrictions for
existing facilities.
Items from the Planning
Commissioner Giudice commented on the Sonoma Mountain Village Concert
Commission
Series.
Matters from Planning
None.
Staff
Adjournment
There being no further business, Chairperson Blanquie adjourned the meeting at
7:05 p.m.
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Chairperson -//Secretabl