2014/01/16 Planning Commission MinutesROHNERT PARK PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
Thursday, January 16, 2014
SPECIAL MEETING
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 Vice -Chairperson Giudice presiding.
Call To Order
Vice -Chairperson Giudice called the meeting of the regular session to order at
approximately 6:00 p.m. with Chairperson Adams leading the pledge.
Roll Call
Present: (4) Commissioners: Commissioner Blanquie and Commissioner
Haydon, Commissioner Borba and Commissioner Giudice were present.
Commissioner Adams was excused.
Development Services Manager, Marilyn Ponton, Technical Advisor, Norm
Weisbrod and Recording Clerk, Sonia Espino were present.
Election of Officers
Commissioner Haydon nominated Gerard Giudice to serve as Chairperson. The
nomination was seconded by Commissioner Borba and approved with a 4-0 vote.
(AYES: Borba, Blanquie, Giudice, Haydon, NOES: 0, EXCUSED: Adams)
Commissioner Haydon nominated Blanquie to serve as Vice -Chairperson. The
nomination was seconded by Commissioner Borba and approved with a 4-0 vote.
AYES: Borba, Blanquie, Giudice, Haydon, NOES: 0, EXCUSED: Adams)
Declaration of
Abstention
Acknowledgement of
Chairperson Giudice 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
The minutes of the December 12, 2013 meeting will be presented at the January
23, 2014 meeting.
Unscheduled Public
Appearances
Conditional Use Permit
Technical Advisor, Norm Weisbrod presented the staff report. The applicant,
Flipside Bar and Burger proposes refurbishing the interior of the building (formerly
File No. PL2013-011 UP
Latitudes) for their restaurant. They are currently located in Santa Rosa and this
will be their Rohnert Park facility. They serve American fare including burgers
NinoRabbaa/Invest
and hot dogs, salads and sides, soups and sandwiches, shakes and desserts.
Hospitality Wine
Mr. Weisbrod reported that they are also including a microbrewery in the proposal
Country
which requires a Conditional Use Permit.
Planning Commission Minutes
January 16, 2014
Applicant's Proposal:
Restaurant - The interior of the existing restaurant would remain in its original
state with some refurbishing. There is an existing kitchen, bar and seating area.
There is also an existing deck overlooking Roberts Lake and the golf course. In
the past the deck has been covered. The deck provides an attractive outside
eating area.
Microbrewery - The microbrewery would be located in a walled patio area on the
west side of the building. The area will be completely enclosed and a metal roof
will be added. There will be two metal silos located on the west side of the
building. The smaller is ten (10) feet in diameter, sixteen (16) feet tall and sits on
a three (3) foot stand for a total height of nineteen (19) feet. The larger tank is
twelve (12) feet in diameter, twenty (20) feet tall and sits on a four (4) foot base
for a total height of twenty-four (24) feet. The large tank is used to hold the malt
to make the beer and, according to the applicant, reduce the number of truck trips
necessary to deliver the required materials. The smaller tank will be used to store
additional malt or to hold the spent grain waiting to be removed from the site.
Eight (8) to ten (10) foot high stainless steel tanks involved in the beer making
process will be located in the brewing room. For illustrative purposes only, an
attached diagram from Moylan's Brewery and Restaurant in Novato has a visual
representation of the brewing process. The brewery would produce twelve (12)
batches a month and 320,000 pints a year. All of the beer produced would be
consumed in the restaurant and they will not bottle and sell beer for off-site
consumption.
Based on the analysis and findings of this report and the attached resolution, Mr.
Weisbrod recommends that the Planning Commission, by motion, adopt
Resolution No. 2014-01 approving the Conditional Use Permit to allow the
addition of a microbrewery to an existing restaurant, subject to the findings and
conditions of approval.
Chairperson Giudice opened the public hearing.
The applicant, Nino Rabbaa was recognized and answered questions from the
Commission. Items of discussion included:
• Brew and sale of beer onsite; will bottle but not high production
• Entertainment; occasional entertainment proposed
• Flags on microbrewery containers; decorative feature that would require a
permit
Chairperson Giudice closed the public hearing.
A motion was made by Commissioner Borba, seconded by Commissioner
Haydon to adopt Resolution No. 2014-01 approving the Conditional Use Permit to
allow the addition of a microbrewery to an existing restaurant, subject to the
findings and conditions of approval and amendment to Condition 6 to read: Live
entertainment may be offered by the restaurant no later than twelve (12) midnight
in compliance with the City Noise Ordinance and Zoning Ordinance. The motion
passed with a 4-0 vote. (AYES: Borba, Blanquie, Giudice, Haydon; NOES: 0;
EXCUSED: Adams).
2
Planning Commission Minutes
January 16, 2014
Conditional Use Permit
Norm Weisbrod presented the staff report. He stated that the applicant, Get
Lean Foods specializes in producing low -calorie foods including sugar -free
File No. PLUP2013-0002
chocolate bars and bakery items such as cookies and brownies. They sell
wholesale to upscale markets such as Whole Foods. Mr. Weisbrod said that the
David Pickett/Get Lean
proposal shows that the building would be broken up into offices, chocolate
Foods
production, a bakery, packaging and shipping and receiving. The building has
two depressed loading docks facing Carlson Court. The business has eight (8)
employees and is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. They have
one truck daily for pick-up and large delivery trucks twice a week. All
modifications to the building will be inside with no exterior changes other than
signage. Mr. Weisbrod recommended approval.
Chairperson Giudice opened the public hearing.
David Pickett, Get Lean Foods was introduced and made a brief statement about
his business.
Chairperson Giudice closed the public hearing.
A motion was made by Commissioner Blanquie, seconded by Commissioner
Haydon to adopt Resolution No. 2014-02 approving the Conditional Use Permit
allowing food processing subject to the findings and conditions of approval. The
motion passed with a 4-0 vote. (AYES: Borba, Blanquie, Giudice, Haydon;
NOES: 0;, EXCUSED: Adams).
Selection of Planning
Development Services Manager, Marilyn Ponton, stated Section 16.05.460 of the
Commissioner to Serve
Rohnert Park Municipal Code defines the City's Subdivision Committee as a
on Subdivision
committee of the City consisting of the Director or his/her designee, the City
Committee
Engineer or his/her designee and one Planning Commissioner designated by the
Planning Commission. Presently there is no designee of the Planning
Commission because the former designee is no longer on the Planning
Commission. At this time the Staff recommends that the Planning Commission
appoint a member to the Subdivision Committee.
Commissioner Blanquie volunteered to serve on the Subdivision Review
Committee.
Items from the Planning
Both Commissioner Haydon and Commissioner Borba will not be present at the
Commission
next meeting.
Matters from Planning
University District will be brought before the Commission at the February 27, 2014
Staff
meeting.
Adjournme
There being no further business, Chairperson Giudice adjourned the meeting at
7:01 P. M.