2014/09/11 Planning Commission MinutesROHNERT PARK PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
Thursday, September 11, 2014
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 Giudice presiding.
Call To Order
Chairperson Giudice called the meeting of the regular session to order at
approximately 6:00 p.m. with Chairperson Giudice leading the pledge.
Roll Call
Present: (5) Commissioners: Commissioner Giudice, Commissioner Blanquie,
Commissioner Haydon, Commissioner Borba and Commissioner Adams were
present.
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Assistant City Attorney, Matthew Visick, Interim Director of Development
Services, Marilyn Ponton, Technical Advisor, Norm Weisbrod and Recording
Secretary, Suzie Azevedo were all present.
Declaration of
None.
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 August 14, 2014 will be brought before the Commission at the
September 25, 2014 Planning Commission Meeting.
Unscheduled Public
Appearances
Site Plan & Architectural
Technical Advisor Norm Weisbrod presented the staff report. Redwood Credit
Review
Union is located close to the intersection of Rohnert Park Expressway and
Commerce Boulevard. They propose the following changes to the building and
File No. PISR2014-0007
site:
Steve Howard/Redwood
Remodeling the building exterior including replacing the wood siding with
Credit Union
cement plaster, metal canopy over the new ATM area, new exterior doors,
metal screen adjacent to entrance, glass screen in front of ATM's and
new paint colors.
• New covered refuse enclosure.
• Replacing lawn area at the rear of the building with draught tolerant plant
materials.
• New path of travel to Rohnert Park Expressway sidewalk.
• Relocate walk-up ATM's.
• Resurface parking lot.
Mr. Weisbrod reviewed the proposal in detail and responded to Commission
Planning Commission Minutes
September 11, 2014
General Plan
Consistency Finding
PLCF2014-0001
City of Rohnert Park
Northwest Specific Plan
(NWSP)
Project No. 2014-0006
City of Rohnert Park
questions.
A motion was made by Commissioner Adams, seconded by Commissioner
Haydon the adopt Resolution No. 2014-31 approving Site Plan and Architectural
Review to allow exterior remodeling of the Redwood Credit Union, subject to the
findings and Conditions of Approval. The motion passed with a 5-0 vote (AYES:
Adams, Borba, Blanquie, Giudice, Haydon, NOES: 0, ABSENT: 0)
Planner III, Jeff Beiswenger, presented the staff report. The Planning Commission
is charged with the responsibility for ensuring that City projects and actions are
consistent with goals and policies of the adopted General Plan. The Planning
Commission is being requested to review the proposal by the City to sell several
properties for consistency with General Plan 2020. The properties are located
throughout the community and listed in Table 1 of the staff report. The properties
listed in Table 1 are proposed for disposition. Many of the sites were previously
owned by Rohnert Park, Community Development Commission. With the
dissolution of the redevelopment agencies by the State of California, most of
these properties are now owned by the City of Rohnert Park as the successor
agency. Findings of General Plan Consistency are required prior to any
disposition of city owned property according to California Government Code
section 65402. Mr. Beiswenger presented a power point outlining each property.
Mr. Beiswenger mentioned that one of the properties was omitted on Exhibit A, of
the resolution and has been corrected.
A discussion was held by staff and the Commission. Mr. Atkins, Senior Analyst,
was recognized and responded to questions from the Commission regarding the
current status of the properties and what the charg the Commission is at this
juncture. It was reiterated that the Commission'sa ue is to make a finding that
the sale of these properties is consistent with the p icies and goals of the
General Plan only. The City Council is charged with decisions regarding the
disposition -sale of the properties in question.
A motion was made Commissioner Adams, seconded by Commissioner Blanquie
to adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 2014-37 reporting to the City
Council that proposed disposition of City owned properties is consistent with the
Rohnert Park General Plan 2020 amending the Resolution to include the 435
Southwest Boulevard property in Exhibit A of the resolution. The motion passed
with a 5-0 vote (AYES: Adams, Borba, Blanquie, Giudice, Haydon, NOES: 0,
ABSENT: 0)
Interim Director of Development Services, Marilyn Ponton, presented the staff
report. The NWSP was identified in the 2000 General Plan as a Specific Plan
area. Policies in the Land Use and Growth Management Element direct the City's
consideration of proposed Specific Plans, and establish specific requirements for
the NWSP. The General Plan Land Use Diagram and the Land Use Program for
the NWSP (associated with General Plan Policy LU -20) indicate that the area is
anticipated to support high density residential, commercial, office, industrial, and
park uses. The NWSP area identified in the 2000 General Plan includes the
Graton Rancheria Resort and Casino, which opened for operation on November
5, 2013. This land, located between Golf Course Drive West and Business Park
Drive east of Lang ner Avenue. was removed from the NWSP area prior to
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September 11, 2014
preparation of the current NWSP.
Ms. Ponton shared a power point presentation outlining the details of the Specific
Plan entitlements that are to be considered. They are as follows:
• Environmental Impact Report Certification
• General Plan Amendment
• Specific Plan
• Prezoning
• Annexation application to LAFCO
Also in general the following topics were discussed.
• Background; meetings and workshops to date;
• Land use Designations/Zoning
• Land Use Plan
• Conceptual Land Use Plan
• Circulation Plan
• Infrastructure
• Proposed General Plan Land Uses
• General Plan Amendments
• Specific Plan
• Prezoning
• Annexation
• Environmental Review Process
• Summary of EIR — Issue areas
• Summary of EIR — Impacts
• Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
• General Plan Consistency
• Recommended Actions
Ms. Ponton brought to the Commission's attention two separate communications
received: Letter from Frank T. Matyas and letter from BuchalterNemer of San
Francisco. Letters were placed on the dais for Commissioners reference.
Ms. Ponton concluded her report recommending the following actions:
• Recommend to the City Council the following:
- Resolution No. 2014-32, FEIR Certification
- Resolution No. 2014-33, General Plan Amendments
- Resolution No. 2014-34, Specific Plan
- Resolution No. 2014-35, Prezone
- Resolution No. 2014-36, LAFCO Application
A lengthy discussion was held by staff and the Commission. Commission
concerns included the following:
Regarding Letter from Frank Matyas asking for continuance of any action
based on the following:
1. The inappropriate approach to General Plan, EIR, Northwest Specific
Plan and Annexation by excluding the properties that are directly
impacted by provisions of these plan and applications;
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September 11, 2014
2. The lack of required and timely Notice of property owners directly
affected by the aforementioned hearing items, not only for this Hearing
but previous hearings regarding these issues.
• Regarding Letter from BuchalterNemer outlining inadequacies with regard
to Response to Comments of the Environmental Impact Report.
Lengthy discussion was held between staff and Commission regarding issues
outlined in the letters presented. Scenarios including continuance of the hearing
for the NWSP were discussed to allow response to those areas of concern from
both Mr. Matyas and BuchalterNemer. Each Commissioner provided comments
and preferences regarding concerns raised. It was determined that the City's
notification process and management of the EIR were conducted per state law
and followed all protocol governing same.
A motion was made by Commissioner Adams, seconded by Commissioner Borba
to adopt Resolution No. 2014-32: Recommending to the City Council Certification
of the Final Environmental Impact Report, Adopting Statement of Overriding
Considerations, and Adopting Mitigation and Monitoring Program for the
Northwest Specific Plan, Prezoning, and General Plan Amendments for the
Northwest Specific Plan. The motion passed with a 3-2 vote (AYES: Adams,
Borba, Giudice, NOES: Blanquie, Haydon, ABSENT: 0)
A motion was made by Commissioner Adams, seconded by Commissioner Borba
to adopt Resolution No. 2014-33: Recommending to the City Council Approval of
Amendments to the Land Use Map and Text of the General Plan for the
Northwest Specific Plan. The motion passed with a 3-2 vote (AYES: Adams,
Borba, Giudice, NOES: Blanquie, Haydon, ABSENT: 0)
A motion was made by Commissioner Adams, seconded by Commissioner Borba
to adopt Resolution No. 2014-34: Recommending to the City Council the approval
of a Specific Plan for the Northwest Specific Plan. The motion passed with a 3-2
vote (AYES: Adams, Borba, Giudice, NOES: Blanquie, Haydon, ABSENT: 0)
A motion was made by Commissioner Adams, seconded by Commissioner Borba
to adopt Resolution No. 2014-35: Recommending to the City Council the
Prezoning of Project Site and Amending the Zoning Map for the Northwest
Specific Plan. The motion passed with a 3-2 vote (AYES: Adams, Borba,
Giudice, NOES: Blanquie, Haydon, ABSENT: 0)
A motion was made by Commissioner Adams, seconded by Commissioner Borba
to adopt Resolution No. 2014-36: Recommending to the City Council the Adoption
of a Resolution of Application to the Sonoma Local Agency Formation
Commission for Reorganization of Northwest Specific Plan. The motion passed
with a 3-2 vote (AYES: Adams, Borba, Giudice, NOES: Blanquie, Haydon,
ABSENT: 0)
A motion was made by Commissioner Adams, seconded by Commissioner to
deny the continuance as requested by Mr. Maytas. The motion passed with a 3-2
vote (AYES: Adams, Borba, Giudice, NOES: Blanquie, Haydon, ABSENT: 0)
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Planning Commission Minutes
September 11, 2014
Items from the Planning Commissioner Haydon requested that agenda packets for larger projects be
Commission I delivered at least a minimum of 10 day prior to hearing for timely review.
Matters from Pia
Staff
Adjournment
Chairperso
sere being no further business, Chairperson Giudice adjourned the meeting at
25 p.m.