2008/04/24 Planning Commission MinutesAAL
MINUTES
THURSDAY, April 24, 2008
The Planning Commission of the City of Rohnert Park met this date in a regular session commencing at 7:00
p.m. in the City Council Conference Room, 6750 Commerce Blvd., with Chairperson Ahanotu presiding.
Call To Order
Chairperson Ahanotu called the meeting of the regular session to order at
approximately 7:00 p.m. with Chairperson Ahanotu leading the pledge.
Roll Call
Present (5) Commissioners: Chairperson Ahanotu, Commissioner Kilat,
Commissioner Armstrong, Commissioner Adams and Commissioner Callinan
were present.
Senior Planner, Maureen Rich and Recording Clerk, Suzie Azevedo were
present.
Approval of Minutes
Upon motion by Commissioner Adams, seconded by Armstrong, the minutes of
April 10, 2008 were approved at presented by a 4-0 vote. Commissioner Callinan
abstained.
Acknowledgement of
Chairperson Ahanotu acknowledged the posting of the Agenda of this meeting in
Public Noticing
three (3) public places, per the requirements of the Brown Act.
Unscheduled
None.
Public Appearances
Statements of
Commissioner Callinan stated that he would be abstaining from Item #1.
Abstention
Final Environmental
Senior Planner, Maureen Rich gave the staff report. She stated that on April 10,
Impact Report/General
2008, the Planning Commission unanimously approved the resolution
Plan
recommending certification of the Stadium Area Master Plan (SAMP) EIR.
Amendment/Rezoning
During that same meeting, the Commission motioned for Staff to bring back
resolutions denying the SAMP General Plan Amendment and Rezoning. Ms.
File No. PL2004
Rich presented copies of the resolutions that recommend to City Council denial of
063GPIRZ
the General Plan and Amendments and Rezoning for the Stadium Area Master
Plan.
Ken Blackman/Redwood
Equities
Chairperson Ahanotu asked if there were any questions of staff.
There being none, Chairperson Ahanotu asked for a motion.
A motion was made by Commissioner Kilat, seconded by Commissioner Adams
to adopt Resolution No. 2008-13 recommending to the City Council denial of the
request to amend the Land Use Diagram of the General Plan for property located
at 5900 Labath Avenue. The motion passed with a 4-0 vote. Commissioner
Planning Commission Minutes
Use Permit
File No. PL2008-005UP
Don Codding/Codding
Enterprises
Use Permit
File No. PL2008-005UP
Gerard Giudice/Bill
Pettibone — The Big
Tomato, Inc.
Callinan abstained.
A motion was made by Commissioner Armstrong, seconded by Commissioner
Adams to adopt Resolution No. 2008-14 recommending to the City Council denial
of the amendment to the official Zoning Map and denial of the adoption of a Final
Development Plan for property locate at 5900 Labath Avenue. The motion
passed with a 4-0 vote. Commissioner Callinan abstained.
Maureen Rich gave the staff report. She stated that the request is for a
Conditional Use Permit for a Convention Center located at 1100 Valley House
Drive. The proposed convention center would be located within the existing
cafeteria building which is outfitted with a full kitchen, cold storage, bathroom,
dining room and two large conference rooms. The convention center would host
various events such as charitable functions, fund raising and social gatherings.
The hours of operation proposed are from 7:00 am to 2:00 am. Ms. Rich noted
that there is a subsequent permit being proposed for a bar and nightclub that
includes live entertainment and the sale of alcoholic beverages and if approved
would become an added component of the proposed convention center. Ms.
Rich applied the applicable zoning and general plan policies and stated the
proposed convention center would maintain consistency with all of the objectives
contained in the zoning and general documents. She pointed out, however, that
a potential issue could arise relative to the future change in ownership and the
extent to which the new owner is responsible. Other changes in ownership of like
facilities have been problematic. To address this, Ms. Rich said the Public Safety
Department has provided conditions of approval to ensure that any change of
ownership does not result in undo hardships for the surrounding area. Ms. Rich
recommended approval of the use permit as conditioned.
Chairperson Ahanotu opened the public hearing.
Richard Pope & Don Coddling, representing Sonoma Mountain Village were
recognized and spoke in support of the convention center proposal.
Gerard Giudice, Sally Tomatoes also spoke in favor of the proposed convention
center. Mr. Giudice also spoke briefly about the nightclub component of the
convention center.
A motion was made by Commissioner Adams, seconded by Commission Callinan
to adopt Resolution No. 2008-16, approving a Conditional Use Permit for a
Convention Center located at 1100 Valley House Drive. The motion passed with
a 5-0 vote.
Ms. Rich reviewed the contents of the Staff Report. The request if for a
conditional use permit for a bar and night club within the existing cafeteria located
at 1100 Valley House Drive. The bar and night club is to be located entirely
within the cafeteria building which is outfitted with a full kitchen, cold storage,
general storage, bathrooms, dining room and two large conference rooms.
Principally, the use will provide entertainment, food and libations for social
functions, charitable events, fund raisers etc. Ms. Rich briefly touched on the
hours of operation, occupancy loads and staging areas and recommended
approval of the bar and night club as proposed.
Planning Commission Minutes
Use Permit
File No. PL2008-012UP
Pamela Carter/1 Candy
Fitness Studio
Matters From
Commissioners
Matters
Staff
Gerard Giudice was recognized and introduced his partner, Bill Pettibone. Mr.
Giudice gave a brief summery of the bar and night club operation and responded
to questions posed by the Commission.
Mike Pastyrk, 4671 Flax Ct. spoke in support of the proposed bar and nightclub.
Tim Miller, 4959 Fern Place also spoke in support of the proposal.
Chairperson Ahanotu closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Adams asked if a day care is planned for the Sonoma Mountain
Village site. Richard Pope responded that no requests have been made to date,
but that a day care center is envisioned in the overall plan for the Sonoma
Mountain Village project.
A discussion arose regarding the percentage restrictions of alcoholic beverages
sales as presented in 5.0) of the conditions. Ms. Rich presented a revised
Resolution that stated, "no more than 40% of the gross sales shall be attributed
to the sales of alcoholic beverages".
A motion was made by Commissioner Callinan, seconded by Commissioner
Armstrong to adopt Resolution No. 2008-15, approving a Conditional Use Permit
for the Sally Tomatoes Bar and Night Club as revised and conditioned. The
motion passed with a 5-0 vote.
Community Development Assistant, SUZIe Azevedo, reviewed the contents of the
staff report. The project involves the operation of a dance and fitness studio to
include instruction in several disciplines of dance as well as an occasional
nutrition class specifically designed for women. Ms. Azevedo reviewed the hours
of operation, parking allowances and noise standards and recommended
approval of the proposed studio as conditioned.
Chairperson Ahanotu opened the public hearing.
The applicant, Pamela Carter, was recognized and spoke briefly about the fitness
studio operation.
Chairperson Ahanotu closed the public hearing.
A motion was made by Commissioner Callinan, seconded by Commissioner Kilat
to adopt Resolution No. 2008-17, approving a Conditional Use Permit for a dance
and fitness studio (I Candy Fitness) as conditioned.
Commissioner Adams provided a brief summary of the Rohnert Park Parks and
Recreation Facilities Master Plan.
Planning Commission Minutes
Adjournment There being no further business, Chairperson Ahanotu adjourned the meeting at
7:45 PM until Thursday. Mav 8. 2008.
Chairperson
Recording Clerk