Loading...
2007/09/13 Planning Commission MinutesROHNERT PARK PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES THURSDAY, September 13, 2007 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 Adams presiding. Call To Order Chairperson Adams called the meeting of the regular session to order at approximately 7:00 p.m. with staff leading the pledge of allegiance. Roll Call Present (4) Commissioners: Commissioner Armstrong, Commissioner Ahanotu, Commissioner Adams and Commissioner Kilat were present. Commissioner Callinan was excused. Community Development Director, Ron Bendorff and Recording Clerk, Suzie Azevedo were present. Approval of Minutes A motion was made by Commissioner Kilat, seconded by Commissioner Ahanotu to approve the minutes of the July 12, 2007 meeting. The motion passed with a 3-0 vote. Commissioner Adams abstained. A motion was made by Commissioner Ahanotu, seconded by Commissioner Armstong to approve the minutes of the August 9, 2007 meeting. The motion passed with a 2-0 vote. Commissioner Adams and Commissioner Kilat abstained. 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. Unscheduled None. Public Appearances Design Review Community Development Director, Ron Bendorff gave the staff report. He stated that the project site is a 15.32 acre parcel that contains the City's Community File No. PL 2006-050SR Center Campus. It currently is developed with three (3) buildings; the Community Center; the Callinan Sports and Fitness Center; and the Spreckels Performing City of Rohnert Park Arts Center, along with a central plaza that links the buildings. In 2006, the City Council directed that the plaza be redesigned to eliminate the existing fountain/water feature, thereby allowing for better connections between the buildings. Mr. Bendorff further stated that scope of the project was increased shortly thereafter to include a potential redesign of the entire Community Center Campus so as to increase its usability by the community and enhance its potential as a revenue generator for the City. Mr. Bendorff briefly discussed the Conceptual Master Plan and phasing strategy of the project and introduced David Gates of Gates and Associates who will provide and outline more specifically the design of the project. David Gates of Gates and Associates was recognized. Mr. Gates gave an overview of the Rohnert Park Community Center Campus. The campus is comprised of the three regional facilities; the Spreckels Performing Arts Center, Planning Commission Minutes August 9, 2007 Callinan Sports Center, and the Rohnert Park Community Center. The combination of these diverse facilities, he stated, creates the potential for a dynamic campus. There are, however, numerous issues such as parking and circulation conflicts, lack of visibility from one surrounding road system, and an under-utilized central space that constricts the campus. Mr. Gates presented an outline that discussed the scope of the project and provided illustrations show casing the design elements that have been incorporated into the Community Center Campus Master Plan. The following objectives were identified: • Create a "presence " for the campus from perimeter roads • Create a connection to the park across the street • Provide an orienting arrival point • Incorporate art into the exterior program and an arts focus on-site • Provide opportunities to learn the history of the setting • Program under-utilized spaces but preserve the Southwest lawn area for a future pool Mr. Gates briefly touched on key design elements of the following areas: • Central Plaza — create a more open usable plaza which includes a water feature and acts as an informal amphitheater • Entry/Arrival — create a more open, functional and aesthetically pleasing entrance featuring flagpoles, bollard, lights, and enhanced paving at the drip -off area. • Secondary Entry (Snyder Lane) -accent with planting and special paving to improve visual access • The Corner (RPX/Snyder)-create a civic presence and enhance visibility - open up views into the facility; perhaps a community reader board, a pedestrian spine into the facility and flat green lawns with large shade tree • Arts Courtyard -create a walled outdoor plaza containing seating and shade trees which would serve uses such as an outdoor classroom setting, a display area for local artists, and breakout spaces for meetings which occur in surrounding conference rooms • Senior Courtyard -provides an entry as well as a gathering space for the senior center, which is housed within the community center -shaded seating and easy access to drop off area • Children's Nook -outdoor area for existing day care -small enclosed courtyard with interactive paved area for games • Gazebo Garden -outdoor space for an intimate enclosed garden - incorporate integral color paving and surrounding open lawn area with gazebo at the center piece of the garden • Terrace at the Gym -create flexible seating area with movable chairs, umbrellas, tables and colorful planting Discussion was held between Commissioners, staff and Mr. Gates which included: • Water usage — use recirculated water; scu N feature that looks as Planning Commission Minutes August 9, 2007 Use Permit File No. PL2005-067UP City of Rohnert Park Site Plan Architectural Review File No. PL 2007-019SR Chevron Products Co./RHL Design Design Review File No. PL2006-52 CalTex Equities/J&J attractive with or without water; • Memorial area — explore and possibly incorporate in design • Entry turnaround — keep avenue of flags. • What's next — Plaza 1 st priority; fundraising; need budget; conceptual gives blueprint; 6 mos+ to return to PC The Commission was pleased with the conceptual plan and look forward to implementation. A motion was made by Commissioner Kilat, seconded by Commissioner Armstrong to adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 2007-22 approving design review of the Community Center Campus Conceptual Master Plan. The motion passed with a 4-0 vote. Ron Bendorff gave the staff report. He stated that the project site is a 0.76 acre property on the south side of City Center Drive that is adjacent to the main Department of Public Safety building and the Rohnert Park-Cotati Regional Library. The City Center Concept Plan that was adopted in November, 2002, shows a "major plaza" at the eastern terminus of City Center Drive that is intended to be the "soul" of the City Center and a place for the community to gather for public. On September 14, 2006, the Planning Commission approved a conceptual design for the Plaza and also approved a use permit to allow its construction. Mr. Bendorff said preparation of working drawings for the project are underway and the plans are nearing completion. The current approvals are set to expire on September 14, 2007, so staff is requesting that the approvals be extended for an additional year. This would allow the construction documents to be completed, all extra -agency approvals to be obtained and the project's construction to be bid and commenced. Mr. Bendorff recommended that the Planning Commission, by motion approve the one-year renewal of this project. A motion was made by Commissioner Kilat, seconded by Commissioner Ahanotu, to approve Planning Commission Resolution No. 2007-21, approving a one-year renewal of a Use Permit and Conceptual Design Review for the City Center Plaza Project. The motion passed with a 4-0 vote. Mr, Bendorff reported that the applicant has requested that this item be pulled from the agenda at this time. The item should be brought back to the Commission for review in October. Mr. Bendorff gave the staff report. He stated that back in September, 2006, Safeway was in the process of remodeling the store and requested that staff approve their proposed new signage. Staff explained that due to the adoption of the new sign ordinance, a Sign Program would be required since one did not exist and the center contained more than four tenants. Safeway requested approval of their proposed signs based on submission of an application for the Park Plaza 3 Planning Commission Minutes August 9, 2007 Electrical Display Design Review File No. PL2006-035SR Greg Beedon/Sign A Rama Revisions to Municipal Code File No. PL2007-024MC City of Rohnert Park Shopping Center Sign Program. Staff agreed to the plan as long as the square footage for new signage was equal to or smaller than what existed on the building. The signs were approved administratively and met the size requirement. Safeway's application for the Sign Program was deemed incomplete and the applicant notified that additional information was required. To date there has not been any further activity or submitted documentation as required by the applicant. Staff is, therefore, the Commission to direct staff to close out the application. The owner of the shopping center has been notified that any future sign review will trigger the need for a Planning Commission approved Sign Program. A motion was made by Commissioner Kilat, seconded by Commissioner Armstrong to close out File No. 2006-52 due to inactivity. The motion passed with a 4-0 vote. Mr. Bendorff stated that the applicant for Tuff Shed requested review and approval for three new wall signs and one monument sign. Staff notified the applicant on July 18, 2006 that the application was incomplete. The applicant has made no attempt to comply with the requested information that would be required to complete this application. As such, staff is requesting approval from the Planning Commission to close out the application due to inactivity. A motion was made by Commissioner Armstrong, seconded by Commissioner Kilat to close out File PL2006-035SR due to inactivity. The motion passed with a 4-0 vote. Mr. Bendorff gave the staff report. He stated that Chapter 17.07.020.N of the Rohnert Park Municipal Code ("RPMC") contains the City's Inclusionary Housing Ordinance (Ordinance 677), which was approved in 2002. This Ordinance is intended to implement General Plan Policy HO -9, which directs the City to "[r]equire non -market rate housing as part of residential development throughout the community." This is to be accomplished per General Plan Program 9.1, which states that affordable housing shall be included as a part of residential projects as either "15 percent of the units in a residential housing project of five or more units [being] affordable to very low- and low-income households," or "15 percent of the units in a for -sale project of five or more units [being] affordable to low- and moderate -income households." Since its adoption, the ordinance has resulted in the incorporation of affordable units within the residential projects entitled and developed to date. In implementing the ordinance, however, Staff has noted a number of improvements that could be made so that the ordinance would be more effective. First of all, its location within the Land Use Footnotes/Special Provisions section (Chapter 17.07 of the RPMC) makes it difficult to find and, given the ordinance's importance, it should be given a more prominent location in the RPMC. The sections within the ordinance should also be reordered and condensed so that there is a more logical progression from one section to another without an unnecessary amount of cumbersome language. There are also changes required so that the ordinance better tracks State Law, chiefly concerning the definitions used in the ordinance. Lastly, there are clarifications required regarding the in -lieu inclusionary housing fee, alternative equivalent actions, and procedural matters. Staff originally was prepared to have the Commission review and adopt the changes as proposed in the staff report submitted. Several issues/questions 4 Planning Commission Minutes Auqust 9, 2007 Chair erson Recording Clerk regarding the ordinance and its changes have been brought to staff's attention and at this time staff is requesting that further evaluation of these issues be addressed and brought back to the Commission for further review. Concensus of the Commission was that the changes seem appropriate and condensing the ordinance from 15 sections to 7 is going in the right direction. Joan Picard, Cal Bay Mortgage was recognized. She thought clarification needed to be made in some areas of the ordinance and offered her expertise in the preparation of any changes. A motion was made by Commissioner Armstrong, seconded by Commissioner Kilat to continue this item until such time that staff has re-evaluated specific issues. The motion passed with a 4-0 vote. Matters From None Commissioners Matters from Planning Mr. Bendorff reported on the following: Staff • There currently are no items pending. The September 27, 2007 PC meeting has tentatively been cancelled. Adjournment There being no further business, Chairperson Adams adjourned the meeting at 8:10 PM until Thursday, September 27, 2007 or October 11, 2007. Chair erson Recording Clerk