2017/01/26 Planning Commission Agenda PacketCity of Rohnert Park
Planning Commission
AGENDA
Thursday, January 26, 2017
6:00 P.M.
130 Avram Avenue, Rohnert Park
ro_Any Hernher of tine Audience Desirinje to Arlrlress the Planning Commission:
For public comment on items listed or not listed on the agenda, or on agenda items if unable to speak at the scheduled time, you
may do so upon recognition from the Chairperson. PLEASE FILL OUT A SPEAKER CARD PRIOR TO SPEAKING.
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CALL TO ORDER
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL (Adams Blanquie Borba Giudice Haydon__)
DECLARATION OF ABSENTION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF POSTING OF AGENDA — Agenda has been posted in
three public places: Community Center, Public Safety Building and City Hall.
PUBLIC COMMENT - Persons who wish to speak to the Commission regarding an
item that is not on the agenda may do so at this time.
CONSENT CALENDAR - ADOPTION OF MINUTES
8.1 Approval of the Draft Minutes of the Planning Commission meeting of
December 22, 2016
AGENDA ITEMS
8.1 DISCUSSION — OPTIONS FOR PLANNING COMMISSION
COMMUNICATION WITH CITY COUNCIL
ITEMS FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION
ITEMS FROM THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICE STAFF
ADJOURNMENT
Appeals of any decisions made tonight must be received by the Planning Division within 10
days and no later than 5: 00 p.m. on February 6, 2017
NOTE: If you challenge the nature of the proposed action in court, you may be limited to
raising only those issues you or someone else raised at public hearing(s) described in this
Agenda, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Rohnert Park at, or prior to the
public hearing(s).
Disabled Accommodation: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if
you need special assistance to participate in this meeting please call (707) 588-2236. Notification
72 hours in advance of the meeting will enable the city to make reasonable arrangements to
ensure accessibility to the meeting. (28 CFR 35.102.35.104 AD Title III)
CERTIFICATION OF POSTING OF AGENDA
I, Suzie Azevedo, Community Development Assistant for the City of Rohnert Park, declare that
the foregoing notice and agenda for the January 26, 2017, Planning Commission Meeting of the
City of Rohnert Park was posted and available for review on January 20, 2017, at Rohnert Park
City Hall, 130 Avram Avenue, Rohnert Park, California 94928. The agenda is available on the
City of Rohnert Park's web site at www.rpeity.org_.
Signed this 20th day of 3anuai y, 2017 at Rohnert Park, California
City of Rohnert Park
PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: January 24, 2017
Agenda Item No: 8.1
Subject: Discussion of Options for Planning Commission Communication with
City Council.
The Planning Commission has expressed a desire to have more effective communications with the
City Council on important issues. The purpose of this discussion item is to identify a preliminary
list of issues and to weigh different options to convey the information to the City Council. As
identified below the Planning Commission is assigned certain responsibilities by the Municipal
Code, and while the commission does not have carte blanche authority to offer recommendations
to the City Council on any topic, it is clear that the intent of the code is to allow the commission
to weigh in on land use issues.
ASSIGNED RESPONSIBILITIES
The Municipal Code identifies two significant areas of responsibility for the Planning
Commission:
1. Title 16 (Subdivisions). Section 16.06.010 designates the planning commission as the
advisory agency regarding major subdivisions under the Subdivision Map Act.
2. Title 17 (Zoning). Chapter 17.25 (Administration and Enforcement Procedures), Article IX
(Planning Commission) creates the Commission and establishes rules for meetings and
responsibilities. It states that:
" The Planning Commission shall have such powers and duties as may be
assigned to it by the city council...."
3. Chapter 17.25 also assigns the Planning Commission decision-making authority over Site
Plan and Architectural Reviews and Conditional Use Permit.
4. The Municipal Code also assigns the Planning Commission the responsibility of making
recommendations to the City Council on a wide variety of land use decisions, including:
maps, Specific Plans, General Plan amendments, zoning amendments, Development Area
Plans, etc.
It is clear from the Municipal Code that the Planning Commission has the authority to make
recommendations to the City Council on land use topics. Also, California land use law vests certain
land use responsibilities with the Planning Commission.
ZONING ORDINANCE UDPATE PROJECT
Planning staff has been tasked with updating the zoning code this year. The idea is to do a thorough
clean-up and streamlining of code provision. Planning staff is also investigating ways to initiate a
form -based code for the Central Rohnert Park area. It was anticipated that the Rohnert Crossings
project was going to help initiate the form -based code effort, but that project is on hold. Through
this zoning update process, Planning Commission will have opportunities to weigh in on important
code changes.
LIST OF TOPICS
The Planning Commission has mentioned several topical areas (e.g. solar panels, parking) that it
would like to discuss in more detail. The purpose of the discussion tonight is to develop a
comprehensive list of topics. Staff will engage the Planning Commission in a discussion to identify
preliminary issues.
METHODS OF COMMUNICATION
Three primary methods of communication could be considered to relay information to the City
Council. One or all of these could be considered:
1. Joint Meeting. This could be a meeting to discuss a comprehensive list of topics or to focus
on a few issues at a time. Staff recommends that the Planning Commission better define a
list of discussion items, and analyze the topics in more detail prior to pursuing a joint
meeting.
2. Reports / Memo. The Planning Commission could issue reports or memos to the City
Council on important topics. For example it could issue a report on "solar," along with an
analysis of how the zoning ordinance could be update to incorporate requirements and/or
incentives.
3. Comprehensive recommendation on zoning ordinance changes. Planning staff has been
tasked with update the zoning ordinance this year. Input and direction from the Planning
Commission will be critical to this effort and this input will be forwarded to the City
Council.
RECOMMENDATION
Conduct a Study Session and provide direction to staff.
APPR VALE:
Jeftr S. Beiswen , AICP Dat
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