2020/06/04 Planning Commission Minutes
Minutes of the Planning Commission Special Meeting
Of the City of Rohnert Park
Thursday, June 4, 2020
6:00 P.M.
130 Avram Avenue, Rohnert Park
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Blanquie called the regular meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by Chairperson Blanquie.
3. ROLL CALL
Present: Daniel A. Blanquie, Chairperson
John E. Borba, Commissioner
Gerard Giudice, Commissioner
Marc Orloff, Commissioner
Absent: Susan Haydon, Vice Chair
Staff attending via Zoom Video Communications: Director of Development Services,
Mary Grace Pawson, Planning Manager, Jeff Beiswenger, and Planner I, Suzie Azevedo.
Staff present: Recording Secretary, Jennifer Sedna, and IS Tech, Sean Viduya.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
5. CONSENT CALENDAR - ADOPTION OF MINUTES
5.1 Approval of the Draft Minutes of the Planning Commission Meeting March 12,
2020.
ACTION: Moved/seconded (Orloff /Borba) to approve the Draft Minutes of the
Planning Commission Meeting March 12, 2020.
Motion carried by the following unanimous 4-0-1 vote: AYES: Blanquie, Borba,
Giudice, and Orloff; NOES: None; ABSTAIN: None; ABSENT: Haydon.
6. AGENDA ITEMS
6.1 MASTER SIGN PROGRAM – File No. PLSI19-0017 – Signs Par Excellence –
Consideration of Resolution 2020-09 Approving a Master Sign Program for the
Empire Park Industrial Complex at 5625 State Farm Drive (APN 143-021-031).
Planner I, Suzie Azevedo, presented the item and answered questions from the
Commission including which signs will be removed, if there is a timeframe to remove old
signage and install new ones, and if the tenants were agreeable with the program.
Recommended Action(s): Adopt Resolution No. 2020-09 Approving a Master Sign
Program for the Empire Park Industrial Complex at 5625 State Farm Drive (APN 143-
021-031).
Applicant, Michael Flanagan from Signs Par Excellence, joined the meeting to answer
questions from the Commissioners including if the tenants were comfortable with the
signage as presented.
Commissioner Guidice stated for the record that staff did a good job in working with the
applicant and owner; the City took a leap in incorporating more retail, beverage and food
in that area and is hopeful the new sign program can help the businesses; that it is
unfortunate the sign cannot be incorporated as it is not approved or UL listed and thus the
sign cannot permitted; that the sign as it exists now, isn’t the most attractive sign for
attracting business but is the reality of opening a brewpub in an industrial-zoned area; and
that he is hopeful this is a good resolution for all the tenants and they can all prosper.
ACTION: Moved/seconded (Borba/Orloff) to adopt Resolution No. 2020-09
Approving a Master Sign Program for the Empire Park Industrial Complex at
5625 State Farm Drive (APN 143-021-031).
Motion carried by the following unanimous 4-0-1 vote: AYES: Blanquie, Borba,
Giudice, and Orloff; NOES: None; ABSTAIN: None; ABSENT: Haydon.
6.2 PRESENTATION – City of Rohnert Park – Annual Review of the Growth
Management Program Report
Planning Manager, Jeff Beiswenger, presented the item. Recommended Action(s):
Receive the presentation of the Annual Review of the Growth Management Program
Report.
ACTION: By Consensus (none opposed), Planning Commission received the
informational presentation and participated by asking how the numbers are
affected by houses versus apartments.
6.3 PRESENTATION – City of Rohnert Park – Receive the Annual Status of the
General Plan for Calendar Year 2019
Planning Manager, Jeff Beiswenger, presented the item: Recommended Action(s):
Receive the Annual Status of the General Plan for Calendar Year 2019.
ACTION: By Consensus (none opposed), Planning Commission received the
informational presentation.
6.4 GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY FINDING – File No. PLCI20-0001 - City
of Rohnert Park – Consideration of Resolution No. 2020-10 - Finding the FY