Planning Commission Meeting Update

April 9, 2008                  Wednesday                                7:00 p.m.

CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

OATH OF OFFICE:  Audrey Hooper, City Clerk, administered the oath of office to re-appointed Commissioner Michael Multari. 

ROLL CALL:       

Present:                Commissioners John Ashbaugh, Amanda Brodie, Dan Carpenter, Michael Multari, Vice-Chairperson Charles Stevenson, and Chairperson Carlyn Christianson 

Absent:                 Commissioner Diana Gould-Wells 

Staff:                Deputy Directors Kim Murry and Tim Bochum, Associate Planner Michael Codron, Assistant City Attorney Christine Dietrick, Natural Resources Manager Neil Havlik, City Clerk Audrey Hooper, and Recording Secretary Michelle Lakey 

ELECTION:  On a motion by Commissioner Multari, seconded by Commissioner Carpenter, the Commission voted 6:0 to appoint Vice-Chair Stevenson to serve as Chairperson and Commissioner Ashbaugh to serve as Vice-Chair. 

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA:  The agenda was accepted as presented. 

PUBLIC COMMENT:   

Eric Meyer, San Luis Obispo, suggested the City of San Luis Obispo require all new houses to have solar photovoltaic panels.  He explained that solar panels will reduce carbon emissions. 

There were no further comments made from the public. 

PUBLIC HEARINGS: 

1.        Orcutt Area.  GP/SP/ER 209-98: Discuss the environmental issues associated with the Orcutt Area Specific Plan and the conclusions and mitigations contained in the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) and receive public comment on the DEIR; Barbara Parsons, applicant. (Michael Codron)  

Michael Codron, Associate Planner, presented the staff report and explained that the focus of the meeting is to obtain public comment on the DEIR so that the consultant can include response to comments in the Final EIR for the project.   

Tim Bochum, Deputy Director Public Works, explained how the EIR scoping for this project was conducted in 2000 to provide input for what areas or concerns needed to be addressed in the Environmental Impact Report.  He noted that a public meeting has been scheduled the evening of Monday, April 21, 2008, to talk about issues associated with traffic and parking in the Pismo and Buchon Street neighborhoods.  He stated that the residents’ concerns about increase in traffic may be more related to operational issues than something related to this project’s EIR.  He responded with information regarding the South Street extension that still exists in the City’s Master Circulation Plan.   

John Rickenbach, Rincon Consultants, addressed Vice-Chair Ashbaugh’s concerns about classification of impact B-2.  He stated that is incorrectly stated in the Executive Report and will be corrected.  He stated that the traffic issues brought up by the public may or may not be appropriate to be in the EIR. 

Neil Havlik, Natural Resources Manager, responded to questions related to the location of the City’s Urban Reserve Line (URL).   

PUBLIC COMMENTS: 

Mark Johnson, San Luis Obispo, expressed support for the project.  He is concerned with the quality of service at Orcutt and Tank Farm roads.  He asked that the Planning Commission consider reviving the Bishop Street undercrossing. 

Phillip Schaff, Jr., San Luis Obispo, stated that he would like to see small family farms developed on the property to provide jobs and maintain the agricultural character of the site.  He offered to do schematic plans for the site on a volunteer basis if the city and/or landowners contract with his architectural firm.  

Willow Walking Turtle, San Luis Obispo, stated that she felt the DEIR did not adequately address the disabled population.  She felt that the DEIR would affect residents in surrounding mobile homes with noise, dust, exhaust, and possible flooding.   She expressed her desire to have some assurance that the mobile home park will not be converted to commercial uses in the future. 

Nick Muick, San Luis Obispo, property owner in the Orcutt Area Specific Plan, expressed his concern regarding the need for and the size and cost of the proposed bike bridge.  

Fifteen speakers requested that the scope of the DEIR be expanded to address increased traffic numbers and speed on Pismo and Buchon Streets.  Speakers included: Eric Meyer, David Kuykendall, Bill Casella, Carnie Casella, Don Cudworth, Katherine Cudworth, Margaret Kuykendall, Lou Carpine, Cynthia Semel, Suzanne Power, Jim Shea, Stephan Lamb, Mary Ellen Gibson, John Fasulo, and Steven Boothe. 

Andrew Merriam, representing the applicant, stated that the plan has addressed many of the concerns being raised.  He will submit a letter on behalf of the owners to clarify facts and provide input to the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR).   

There were no further comments made from the public. 

COMMISSION COMMENTS: 

Commr. Christianson requested a more detailed description of where development will be happening on Righetti Hill and how that relates to current location of the URL.  She noted some typographical errors.  

Vice-Chair Ashbaugh noted a concern regarding impact B-2 in the staff report and in the DEIR.  He would like to know what types of circulation improvements will be funded with TIF funds. 

Commr. Carpenter expressed concern as to why the URL was placed where it was.  He suggested moving the proposed density to within the current URL location.  He suggested an alternative road over the railroad tracks to alleviate area-wide traffic impacts.   

Commr. Brodie expressed concern with the current level of traffic at the Johnson Street and San Luis Drive intersection and how this plan will impact it. 

Chairperson Stevenson felt that a better assessment of the “Y” where San Luis Drive and Johnson Street meet needs to be considered.  He proposed an alternative to the amount of low and high density homes in the Specific Plan. 

Commr. Multari stated that the EIR process for the Orcutt Area Specific Plan is not the appropriate vehicle to address requiring homes to use photovoltaics because it is more of a City policy issue than a project specific issue. 

COMMENT AND DISCUSSION: 

2.        Staff 

A.     Agenda Forecast 

Agenda Forecast given by Kim Murry.  The Orcutt Area Specific Plan is the sole item on the upcoming April 23, 2008, meeting.  The focus will be on chapters 1-3 of the draft plan and, since it will still be within the EIR public review period, further comments from the public regarding the Draft EIR will also be appropriate. 

Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the Planning Commission regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection in the Community Development, 919 Palm Street, during normal business hours.