Planning Commission Meeting Update

August 13, 2008                  Wednesday                                7:00 p.m.

CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

ROLL CALL:      Commissioners Amanda Brodie, Dan Carpenter, Carlyn Christianson, Diana Gould, Michael Multari, Vice-Chairperson John Ashbaugh, and Chairperson Charles Stevenson 

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA:   

MINUTES:    Minutes of July 23, 2008.  Accepted with Commission comment to ensure that the motion is listed on continued items.     

PUBLIC COMMENT:  None  

PUBLIC HEARINGS: 

1.        City-wide.  GPI 47-08:  Development of Night Sky Ordinance to mitigate light pollution at night; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant.  (James David)

James David, the project planner, presented the staff report outlining the proposed Night Sky Ordinance.  The ordinance is designed to prevent light pollution, protect nighttime views of stars, and promote public safety.  There was one question from the public about how the ordinance would affect accent lighting for landscape architecture. Commissioner Multari started the Commission’s deliberations commending staff on the intent of the ordinance, but he was concerned about the logic and formatting of the language.  All other commissioner’s agreed with Multari’s concerns and on a motion from Commissioner Carpenter, seconded by Commissioner Brodie, continued the item to a date certain for additional research and formatting (7:0 vote).  Chairperson Stevenson formed a subcommittee, consisting of Commissioners Ashbaugh and Multari, to assist staff with editing the ordinance.  The Night Sky Ordinance will return to the Planning Commission for review on September 24, 2008. 

2.        108 through 190 Crandall Avenue and 1304 through 1476 Foothill Boulevard.  TR/GP/R 200-07:  Vesting Tentative Tract Map and rezoning from medium-high density residential (R-3) to high-density residential (R-4) to accommodate a new  16-unit project at 1310 Foothill; R-3 zone; SLO Investments, applicant.   (Continued from July 23, 2008, meeting)  (Phil Dunsmore) 

Following a presentation by staff that focused on the rezoning and neighborhood compatibility, the project applicants provided testimony for redeveloping the site. Adjacent property owners expressed support for the rezoning and welcomed the project developer to allow pedestrian access through the site to the east.  The applicant testified that they will be pursuing an off-site affordable housing unit.  Following a brief discussion among the commission that focused on the question of neighborhood connectivity, Commissioner Ashbaugh motioned to recommend approval of the project to the City Council, seconded by Commissioner Christianson.  The motion included an amendment to condition 10 to allow the applicants to provide accessible pedestrian access to the property to the east to line up with the existing pedestrian access to Cal Poly.  The motion passed on a unanimous vote (6:0, Commissioner Multari stepped down due to a potential conflict of interest).  

COMMENT AND DISCUSSION: 

3.        Staff 

a.      Agenda Forecast – Doug Davidson provided the forecast.   

4.        Commission – No comments  

ADJOURNMENT – Meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

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.