HomeMy WebLinkAboutJuly 29, 2002 Pre-Meeting PLANNING COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD
MINUTES OF MONDAY, JULY 29, 2002 - 12:15 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 1501 Truxtun Avenue
ROLL CALL
Present:
Absent:
Commissioners Blockley, Ellison, Gay, McGinnis, Sprague, Tragish
Commissioner Tkac
Advisory Members: Ginny Gennaro, Stanley Grady, Marian Shaw, Phil Burns
Staff: Jim Movius, Marc Gauthier, Pam Townsend
'/. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
PUBLIC STATEMENTS:
None
CONSENT CALENDAR:
4.1 Non-Public Hearing Items:
4.1a Approval of minutes from Planning Commission meetings of June 17 and 20,
2002.
4.1 b Approval of General Plan Consistency Finding (Government Code 65402) for the
acquisition of property located at the northeast corner of 21st Street and "R"
Street. (Exempt from CEQA) ~/Vard 2)
There were no Commission comments. Items will be voted on Thursday night.
4.2 Public Hearing Items
4.2a Approval of Extension of Time for Tract 5829 (Quad Knopf, Inc.) located on
the south side of Snow Road between Old Farm Road and Jewetta Avenue.
(Negative Declaration on file) (Ward 4)
4.2b Approval of Extension of Time for Tract 5831 (Quad Knopf, Inc.) located on
South Kratzmeyer Road between Allen Road and Old Farm Road.
(Negative Declaration on file) (Ward 4)
Minutes, PC, July 29, 2002 Page 2
4.2c
Approval of Extension of Time for Tract 5993 (Porter Robertson
Engineering) located on the southwest corner of Calloway Drive and Snow
Road. (Negative Declaration on file)
Staff reports given. Commissioner Tragish asked what the grounds are to deny an
extension to which staff responded that there is not any. These items will be voted on
Thursday.
PUBLIC HEARING - Public Scopin.q Meetin.q to discuss the content of the Environmental
Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Panama / Hi.qhwa¥ 99 Commercial shoppin.q center.
The project consists of a .qeneral plan amendment and zone chanqe to allow a 352,000
square foot shoppin.q center on 37.52 acres located on the east side of Hiqhwa¥ 99 and
north of Panama. (Panama 99 Properties, LLC). (Ward 7)
Staff stated that the EIR will be discussed.
Commissioner Sprague requested staff provide the Commission prior to Thursday's
meeting a check list of the conditions imposed on previous shopping centers such as The Grand
Canal and Promenade I and II. Staff responded they could provide the check list.
Commissioner Tragish inquired if the EIR will include the Kit Fox issue to which staff responded it
will be included in the EIR.
Commissioner Tragish also inquired if the EIR will provide for mitigation of shielding the
neighbors, to which staff responded that the EIR addresses the City's thresholds and
requirements and limitations.
Commissioner Blockley inquired if impacts of operation times are included in the EIR to which
staff responded that night time operations will be addressed in the EIR.
Commissioner Blockley inquired what the long term proposal is for the project after three to five
years and if this impact could be included in the EIR to which staff responded that it should be
addressed at Thursday's meeting because there will be an economic analysis as it relates to the
physical environment.
Commissioner McGinnis inquired if the EIR considers existing space in the same perimeter target
area.
There were no more Commissioner comments. This item was moved to Thursday, August 1,2002
meeting.
PUBLIC HEARINGS - Tentative Tract Maps
6.1) Vestinq Tentative Tract Map 6110 (SmithTech USA, Inc.)
Staff Report given recommending approval with conditions, and request that it be put on
the Consent Calendar. There were no Commission comments. Item was continued until
Thursday night.
6.2) Vestinq Tentative Tract Map 6117 (SmithTech USA, Inc.)
Staff Report given recommending approval with conditions, and request that it be put on
the Consent Calendar. There were no Commission comments. Item was continued until
Thursday night.
6.3) Vestinq Tentative Tract Map 6118 (SmithTech USA, Inc.)
Minutes, PC, July 29, 2002 Page 3
Staff said the applicant is requesting a continuance to the August 15, 2002 meeting.
Applicant is working with Public Works and Planning to resolve some conditions, and the
applicant is going to be out of town. There were no Commission comments. Item was
continued until Thursday night.
6.4) Vestinq Tentative Tract Map 6129 (Porter-Robertson)
Commissioner Tragish recused himself from this item.
Staff report given recommending approval. A Consent request is being made. Staff
recommends approval because urbanization to north of the tract is imminent and agree
that it will be residential in the near future.
Commissioner McGinnis inquired why there is a proposed 8' wall as opposed to a 6' wall
to which staff responded that an 8' wall is standard when it is next to agriculture.
There were no other Commission comments. Item was continued until Thursday night.
PUBLIC HEARINGS - Tentative Tract Map/Zone Chanqes
7.la&b) Zone Chanqe No. 02-0529/Tentative Tract 6116 (Cornerstone
Engineering)
Staff report given. Request to be placed on Consent calendar. Staff is recommending
approval subject to the conditions.
Commissioner Gay inquired of the high pressure gas line if they went beyond the 250,
and if so, it might be pulled off consent and discussed.
Commissioner Blockley requested clarification of the history and effect of the R-2 zoning
as it was his understanding that this R-2 was a condition of removing it from another
parcel in the vicinity. Staff responded that the current location is out of a previous
approval. Commissioner Blockley expressed that he is just trying to stay consistent with
the General Plan.
Commissioner Tragish inquired if there is agriculture zoned property across the street to
which staff responded in the affirmative. He inquired if the setback has been designed
into the tentative tract to which staff responded that it is not enforced on this subdivision
because there is a 110' road right-of-way between this property and the A zone. Staff
indicated they will check on the ordinance for Thursday's meeting.
Commissioner Tragish inquired if ordinance requires notice to the residents of the high
pressure gas line to which staff responded that it is Fire Department condition.
Commissioner Tragish inquired if the Commission require that notice be given beyond
the 250 foot to which staff responded that the Commission would have to have some
basis for suggesting that this map is different than the previous maps and needs a
greater separation.
There were no other Commission comments. Item was continued until Thursday night.
7.2) Zone Chanqe No. P02-0541 (Stonecreek Partners, Inc.)
Staff report given recommending approval subject to the conditions.
There were no other Commission comments. Item was continued until Thursday night.
7.3) Revised PCD Zone Chanqe No. P02-0540
Minutes, PC, July 29, 2002 Page 4
Staff report given recommending approval.
Commissioner Sprague inquired if the zoning would allow for a conversion to a strip club
to which staff responded that it is a PCD and the use has to be an industrial zone.
Because it is adjacent to homes it will not be an issue.
Commissioner Sprague inquired if notice was provided to within 300 feet of the changes
and what ABC requires for notice. Staff responded that they have no control of the ABC
but will find out the distance requirements are.
Commissioner Tragish inquired if there was any communication made by any residents,
to which staff responded that no communication has been received by staff concerning
this project.
Commissioner Blockley inquired how the project will connect with the existing fences on
the property boundaries, to which staff responded that there is a condition that the
applicant can enter into an agreement with the property owner to put in a different wall.
There is a retaining wall of a 6' fence.
Commissioner Gay inquired what good the valet parking will do if there are no parking
spots. Staff responded that they did not give the Applicant any credit for valet parking
and were trying to take only those portions of the structure that would be used by outside
residents and giving them a break on the ratio for the cocktail lounge. Instead of using 1
per 50, the calculated 1 per every 75 sq. ft. Applicant has indicated that there is usually
a 10% vacancy and the cars can be stacked in those spaces. However, staff did not
give them credit for that. Any parking problem is going to be their own problem.
Commissioner Sprague inquired if there is a private gate on the entrance to which staff
responded that they would have to look into this. Commissioner Sprague indicated that
they would need to know the type of entrance.
Commissioner Sprague inquired about the accel and decel lanes to which staff
responded that the access is right in, right out and does not recall if a right turn lane was
required of the applicant. Staff indicated that there would be a break in the median for a
left in for those traveling north on Wible.
Commissioner Sprague expressed concern with a stack lane and left turn lane into, and
left turn out of the property if there is a private gate on the property so there are traffic
and safety issues. Staff responded that they will check into this issue.
Commissioner Tragish inquired about the size of the parking spaces on the property to
which staff responded that compact sizes are no longer allowed, and the minimum size is
9X18.
Commissioner Tragish inquired if there would be enough space for the discussed
landscaping to shorten up the sidewalk with the decel lane to which Staff responded that
there is not sufficient room for a right turn lane on Wible into the project without moving
the canal.
Commissioner Tragish inquired what the noticing requirements would be if the applicant
is required to provide more parking spaces to which staff responded that it would just be
a condition of approval and no re-noticing would be required.
Commissioner Sprague inquired if it would be uneconomical for them to cover a greater
portion of the canal to allow for an access lane into the property. Staff responded that to
their knowledge there is no gate and that the City has requirements for a right turn lane,
Minutes, PC, July 29, 2002 Page 5
and the particular use of this property would be off-peak, and would not fall under the
criteria that would require a right turn lane. Staff responded that the particular canal
company that is involved would have an "all or nothing" attitude, and thus the applicant
would probably feel that it was uneconomical. The trip generation study did not fall under
the criteria requiring a right turn deceleration lane. Staff indicated that the fence is held
back quite a distance from the entrance and staff feels the line of sight is sufficient.
There were no other Commission comments. Item was continued until Thursday night.
1. Approval of Master Wall and Landscape Concept Plan P02-0534
Staff report given. Greg Cronk, Director of Operations for City of Bakersfield Recreation and
Park's Office explained the progress.
There were no Commission comments. Item was continued until Thursday night.
1. AMENDMENT TO THE TEXT OF TITLE 16, SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE AND TITLE 17, ZONING
ORDINANCE CONCERNING REGULATIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND
CONSTRUCTION OF MULTIPLE FAMILY HOUSING PROJECTS SUCH AS APARTMENTS,
DUPLEXES, TRIPLEXES AND FOURPLEXES IN THE R-2, R-3 AND R-4 (MULTIPLE FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL) ZONE DISTRICTS.
Staff reported given. Staff indicated that Majesty Palms and River Lakes Ranch raised some
issues to the four plex projects and Councilman Couch requested an ordinance proposing
changes to these projects.
Staff recommended that the Commission only take testimony at Thursday's meeting so the matter
can be continued to the August 15th meeting.
Commissioner Sprague inquired how this proposed amendment to the ordinance would impact
the existing four plex lots that do not have the room for the proposed amenities. Staff responded
that if it is in a vesting map then it is grandfathered in, and that if it is something that was done
prior to vesting maps then the Commission would have to decide how to apply the ordinance.
Sometimes the lots are grandfathered in and sometimes it is acknowledged that through design it
can still be achieved.
Commissioner Gay inquired if the City can mandate the number of cars that have to be parked in
garages to which staff responded that kind of issue is usually mandated through CC&R's.
Commissioner Gay inquired if the tandem would be enough to meet code and this should be kept
in mind. He further expressed that he likes the off-street landscape guest parking and that the
amenities feature can be problematic in the future when the property is sold to out-of-town
investors and there is no on-site monitoring.
Commissioner Blockley favors the proposed amendments. He inquired if there will be exceptions
to the requirements if certain criteria are met. He further inquired about his concern of not
having enough land for the open space if larger developments are built.
Staff responded that exceptions have been provided by setting the standard so that as long as
the project meets the standards, then it goes through the regular review process. If there is an
alternative it is sent to the Planning Department. Staff further noted that this particular
ordinance does not address anything over a four plex.
There were no other Commission comments. Item was continued until Thursday night.
Minutes, PC, July 29, 2002 Page 6
10. COMMUNICATIONS
Staff requested clarification of Mr. Gay's intent on the Majesty Palms project regarding the
language to condition the flag lots on the approval as the motion did not include allowing the flag
lots to be approved by the fire department. Mr. Gay stated that it was his intent and
Commissioner Sprague's intent to include fire department approval on the flag lots.
Commissioner Sprague inquired if the pedestrian access issue was concluded so there will be a
walk through with poles to which Staff responded that the design was not nailed down, however
access will be allowed. Staff indicated that it can be further discussed at the site plan review.
Staff indicated that Consent Calendar items will be 6.1,6.2, 6.4, 7.1a and 7.1b and 7.2.
11. COMMISSION COMMENTS
Commissioner Tragish inquired of recusal and Ms. Gennero indicated that Commissioners do not
need to leave the room although there is pending legislation which is anticipated to pass requiring
Commissioners to leave after recusal. The City suggests that to avoid the appearance of
impropriety that the Commissioner leave the room after recusal.
Commissioner Tragish requested that Commissioner Tkac receive the packet before Thursday's
meeting.
Commissioner Tragish inquired if staff could fax copies of the Agenda before Thursday's night meeting so
he can better prepare, to which staff responded that they can e-mail the Agenda as soon as it is
ready.
2. DISCUSSION AND ACTION REGARDING POSSIBLE CANCELLATION OF THE NEXT PRE-
13.
MEETING.
This will be decided on Thursday night.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned at
1:53 p.m.
Pam Townsend, Recording Secretary
09/19/2002
STANLEY GRADY, Secretary
Planning Director