HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 5, 2004 PLANNING COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD
MINUTES OF AUGUST 5, 2004 - 5:30 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 1501 Truxtun Avenue
1. ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners Gay, Blockley, Lomas, Spencer, Tkac
Absent: Commissioners Tragish, Ellison
Advisory Members: Robert Sherfy, Stanley Grady, Marian Shaw, Phil Burns
Staff: Jim Movius, Marc Gauthier, Pam Townsend
Due to the absence of both the Chairman and Vice Chairman, Commissioner Gay took over as
acting chairman for tonight's meeting.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS - None
4. CONSENT CALENDAR:
4.1 Non-Public Hearing Items
4.1 a Approval of General Plan Consistency finding for the summary abandonment of
the reserved 15-foot public utility easement at the southwest corner of Stockdale
Highway and Buena Vista Road. (City of Bakersfield). (Exempt from CEQA)
(Ward 4)
4.1 b Final Environmental Impact Report for General Plan Amendment 03-0724. (City
of Bakersfield. (EIR) (Ward 4)
Motion made by Commissioner Blockley, seconded by Commissioner Spencer, to approve the
non-public hearing portion of the Consent Calendar. Motion carried by group vote.
4.2 Public Hearing Items
4.2a Approve continuance until December 16, 2004 General Plan Amendment
04-0468 (McIntosh &Associates) (Ward 3)
4.2b Approve Tentative Tract Map 6329 (DeWalt Corp) (Ward 5)
Public portion of the hearing opened. No one spoke either for or against the projects.
Public portion of the hearing closed. There were no Commission comments. Motion
made by Commissioner Spencer, seconded by Commissioner Blockley, to approve the
public hearing portion of the Consent Calendar. Motion carried by group vote.
Minutes, PC, August 5, 2004 Page 2
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS —GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS
5.1 General Plan Amendment 03-0724 (City of Bakersfield) (Ward 4)
Public hearing is opened.
Staff stated that Bruce Grove is present to provide an overview of the environmental
documents, as well as Ralph Brayboy from Public Works Department to respond to
questions at the conclusion of the presentation.
Bruce Grove with RBF Consulting gave a presentation on the Allen Road crossing
between Stockdale Highway and Ming Avenue. He stated that the conclusion in the
analysis was that the proposed project is the environmentally superior alternative and
meets the project's stated objectives. There were no new environmental issues raised
as a result of responses received in regards to comments on the draft EIR.
Tonya Kanavalov, a property owner on the north side of the Kern River on the west side
of Allen Road, stated that the property owners are concerned with the increase in noise
and pollution, as well as privacy, especially on the southern most properties because of
oncoming traffic traveling northbound over the bridge. She stated that perhaps an
alternative location would be at Renfro or further west.
The public hearing is closed.
Commissioner Lomas commented that the general plan has been in existence since
1982, and at that time they planned the location of the houses and roads in an attempt to
make order. The Allen Road crossing over the river has been planned for over 20 years.
The closest crossing to the east of Allen is 1 'h miles away to Calloway, and to move the
Allen crossing west to Renfro would be very expensive and unreasonable because
Renfro has been narrowed and is no longer an arterial. She stated that a river crossing
needs a big road and Renfro is no longer a big road. Commissioner Lomas further
stated that Rudd Road, the next westerly road, will be a crossing, but it won't be for a
very long time as it is the westside beltway. She stated that while she sympathizes with
the homeowners, given the above, Allen Road is really the only place to put the crossing.
Commissioner Lomas stated that she will support this project.
Commissioner Spencer stated that the all of the documents have been prepared in
accordance with the general plan. He stated that he sympathizes with the
homeowners, but agrees that this crossing has been planned and approved for many
years.
Commissioner Blockley stated he sympathizes with the noise concerns, and believes the
EIR clearly identified this as a significant problem. He stated that he doesn't know what
can be done about the noise while building a bridge because it can't be built without
driving dirt piles. He believes all of the available mitigation has been discussed.
Commissioner Gay inquired about the power, sewer and water lines, to which staff
responded that they will be incorporated into the bridge. The light issues are covered in
the EIR. Staff further confirmed that the bridge is self-contained so nothing will flow into
the channel. Commissioner Gay inquired about the City's ability to restrict the pile
driver's working hours from 8 to 5 in consideration of noise issues. Staff responded that
this will be a contract with a construction company so the City can impose time
restrictions. Commissioner Gay stated that he will be supporting this project.
Minutes, PC, August 5, 2004 Page 3
Motion made by Commissioner Blockley, seconded by Commissioner Lomas, to adopt a
resolution making findings approving General Plan Amendment number 03-0724 to
amend the circulation element of the Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan for a specific
plan line for Allen Road with findings and statements of overriding consideration.
Mitigation measures and monitoring program as set forth in the attached resolution,
Exhibit "A", and recommend the same to City Council.
Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Commissioners Blockley, Gay, Lomas, Spencer, Tkac
NOES: None
ABSENT: Commissioners Ellison, Tragish
5.2 General Plan Amendment 04-0468 (McIntosh &Associates) (Ward 3)
See Consent Agenda
6. PUBLIC HEARING —Tentative Parcel Maps
6.1 Tentative Parcel Map 11119 (McIntosh and Associates) (Ward 5)
Public hearing opened.
Staff report given.
No one spoke in opposition.
Roger McIntosh, with McIntosh & Assoc, representing Castle & Cooke, stated they have
reviewed the staff report and concur with staff's recommendation, including the memo
dated August 4, 2004 from the Public Works Department.
Public hearing closed.
There was no Commissioner comments.
Motion made by Commissioner Spencer, seconded by Commissioner Lomas, to approve
Vesting Tentative Parcel Map 11119 with findings and conditions as set forth in the
attached resolution, Exhibit "A", and incorporating the August 4, 2004 memo from Marian
Shaw, and recommend the same to City Council.
Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Commissioners Blockley, Gay, Lomas, Spencer, Tkac
NOES: None
ABSENT: Commissioners Ellison, Tragish
Minutes, PC, August 5, 2004 Page 4
6.2 Tentative Parcel Map 11052 (McIntosh and Associates) (Ward 4)
Commissioner Blockley excused himself from this item.
Public hearing opened.
Staff report given.
No one spoke in opposition.
Roger McIntosh, with McIntosh & Assoc, representing Bakersfield University Partners,
stated they have reviewed the conditions of approval and concur with the August 4th
memorandum from the Public Works Department.
Public hearing closed.
Commissioner Lomas inquired if on the conditions of approval if they are selling two
drive approaches, parcels 3 thru 6, that is with the existing one at Cooper's plus one, to
which staff responded in the affirmative. Regarding condition 1.16 which indicates, "right
turn deceleration lane is required for parcels 3 & 4 drive approach unless analysis is
provided showing that it is not warranted." Commissioner Lomas asked for an example
of the language that might be used to indicate that it would not be warranted. Staff
responded that there are criteria for when a right turn lane onto an arterial or collector is
required and it relates to the number of trips generated by the site during peak hours,
and how it relates to the amount of traffic expected on the collector arterial by a certain
threshold. Commissioner Lomas expressed her concern about the stop and go traffic on
Stockdale, and would like further clarification regarding an Office Commercial zone.
Steve Walker with Public Works stated that on arterial streets which are over 45 mph the
threshold is 25 peak hour right turns into a driveway, and would have to be a pretty low
trip generation type use to not exceed this threshold, although it has happened, and
therefore it is possible that it could. Mr. Walker indicated that he would anticipate that
they will probably need one somewhere along there since there are two access points
allowed on Stockdale Highway and Stockdale Highway is in excess of 45 mph, and it is a
six lane street. Mr. Walker stated that unless all of the parcels are low trip generation,
it is very likely that they will need the right turn lane.
Commissioner Gay inquired about the sewer line, to which staff responded that sewer is
a requirement to develop this parcel, and is included in Condition 4.2.
Commissioner Gay stated that he is concerned about the traffic issues, and that with
regard to 1.16 would like to delete "Not warranted" and add that the Cooper's driveway
be included with a decel lane as a requirement. He stated that he would not support this
project without decel lanes on both driveways facing Stockdale Highway.
Mr. Walker added that the decel lane would be required out of policy, unless there was a
study. He further stated that the offices referred to north of Downing at Coffee were not
developed in the City, and were not reviewed by the City Planning Commission, and that
is why there are no right turn lanes, otherwise they would have been required to have
right turn lanes.
Commissioner Lomas inquired if they could make an adjustment to 1.16, to which staff
responded that they could require the right turn lane. Staff recommended that if this is
required that they also modify condition 1.1.7 which requires use of the existing drive
Minutes, PC, August 5, 2004 Page 5
approach. Staff questioned whether they can get a right turn lane in there from the
Arvin-Edison Canal.
Commissioner Gay commented that Cooper's driveway is so far east that they should
have the flexibility of relocating Cooper's driveway to accommodate a decel lane which
is why there would need to be a modification to 1.1.7. Therefore, 1.1.7 could be deleted.
Staff recommended that 1.1.6 be modified to provide for a right turn deceleration lane
required at both access points, with the exception of the existing driveway at Don Hart
Drive east, which is where the parking lot is.
Motion made by Commissioner Lomas, seconded by Commissioner Tkac, to approve
Tentative Parcel Map 11052 with findings and conditions as set forth in the attached
resolution, Exhibit "A", and incorporating the August 4, 2004 memo from Marian Shaw,
plus comments made by Marian Shaw in regards to Conditions of Approval 1.1.6 and
1.1.7, and recommend the same to City Council.
Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Commissioners Gay, Lomas, Spencer, Tkac
NOES: None
ABSENT: Commissioners Blockley, Ellison, Tragish
7. PUBLIC HEARING —Tentative Tract Map 6329 (DeWalt Corp) (Ward 5)
See Consent Agenda
8. COMMUNICATIONS:
Mr. Grady indicated that there is a rather large general plan cycle approaching for September.
The option with the 16 cases is to split them in half and do a meeting on the regular schedule of
September 16, and then a meeting the following Thursday, on September 23. The next
commission meeting would be October 7th. Commissioner Spencer stated that he would like a
regular meeting with no pre-meeting.
9. COMMISSION COMMENTS:
Mr. Grady stated that Commissioner Murray requested that the farming issues be placed on the
agenda. This will be on the next agenda.
10. ADJOURNMEMT:
There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned at
6:23 p.m.
Pam Townsend, Recording Secretary
STANLEY GRADY, Secretary
Planning Director
Minutes, PC, August 5, 2004 Page 6
September 28, 2004