Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 4, 2004 PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 18 2004 - 5:30 p.m. Council Chambers, City Hall, 1501 Truxtun Avenue 1. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Gay, Blockley, Ellison, Lomas, Spencer, Tkac Absent: Commissioner Tragish Advisory Members: Robert Sherfy, Stanley Grady, Marian Shaw, Jack Leonard Staff: Jim Movius, Jim Eggert, Pam Townsend 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS - None 4. CONSENT CALENDAR: 4.1 Non-Public Hearing Items 4.1 a Approval of minutes for Planning Commission meetings of September 13, 16, & 23, 2004. Also, October 7 and 21, 2004. Commissioner Ellison said the minutes of September 16, 2004 on Page 4, Paragraph 7 should have the word thousand after the word 110. It should read 110,000 barrels. 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 Approval of Vesting Tentative Tract Map 6399 (SmithTech USA, Inc.) 4.2b Approval off Comprehensive Sign Plan 03-1172 for a commercial shopping center located in a C-2 (Regional Commercial) zone district located at 11000 Stockdale Highway (McIntosh &Assoc) Public portion of the hearing opened. No one spoke either for or against the projects. Public portion of the hearing closed. Commissioner Gay removed item 4.2a from the Consent Calendar. There were no other Commission comments. Motion made by Commissioner Blockley, seconded by Commissioner Spencer, to approve the public hearing portion of the Consent Calendar. Motion carried by group vote. Minutes, PC, November 18, 2004 Page 2 5. PUBLIC HEARING —Tentative Parcel Map 11193 (Cahan Bakersfield LLC) Public portion of the hearing opened. Staff report given recommending approval subject to the conditions contained in the staff report. No one spoke in opposition to staff's recommendation. Bill Huckaby, representing the owner, stated they are in agreement with staff's recommendation as amended. Public portion of the hearing was closed. Commissioner Gay asked if we are giving the option of putting the sidewalks in or not putting the sidewalks in? Ms. Shaw said we are giving them the option as to where they are putting the sidewalks- not eliminating the sidewalk condition. There were no more Commissioner comments. Motion made by Commissioner Tkac, seconded by Commissioner Gay, to approve Tentative Parcel Map 11193 with findings and conditions set forth in the attached resolution Exhibit A incorporating the memorandum from Marian Shaw dated November 17 and recommend same to City Council. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Commissioners Blockley ,, Ellison, Gay, Lomas, Spencer, Tkac NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Tragish 6. PUBLIC HEARING —Vesting Tentative Tract Map 6399 (SmithTech USA, Inc.) Public portion of the hearing opened. Staff said they are prepared to answer any questions the Commission may have regarding this matter. No one spoke in opposition to staff's recommendation. Bob Smith, SmithTech USA, stated they are in agreement with staff's recommendation and are available to answer any questions the Commission may have. Public portion of the hearing was closed. Commissioner Gay asked if there are enough parking requirements for adequate parking on- site? Mr. Grady said the adopted parking ordinance requirements for the Church would be applied. It is a standard based on the number of seats. There were no more Commissioner comments. Motion made by Commissioner Tkac, seconded by Commissioner Spencer, to approve and adopt the Negative Declaration and to approve Vesting Tentative Tract Map 6399 with findings and conditions set forth in the attached resolution Exhibit A and recommend same to City Council. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Minutes, PC, November 18, 2004 Page 3 AYES: Commissioners Blockley ,, Ellison, Gay, Lomas, Spencer, Tkac NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Tragish 7. PUBLIC HEARING — Amendment to the text of Title 17, Zoning Ordinance, adding regulations concerning wireless telecommunication facilities (City of Bakersfield) Public portion of the hearing opened. A presentation and staff report was given by Principal Planner Jim Eggert. Staff recommended approval with changes per the memorandum. No one spoke either for or against the project. Public portion of the hearing was closed. Commissioner Tkac asked about existing towers. Mr. Eggert said that any tower that is currently in place under the code will get to stay there. Commissioner Gay said that since we have an ordinance allowing 10-foot in diameter ground mounted satellite dishes, is there any reason we didn't change the ordinance for those at this time? Mr. Eggert said they are trying to exempt the private homeowner. There are a few companies who still sell them. Commissioner Gay said he has two issues he would like to see added to the ordinance. One, giving staff the opportunity to require there is a lease in place and the second one that would require landscaping or a hedge around them when there is encroachment at the discretion of the Planning Director. Mr. Grady said the discretion requiring the landscaping would be an easy one to do but he is not sure what our involvement would need to be with respect to whether there is a lease or not. Commissioner Gay said his thinking is just that staff would know there is a valid reason to put a tower up when they may or may not need it. Mr. Grady asked what would they be gaining by this if everything else is fine with the location? Commissioner Gay said his concern is a proliferation of speculative towers that may or may not have antennas on them. Mr. Eggert said that the ones under this ordinance will be camouflaged and they are very expensive. Whether they are being used or not, you will not see them. Commissioner Lomas asked if language were added to the ordinance requiring landscaping if you can only impose the landscaping at permit? You would think that you can't make them do it 5 years later. Mr. Grady said that if it is an existing tower, we would want to have the authority to require the landscaping on the project that is making the encroachment. Commissioner Ted Blockley said he is in favor of the ordinance. He also agrees with the landscaping provision. Commissioner Ellison asked if there is anything in the ordinance that changes the statement that the cell towers are presently only permitted in commercial and industrial zone districts? Mr. Eggert said that a cell tower is allowed by right in those zones. They are only allowed in a residential, open space or ag zone under the current ordinance by a use permit. This ordinance opens the door for those towers that are completely screened and camouflaged to go into open space or residential areas by right— rather than a use permit. Minutes, PC, November 18, 2004 Page 4 Commissioner Tkac said he thinks this ordinance is a good idea all the way around. There were no more Commissioner comments. Motion made by Commissioner Gay, seconded by Commissioner Lomas, to adopt the attached resolution with all findings approving the proposed ordinance amendment incorporating the memorandum dated November 18, 2004 by Stanley Grady and directing staff to add language referencing the addition of landscaping or screening if deemed necessary at the discretion of the Planning Director or the Board of Zoning Adjustment and recommend same to City Council. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Commissioners Blockley, Ellison, Gay, Lomas, Spencer, Tkac NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Tragish 8. PUBLIC HEARING — Comprehensive Sign Plan 03-1172 for a commercial shopping center located in a C-2 (Regional Commercial) zone district located at 11000 Stockdale Highway (McIntosh &Assoc) (Exempt from CEQA) (Ward 4) (Consent Agenda 4.2b) See Consent Calendar 9. COMMUNICATIONS: Mr. Grady pointed out to the Commission a memorandum from Jack Hardisty, Development Services Director, dated November 16, 2004 that transmits the outcome of the Planning Commission recommendations to the City Council. 10. COMMISSION COMMENTS: Commissioner Tkac congratulated Mr. Grady on his promotion to Development Services Director. Commissioner Gay said he would not be able to attend the December 9, 2004 Planning Commission meeting. Commissioner Ellison also congratulated Mr. Grady on his promotion. 11. ADJOURNMEMT: There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m. Pam Townsend, Recording Secretary STANLEY GRADY, Secretary Development Services Director January 10, 2005