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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 4-26-11_CCv0001.pdf MINUTES: of the Planning Commission Meeting of the City of Redlands held Tuesday, April 26 2011, at 2:00 p.m. are as follows: PRESENT: Gary Miller, Chairman John James, Vice Chairman Carol Dyer, Commissioner Conrad Guzkowski, Commissioner Jan Hudson, Commissioner Julie Rock, Commissioner Eric Shamp, Commissioner ADVISORY STAFF Robert Dalquest, Assistant Development Services Director PRESENT: Manuel Baeza, Principal Planner Sergio Madera, Associate Planner I. CALL TO ORDER AND PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD - 3 MINUTES Chairman Miller called the meeting to order, and opened up the Public Comment period. All members were present. Mr. Stephen Rogers stated the General Plan should be updated prior to the other items of priority. Mr. Rogers expressed concern with the Downtown Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Chairman Miller closed the Public Comment period. II. OLD BUSINESS A. Planning Commission Workshops Assistant Development Services Director Robert Dalquest gave a brief overview of the workshop priorities. Chairman Miller requested the Commission give their recommended prioritization. Commissioner Dyer recommended a mission statement with the highest priority being regional items such as Transit Oriented Development, and Green House Gas. The second priority would be General Plan related items and the third priority would be implementation items. Commissioner Dyer requested the Commission follow the mandates that are established within the policies and guidelines. Commissioner Dyer requested timelines for the completion of items on the priority list. Vice Chairman James cautioned the Commission when crafting items of implementation, to not make new policy or conflict with current policy. Vice Chairman James requested the mission statement to include the order of precedent and use the General Plan as the guiding document. Vice Chairman James stated while the Commission is working with the items of priority to focus on the City being a better place to live, work, visit, conduct business, and to look for opportunities to be business friendly. Vice Chairman James stated he was in agreement with the list of priorities. Assistant Director Robert Dalquest stated some policies and programs may need refinements. Planning Commission Minutes of April 26,2011 Page 1 Commissioner Hudson was in support of the previous comments from the Commissioner's. Commissioner Hudson recommended the General Plan Update moved to the top of the priority list, and requested a sense of direction, and cross- referencing. Commissioner Hudson stated a regional approach is critical as the Commission reviews the economic development including the Transit Oriented Development. Commissioner Guzkowski stated he agreed with the Commission's comments. Commissioner Guzkowski requested direction on the desires of the City Council. Commissioner Guzkowski recommended when the Commission reviews the long term and short term issues to consider the economic health of the City. Commissioner Guzkowski expressed concern on the amount of land available for future development on industrial uses. Assistant Director Dalquest could not confirm the available land. Commissioner Rock stated there was a document that was completed in 2006 that had analyzed the General Plan, and discussed shortcomings and problems that the City has with the General Plan. The document may help the Commission be more informed in their workshops. Commissioner Rock stated the Commission should make sure to address the economic viability of the community. Assistant Director Dalquest stated the City Council authorized the Development Services Department to hire a consultant to prepare a Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan consisted of three reports. The first report consisted of a community vision, joint workshop with the Planning Commission and City Council, a mailer that went to 6,700 households, and a workshop. The second report took from the public outreach and provided a focus on the General Plan Update. The third report was a scope of work to update the General Plan. Commissioner Shamp requested clarification on the Commission's responsibilities on the General Plan update. Commissioner Guzkowski stated at the community forum at ESRI; the City Manager expressed updating the General Plan was one of the City's highest priorities. Assistant Director Dalquest concurred. Commissioner Shamp requested clarification where the Commission fits in on the chain of command, and decision making. Assistant Director Dalquest stated the Planning Commission is a part of the decision making process. Commissioner Shamp recommended the Commission start with a very clear plan, chain of command, and to identify the decision makers. Commissioner Shamp agreed to add the Entitlement Process to the Priority List. Commissioner Shamp suggested the Commission consider economic development and quality of life. Commissioner Shamp stated he would like to see all of the reports, plans and studies generated in the past ten years to help assist the Commission in their workshops. Commissioner Shamp confirmed his support on proceeding under the current General Plan and suggested a community outreach to the public for their input. Planning Commission Minutes of April 12,2011 Page 2 Chairman Miller inquired if staff is in the process of updating the General Plan. Assistant Director Dalquest stated the General Plan was approved but the City was not able to update it due to the economy and financial issues with the City. Chairman Miller stated the goals of the Commission are; to enhance the quality of life, prosperity, identify and encourage citrus agriculture, identify items that are unique to Redlands, ways to speed up the entitlement process. Chairman Miller inquired if the Commission had any additional items to add to the Priority List. Commissioner Dyer stated she was in agreement with the list including the additional item, and requested a copy of the 2006 Strategic Plan to refer to. Commissioner Dyer inquired if the entitlement process was being addressed by staff. Commissioner Dyer requested clarification on the legal requirements. Assistant Director Dalquest clarified the legal requirements. Assistant Director Dalquest stated the IT Department is implementing a software program called City Works; all of the departments are communicating and connected which will help expedite the process. The target will be presented to City Council in June or July. Assistant Director Dalquest stated the department has made modifications to reduce the timeline on the development review process. Chairman Miller recommended the Commission create a mission statement with guiding principles from the General Plan, and Strategic Plan. Chairman Miller requested the reports electronically in order to minimize the exercise. Commissioner Guzkowski stated the list is prioritized by urgency, comprehensiveness, and efficiency. Commissioner Guzkowski requested clarification on staff's expectations on the Antennae Ordinance, and Green House Gas Ordinance. Assistant Director Dalquest stated staff would provide the Commission with items that have occurred since the Antennae Ordinance in 2000. The City and state law has changed the way they regulate cell towers. Staff could give sample ordinances from nearby Cities in order to compare how they regulate cell towers. Assistant Director Dalquest stated staff is looking for the Commission's input for a draft ordinance. Assistant Director Dalquest confirmed once SANBAG completes their inventory plant they will be looking for local measures to reduce a flood of green house gas, and staff is looking for the Commission's participation in the local measures as part of SANBAG's reduction plan. Commissioner Hudson expressed concern for the Commission and to exercise caution to not take on more than they could handle. Some of the items are more difficult to handle, and requested creating Sub Committees. Commissioner Guzkowski inquired if staff would support some of the items being broken into Sub Committees. Assistant Director Dalquest confirmed. Commissioner Shamp stated some of the less intensive items include; the Antenna Ordinance, Special Events Ordinance, Homeless Shelter Regulations, and Zoning Code. Commissioner Shamp stated the items could be addressed fairly quickly. Chairman Miller concurred. Chairman Miller suggested Sub Committees on some of the more extensive items from the list. Commissioner Guzkowski requested clarification on the expiration of the Interim Antennae Ordinance. Assistant Director Dalquest stated the Interim Antennae Ordinance expires August 20, 2011. Commissioner James requested the staff reports electronically instead of a hard copy. Planning Commission Minutes of April 26,2011 Page 3 Commissioner Guzkowski suggested the Downtown Specific Plan and the General Plan Update Approach as long term items and the Antennae Ordinance and Homeless Shelter Regulations as the short term items. Commissioner Shamp expressed concern with the General Plan Update. Commissioner Rock stated she was in support of the Sub Committees; to review all of the documents and information that the City has, and make a scope of work for the General Plan and present their findings to the City Council. Commissioner James was in agreement with Commissioner Guzkowski's and Commissioner Rock's comments regarding the General Plan Update. Commissioner Shamp stated if the Commission is to clearly define the scope of work for the General Plan Update, he will support it. Commissioner Guzkowski stated that one of the critical elements on the General Plan is traffic analysis. Assistant Director Dalquest concurred, and stated there are some elements to the General Plan that would not take a lot of time to update. Chairman Miller requested a motion to address the Antennae Ordinance and Homeless Shelter Regulation for the short term objectives and to address the General Plan, Downtown Specific Plan, and the Entitlement Process for the long term objectives. MOTION It was moved by Commission Guzkowski, seconded by Commissioner Rock and carried on a 7-0 vote to approve the prioritization of the Antennae Ordinance and the Homeless Shelter Regulations for the short term objectives, and to address the General Plan Update, Downtown Specific Plan, and the Entitlement Process for the long term objectives. Chairman Miller recommended using the guiding principals of the General Plan to help facilitate a mission statement. MOTION It was moved by Vice Chairman James, seconded by Commissioner Hudson and carried on a 7-0 vote to approve the addition of a mission statement to the May 24, 2011 agenda. Commissioner Rock, Vice Chairman James and Commissioner Guzkowski volunteered for the General Plan Sub Committee. The Commission voted in support of the Sub Committee members for the General Plan. Commissioner Rock and Commissioner Shamp recused themselves due to a conflict of interest on the Downtown Specific Plan. Planning Commission Minutes of April 12,2011 Page 4 Assistant Director Dalquest stated on May 5, 2011 the Public Review period will end for the Environmental Impact Report. Assistant Director Dalquest stated the direction is to try to accommodate fifteen (15) key policy issues; one of the areas was east of 6th Street. Some of the businesses were transplanted to the area. There are letters of opposition from some of the businesses in the area. The business owners do not want the regulations to change their designation, or to be considered nonconforming. Assistant Director Dalquest stated he would like to work together and craft options to address the business owner's issues before the item goes through the public hearing process. Chairman Miller requested a map of the businesses and their uses in the area, along with some backup to address the issues. Assistant Director Dalquest concurred. MOTION It was moved by Commission Dyer, seconded by Commissioner James and carried on a 5-0 vote (Commissioner Rock and Commissioner Shamp recused) to review the Downtown Specific Plan on the next workshop agenda. Chairman Miller requested volunteers for the Downtown Specific Plan Sub Committee. Commissioner Hudson, Vice Chairman James, and Chairman Miller volunteered for the Downtown Specific Plan Sub Committee. Chairman Miller requested volunteers for the Entitlement Process Sub Committees. Commissioner Guzkowski, Vice Chairman James and Chairman Miller volunteered for the Entitlement Process Sub Committee. MOTION It was moved by Commission Guzkowski, seconded by Vice Chairman James and carried on a 5-0 vote (Commissioner Rock and Commissioner Shamp recused) to approve the Downtown Specific Plan, and Entitlement Process Sub Committees. III. ADJOURN TO MAY 10, 2011 Chairman Miller adjourned the meeting at 4:00 p.m. to the May 10, 2011 meeting. Linda McCasland Robert Dalquest Senior Administrative Technician Assistant Development Services Director Planning Commission Minutes of April 26,2011 Page 5