HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-05-16; Planning Commission; MinutesPlanning Commission Minutes May 16, 2012 Page 1
Minutes of: PLANNING COMMISSION
Time of Meeting: 6:00 p.m.
Date of Meeting: May 16, 2012
Place of Meeting: COUNCIL CHAMBERS
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Schumacher called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner L’Heureux led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chairperson Schumacher, Commissioners Arnold, Black, L’Heureux, Scully and
Siekmann
Absent: Commissioner Nygaard
STAFF PRESENT
Don Neu, City Planner
Jane Mobaldi, Assistant City Attorney
Bridget Desmarais, Administrative Secretary
Sabrina Michelson, Senior Office Specialist
Gary T. Barberio, Community and Economic Development Director
Chris DeCerbo, Principal Planner
Dave de Cordova, Principal Planner
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairperson Schumacher asked if there were any corrections or revisions to the minutes of the meeting
from May 2, 2012.
MOTION
ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Siekmann, and duly seconded, that the Planning
Commission approve the minutes from the Regular Meeting of May 2, 2012.
VOTE: 6-0-1
AYES: Chairperson Schumacher, Commissioner Arnold, Commissioner Black,
Commissioner L’Heureux, Commissioner Scully, and Commissioner Siekmann
NOES: None
ABSENT: Commissioner Nygaard
ABSTAIN: None
Chairperson Schumacher directed everyone's attention to the slide on the screen to review the
procedures the Commission would be following during the evening's Public Hearing.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA
Karen Merrill, Sunflower Lane, speaking on behalf of Preserve Calavera, commented on Open Space and
suggested the city have a database on the open space lands in Carlsbad.
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Kasey Cinciarelli, 2727 Lyons Court, Carlsbad, played a video showing the Quarry Creek site and spoke
regarding acquisition of open space as part of Proposition C.
Sherry Alvarado, 3327 Tyler Court, commented on the undercrossing at Chestnut Avenue.
Shelley Hayes-Caron, resident of the Buena Vista Adobe, stated there will be an event at the adobe on
Saturday.
PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING
Chairperson Schumacher asked Mr. Neu to introduce the first item.
1. GPA 07-02 – ENVISION CARLSBAD – Continued Planning Commission discussion
from the May 2, 2012 Planning Commission meeting on: 1) the Envision Carlsbad Land
Use Concepts Community Feedback report (previously distributed to the Planning
Commission and available at www.carlsbadca.gov/envision) and 2) the Envision
Carlsbad Citizens Committee (EC3) recommendations on a draft preferred land use plan.
Mr. Neu introduced Agenda Item 1 and stated Community and Economic Development Director Gary
Barberio would make the staff presentation.
Chairperson Schumacher opened the presentation and discussion and noted that public testimony was
closed at the May 2, 2012 meeting.
Mr. Barberio gave a detailed presentation and stated he would be available to answer any questions.
Focus Area 1 will be discussed at the June 20, 2012 Planning Commission meeting.
Commissioner Siekmann clarified that the owners of the Quarry Creek were notified of the ranking of the
property by the Proposition C Open Space and Trails Citizen’s Committee and the developers did not
come to the City stating they would like to sell the property to the City. Mr. Barberio stated that was
correct.
Chairperson Schumacher asked if there were any questions.
Commissioner L’Heureux asked about the proposed mixed use land uses. Mr. Barberio stated that the
recommendation was to leave the sites zoned as commercial as that zoning allows mixed use.
Chairperson Schumacher asked if the Commercial Visitor serving areas in the Ponto Area would allow
residential over the commercial. Mr. Barberio stated no.
Chairperson Schumacher acknowledged receipt of a letter from the Corky McMillin Company dated May
9th, a letter from Jackson DeMarco Titus and Peckenpaugh dated May 11th, a letter from Integral
Communities dated May 11th, an email with attachments from Diane Nygaard dated May 13th, an email
from Linda Paniello dated May 15th, and an email from Peter Mackauf dated May 15th.
FOCUS AREA 1 – NORTHWEST COASTAL
Mr. Barberio reminded the Commission that the Barrio area of Focus Area 1 will be discussed at length at
the June 20, 2012 meeting.
Commissioner L’Heureux stated he would like to see the pier concept remain and can accept the
recommendation as is.
Commissioner Arnold would like to see the pier concept removed from the Focus Area. He stated he
would like a winding boardwalk with kiosks and food carts.
Commissioner Black concurred with Commissioner Arnold in regards to the pier concept. He stated he
likes the idea of continuing the mixed use in the Village area. Commissioner Black would also like to see
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the promenade continued into Focus Area 9. He also stated he would like to see commercial uses on the
Power Plant site.
Commissioner Scully stated she personally likes the idea of the pier concept; however she feels there will
be too many challenges with the concept. She would like more commercialism along the coast and
restaurants extending in Focus Area 9. Commissioner Scully stated she can support the EC3
recommendations.
Commissioner Siekmann stated Focus Area 1 and Focus Area 9 are the most important areas. She feels
that more open space in those focus areas is a fantastic idea. Commissioner Siekmann stated she does
not care for the idea of a pier as she feels it would bring crime into the area. She stated it would be nice
to have a focus area/special place in Carlsbad. Commissioner Siekmann further commented that
restaurants and commercial sites are great ideas for this Focus Area. She stated that she would like to
see more parking near the beach.
Chairperson Schumacher stated he does not like the idea of the pier but feels it is an idea worth
exploring. He stated this Focus Area is a great place for more beach oriented commercial opportunities.
He stated he would like to see an effort put towards the pedestrian crossings in the Village Area and
Barrio area to make it easier to get to the beach.
The Commissioners stated their consensus to accept the EC3 recommendation but asked to remove the
pier concept from the preferred plan.
FOCUS AREA 2 – PLAZA CAMINO REAL COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR
Commissioner L’Heureux stated he has a difficult time with Focus Area 2 as there is no creativity or
envisioning with this area. He stated he agrees with the mixed use zoning on the west side but would like
to see mixed use on the entire mall site. Commissioner L’Heureux stated he can accept the
recommendations of the Envision Carlsbad Committee.
Commissioner Arnold can accept the recommendation and supports the staff recommendation.
Commissioner Black supports the recommendations.
Commissioner Scully agrees with the comments and can support the recommendations.
Commissioner Siekmann feels that the west side of El Camino Real should be zoned for mixed use. She
would like to see the mall parking lot as mixed use. Commissioner Siekmann stated she cannot support
the recommendation as is.
Chairperson Schumacher stated from a land use perspective he can accept the recommendation.
The Commissioners stated their consensus to accept the EC3 recommendation with the staff proposed
modification.
FOCUS AREA 4 – MARJA ACRES
All Commissioners stated their support of the EC3 recommendation for Focus Area 4.
FOCUS AREA 5 – SUNNY CREEK COMMERCIAL
All Commissioners agreed with the EC3 recommendation for Focus Area 5.
Mr. Barberio discussed the Meta Housing letter for High Density residential on a site outside the Focus
Area. Mr. Neu clarified that Meta Housing is not the property owner. Commissioner L’Heureux stated he
would not like to give people the impression that it was being done through the back door and is reluctant
to begin changing land uses. Commissioner Arnold stated things should be left as is. Commissioner
Black agreed with Commissioner L’Heureux in that it is premature to make any decisions now.
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Commissioner Scully agreed and stated it should it left alone. Commissioner Siekmann stated she would
like to wait. Chairperson Schumacher also agreed with his fellow Commissioners.
The Commissioners stated their consensus to not recommend the change requested by Meta Housing.
FOCUS AREA 6 – MANDANA
Commissioner L’Heureux stated his agreement with the recommendation.
Commissioner Arnold would like to see the Commission keep this Focus Area as open space.
Commissioner Black agreed with his fellow Commissioners and agreed with the recommendation. He
stated he would like to keep as much open space as possible.
Commissioner Scully stated she agreed with the recommendation. She commented that it would be nice
for the city to acquire some of the land to keep as open space.
Commissioner Siekmann stated the designation is very appropriate.
Chairperson Schumacher agreed with his fellow Commissioners about the need for open space but does
not necessarily feel the City should purchase it. He agreed with the EC3 recommendation.
The Commission agreed with the EC3 recommendation for the Focus Area.
FOCUS AREA 7 – PALOMAR CORRIDOR
Commissioner L’Heureux stated one of the problems with the residential sites, with the exception of
Bressi Ranch, is that there are no commercial sites nearby to serve those residents. He questioned the
viability of the residential pockets.
Commissioner Arnold commented that the EC3 recommendation should be left as is but he questioned
the residential sites.
Commissioner Black stated his concern regarding the residential site in the middle of the Focus Area
(Oaks North Lot 1); however he can agree with the recommendation.
Commissioner Scully stated she agrees with most of the housing sites in the Focus Area except for the
one in Bressi Ranch. She stated she does not want to see the land use changed. Commissioner Scully
stated she did agree with the other recommendations for the Focus Area.
Commissioner Siekmann can support the recommendations.
Chairperson Schumacher stated he can support the housing sites in the Focus Area.
Mr. Barberio discussed a letter regarding the Kilroy site. Commissioner L’Heureux stated his concern
was that he would like it as office not medical. Commissioner Arnold stated he has no problem with the
request. Commissioners Black, Scully and Siekmann are all in agreement with the request. Chairperson
Schumacher stated he would rather see this come through as a project and come before the Planning
Commission. He stated he is not comfortable making any changes with this process tonight. Mr.
Barberio suggested the Commission could have more discussion about office uses generally. Mr. Bhatia
suggested staff would come back with a framework strategy on how to locate medical offices.
Regarding the letter from the Allen Group, the Commission agreed to consider the request for the site to
be zoned for office use.
The Commission discussed a letter regarding the Integral Communities site and a request from Archstone
Communities, and agreed to not recommend the changes as requested to those sites at this time.
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The Commission discussed the request regarding the Aviara Farms site and agreed to accept the EC3
recommendation for high density residential only at Aviara Farms, and also agreed to accept the EC3
recommendation for Focus Area 7 as presented in the staff report.
RECESS
Chairperson Schumacher called for a ten minute recess at 8:35 p.m.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
Chairperson Schumacher called the meeting to order at 8:45 p.m. with all Commissioners present.
FOCUS AREA 8 – SOUTHERN FREEWAY CORRIDOR
All Commissioners agreed with the EC3 recommendation for the Focus Area.
FOCUS AREA 9 – PONTO/SOUTHERN WATERFRONT
All Commissioners agreed with the EC3 recommendation for the Focus Area.
FOCUS AREA 10 – AVIARA
Commissioner L’Heureux stated he supports the EC3 recommendation.
Commissioner Arnold stated his support for the recommendation.
Commissioner Black stated he concurred.
Commissioner Scully stated she supports the recommendations.
Mr. Barberio explained a letter request by Aviara Resort Associates and the apparent conflict with the
Aviara HOA CC&Rs limiting the use of property to recreation.
Commissioner Siekmann can support a policy driven approach for the Murphy property. She stated she
would like more information on the resort property. Regarding the site on Poinsettia, Commissioner
Siekmann stated she supports the recommendation.
Commissioner Scully stated she supports a policy driven approach to determining open space on the
Murphy Property.
Chairperson Schumacher agrees with the recommendations for the site on Poinsettia as well as the
resort property. He stated he shares Commissioner Siekmann’s concerns with regard to the Murphy
property and that any change should be policy driven.
The Commission agreed with the EC3 recommendation in regards to the northernmost site. Regarding
the site at the Hyatt property, five Commissioners agreed with the recommendation. The Commission
also concurred that any changes to the Murphy Property should be policy driven.
FOCUS AREA 11 – SOUTH EL CAMINO REAL
Commissioners L’Heureux, Arnold, Black, and Scully all stated their support of the recommendations.
Commissioner Siekmann stated she agrees that the property owners request for La Costa resort is good
but she needs more information. She stated she agrees with the recommendations for the other sites in
the Focus Area.
Chairperson Schumacher agrees with the recommendation.
The Commission agreed to accept the EC3 recommendation for the Focus Area.