HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-10-02; Planning Commission; MinutesPLANNING COMMISSION
Oct. 2, 2019 6 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER: 6:00 p.m.
City Council Chamber
1200 Carlsbad Village Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
ROLL CALL: Luna, Anderson, Geidner, Lafferty, Meenes, Merz, and Stine
. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Anderson led the Pledge of Allegiance
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Motion by Commissioner Meenes, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, to approve the Aug . 21, 2019
minutes as amended. Motion carried unanimously 7 /0.
Motion by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Geidner, to approve the Sept. 4, 2019
minutes as presented. Motion carried unanimously, 7 /0.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA:
Mary Lucid stated Senior housing is crucial and said there is a need to add more affordable Senior housing
in the city.
PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING:
Chair Luna directed everyone's attention to the slide on the screen to review the procedures the
Commission would be following for that evening's public hearing.
City Planner Neu requested to take one item out of order. He requested that item 4 be heard first.
4. . GPA 2019-0003 (PUB2019-0009)-HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE 2021-2029 -Nomination of a
Planning Commissioner to serve on the Housing Element Advisory Committee.
City Planner Neu introduced Agenda Item 1 and stated Senior Planner Donnell would make the staff
presentation {on file in the Planning Division).
Senior Planner Donnell gave the staff presentation.
Motion by Commissioner Meenes, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, to adopt Resolution No. 7349,
nominating Carolyn Luna to serve on the Housing Element Advisory Committee. Motion carried, 7-0.
1. CUP 2018-0023 (DEV2018-0222) -BUENA VISTA RESERVOIR SITE -Request for approval of a
Conditional Use Permit to allow for the construction of a passive park located at 1605 Buena
Vista Way within Local Facilities Management Zone 1. The City Planner has determined that
the project constitutes in-fill development and is therefore categorically exempt from the
requirement for the preparation of environmental documents pursuant to California
Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15332.
Planning Commission Minutes Oct. 2, 2019 Page 2
City Planner Neu introduced Agenda Item 1 and stated Associate Planner Drew would make the staff
presentation (on file in the Planning Division).
Associate Planner Drew gave the staff presentation.
DISCLOSURES:
Commissioners Merz, Meenes and Anderson disclosed that they had visited the project site.
Chair Luna asked if there were any members of the public who wished to speak on the project. Seeing
none, she opened and closed public testimony at 6:30 p.m.
Motion by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Meenes, to adopt Resolution No. 7348.
Motion carried, 7-0.
2.CT 2018-0008/SDP 2018-0010 (DEV2018-0055) -GRAND JEFFERSON -Request for a
recommendation of approval of a Tentative Tract Map and Site Development Plan to construct
a four-story mixed-use building with seven air-space condominiums consisting of six residential
units and one commercial unit on a 0.21-acre site located at 786 Grand Avenue in the Village
Center (VC} District of the Village and Barrio Master Plan and within Local Facilities
Management Zone 1. The City Planner has determined that this project belongs to a class of
projects that the State Secretary for Resources has found do not have a significant impact on
the environment and is therefore categorically exempt from the requirement for the
preparation of environmental documents pursuant to section 15332 (In-fill Development
Projects) of the State CEQA guidelines.
City Planner Neu introduced Agenda Item 2 and stated Senior Planner Goff would make the staff
presentation (on file in the Planning Division).
DISCLOSURES:
Commissioner Stine recused himself from the hearing due to a potential conflict of interest. He stated he
is familiar with the architect and the applicant.
Commissioners Lafferty, Meenes, Anderson and Luna stated they had all visited the project site.
Commissioner Merz stated he drove by the site and spoke to Vic Gousepohl of Colliers International about
the retail element of the project, rent demands, and rent rates for retail space.
Commissioner Geidner stated she visited the site, walked around the neighborhood, and talked to several
people around the neighborhood. She stated she did research on smart streets, livable streets, retail and
car lifts.
Assistant City Attorney Kemp stated the substance of the conversations Commissioner Geidner held
needed to be disclosed.
Commissioner Geidner stated she spoke to the manager in Carlisle's Sales Office about the product and
that the project was being considered on the evening of Oct. 2, 2019. She also stated she spoke to a guy
taking pictures at a property on Madison where the retail space is all new and currently vacant. She asked
what was going into the space and he stated a Sushi Restaurant.
Planning Commission Minutes Oct. 2, 2019 Page 3
Senior Planner Goff gave the staff presentation.
PLANNING COMMISSION DISCUSSION:
Commissioners Lafferty and Geidner expressed concerns for the standards modification request, lack of
retail space on the ground floor on the Jefferson street frontage, and the current ground floor design
configuration.
Commissioner Anderson stated concern for the lack of retail space on the ground floor on the Jefferson
street frontage, and the parking configuration.
Commissioner Merz expressed his support for the project and the design.
Chair Luna asked ifthere were any members of the public who wished to speak on the project. She opened
public testimony at 7:30 p.m.
Gary Nessim stated the project does not fit and feels the applicant should have gone underground with
the parking. He stated by going underground with the parking the applicant could add additional units
smaller in size. He stated he would like to see a variation in design in the village other than contemporary.
Robert Wilkinson stated his concern that the project design is what is "in" today. He stated the design
does not reflect the fact that the village is a unique neighborhood. He stated he would like to see street
trees repurposed and or reused.
Chair Luna asked if there were any additional members of the public who wished to speak on the project.
Seeing none, she closed public testimony at 7:38 p.m.
Motion by Commissioner Meenes seconded by Commissioner Merz, to adopt Resolution No. 7347.
Motion failed due to a tie vote, 3-3-1 (Commissioners Anderson, Geidner, and Lafferty no, Commissioner
Stine abstained).
Due to no action being taken because of the tie vote, the Commission continued the prnject to the next
regularly scheduled Planning Commission Meeting Oct. 16, 2019.
3. GPA 2019-0002/ZCA 2017-0001/LCPA 2017-0001 (PUB17Y-0004)-INCLUSIONARY HOUSING
AND DENSITY BONUS AMENDMENTS -Request for a recommendation to approve a General
Plan Amendment, Zone Code Amendment and Local Coastal Program Amendment to update
the city's inclusionary housing and density bonus zoning ordinance to reflect changes in state
law. The City Planner has determined that the project is a minor zone code amendment that
refines or clarifies existing land use standards and would have no significant effect on the
environment. Therefore, it is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) and Carlsbad Municipal Code Section
19.04.070 A.1.c.i.
City Planner Neu introduced Agenda Item 3 and stated Associate Planner Saucier would make the staff
presentation (on file in the Planning Division).
Commissioner Geidner excused herself for the remainder of the meeting.
Associate Planner Saucier gave the staff presentation.
Planning Commission Minutes Oct. 2, 2019 Page 4
Chair Luna asked if there were any members of the public who wished to speak on the project. Seeing
none, She opened and closed public testimony at 8:16 p.m.
Motion by Commissioner Meenes seconded by Commissioner Stine, to adopt Resolution No. 7334.
Motion carried, 6-0-1 (Commissioner Geidner absent).
PLANNING COMMISSION REPORTS COMMENTS:
Commissioner Lafferty reported on the Historic Preservation Commission where she serves as an ex-
officio member.
CITY PLANNER REPORTS:
City Planner Neu stated the minutes format will change to a summary format to match what City Council
is doing.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS:
None
ADJOURNMENT:
Chair Luna closed the public hearing and adjourned the duly noticed meeting at 8:53 p.m.
Melissa Flores -Minutes Clerk