HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-06-03; Planning Commission; MinutesPLANNING COMMISSION
Minutes
June 3, 2020
CALL TO ORDER: 3:00 p.m.
City Council Chamber
1200 Carlsbad Village Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
ROLL CALL: Anderson, Geidner, Lafferty, Luna, Meenes, Merz, and Stine
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
None
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA:
None
PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING:
Chair Anderson 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.
Chair Anderson opened the public hearing for Item l.
1. PUD 2018-0008/SDP 2018-0016/CDP 2018-0041/MS 2018-0012 (DEV2018-0022) -THREE ON
CHERRY -Request for approval of a Planned Development Permit, Site Development Plan, Coastal
Development Permit, and Tentative Parcel Map to demolish an existing single-family residence and
construct a three-unit, residential air-space condominium project on a 0.16-acre site located at 160
Cherry Avenue, within the Mello II Segment of the Local Coastal Program and Local Facilities
Management Zone l. The project site is located outside the appealable area of the California Coastal
Commission. 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 15303 (b) (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) of
the State CEQA guidelines
City Planner Neu introduced Agenda Item 1 and stated Associate Planner Danna would make the staff
presentation (on file in the Planning Division).
DISCLOSURES:
Chair Anderson, Commissioners Geidner, Meenes, Merz, and Stine disclosed they drove by the site.
Commissioner Lafferty disclosed she walked by the site.
Associate Planner Danna gave the staff presentation.
Associate Planner Danna shared that there were a number of letters received from neighbors of the
proposed project in regard to an existing tree on the lot.
Planning Commission Minutes June 3, 2020 Page 2
Chair Anderson asked if the commission could condition the project to keep the tree.
Assistant City Attorney Kemp stated the commission does not have the option to condition the project to
keep the tree.
Chair Anderson asked ifthere were any members of the public who wished to speak on the project. Seeing
none, she opened and closed public testimony at 3:15 pm.
ACTION:
Motion by Commissioner Stine, seconded by Commissioner Luna, to adopt Resolution No. 7369. Motion
carried 7 /0.
2. PUD 2018-0006/SDP 2018-0006/CDP 2018-0033/MS 2018-0006/V 2018-0004 (DEV2018-
0094) -BREAKERS VIEW BEACH HOMES -Request for approval of a Planned Development
Permit, Site Development Plan, Coastal Development Permit, Tentative Parcel Map, and
Variance to demolish an existing three-unit residential structure and construct a two-family,
residential air-space condominium project on a 0.16-acre in-fill site located at 3648 Carlsbad
Boulevard, within the Mello II Segment of the Local Coastal Program and Local Facilities
Management Zone 1. The project site is located within the appealable area of the California
Coastal Commission. The City Planner has determined that this project is exempt from the
requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15332
"In-Fill Development Projects" of the State CEQA Guidelines and will not have any adverse
significant impact on the environment.
City Planner Neu introduced Agenda Item 2 and stated Associate Planner Garcia would make the staff
presentation (on file in the Planning Division).
DISCLOSURES:
Chair Anderson, Commissioners Geidner, Lafferty, Meenes, Merz, and Stine disclosed that they drove by ·
and some walked the site.
Associate Planner Garcia gave the staff presentation.
Commissioner Lafferty stated she is concerned that the parking variance being requested could be setting
a precedent in the area.
City Planner Neu highlighted some of the findings supporting the variance, such as avoiding additional
traffic pulling out on Carlsbad Boulevard, which is a heavily traveled street.
Applicant, John Jensen, stated the planters on the balconies are intended to be a buffer between
neighboring buildings. He stated the size of the planters will not support any type of shrubbery that will
gr_ow very high. He addressed some concerns submitted by neighbors, such as parking during
construction. He stated crew members will be shuttled in from an alternate parking area, staging will
occur in a manner that works for the neighbors and he is ready and willing to work with the neighbors to
mitigate any negative impacts.
Engineering Manager Geldert stated a construction staging plan is required and will be reviewed before
construction.
Planning Commission Minutes · June 3, 2020 Page 3
Chair Anderson 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 3:54 p.m.
ACTION:
Motion by Commission Meenes, seconded by Commissioner Luna, to adopt Resolution No. 7368 Motion
carried, 7 /0.
3. AMEND 2019-0002/SDP 2019-0003/CDP 2019-0005 (DEV2018-0131) -CARLSBAD
CORPORATE PLAZA PARKING STRUCTURE -Request for a recommendation of approval of an
amendment to Specific Plan 23(H) to remove the 6,000-square-foot limit for medical office use
and a Minor Site Development Plan and Coastal Development Permit to allow the construction
of a 35,360-square-foot, single-level parking structure located over an existing parking lot
serving an existing office building located at 6183-6185 Paseo del Norte within the Mello II
Segment of the Local Coastal Program (LCP) and Local Facilities Management Zone 3. The
project site is not within the appealable area of the California Coastal Commission. The City
Planner has determined that the 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 it is
therefore categorically exempt from the requirement for the preparation of environmental
documents pursuant to Section 15061(8)(3) -General Rule -and City of Carlsbad Municipal
Code Section 19.04.070(A)(l)(c) , and Section 15332 -In-Fill Development Projects -of the
state CEQA Guidelines.
City Planner Neu introduced Agenda Item 3 and stated Associate Planner Danna would make the staff
presentation (on file in the Planning Division).
DISCLOSURES:
Commissioners Geidner, Meenes, and Stine disclosed they drove through the parking lot on the site.
Commissioner Geidner asked if the design of the turn coming down the ramp could be modified and or
fixed. She stated it is a tight turn that may cause vehicles to hit the curb.
Applicant Bill Hofman and property owner Scott Leggett stated they are aware of the area Commissioner
Geidner mentioned and will look at improving it.
Chair Anderson asked if there were any members of the public who wished to speak on the project and
opened public testimony at 4:29 p.m.
Diane Nygaard, on behalf of Preserve Calavera, submitted comments in opposition of the project including
concerns about impacts on air quality, the lack of flexible parking, TOM strategies in the staff report, the
continuation of ride sharing options and the lack of a VMT analysis.
Chair Anderson asked if there were any additional members of the public who wished to speak on the
project. Seeing none, she closed public testimony at 4:31 p.m.
Engineering Manager Geldert stated the project is not subject to VMT due to the project being heard prior
to July 1, 2020 and a traffic analysis was conducted.
Planning Commission Minutes June 3, 2020 Page4
ACTION:
Motion by Commissioner Luna, seconded by Commissioner Geidner, to adopt Resolution No. 7371 and
7372. Motion carried, 7 /0.
Chair Anderson called for a break at 4:39 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 4:50 p.m.
4. CUP 2019-0032 (DEV2019-0179) -TRAILBLAZER PARK WCF -Request for approval of a
Conditional Use Permit to allow the installation, operation, and maintenance of a temporary
Wireless Communications Facility (WCF) consisting of two 55-foot-tall ground mounted faux
mono-eucalyptus trees and an equipment enclosure constructed of an 8' -6" tall tan vinyl fence
with lattice located on a graded 5.54-acre site at 3465 Trailblazer Way, in the Open Space (O-S)
zone, within Planning Area 12 of the Robertson Ranch Master Plan and in Local Facilities
Management Zone 14. The City Planner has determined that the project belongs to a class of
projects that the State Secretary of Resources has found not to have a significant impact on the
environment, and is therefore categorically exempt from the requirement for the preparation of
environmental documents pursuant to Sectiol") 15303 -New Construction of Small Structures, of
the State CEQA Guidelines. '
City Planner Neu introduced Agenda Item 4 and stated Senior Planner Jones would make the staff
presentation (on file in the Planning Division).
Commissioner Luna recused herself from the hearing due to her living within 600 feet of the proposed
project.
Senior Planner Jones gave the staff presentation.
DISCLOSURES:
Chair Anderson, Commissioners Geidner, Lafferty, Merz, Meenes, and Stine disclosed they drove by the
site.
APPLICANT QUESTIONS:
Commissioner Meenes asked what will change in the future that will enable the cell site to find a
permanent location.
Paul Peckens, of Crown Castle, stated technology may change, real estate, economic concerns, as well as
property owners may change their mind about leasing land. He stated they are focusing on the immediate
need of relocating the cell site from the current location in order to continue providing coverage to the
area.
Commissioners Merz and Stine asked for information on EMF exposure from the cell sites.
Steve Kennedy, of Biwabkos Consultants, explained that as you move away from the cell site the RF
emission decreases. He stated that all 4 carriers create one fourth of the general public limit as
determined by the FCC. As you move away, and at different elevations, the exposure ranges from 21 to
about 2 percent of that limit. He stated the energy levels dissipate significantly and very fast as you move
Planning Commissio~ Minutes June 3, 2020 Page 5
away from the antenna. He stated that wireless works on demand and neighbors will not constantly be
exposed to EMF.
Commissioner Lafferty asked if multiple small sites would be more efficient than one large one since they
are losing some coverage with the relocation.
Steve Kennedy stated small cell sites are built for capacity and to fix capacity issues in suburban areas or
urban areas where there is a high amount of traffic. He stated there needs to be a base macro network
that provides the overall coverage, such as the proposed one. He stated Macros provide the initial
coverage level and capacity.
Chair Anderson asked if there were any members of the public who wished to speak on the project. She
opened public testimony at 4:45 p.m.
Residents, Stephen A. Clark, Annette Peer, Raluca State, Jenny Sellers, Melissa Tedder, Meenal Chuahan,
Sarah Dessert, Jodi Squires, Stephanie Griffin, and Adrian Elliott MD, submitted comments in strong
opposition to the proposed project. Comments include concerns about adverse health effects, property
values, aesthetics, the current zoning of the proposed cell site, the virtual meeting format, and that the
cell facility may become permanent.
John Osborne, Director of External affairs for AT&T, submitted comments in support of the project.
Chair Anderson asked if there were any further members of the public who wished to speak on the project.
Seeing none, she closed public testimony at 6:07 p.m.
COMMISSION DISCUSSION:
Senior Planner Jones shared that open space zones have restrictive covenants that preclude development
to protect native habitat. He stated although the proposed site is an open space zone, it is graded for a
future park and there is no habitat on site.
Joseph Parker, Parker legal Group representing the applicant, stated in a nutshell there is not a consensus
or direct correlation with respect to the installation of wireless facilities and a diminution in value of the
property itself.
Joel Taubman, zoning project manager for Crown Castle, explained the process in finding a site for the
relocation of the current wireless facility. He stated they tried working with the landlord of the current
site. He stated the ridgeline where the wireless facility currently sits is being graded down to a lower
elevation and that there was no alternate location at the current site to move the equipment to. He stated
while the proposed location is not a preferred location as set out in policy 64, all other feasible locations
were ruled out due to topography, landlords not wanting to lease land, and the inability to relocate the
equipment on the current piece of land it sits on.
Chair Anderson shared support for the project and stated that the positives outweigh the negatives.
Commissioner Geidner confirmed that the commission received many comments and she did read them
all. She requested that the commission discuss the option for the CUP to come back to the commission
for review versus the planning director.
Planning Commission Minutes June 3, 2020 Page 6
Assistant City Attorney Kemp stated that the ordinance and the code says that the extensions are to be
determined by the planning director and that they cannot override the code.
Commissioner Merz stated the upside of having virtual meetings is that the public input has increased due
to the ease of how comments are submitted for the meeting.
Commissioner Stine shared support for the project and stated the proposed project complies with federal
standards.
Commissioner Lafferty stated the project does not comply with the open space zoning and does not feel
the applicant completely vetted other potential locations. She suggested the project be continued.
ACTION:
Motion by Commissioner Stine, seconded by Commissioner Geidner, to adopt Resolution No. 7370.
Motion carried, 5/1/1 (Commissioner Lafferty no, Commissioner Luna recused.)
PLANNING COMMISSION REPORTS COMMENTS:
Commissioner Lafferty made comments on an article she shared from AIA Architect Magazine and gave a
brief update on the Historic Preservation Commission where she serves as an ex-officio member.
CITY PLANNER REPORTS:
City Planner Neu gave a brief update on the Housing Element Advisory Committee meeting.
CITY A TT ORN EV REPORTS:
None
ADJOURNMENT:
Chair Anderson adjourned the duly noticed meeting at 6:52 p.m.
Melissa Flores -Minutes Clerk