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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-11-21; Planning Commission; MinutesPlanning Commission Minutes November 21, 2012 Page 1 Minutes of: PLANNING COMMISSION Time of Meeting: 6:00 p.m. Date of Meeting: November 21, 2012 Place of Meeting: COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Schumacher called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chairperson Schumacher led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL Present: Chairperson Schumacher, Commissioners Arnold, Black, L’Heureux, Nygaard, and Siekmann Absent: Commissioner Scully STAFF PRESENT Don Neu, City Planner Jane Mobaldi, Assistant City Attorney Bridget Desmarais, Administrative Secretary Chris DeCerbo, Principal Planner Scott Donnell, Senior Planner Patrick McGarry, Civic Projects Manager 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairperson Schumacher asked if there were any corrections or revisions to the minutes of the meeting from October 17, 2012. MOTION ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Siekmann and duly seconded, that the Planning Commission approve the minutes from the Regular Meeting of October 17, 2012. VOTE: 6-0 AYES: Chairperson Schumacher, Commissioner Arnold, Black, Commissioner L’Heureux, Commissioner Nygaard, and Commissioner Siekmann NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Scully ABSTAIN: None PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA None. PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING Chairperson Schumacher asked Mr. Neu to introduce the first item. Planning Commission Minutes November 21, 2012 Page 2 1. CUP 12-07 – CARLSBAD FIRE STATION NO. 3 – Request for the adoption of a Negative Declaration and approval of a Conditional Use Permit for construction of a new fire station on a graded, two acre site located northwest of the intersection of Cannon Road and Wind Trail 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. Mr. Neu introduced Agenda Item 1 and stated Senior Planner Scott Donnell would make the staff presentation. Chairperson Schumacher opened the public hearing on Agenda Item 1. Mr. Donnell gave a brief presentation and stated he would be available to answer any questions. Chairperson Schumacher acknowledged receipt of an errata sheet for Agenda Item 1. Chairperson Schumacher asked if there were any questions of Staff. Seeing none, he asked if there were any members of the audience who wished to speak on the item. Seeing none, Chairperson Schumacher opened and closed public testimony. DISCUSSION Commissioner Nygaard commented that the new proposed location is far better than the original location for this fire station. She stated the design is beautiful and compatible with the adjacent neighborhood. Commissioner Nygaard suggested that a sign be placed on Cannon Road indicating a fire station is nearby. Commissioner Arnold stated the location is an optimal choice for the fire station. He supports the project and Commissioner Nygaard’s request for additional signage. Commissioner L’Heureux asked for clarification regarding the proposed sign on the building. Patrick McGarry, Civic Projects Manager for the City of Carlsbad, stated there will be a flashing red light activated when fire trucks leave the facility. Commissioner L’Heureux stated his concerns regarding the errata sheet which adds a condition for no sirens as he feels there is not enough signs warning drivers of the fire station. He further suggested that any additional signs be placed further north on Cannon Road rather than at the intersection of Wind Trail Way and Cannon Road. Commissioner L’Heureux stated that he can support the project. Commissioner Black concurred with his fellow Commissioners and can support the project. Commissioner Siekmann also stated her concurrence with her fellow Commissioners and can also support the project. Chairperson Schumacher can also support the project. Mr. Neu commented that there are conditions contained in the resolution which address the concerns regarding signs. He stated that when the improvement plans are submitting to the Land Development Engineering Division for review, they will distribute the plans to the Traffic Division for review and comment. The Traffic Division will review any proposed striping and signage to determine what would be the most acceptable. Commissioner L’Heureux stated that as long as the Commission’s concerns are adequately mentioned in the minutes he can support that. He further suggested that a stop light be placed on the unnamed street before the fire station so that future residents and park goers exiting the area can stop when an emergency vehicle exits the station. Commissioner Siekmann stated her opposition to any additional signage. Chairperson Schumacher asked if the Commission was comfortable with the proposed conditions regarding any signage. The Commission statement their agreement. Planning Commission Minutes November 21, 2012 Page 3 MOTION ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Siekmann, and duly seconded, that the Planning Commission adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 6929 adopting a Negative Declaration and adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 6930 approving Conditional Use Permit (CUP 12-07) based on the findings and subject to the conditions contained therein including the errata sheet. VOTE: 6-0 AYES: Chairperson Schumacher, Commissioner Arnold, Commissioner Black, Commissioner L’Heureux, Commissioner Nygaard and Commissioner Siekmann NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Scully ABSTAIN: None Chairperson Schumacher closed the public hearing on Agenda Item 1 and asked Mr. Neu to introduce the next agenda item. 2. ZCA 11-03/LCPA 11-04- SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT – A request for a recommendation to adopt a Negative Declaration, and recommendation of approval of a Zone Code Amendment and Local Coastal Program Amendment to repeal and reenact the City’s Sign Ordinance (Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code) to: (1) incorporate revisions deemed necessary by the City’s legal counsel to address first amendment issues associated with the permitted regulation of non-commercial signage, (2) provide more flexible sign development standards, (3) allow electronic message board signs or digital displays at regional commercial centers (Plaza Camino Real and Car Country Carlsbad) with a Regional Commercial General Plan land use designation that have frontage on a freeway (I-5 or SR-78) and (4) clarify the ordinance to make it more user friendly. Mr. Neu introduced Agenda Item 2 and stated Principal Planner Chris DeCerbo would make the staff presentation. Chairperson Schumacher opened the public hearing on Agenda Item 2. Mr. DeCerbo gave a detailed presentation and stated he would be available to answer any questions. He introduced Randall R. Morrison, Counsel for the City, and stated he would be available to answer any legal questions the Commission may have. Chairperson Schumacher acknowledged receipt of two errata sheets for Agenda Item 2. Chairperson Schumacher asked if there were any questions of Staff. Commissioner Nygaard asked about feather signs. Mr. DeCerbo stated they would be prohibited. Commissioner Black inquired about enforcement of prohibited signs. Ms. Mobaldi stated that code enforcement is typically complaint driven so that if a complaint is received regarding a sign or signs, the code enforcement division will review the issue and take the necessary action. Chairperson Schumacher asked about signs in the coastal zone, specifically the area north of Cannon Road along Interstate 5. Mr. DeCerbo reviewed for the Commission the additional requirements for signs in the coastal zone. Chairperson Schumacher asked about Table B in Attachment 5, page 26, and asked for clarification regarding the proposed changes included in the tables, specifically the percentages of increases. Mr. DeCerbo responded in the affirmative to all of Chairperson Schumacher’s percentage increase in sign numbers and sign area statements. Planning Commission Minutes November 21, 2012 Page 4 Commissioner Nygaard asked about a digital sign for the Premium Outlets signage. Mr. Neu responded that the property has a Regional Commercial General Plan designation but it does not have direct freeway frontage therefor a digital sign would not be permitted. Chairperson Schumacher asked if there were any questions of Staff. Seeing none, he asked if there were any members of the audience who wished to speak on the item. Seeing none, Chairperson Schumacher opened and closed public testimony. Constitutional Case Law Discussion Commissioner Nygaard stated she does not have any issues with this aspect of the ordinance. Commissioner Arnold also supports this portion of the ordinance. Commissioner L’Heureux thanked staff for their effort on this project and stated he can support the proposed changes. Commissioner Black stated he can support the proposed changes regarding constitutional law. Commissioner Siekmann also supports the changes. Chairperson Schumacher stated he can support the changes Request for Standards Flexibility and Sign Programs Discussion Commissioner Arnold stated that he feels that the City is doing too much with the proposed changes. In some cases, it will amount to signs doubling in size and in number. Commissioner L’Heureux stated the issue with signs is often the location of the signs on the buildings. He stated he agrees with Commissioner Arnold in that it could lead the city into uncharted territory with too many signs. He stated he supports more effective signage, not necessarily bigger and more signs. Commissioner L’Heureux further stated he would be more comfortable with phasing in the proposed changes. Commissioner Black agrees with Commissioner L’Heureux regarding the proposed changes. He can agree with most of the changes. Commissioner Siekmann stated she is happy and comfortable with most of the proposed changes. She commented that she did not want to see proposals for variances before the Commission, and she would like to see businesses get their signs. Commissioner Siekmann stated the sign program is an excellent idea. Commissioner Nygaard stated that one of the reasons Carlsbad is different than the surrounding cities is because the City has always been careful with signage regulations. She feels though the City should move forward with the proposed changes in a phased manner. She stated her support for larger buildings being allowed larger signs, however she does not want to change how the community feels visually. Chairperson Schumacher stated that he tends to agree with Commissioner Nygaard’s comments. He stated the last thing the City should do is create a city with clutter as that would reduce values in the community. He feels many of the changes are appropriate but there are just as many that are inappropriate. Chairperson Schumacher stated that he feels approving this as is would be an indelible black eye on the city. Chairperson Schumacher stated he would like to return this part of project to Staff. Commissioner L’Heureux stated there is a need for the City to focus on the larger buildings. Planning Commission Minutes November 21, 2012 Page 5 Chairperson Schumacher made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Nygaard, to send back to staff the proposed changes for sign flexibility including sign programs, to reduce the amount of increases and to focus those increases on buildings that are 100,000 square feet or larger or are required to be setback further from the street, not to include smaller buildings, or only in special circumstances, and to focus in on larger buildings with smaller increases, to maintain the concept of changes through a sign program and for staff to review the percentages of increases to be handled ministerially in regard to the increase in signage proposed in the revisions requested by the Commission. The Commission voted 5-1 (Commissioner Siekmann) regarding the motion. Digital Signs Discussion Commissioner Nygaard stated she is really concerned with the changes that will happen with the addition of digital signs. She feels the citizens would be very unhappy. Commissioner Nygaard stated she could support larger static signs in place of the proposed two locations for digital signs. Commissioner Arnold feels the digital signs are an aesthetic nightmare that are ugly and distractions to drivers. He stated he is very much against digital signs. Commissioner L’Heureux stated that in addition to the previous comments, he would like to know the rules and analysis from CalTrans regarding digital signs. He would like more information. Commissioner L’Heureux stated he cannot approve the negative declaration as it does not address the impacts of digital signs and the traffic issues those signs can cause. Commissioner Black commented that he cannot support digital signs in the City. It would be the most effective way to deal with the issue. Commissioner Siekmann agreed and would not like to allow digital signs in the City. Chairperson Schumacher stated he is opposed to digital signs. By a show of hands, the Commission voted 6-0 to oppose digital signs. Ordinance Reformatting Discussion The Commission stated they were comfortable with the proposed changes in regards to the ordinance reformatting. Wayfinding Signs Discussion Commissioner Nygaard stated she is agreeable with the proposed changes; however she is concerned about club and organization names on signs. Commissioner Arnold stated he likes the concept but the City needs to be diligent with buildings of significant public appeal. Commissioner L’Heureux asked about the process for wayfinding signs. Mr. Morrison stated that the City would own the signs so that there are consistent graphical designs and the City would maintain those signs. Mr. DeCerbo described the differences between the kiosk sign program and the wayfinding signs. Commissioner Black stated he likes the concept and feels it is a great idea. Commissioner Siekmann feels the wayfinding signs are a good idea but she would like to have uniformity in the design with the various signs. Chairperson Schumacher stated he agrees with his fellow Commissioners.