Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-05-06; Planning Commission; Minutes(i) PLANNING COMMISSION M. 1nutes . May 6, 2020 CALL TO ORDER: 6:04 p.m. City Cou ncil Chamber 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive Carlsbad, CA 92008 ROLL CALL: Anderson, Geidner, Lafferty, Luna, Meenes, Merz, and Stine APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion by Commissioner Meenes, seconded by Commissioner Stine, to approve the April 15, 2020 meeting minutes. Motion carried 7 /0. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA: None PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING: Chair Anderson directed everyone's attention to the slides 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 1. 1. AMEND 2016-0001 (DEV06040)-PACIFIC RIDGE SCHOOL SPORTS FIELD -Request for adoption of a Mitigated Negative Declaration, Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program and Addendum; and approval of an amendment to Conditional Use Permit CUP 06-ll(C) to allow for the addition of a lighting system to an existing athletic field at Pacific Ridge School on property located at 6269 El Fuerte Street, within Planning Area 13 of the Bressi Ranch Master Plan and Local Facilities Management Zone 17. The City Planner has determined that through the implementation of the proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration, Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program and Addendum, the proposed project avoids the effects or mitigates the effects to a point where clearly no significant effect on the environment would occur, and there is no substantial evidence in light of the whole record before the City that the project may have a significant effect on the environment. City Planner Neu introduced Agenda Item 1 and stated Senior Planner Goff would make the staff presentation (on file in the Planning Division). DISCLOSURES: Commissioner Stine, Merz, and Meenes disclosed they visited the site, walked around the area including the street below the school. They viewed the preserve from a higher elevation, looked at the sports field and viewed the field from various locations within the neighborhood. Commissioner Meenes and Merz also disclosed they spoke to former planning commissioner Jeff Segall about the delay of the project being brought to a hearing and the format of the meeting. Planning Commission Minutes May 5, 2020 Page 2 Commissioner Lafferty disclosed she drove by the site. Commissioner Geidner disclosed she drove by the site and walked around. She stated she talked with her brother, who is the head coach for women's softball at George Mason University, to better understand school sports programs. She stated she researched online the effects of noise and light on wildlife, reviewed the cities habitat management plan, the original Bressi Ranch master plan and the original environmental impact report. Chair Anderson disclosed she drove by the site and had a conversation several months ago with Mr. Segall, who is a representative of the school, mostly about the delay of the project being brought to a hearing and more recently about the meeting format being virtual. Commissioner Luna disclosed she spoke to Jeff Segall about the project, specifically the virtual meeting format. STAFF QUESTIONS: Senior Planner Goff gave the staff presentation. Commissioner Stine asked for further information on the time period that the project has taken to get to a planning commission hearing including staffs recommendation. Senior Planner Goff explained that in 2017 there were no technical studies or biological studies done to support the proposed project. He stated at that time, staff did not support the project. He stated those studies have since been conducted and incorporated into the analysis and staff is now recommending approval. Commissioner Luna asked for further information on the errata provided. Senior Planner Goff stated the condition added in the errata was an oversight in that it was left off. He stated it is a standard condition included in previous approvals such as when the school expanded. Commissioner Geidner asked if the school wanted to add capacity to the bleacher seating, or add a new PA system, would the school need to come back to amend the Conditional Use Permit. She also asked who owns the preserve and who is responsible for maintenance. City Planner Neu stated that if they were to go over 10% of their current capacity, yes, they would need to request an amendment to the Conditional Use Permit. He stated the preserve is owned by Bressi Garden Lane, LLC which from his understanding is the Bressi Ranch HOA. Commissioner Geidner asked if the procedures for managing the preserve area are laid out in the Habitat Management Plan. City Planner Neu stated yes, that is correct. He stated there is also the Habitat Management Ordinance that works in conjunction with the HMP in terms of enforcement and permitting for habitat impacts. Commissioner Stine asked if Rosanne Humphrey, staff habitat management & program manager, has provided any recent comments in regard to the proposed project and any impact on habitat or the preserve. Planning Commission Minutes May 5, 2020 Page 3 Senior Planner Goff stated no. He has not received any comments deviating from her previous statements of support for the proposed project. APPLICANT QUESTIONS: Bill Hofrnan, applicant, gave a presentation and stated he would be available for any questions. Lighting Consultant Karen Anderson from Musco provided some background on the company and stated their main type of lighting jobs are sports and athletic fields. She stated they have worked on parks within the city. She explained that the company would provide support during and after the installation of the product as needed. Commissioner Merz asked how Musco handled similar projects in the area in relation to spillover and the surrounding neighborhood concerns that may have come up. Karen Anderson stated spillover and glare are a main priority with projects they do since they are typically right next to homes. She stated the local projects have all turned out well with the neighbors being okay with the outcome. She stated they do receive input from neighbors and try to address any concerns during early outreach meetings. She stated that she has interacted with neighbors during the post installation tests and that most are pleased. Commissioner Merz asked for a model or visual aid to show how the light poles would appear from the front or back of some of the surrounding homes. Mr. Hofman noted the request. Commissioner Geidner asked if the environmental consultant did any analysis on the effects of the light on the specific species in the preserve. Mike Howard, Dudek Consultants, stated they utilized information from the city's HMP and the lighting study that was conducted. He stated the lighting study determined there would not.be any light spill over, thus no effect on the species in the preserve from illumination. · City Planner Neu explained that the property is zoned for development adjacent to a preserve and has to follow standards set out to mitigate any effects to the preserve. Chair Anderson, Commissioners Merz, Luna, and Meenes shared concerns about how the poles will look from homes in the area and the lack of models that would show that specific visualization. Commissioner Geidner suggested placing a story pole on the project site to show the neighbors what it will look like. Karen Anderson, lighting consultant, suggested the commission visit Palomar College to get a visual of what the poles will look like and will attempt to make arrangements for the lights to be on at night for them to see . Chair Anderson called for a break at 7:56 pm. Hearing resumed at 8:07 pm. Planning Commission Minutes May 5, 2020 Page4 Chair Anderson asked if there were any members of the public who wished to speak on the project. She opened public testimony at 8:08 pm. Residents, Skip and Cyndi Reed, Adam Markowitz, Lauren Ragland, Lori Kartsub, Jeff Pashy, Melanie Kuderka, Jeremy Kuderka, and Eric Sokolowski shared concerns about the large towers for the lighting, noise impacts of sporting events after dark to the surrounding neighborhood, traffic, lower home values, the adverse effects on the surrounding habitat, the danger of balls flying into private yards, health effects to people with sensory sensitivities in the area, and all oppose the project. James and Karen O'Leonard, Hans Richter, Jose Luis Contreras, Michael and Jennifer Spengler, Caleb Willis, Don Collins, Jason Kelly, Zafir Maker-Agha, Sofia Hart, Laura Jones, and Lucas Stremba submitted letters of support for the project. Chair Anderson asked if there were any additional members of the public who wished to speak on the project, seeing none, public testimony was closed at 8:53 pm. COMISSION DISCUSSION Chair Anderson, Commissioners Geidner, Luna, Merz, Meenes and Stine, would like to see the applicant provide some additional visual aids to help the commission and neighbors see what the poles will look like. They would like to see the lights at another location similar to the proposed project. They share concerns about the effects on the habitat preserve, the aesthetics of the lights to the neighboring homes, and balls going into the yards of the neighboring homes. They would like the opportunity to hear more from the community. Commissioner Lafferty asked if the city has any requirement or procedure for applicants providing height simulations with story poles or something similar. City Planner Neu stated the city does not have any requirement, it would be voluntary from the applicant. Commissioner Meenes requested the applicant to work with the adjacent residences to mitigate issues in regard to the pedestrian passage on the access road from the school to the residential neighborhood. ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Stine, seconded by Commissioner Geidner, to continue the item to a date uncertain. Motion carried, 6/1 (Commission Lafferty no.) PLANNING COMMISSION REPORTS COMMENTS: Chair Anderson wants to ensure that if the meeting time is changed to 3 pm, it be communicated to the public. Commissioner Luna gave a brief update on the Housing Element Advisory Committee. Commissioner Lafferty provided a brief update on the Historic Preservation Commission where she serves as an ex-officio member. She shared that Principal Planner, Teri Delcamp, will be giving a presentation to the commission on the Mills Act.