Month 1986.10 October.


Day 1986.10.21PC

PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
City of Vacaville
7:30 P.M. - City Council Chambers    October 21, 1986

CALL TO ORDER:
    The regular meeting of the City Planning Commission was called to order at 7:30 P.M. by Chairman Matsuhara.

PRESENT:    Chairman Matsuhara, Commissioner Breece, Commissioner Brewer, Commissioner McCulley, Commissioner Rasmussen
ABSENT:    Vice Chairman Rajander, Commissioner Gjervold
ALSO PRESENT:    Senior Planner Sexton, Associate Planner Traut, Assistant Public Works Director Baird

COMMUNICATIONS:
    - Letter from Stephen Gazzera requesting continuance of Item  No. 2, Village East Commercial Center.
    - Letter from Joseph McCole requesting continuance of Item No. 4, North Vine Street Estates.

MISCELLANEOUS:
    None

1.    CONSENT CALENDAR:
    Commissioner McCulley moved, Breece seconded, to approve the following item as listed on the Consent Calendar.  Motion approved 5-0
    a.    Minutes of August 19, 1986

2.    VILLAGE EAST COMMERCIAL CENTER TIME EXTENSION  - Stephen Gazzera, applicant
    Commissioner Rasmussen moved, Brewer seconded, to continue this item to a date uncertain as requested by the applicant.  Motion approved 5-0.

3.    LAGUNA HILLS SUBDIVISION TIME EXTENSION  -  Vaca Group, applicant
    Commissioner McCulley moved, Rasmussen seconded, to continue this item to the next open meeting.  Motion approved 5-0.

4.    NORTH VINE STREET ESTATES  -  Gladish Interests, applicant
    Commissioner Rasmussen moved, Brewer seconded to continue this item to the next open  meeting.  Motion approved 5-0.

5.    ALAMO PLAZA PLANNED SIGN PROGRAM  -  Dean Cameron, applicant
    a.    Conditional Use Permit (CUP-14-86)
    Pertains to a request to amend the Planned Sign Program for Alamo Plaza, located at the northwest corner of Merchant Street and Alamo Drive in order to allow for colored letters for the individual sign letters.

    Associate Planner Traut reviewed the proposal and introduced the staff report dated October 21, 1986 into the record noting that the changes would give more flexibility to the design of signs, however, there would still be uniformity of letters, maximum letter height and consistent placement of signing on the wood facia.  She also said that there are some businesses with illegal signs that would not meet the requirements for the existing or amended planned sign program and need to be removed.

    Staff recommended approval of the of the amendment to the sign program as stated in staff report.

PUBLIC HEARING OPENED:
    Dean Cameron, representing the owner of the center, asked that the changes be made to modernize the sign program.  He said that the owner would notify the tenants that are in violation of the sign program that compliance is required within 30 days.

    There were no other comments from the floor.

Public hearing closed.

COMMISSION ACTION:
    Commissioner Brewer moved, McCulley seconded, to approve CUP-14-86 to amend the Alamo Plaza Planned Sign Program, as meeting the design standards for planned sign program (per Section 17.48.210 of the Zoning Ordinance), as meeting the findings for conditional use permits and subject to conditions of approval as follows:
A.    That the signing requirements for the tenants (excepting spaces 4, 10, 11 & 12 as shown on Exhibit A) be revised as follows:
    1.    Colors shall be allowed for the faces and sides of the sign letters, with the following exceptions:
    a.    There shall be no florescent colors.
    b.    Colors shall not be alternated for each successive individual letter.
    2.    Script style letters shall be allowed and may be connected.
Helvetica or block style letters shall not be connected.
B.    That the illegal signs at the following businesses be removed within 30 days: Alamat Laundry, Century 21 Alamo, Cenario's Pizza, Winchell's, Spartan Pools. Motion approved 4-1  (No: Rasmussen).

6.    CALIFORNIA DRIVE SUBDIVISION  -  Ron Allyn, applicant
    a.    Environmental Assessment (EA-11-86)
    b.    Tentative Map (TM-9-86)
    Pertains to a request for approval of a 38-lot single family residential subdivision located on 16.6 acres on the southwest side of California Drive, west of Creekside Drive across from the Alamo Gardens Subdivision.  The custom lots are proposed to range in size from 10,000 to 20,000 square feet.

    Commissioner Breece declared a conflict of interest and stepped down.

    Senior Planner Sexton reviewed the proposal and introduced the staff report into the record noting that a traffic study was being done and that if California Drive is recommended for an arterial street, the project would be voided.  Public Works was concerned about the maintenance of the strip along California Drive, and Fire Department was concerned about the open space area on the hillside.  Staff felt that a maintenance district would not be the proper way to handle the back-on treatment or the hillside open space fire hazard.  Staff disagreed with the back-on treatment and felt that the project should be redesigned to a standard front-on design.  If that is not agreeable to the applicant, staff recommended denial of the project.

PUBLIC HEARING OPENED:
    Ronald Allyn, applicant, said that this was an innovative plan for lower density housing on a hillside area.  It is a custom lot subdivision with 10,000 to 22,000 square foot lots.  The home owners association would be necessary for maintenance of open areas.  He asked that initially they be allowed to provide money for 1 1/2 years maintenance instead of 3 years.

    Arthur Fiedler, area resident, was concerned about an upgraded subdivision so close to Keating Park.  He felt that the noise and lights from the ball diamonds might be a problem, and that complaints from new people coming into the area might cause the ball park to be shut down.

The public hearing was closed.

COMMISSION COMMENTS:
    It was the consensus of the Commission that they approved the back-on design of the subdivision, that a Homeowners Association should be established for maintenance of the project, a minimum three years funding for maintenance must be provided by the developer, and that buyers must be notified of the noise impact.

COMMISSION ACTION:
Environmental Assessment:
    Commissioner McCulley moved, Brewer seconded, to approve Negative Declaration (EA-14-86) for the proposed 38 lot subdivision in accordance with the provisions of CEQA, finding that the project will not have a significant impact on the environment. Motion approved 4-0-1.  (Abstaining: Breece).

Tentative Map:
    Commissioner McCulley moved, Brewer seconded, to approve Tentative Map (TM-9-86) for the proposed 38 lot subdivision as meeting the required findings (a-g) and subject to conditions of approval A-J, as listed in staff report, and adding condition K. as follows:
    "K.  That prior to the filing of the final map, a notice of disclosure or other form of notice, acceptable to the Planning Director and City Attorney, be provided for first-time buyers within the project, which indicates that the property may be subject to noise and lighting impacts due to the proximity of the Keating Park recreational facilities.  In addition, some form of document shall be recorded which indemnifies the City against legal responsibility for such impacts.  Motion approved 4-0-1. (Abstaining: Breece.)

7.    CALIFORNIA OAKS SUBDIVISION  -  Kingsland Enterprises, applicant
    a.    Environmental Assessment (EA-23-86)
    b.    Planned Unit Development (PUD-12-86)
    c.    Tentative Map (TM-12-86)
    d.    Zone Change (Z-8-86)
    Pertains to a request for the approval of a 38 lot single family residential subdivision, with minimum 4,500 square foot lots, to be located on 7.4 acres along the north side of California Drive between the El Matador Mobile Home Park and Alamo Gardens Subdivision. The proposed houses range in size from 1,080 to 1,433 square feet.  The proposal also involves rezoning the property from RM-3000 PD (multiple-family) to R-1-Variable PD (single-family).

    Commissioner Breece declared a potential conflict of interest and stepped down.

    Associate Planner Traut reviewed the proposal and introduced the staff report dated October 21, 1986 into the record, noting that some of the homes would be standard single-family lots and some would be zero lot line lots.  A 40-foot setback from top of creek bank is required.  A bike trail along the creek and a pedestrian bridge over the creek, connecting with the trail on the opposite side of the creek, is also a
part of the project.  It was recommended that lot 15 be eliminated in order to preserve the oak trees.  The project is consistent with the General Plan and compatible with the existing homes to the west and north.  Staff recommended approval of the project subject to conditions as listed in staff report.

PUBLIC HEARING OPENED:
    Jim Grossi, representing the applicants, stated that they felt that they could put a modified house plan on lot 15 without removing the trees.  He agreed with all other staff conditions.

    Fred Kennerley, applicant, asked that the bike path be put on the other side of the creek, and to eliminate the pedestrian bridge for security purposes.  Director Werner replied that the bridge was a previous requirement and that a proper connection is needed on the south side.

Public hearing closed.

COMMISSION DISCUSSION:
    The Commission agreed to allow a house on lot 15 if the trees could be saved, if not, the City should use the lot for a rest area by the creek, and the developer should be given credit, in lieu of park fees, for the lot.  The majority felt that the bike path and the bridge were necessary, and that the developer should be required to pay 50% of the cost to install the pedestrian bridge.

COMMISSION ACTION:
Environmental Assessment:
    Commissioner Brewer moved, Rasmussen seconded, to approve a Negative Declaration (EA-23-86) for the California Oaks Subdivision, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act, conditions A, B, and C. of staff report.  Motion approved 4-0-1.  (Abstaining: Breece)

Zone Change:
    Commissioner Brewer moved, Rasmussen seconded, to recommend to the City Council that the 7.4 acre parcel be rezoned from RM-3000 PD to R-1-Variable PD, per zone change (Z-8-86), finding that the rezoning is consistent with the City's General Plan.  Motion approved 4-0-1.  (Abstaining: Breece)

    Commissioner Brewer moved, Rasmussen seconded, to approve the Planned Unit Development (PUD-12-86) for the California Oaks Subdivision as meeting the required findings for planned unit developments per Section 17.54.070.C of the Zoning Ordinance, and subject to conditions of approval A - H as listed in staff report.  Motion approved 4-0-1.  (Abstaining: Breece)

    Commissioner Brewer moved, Rasmussen seconded, to approve the Tentative Map (TM-12-86), as meeting the required findings for tentative maps and with conditions of approval A - K as listed in staff report.  Motion approved 4-0-1.  (Abstaining: Breece)

8.    DIRECTOR'S REPORT:  
    a.    Schedule of upcoming agenda items.
    b.    Report on City Council actions on Planning Commission related items.

9.    ADJOURNMENT:
    There being no further business to discuss at this regular meeting of the City Planning Commission, the meeting was adjourned at 10:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Phyllis Lorenzo, Recording Secretary