Laserfiche WebLink
Condition of Approval No. 17 to ensure that the landscaping along Santa Rita Road and West Las <br /> Positas is designed attractively and in accordance with drought tolerant principles. <br /> Councilmember Narum asked what, if anything, the Police Department does to monitor the Condition of <br /> Approval requiring that alcohol coolers are locked after 11 p.m. <br /> Lieutenant Bretzing explained that the Police Department works with the Department of Alcoholic <br /> Beverage Control and Alameda County Public Health Department to monitor and ensure these types of <br /> compliances. <br /> Councilmember Narum said she considered the Chevron station at Valley and Bernal Avenues as the <br /> most comparable type of project, noting that it sells alcohol from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. and operates a <br /> carwash literally across the street from residences. She recalled some issues with noise, which were <br /> ultimately resolved, when the project was first approved. She asked if the assumed technological <br /> advances and ability to mitigate noise there lent any level of confidence that it will not be an issue here. <br /> Mr. Weinstein acknowledged that the project had solicited noise complaints, ultimately resulting in the <br /> installation of a noise mitigating door after the start of operations. He said that type of feature was one <br /> of the mitigation options explored for this project, but special issues at this site, the need to elongate the <br /> carwash in order to incorporate the door, and the fact that other equally effective noise mitigation <br /> measures were in place left staff and the consultants confident that it will likely not be an issue. <br /> Mr. Fialho added that the complaints to which she referred came shortly after construction of the gas <br /> station and carwash. After returning to the Council for additional modification, the operator installed the <br /> noise attenuating doors and reconstructed the fence line separating the drive-through from the <br /> neighborhood and the complaints subsequently dropped off. <br /> Councilmember Narum asked how the zoning would be affected if the applicant were to change the <br /> site's use at a later date. <br /> Mr. Dolan explained that the PUD creates a one of a kind zoning district which includes everything <br /> allowed in the existing C-N designation and the two additional uses outlined. Anything currently allowed <br /> within the C-N district would be allowed in place of the convenience store as an over the counter <br /> application. The PUD, however, governs both uses and physical improvements so any physical <br /> alteration of the building would require a PUD amendment. Staff would make a judgment as to whether <br /> it was a minor or major change, the latter of which would the applicant to pursue this process again. <br /> Mayor Thorne asked why, given that the project would come back before the Planning Commission if <br /> there were issues, there was not support for an automatic review within six months. <br /> Mr. Dolan explained that he discouraged the Commission from moving in that direction, largely because <br /> he felt there would be too much temptation to build that sort of requirement into every application they <br /> approve. He said that it is overwhelming both administratively and mechanically to do so with every use <br /> permit and did not seem like a good process to adopt. <br /> Mayor Thorne suggested that, based on the number of emails received from the surrounding <br /> neighborhood, the requirement might actually help to assuage some of their concerns. <br /> Councilmember Cook-Kallio thought it added an unnecessary layer to require a review when the ability <br /> to take it back to the Commission in the event of issues already exists. She recalled a conversation <br /> where the new gas station near Bernal Avenue installed a fast food restaurant without the city's <br /> knowledge and asked whether the potential for that exists here. <br /> Mr. Dolan said "no." <br /> City Council Minutes Page 14 of 22 November 18,2014 <br />