Minutes_March 13, 2019 - Laserfiche WebLink

RECUSAL Commissioners Balch and O'Connor recused themselves from participating in Item 6.b. due to economic conflicts and left the Chambers at 8:30 p.m. b. Downtown Specific Plan — Draft Environmental Impact Report Public hearing to receive comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Downtown Specific Plan Update (SCH #2001032014), which was published on February 1, 2019. Planning Consultant Richard Patenaude presented the specifics of the item in the Agenda Report. Commissioner Ritter referred to the adoption of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and asked if there were any Housing Element components to ensure they are being included with this item. Mr. Beaudin responded that the alternative reviewed included reducing development and removing residential from the Civic Center site. The Housing Element itself does not have housing element opportunity sites in the downtown area and staff is continuing to allow for infill development in the rest of the downtown. Commissioner Brown referred to the alignment between the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and asked if the reference being made was to the recommendation for a raised bicycle path on Peters Avenue, which he was not sure was currently included in the approved Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. Ms. Clark said this is correct; staff would go back and update the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan to reflect the Downtown Specific Plan (DSP). Commissioner Ritter said at the Bicycle, Pedestrian, Trails Committee (BPTC) meeting they discussed the corridor on First Street and the attempt to establish a parking lot in that area. He said that he didn't remember seeing two lanes for bicyclists and pedestrians in the EIR, which is how the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan was written, however, the BPTC committee wasn't favorable to the fact that this didn't connect. Mr. Beaudin responded that the DSP currently allows for this connection. The goal of the transportation corridor is to have a corridor through the downtown similar to what is behind the Firehouse Arts Center. They are trying to replicate this based on the dimensions through the corridor and staff has conducted analysis which is included in the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan; this document is specific to the improvements and modifications discussed through the task force process. The on-going improvements in the transportation corridor have been covered in other documents and are not specifically mentioned here. Commissioner Brown inquired, as it relates to the corridor, whether the proposed mixed-use path is on the east or west side. Planning Commission Minutes Page 12 of 18 March 13, 2019 nicipal Code in regard to compliance, in order to make any recommendations considered fair and just. Commissioner Brown continued by saying when he reads the State code, the degrees of freedom relate to space, concentration, traffic, parking and noise control. He did not hear much discussion around noise control. The Commission received guidance in terms of street parking on a public street and set within the conditions is a requirement to utilize the garage. He said he likes the suggestion of establishing guidelines when on-boarding new parents around the Planning Commission Minutes Page 10 of 18 March 13, 2019 as a nine-year-old child in the program and Ms. Arango helped him speak English. She has learned it is very important for kids to become bilingual and spoke highly of the daycare and of Ms. Arango and asked for the Commission's approval. Planning Commission Minutes Page 7 of 18 March 13, 2019 mmunity. She follows all rules and instructs the Planning Commission Minutes Page 6 of 18 March 13, 2019