Davis Planning Commission Meeting – February 26, 2025
Davis Planning Commission Meeting – February 26, 2025
The Davis Planning Commission convened on February 26, 2025, at approximately 7:00 PM to consider a conditional use permit for a bouldering gym, a revocation hearing for food trailers at Volt Coffee, a kickoff presentation for the General Plan update, and a new commission-initiated task process. The meeting adjourned before 10:00 PM.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Ellen Callark (co-chair, Interfaith Housing Justice Davis) presented four principles for the General Plan update: mixed-income neighborhoods, strategic density near transit, responsible land stewardship, and protecting community health. (Non-agenda item)
- Multiple speakers (including a resident, an employee, and a general contractor) testified in support of Volt Coffee during the revocation hearing, describing the food trailers as a vital community asset on Olive Drive and urging the commission to grant a continuance.
- Eileen Samitz spoke during the General Plan update, cautioning against discarding the existing citizen-based plan and urging the commission to build on its foundation.
Discussion Items
5A: 607 Pena Drive – Bouldering Gym
Staff presenter Thomas McNaren described a proposed 12,000-square-foot climbing and bouldering gym in an existing warehouse, allowed under light industrial zoning with a conditional use permit (CUP). Staff found adequate parking and added bike-parking conditions. No public comment. The commission voted unanimously to approve the CUP and a CEQA exemption, noting the use is compatible with the area.
5B: 1123 Olive Drive – Volt Coffee Food Trailers
Staff recommended revoking the temporary use permit (TUP) and denying the CUP for two food trailers, citing non-compliance with conditions: an expired county health permit (since renewed), an unapproved trailer swap, an incomplete improvement agreement for ADA sidewalk repairs, and a missing entertainment permit (now applied for). Applicant Robert Salazar acknowledged the oversights and stated most conditions were being resolved, including obtaining a bond for the sidewalk. Public comment emphasized the trailers’ importance to the underserved Olive Drive corridor. After deliberation, the commission voted unanimously to continue the item to the March 12, 2025, meeting to allow staff and the applicant to finalize outstanding requirements and propose a concrete timeline.
5C: General Plan Update – Kickoff Presentation
Consultants from Raimi + Associates (Eric Yerkovich and Melissa Stark) presented the process for the 2025 comprehensive General Plan update. The plan will span two years with extensive community engagement, including workshops, pop-up events, stakeholder meetings, and an online platform for input. Commissioners discussed strategies for reaching underrepresented groups, engaging UC Davis (students and administration), using GIS and AI tools, and building community capacity beyond the plan. The update will incorporate new state laws and aim for an accessible digital document alongside a traditional PDF.
5D: Commission-Initiated Task Process
Staff introduced a new process for commissioners to propose tasks to the City Council. Proposed tasks must be agendized, voted on by a majority, and meet criteria such as addressing a demonstrated need and requiring more than negligible staff resources (over two hours). The chair listed potential topics: AB 1033 (ADU condominiumization), city-county agreements, UC annexation models, Cannery lessons learned, Cannery farm agreements, new commissioner onboarding, a citizens planning academy, and revisiting single-family zoning. These will be agendized for the March 12, 2025, meeting for discussion and a vote on which to forward to council.
Key Outcomes
- Approved (unanimous): Conditional use permit and CEQA exemption for a bouldering gym at 607 Pena Drive.
- Continued (unanimous): The revocation/denial hearing for Volt Coffee’s food trailers to the March 12, 2025, planning commission meeting.
- Received and filed: General Plan update presentation; formal review and engagement process to proceed.
- Set timeline: Commission will discuss and potentially vote on task requests at the March 12, 2025, meeting.
- Noted: The May 28, 2025, meeting is reserved for the Village Farms hearing to meet the November ballot deadline.
Meeting Transcript
I like to be prompt. We have a long agenda this evening, and many people do not have to sit here for hours while we all right. I'm calling the meeting to order today is Wednesday, February 26th, and this is the Davis Planning Commission. Hopefully the commissioners have had a chance to look at the agenda. Any changes? Could we get a motion to approve? So moved. In a second. Second. Perfect. Okay. There are any brief announcements from staff. Thank you, Madam Chair. No, at this time I would like to reserve my comments for item 5D and item six, please. Thank you. Thank you. From my fellow commissioners. Any comments. Donna? I do. Thank you, Madam Chair. So I just wanted to mention very briefly that last night the city council, the county, and the university had their annual two by. And our um director of housing and community development, Sherry Metzger gave a presentation where she provided an overview of our housing accomplishments in the prior year. The university did the same thing. So it was a it was a great sort of broad overview. Things you're all very familiar with, but just for purposes of the public, they may want to take a look at that presentation. And one of the things that Sherry highlighted in her presentation was something called the housing dashboard, which is now on the city website that Sherry worked with me very closely on to get it in place. It's uh a way to get a really good snapshot of the progress of various housing projects. I just want to make sure you're all aware that it's out there, and I know some of the other commissions are using it as well. So that's all for me. Excellent. Thank you. I have to make a note to myself to go look for it. Perfect. Okay. Um at this point. Any member of the public can make a address the commission on matters that are not on our agenda. Do we have any recorded? Just a moment to see if we have any recorded. Thank you. None recorded. Okay. Please come forward. Thank you. Thank you. My name is Ellen Callark. I am co-chair of Interfaith Housing Justice Davis. Interfaith Housing Justice Davis is committed to advancing just and equitable housing solutions for our communities, unhoused neighbors, renters, and first-time homebuy. Our approach is principle-based, prior prioritizing diverse, inclusive and sustainable development practices that create long-term housing stability and opportunity for all. As you begin the process of creating a general plan, we would like you to consider these four principles.
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