Half Moon Bay Planning Commission Meeting: SB 743 VMT Study Session and Continuance – April 25, 2023
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Half Moon Bay Planning Commission Meeting: SB 743 VMT Study Session and Continuance – April 25, 2023
The Half Moon Bay Planning Commission met on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at 7:00 PM in a hybrid format. Commissioners present were Vice Chair Margaret Gossett (acting as Chair), Commissioner Hazel Joanes, and Commissioner Steve Ruddock. Chair Rick Hernandez and Commissioner David Gorn were absent. The meeting included a study session on SB 743 and Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) updates, a continuance of a project, a director's report, and commissioner communications.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (March 28, 2023): Motion to approve the minutes was made, seconded, and passed with a unanimous vote (3-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke during the public comment period or the public hearing for the SB 743 study session.
Discussion Items
- Study Session on SB 743 and CEQA Transportation Updates: Staff presented on the shift from Level of Service (LOS) to Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) for CEQA transportation impact analysis. The presentation covered VMT metrics, screening exemptions (e.g., projects generating fewer than 110 trips per day, 100% affordable housing, local/regional retail under 10,000 sq ft), threshold setting (proposed 15% below city average), and potential mitigation programs. Staff noted that VMT analysis will require hiring a consultant to develop a travel demand forecasting model, and that a final policy will be brought back for Commission feedback.
- Commissioner Questions and Comments:
- Commissioner Ruddock asked about how hotels/motels and retail employees would be treated in VMT analysis; staff noted no set methodology exists and these are handled on a case-by-case basis.
- Commissioner Joanes shared that at a League of Cities training, hotels/motels were not typically considered, and some cities require transit shuttles for employees. She also asked about the timeline for hiring a consultant and the need for a policy update.
- Staff (Jill) clarified that the VMT policy would update the General Plan's circulation element but would not require an amendment to the Local Coastal Land Use Plan, which already anticipates VMT standards.
- Commissioner Joanes asked how tourism would factor into VMT; staff acknowledged the challenge of rural location and the potential for mitigation programs like bike lanes or shuttle pilots.
- Commissioner Joanes emphasized that LOS and VMT address different concerns (safety vs. emissions) and should work together.
Key Outcomes
- Continuance of Item 1.B (8 Jenna Lane Project): The Commission voted unanimously (3-0) to continue the project to the May 23, 2023 meeting, upon the applicant's request.
- Next Steps: Staff will continue developing the VMT policy, explore technical assistance through MTC, and return to the Commission before policy adoption. The Commission will meet with City Council on May 9 for a joint work session on the Housing Element. A community meeting regarding the corp yard housing site is scheduled for May 8 at 6:30 PM at Ted Adcock Community Center.
Meeting Transcript
So I'll do my little intro here and then go from there. Good evening and welcome to the April 25th 2023 meeting of the Half M Bay Planning Commission. We are broadcasting this meeting live on Pacific Coast TV as well as Zoom as a we are doing hybrid. We have we currently do not have community um members, but we do allow um for anyone that is coming to our meetings to allow them to um have public comment. So they will be allowed three minutes for for that, whether you're on Zoom or in person. Um I think we did have a memo that went out this evening that we sent to the planning commission, and it's been posted to the website on the agenda under the project. Um other than that, I will hand over to our acting chair gossip and we will start the meeting. Good evening, everyone. We will start with the good evening, everyone. We'll start with the uh Pledge of Allegiance. Okay, I'd like to just make an announcement that item one B is going to be continued to a date certain of May 23rd. So if anyone is here um wishing to speak on that item, we just would like to let you know about that. And with that, uh, we'll move on to the approval of the minutes from the last meeting. I'm just gonna do Oh, I'm sorry, roll call. It's okay. No worries at all. Yes, okay. Um let me do a quick roll call and then we'll keep move to the minutes. Um Commissioner Jonas here. Commissioner Ruddick. Here. And Vice Chair Gossett? Here. Um Commissioner Hernandez and Commissioner or Chair Hernandez and Commissioner Gorn are absent this evening. Okay. Okay, thank you. And with that, we'll move on to the approval of our minutes from March 28th. Does anyone have any comments about the minutes or does someone want to make a motion to approve? I make the motion to approve the minutes. I'm seconded. Okay. Um Commissioner Jonas. Approved. Yes. Commissioner Redick. Yes. And Vice Chair Gossett? Yes. Motion approved. Okay. At this point, I will invite anyone from the public, either online or in the audience to speak. We have um you're allowed to speak for three minutes on any topic that is not on the agenda. I don't have I have um we just double check online. I have nobody online that's wishing to speak at this time. Okay. Okay. Uh with that, uh, no one's standing up in the audience, so I will close public comment. And now we will move to session uh study session on Senate Bill 743 on uh transportation updates, and we will receive a staff presentation and provide for public comment to discuss, and we'll provide input to staff. Thank you. Good evening, Commissioners.
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