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Record of Proceedings

Napa Planning Commission Meeting: Approvals and Housing Report, February 17, 2022

Planning Commission — Thursday, February 17, 2022
BodyNapa, California
SessionPlanning Commission
DateThursday, February 17, 2022
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Michael, will you just say no?

0:09

No, that was now.

0:13

Okay, well then let's do the show on the road.

0:18

Good evening.

0:20

Well, February 17, 2022 city would have a regular meeting for the planning division.

0:27

The city will conduct this meeting as the hours in line.

0:43

City Council Chamber is a low platform broadcast on the 28th and remote C's website.

1:19

Are you not hearing any person says that the town is not coming through out there beyond it?

1:27

So how do you believe that that would be great or somebody?

1:31

But I would like to do all of them so um that you're gonna division by the chair responsible.

1:56

So now if um we can all I'm not sure how we're gonna stand up because then that'll look really funny on the screen.

2:03

But we should really be doing our pledge allegiance, and it's right there.

2:07

So would everybody please join me in the pledge of allegiance?

2:13

Well, I'm getting feedback.

2:18

Ready?

2:19

No.

2:21

I pledge allegiance to the flag.

2:23

Apply of the United States of America America and to the report for which it's for which it stands.

2:33

Under God with liberty and justice for all amen.

2:43

Okay, so now um let's see.

2:48

The planning commission conducts all meetings in accordance with the Ralph M.

2:52

Brown Act and pursuant to the city's rules of order for planning commission meetings.

2:59

Um or was I supposed to actually do the agenda review and supplemental reports before I said that?

3:07

Sorry, Mr.

3:08

Chair, this is uh Van I for some reason couldn't hear you, so I had to log off and log back on.

3:13

So yeah, the agenda review and supplemental reports would be where you would uh um start.

3:20

So uh on our agenda this evening.

3:25

We have um we have our consent calendar, which is has just the planning commission meetings from the last meeting, I believe.

3:36

Um we also have requirements for remote public buildings, a memorandum.

3:41

Uh consent hearings, of which there are uh none that's different than the consent calendar, and then on the public hearings we have the Cal West Rentals outdoor storage yard.

3:55

Item B is little Ivy Child care on Liz Dabista Avenue.

4:01

We then have item C, which is Alta East Subdivision out on East Avenue.

4:08

Um administrative reports item eight and um A, which is the housing element annual progress report, and then we have an update on draft general plan and draft EIR.

4:26

So having shared all of that Mr.

4:31

Chair, I think we'd like to make two changes to the agenda.

4:34

Number one would be um because we um are gonna be going back to in-person meetings poll consent item uh five B to discuss, and we were hoping to adjust the order of the agenda um to take item 7B, the little IV chair child care item first.

4:55

Sure.

5:00

Um as our uh city attorney needs to recuse, and we'd like her to come back for the other two items.

5:03

Very good.

5:04

Um I believe that would uh require a action.

5:11

That does require a motion in the second um action.

5:14

May I have a motion to amend the agenda as outlined by Mr.

5:19

Smith just now?

5:21

So moved I have a second second.

5:27

Very good.

5:28

So um we do a roll call vote, I do believe.

5:33

That is that is correct.

5:34

So it looks like uh motion I'll say by Commissioner Hurtado.

5:38

I think it was a tie between her title and Sorrow.

5:41

So um he's the one on my right and I'm right-handed.

5:44

Um, and second by Commissioner Shotwell.

5:48

Um roll call vote would be Commissioner Hotado.

5:52

Yes, Commissioner Kelly, yes.

5:55

Commissioner Shotwell.

5:57

Yes, Vice Chair Masaro.

6:00

Yes, Chair Uther.

6:02

Yes.

6:03

That motion passes unanimously.

6:05

Very good.

6:06

So um, let's see.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Childcare Services█████████████████████21%
Procedural███████████11%
Traffic Management██████████10%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████8%
Aesthetics████████8%
Housing████████8%
Public Engagement███████7%
Public Art█████5%
Community Engagement█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Napa Planning Commission Meeting: Approvals and Housing Report, February 17, 2022

The Napa Planning Commission held a regular meeting on February 17, 2022, at 5:30 PM via teleconference due to the COVID-19 emergency. The commission unanimously approved a use permit for a childcare center, approved a use permit for an outdoor storage yard with specific conditions, forwarded a recommendation for a five-lot subdivision to the City Council, and received the 2021 Housing Element Annual Progress Report. The meeting was marked by public comments both supporting and opposing various projects.

Consent Calendar

  • Members of the Planning Commission unanimously approved the Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes for January 20, 2022.
  • The commission acknowledged that requirements for remote public meetings (Item 5B) were satisfied under Government Code Section 54953(e), allowing a return to in-person meetings for the next session.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Sabina Correa, Board Chair of Community Resources for Children, expressed full support for the Little Ivy Childcare expansion, citing that before the pandemic there was only one childcare slot for every four children, and the need has worsened.
  • Robert Cull (via written correspondence) and Cynthia Rowe (resident on Easley Court) opposed the Little Ivy location due to traffic concerns, noting existing development (e.g., 70-unit Trio Napa, new houses off Lloyd Court).
  • Brian Dodd, Justin Gomez, Jessica Ripley, Amanda Krueger, Fiona England (resident at 4008 Linda Vista), and Nariala (employee) spoke, with most in support of Little Ivy; Fiona England opposed due to traffic and neighborhood impact.
  • Ellen Pollitz supported the Little Ivy project, comparing it favorably to a local school's traffic.
  • Janice and family (neighbors of the Alta East subdivision) strongly opposed the project, citing loss of privacy from two-story homes facing their property, and expressed frustration with the development process.
  • Carla Lucero verbally opposed the Alta East subdivision, calling it a "get-rich quick scheme."

Discussion Items

  • Little Ivy Childcare (4035 Linda Vista Avenue): Applicant Alex Myers presented the proposal for a childcare/preschool for up to 60 children (ages 18 months to 5 years) in an existing single-family home and detached garage. Staff recommended approval, noting the site is large and the drop-off plan would prevent traffic saturation. Commissioner Kelly raised concerns about building code and e-occupancy compliance, and Commissioner Massaro asked about traffic management. The commission discussed conditions, including a requirement for a new pavement, and ultimately approved the use permit.
  • Cal-West Rentals Outdoor Storage Yard (1890 Pueblo Avenue): Applicant Wayne O'Connell and Jeff Grady presented plans for an outdoor equipment rental storage yard next to a proposed self-storage facility. Staff had concerns about visibility of mechanical lifts from Highway 29. The commission debated conditions, including limiting the number of lifts, requiring the storage building along Highway 29 to be constructed before the yard is used, and requiring annual reviews for the first three years. A motion to approve with these conditions passed unanimously. The motion also included a mural on the Highway 29-facing wall as offered by the applicant.
  • Alta East Subdivision (1568 East Avenue): Applicant Blake Griffin proposed subdividing one parcel into five single-family lots. Staff recommended approval, and the commission discussed the architectural design, noting repetitiveness. The commission directed staff to work with the applicant to create more variety in the facades of the three middle houses. A motion to forward a recommendation to City Council for approval passed unanimously.
  • Housing Element Annual Progress Report (Item 8A): Staff (Michael Walker) presented the 2021 Annual Progress Report, showing 211 residential building permits issued, including 60 ADUs, and progress in very low, low, and moderate income categories. The commission voted to forward a recommendation to City Council to receive the report and direct staff to file it with HCD and OPR.
  • Update on Draft General Plan & Draft EIR: Staff provided an FYI that the public draft General Plan was released for comment, with the draft EIR to follow, prompting a 45-day review and comment period. A joint meeting with City Council is planned.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved the Little Ivy Childcare Use Permit (PL21-0124) with a 5-0 vote, determining the project is exempt from CEQA under Sections 15301 and 15332.
  • Approved the Cal-West Rentals Outdoor Storage Yard Use Permit (PL21-0021) with a 5-0 vote, including conditions limiting high lifts to six at 24 feet and two at 28 feet, requiring the Highway 29 storage buildings be built before the yard is used, and requiring annual reviews for the first three years.
  • Forwarded a recommendation to the City Council to approve the Alta East Subdivision (PL21-0066), with a 4-0 vote (Commissioner Kelly recused), including a condition for staff to work with the applicant to vary the facades of the three interior houses.
  • The next regularly scheduled meeting is March 3, 2022, which will be held in person at City Hall with masks and six-foot separation required.

Meeting Transcript

Michael, will you just say no? No, that was now. Okay, well then let's do the show on the road. Good evening. Well, February 17, 2022 city would have a regular meeting for the planning division. The city will conduct this meeting as the hours in line. City Council Chamber is a low platform broadcast on the 28th and remote C's website. Are you not hearing any person says that the town is not coming through out there beyond it? So how do you believe that that would be great or somebody? But I would like to do all of them so um that you're gonna division by the chair responsible. So now if um we can all I'm not sure how we're gonna stand up because then that'll look really funny on the screen. But we should really be doing our pledge allegiance, and it's right there. So would everybody please join me in the pledge of allegiance? Well, I'm getting feedback. Ready? No. I pledge allegiance to the flag. Apply of the United States of America America and to the report for which it's for which it stands. Under God with liberty and justice for all amen. Okay, so now um let's see. The planning commission conducts all meetings in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act and pursuant to the city's rules of order for planning commission meetings. Um or was I supposed to actually do the agenda review and supplemental reports before I said that? Sorry, Mr. Chair, this is uh Van I for some reason couldn't hear you, so I had to log off and log back on. So yeah, the agenda review and supplemental reports would be where you would uh um start. So uh on our agenda this evening. We have um we have our consent calendar, which is has just the planning commission meetings from the last meeting, I believe. Um we also have requirements for remote public buildings, a memorandum. Uh consent hearings, of which there are uh none that's different than the consent calendar, and then on the public hearings we have the Cal West Rentals outdoor storage yard. Item B is little Ivy Child care on Liz Dabista Avenue. We then have item C, which is Alta East Subdivision out on East Avenue. Um administrative reports item eight and um A, which is the housing element annual progress report, and then we have an update on draft general plan and draft EIR. So having shared all of that Mr. Chair, I think we'd like to make two changes to the agenda. Number one would be um because we um are gonna be going back to in-person meetings poll consent item uh five B to discuss, and we were hoping to adjust the order of the agenda um to take item 7B, the little IV chair child care item first. Sure. Um as our uh city attorney needs to recuse, and we'd like her to come back for the other two items. Very good. Um I believe that would uh require a action. That does require a motion in the second um action. May I have a motion to amend the agenda as outlined by Mr. Smith just now? So moved I have a second second. Very good. So um we do a roll call vote, I do believe. That is that is correct. So it looks like uh motion I'll say by Commissioner Hurtado. I think it was a tie between her title and Sorrow. So um he's the one on my right and I'm right-handed.

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