Napa Planning Commission Regular Meeting – May 19, 2022

The Napa Planning Commission held a regular meeting on May 19, 2022, at 5:30 PM in City Hall Council Chambers, 955 School Street, Napa, CA. Vice Chair Bob Massaro presided due to the absence of Chair Gordon Huether and Commissioner Alexander Myers. Commissioners present: Paul Kelley, Beverly Shotwell, and Bob Massaro. The meeting covered approval of previous minutes, a consent hearing that became a public hearing on a parcel map extension, and a discussion on the Draft General Plan Implementation Program.

Consent Calendar

• Planning Commission Minutes (April 21, 2022): Approved unanimously by a single vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke on non-agenda items.

Consent Hearings (Became Public Hearing)

• Milliken Creek Parcel Map Extension II (File No. PL22-0020): A request for a second two-year extension of a previously approved Tentative Parcel Map and Design Review Permit for a 4-lot subdivision on an 11.60-acre site west of Silverado Trail. The item was pulled from the consent calendar at the request of neighbor Judy Buffington (1913 Silverado Trail).
  • Speaker Position: Judy Buffington expressed concerns about potential fill in the floodplain (based on past flood control meetings) and traffic safety on Silverado Trail. She noted she had not commented on the original project.
  • Applicant Response: Scott Cleinwill (KG Planning Partners) explained that fill would be required for future home pads but the extension only extends the map, not authorizes construction. Fill would comply with city codes and floodplain regulations; the project was reviewed by Public Works and found consistent with floodplain requirements (no fill in the floodway).
  • Commission Discussion: Commissioners noted the project's history and constraints, confirmed that the four-lot density is appropriate, and that the extension is warranted. Staff clarified that the Subdivision Map Act allows three extensions total; this is the second.
  • Vote: Motion by Commissioner Kelly, second by Commissioner Shotwell to adopt a resolution approving the second extension and determining that the environmental effects were adequately analyzed by the 2018 Mitigated Negative Declaration. Approved unanimously (3-0).

Discussion Items

• Administrative Report – Draft General Plan Appendix A: Implementation Strategies: Staff presented the draft implementation program, which categorizes policies by approach (zoning, capital improvements, plans, environmental initiatives, city administration), assigns responsibility codes, and provides timelines (ongoing, 0–5 years, 6–10, 11–20). The commission was asked for feedback.
  • Commissioner Feedback:
    • Commissioner Kelly expressed disappointment that the document lacks strong action language (e.g., “shall” and “will”) and reads more like a responsibility matrix than a committed implementation plan. He noted the Planning Commission and City Council are only cited as responsible for item A-1-e (development review) and suggested adding a column identifying which items require commission/council review.
    • Commissioner Shotwell found the timelines reasonable given budgetary and staffing constraints but agreed that stronger language would be helpful. She expects to be more comfortable after seeing revisions to the General Plan itself.
    • Vice Chair Massaro supported adding a statement of commitment at the beginning of the appendix, and suggested adding review bodies (e.g., CHC, Planning Commission, City Council) as a column. He also questioned prioritization, asking why land use items are urgent (0–2 years) while housing is later; staff explained that zoning must be consistent with the General Plan by law, and the housing element update is a separate process.
  • Staff Response: Staff acknowledged the feedback and committed to:
    • Revising the General Plan’s goals and policies to include more definitive language (not wholesale “shall”/“will” but stronger action words).
    • Adding a statement of commitment to the implementation appendix.
    • Adding a column for approving/review bodies (e.g., Planning Commission, City Council).
    • Correcting a typo: “CA state of California” should have “CA” capitalized.
  • No formal action was taken; the item was for discussion only.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved.
• Milliken Creek Extension: Approved unanimously (3-0).
• General Plan Implementation: No vote; staff will incorporate commissioner feedback into the next draft. The next regular Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for June 16, 2022 (the June 2 meeting was canceled).