Napa Planning Commission Regular Meeting – July 7, 2022
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Napa Planning Commission Regular Meeting – July 7, 2022
The Napa Planning Commission met on July 7, 2022, at 5:30 PM at City Hall, Council Chambers, to consider several items including a requested third extension for the Napa Creek Condominiums project, an Outdoor Dining Ordinance amendment, and a preliminary review of the General Plan update. The meeting was the first without COVID-era plastic barriers in two years, as noted by Chair Huether.
Consent Calendar
- Planning Commission Minutes – May 19, 2022: Approved unanimously. Commissioners Huether and Myers abstained as they were absent from that meeting.
Consent Hearings
- Outdoor Dining Ordinance Amendment (PL21-0139): Approved without discussion as part of the consent hearings. The item, a citywide amendment to Napa Municipal Code Section 17.52.340, was forwarded to the City Council with a recommendation for adoption.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-agenda public comment: None.
- Napa Creek Condominiums: No public testimony was offered.
- General Plan Preliminary Review: Patrick Band, speaking as an individual, commended the commission’s request for early document review and asked about the anticipated adoption timeline by Council and the role of the implementation plan. Staff responded that Council adoption is targeted for September/October 2022 and that the implementation plan is an appendix that will be updated continuously.
Discussion Items
- Napa Creek Condominiums Tentative Map Extension III (PL22-0045): Staff Planner Michael Allen presented the request for a third and final two-year extension of approvals originally granted in 2011 for a 48-unit for-sale condominium project at 1701 D Street Alley (APNs 002-071-010, -011). The project is in the MFR-142 and RM; AH; FP-10 zoning districts. Staff noted that the current owner, who acquired the property a few years ago, has obtained prior extensions; this is the last local extension allowed by the Subdivision Map Act (total of six years). The project previously received a Mitigated Negative Declaration (CEQA) and will pay an alternative equivalent affordable housing fee (over $250,000) instead of providing seven on-site affordable units, as approved by City Council in 2018. A pedestrian easement originally crossing the property was modified at Public Works’ request to improve ADA accessibility along D Street Alley. Chair Huether recused himself, stating a business relationship with the Manny Brothers, the project sponsor. The commission voted 3-0 (Huether recused) to adopt the resolution approving the extension, with clarifying discussion that the two-year extension begins August 1, 2022, and that timely building permit issuance is essential.
- General Plan Preliminary Review (PL22-0058 Administrative Report): Staff provided a preview of the General Plan update adoption process, highlighting redline edits to the Climate Element based on public comments. Staff emphasized that upcoming adoption hearings (tentatively August 18 and a second meeting) will focus on goals and policies, not line-by-line editing. Commissioners discussed several policies:
- Commissioner Kelly questioned the wording of Climate Change Policy 1-2 (removing “me”) and sought clarification on drive-through caps (policy 2-1) and fueling station limits (policy 2-1). He also asked about requiring net-zero energy for city buildings (policy 8-2) and suggested including tree-lined medians for heat island reduction and traffic calming.
- Vice Chair Massaro and Commissioner Shotwell supported keeping the net-zero energy language broad (not tied to a specific certification like LEED) to remain relevant over the 20-year horizon.
- Commissioner Myers requested early distribution of the full adoption package (about 320 pages of goals and policies) at least two weeks in advance to allow thorough review, noting a personal travel conflict in mid-August. Staff agreed to adjust the schedule to accommodate commissioners.
- Silverado Trail Zoning Interpretation (PL22-0058): Continued to the August 4, 2022 meeting at the applicant’s request. Motion passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Napa Creek Condos: Resolution approving the third and final two-year extension adopted (3-0). Approval includes extension of the Tentative Map, Design Review Permit, three Use Permits, and two Variances through August 1, 2024. The CEQA Mitigated Negative Declaration remains applicable.
- Outdoor Dining Ordinance Amendment: Forwarded to City Council for adoption.
- Silverado Trail Item: Continued to August 4, 2022.
- General Plan Update: Target for first adoption hearing is August 18, 2022, with a follow-up meeting for formal recommendation. City Council adoption expected September/October.
- Administrative items: The July 21, 2022 Planning Commission meeting was canceled. Next regular meeting is August 4, 2022.
- Staff announcements: Ricky Caperton (formerly of Clovis and Fresno) will begin as Planning Manager on July 11, 2022. Molly has been promoted to Deputy City Manager. Bond Mendez has left the department for a position in Rancho Cucamonga. The Housing Element update website (NapaHousingElement.com) is live, and a “Housing Week” outreach campaign is scheduled for the last week of July 2022.
Meeting Transcript
All right. Good to go. Well, um, Cooper Tina says it's five. Oh, now it's 5 30. Okay. Good evening and welcome to the July 7th, 2022 City of Napa regular meeting for the Planning Commission. The first such meeting without plastic boxes around us in two years, so it's pretty awesome. Um Patty, could we do um roll call, please? Yes, Commissioner Dado. Present. Commissioner Kelly. Present. Commissioner Shotwell. Present. Vice Chairman Sarrow. Here. Chair Heather. I'm present. If you all could stand and join me for the pledge of allegiance, please. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. If I could ask you all to turn down your phones and turn off your pagers. Well, it used to be on there for a long time. So we're on to agenda review and supplemental reports. The planning commission conducts all meetings in accordance with the Ralph Brown Act and pursuant to the city's rules of order for planning commission meetings. Staff are there any changes to this evening's agenda? Yes, Chair Heuther, there is uh this the planning commission received a request from the applicant of the uh the uh Silver Auto Trail similar use determination, and they've requested that the commission continue their item to the uh August 14th, August 4th uh planning commission meeting. So we can't have it without them. You could it's usually customary to get uh meet their wishes. To have the applicant present, okay. I gotcha. And um let's see, how about from my fellow commissioners? I believe we have one request. Uh um yeah, if it's the appropriate time. Um I'm uh moving moving to move uh consent item 6a, uh the Napa Creek condominiums from the consent hearing to the agenda, uh public hearing agenda portion of the meeting. So let it be written so that it be so. Um we're on to public comment. I have a feeling there won't be any, but um let's just stay with protocol here and I'll say that public comment provides an opportunity for members of the public to directly address the planning commission on items of interest not otherwise noted on the agenda. Each speaker's comments will be limited to three minutes and will comply with the rules of order for planning commission meetings. And I will ask the invisible crowd are there any members of the public who wish to provide public comment on non-agenda items? Not that you two gentlemen are invisible, but I know that you're here for something specific. Do I have a motion to close public? Do I really need to do that? If there is no public comment, do I have to I just give us a it's not legally required. It's not legally required. Well, let me just paint outside the lines a little bit. All right, now we're on the consent calendar. These are routine items that may be approved by a single vote. However, any member of the public or commissioner may remove an item for consideration during the public hearing portion of the agenda. We kind of already went through that, right? So we're moving.
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