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Record of Proceedings

Novato Planning Commission Meeting on September 8, 2025: Consideration of Self-Storage Facility at 501 Davidson Street

City Council — Monday, September 8, 2025
BodyNovato, California
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, September 8, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:03:48

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

Hi everyone to the uh Novato Planning Commission meeting of September 8th.

0:04

Uh thank you for joining us here tonight.

0:07

Um, first thing I'm gonna do is uh call this to order and do a roll call.

0:12

All right, looks like everyone's here, but I'll do it regardless.

0:15

Um Commissioner Crockett here.

0:17

Commissioner Havill here.

0:18

Commissioner Tiernan here, Commissioner Griggy here.

0:21

Commissioner Roche here, Commissioner Stuckenbrocker, here broker.

0:26

Sorry.

0:26

Uh, and Commissioner Derby is here.

0:28

Knew I was gonna mess that one up eventually, forgive me.

0:31

Um, if everyone could join me in the uh Pledge of Allegiance, a pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

0:44

One nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

0:52

Thank you everyone.

0:54

Uh I'm gonna need an approval of the final agenda.

0:57

So moved.

0:58

Second.

0:59

Roll call.

0:59

Commissioner Crockett here.

1:01

Commissioner Havill.

1:02

Aye.

1:02

Commissioner Tiernan.

1:03

Aye.

1:04

Commissioner Grigie.

1:05

Aye.

1:06

Commissioner Roche.

1:07

Commissioner Stuckenbroker.

1:09

Aye.

1:09

Commissioner Derby's an aye.

1:12

Great.

1:13

Um I'm gonna open this to public comment.

1:15

This is not public comment uh for anything on the uh that's currently on the agenda.

1:20

So if everyone understands what that means, I'm gonna open that up now.

1:27

Anyone would like to speak on something that is not on the agenda tonight, feel free to come forward.

1:33

Seeing no movement, I'm going to close the public comment, and we will get through our agenda.

1:39

First item is a consent item.

1:42

Uh it's the approval of the meeting minutes on March 10th.

1:45

I believe all of the commissioners were present with the exception of Commissioner Griggy.

1:50

So I'll start.

1:50

Um, do I have a motion?

1:52

I would move to approve as presented.

1:54

I will second.

1:55

Wonderful.

1:56

Commissioner Crockett.

1:57

Uh aye.

1:58

Commissioner Havill.

1:59

Aye.

2:00

Commissioner Tiernan.

2:01

Aye.

2:01

Commissioner Griggy?

2:02

Abstain.

2:03

Commissioner Rose.

2:04

Aye.

2:05

Commissioner Stuckenbroker.

2:06

Aye.

2:07

Commissioner Derby's an aye as well.

2:09

Wonderful.

2:10

Um, seeing as we have nothing else, it's going to get into the public hearing.

2:14

I will ask tonight that the uh staff will make a presentation.

2:19

We will have the developer follow that presentation with their presentation.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████████████████████28%
Procedural██████████████████18%
Environmental Protection█████████████████17%
Economic Development███████████████15%
Community Engagement███████7%
Public Safety███████7%
Water And Wastewater Management████4%
Transportation Safety███3%
Affordable Housing█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Novato Planning Commission Meeting on September 8, 2025

The Novato Planning Commission convened on September 8, 2025, primarily to hold a public hearing and consider approvals for a proposed 95,400 square foot self-storage facility at 501 Davidson Street. The meeting included staff and applicant presentations, extensive public testimony, and commission deliberations.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the meeting minutes from March 10, 2025, with Commissioner Griggy abstaining.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Multiple residents expressed strong opposition to the project. Concerns included increased traffic on narrow Davidson Street, safety hazards for pedestrians, potential crime, light pollution, noise disruptions, and negative impacts on property values. Speakers such as Loretta DeGrief and Hilary Peters questioned the environmental review process and zoning compliance. A few commenters, including Lauren Elkin, supported the project, citing the community's need for additional storage capacity.

Discussion Items

  • Staff presented the project, detailing CEQA exemptions under guidelines sections 15183 and 15332, design revisions from Design Review Commission hearings, and recommended conditions of approval. The applicant, represented by Mario Gialotti and Riley Hurd, explained the project's evolution, low traffic generation, security measures, and benefits such as revenue for the city and improved stormwater management. Commissioners asked questions about fencing, drainage, hours of operation, and the interpretation of floor area ratio for non-habitable spaces.

Key Outcomes

  • The commission adopted a resolution finding the project exempt from additional CEQA review.
  • Approved a use permit and design review for the self-storage facility, with a condition amendment to clarify that frontage improvements are required only along the project site's frontage on Davidson Street.
  • Votes were unanimous, with Commissioner Griggy abstaining on the minutes approval.

Meeting Transcript

Hi everyone to the uh Novato Planning Commission meeting of September 8th. Uh thank you for joining us here tonight. Um, first thing I'm gonna do is uh call this to order and do a roll call. All right, looks like everyone's here, but I'll do it regardless. Um Commissioner Crockett here. Commissioner Havill here. Commissioner Tiernan here, Commissioner Griggy here. Commissioner Roche here, Commissioner Stuckenbrocker, here broker. Sorry. Uh, and Commissioner Derby is here. Knew I was gonna mess that one up eventually, forgive me. Um, if everyone could join me in the uh Pledge of Allegiance, a pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you everyone. Uh I'm gonna need an approval of the final agenda. So moved. Second. Roll call. Commissioner Crockett here. Commissioner Havill. Aye. Commissioner Tiernan. Aye. Commissioner Grigie. Aye. Commissioner Roche. Commissioner Stuckenbroker. Aye. Commissioner Derby's an aye. Great. Um I'm gonna open this to public comment. This is not public comment uh for anything on the uh that's currently on the agenda. So if everyone understands what that means, I'm gonna open that up now. Anyone would like to speak on something that is not on the agenda tonight, feel free to come forward. Seeing no movement, I'm going to close the public comment, and we will get through our agenda. First item is a consent item. Uh it's the approval of the meeting minutes on March 10th. I believe all of the commissioners were present with the exception of Commissioner Griggy. So I'll start. Um, do I have a motion? I would move to approve as presented. I will second. Wonderful. Commissioner Crockett. Uh aye. Commissioner Havill. Aye. Commissioner Tiernan. Aye. Commissioner Griggy?

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