Sacramento Planning & Design Commission Meeting on September 10, 2020
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Sacramento Planning & Design Commission Meeting – September 10, 2020
This was a regular meeting of the Planning and Design Commission, held via teleconference due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting began at 5:30 p.m. and adjourned at 9:17 p.m. It included a consent calendar, three public hearings, and a special planning district. Controversy arose over the Gateway West Commercial project, where technical issues prevented many opponents from speaking during the public comment period. The Commission ultimately voted to forward that project to the City Council with a recommendation of approval.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Meeting Minutes of August 27, 2020 and Director’s Report: Approved unanimously (10-0-1, Commissioner Ogilvie absent).
Public Hearings
3. 6020 Freeport Boulevard Delivery Only Cannabis Dispensary (P20-011)
- Staff recommended approval for a conditional use permit to establish a non-storefront, delivery-only cannabis dispensary within an existing 5,419-square-foot building on a 0.41-acre parcel. Applicant Dennis Chan, a local veteran and property owner, expressed support, citing the need to serve veterans with PTSD. Commissioner Macias-Reed noted the applicant’s efforts to keep the property clean and voiced support. The Commission approved the staff recommendation (10-0-1).
4. The Boulevard (P17-031)
- Staff recommended approval for a commercial development at 2070 Fair Oaks Boulevard, including 18,000 square feet of office and 29,000 square feet of retail, a PUD amendment, and a tree permit to remove two city trees. Applicant Paul Petrovich described the project as a gateway to Sacramento, with a contemporary design, outdoor spaces, and a planned left-turn access. Discussion included site design, electric vehicle charging, and landscaping water meters. The Commission approved (8-2-1, with Commissioners Wang-Connelly and Kaufman voting no, Commissioner Ogilvie absent).
5. Gateway West Commercial (P17-057)
- This item was the most contentious. The applicant proposed a rezone to General Commercial (C-2-PUD) to allow an 8-pump gas station, two drive-through restaurants, a convenience market, a hotel, and alcohol/tobacco sales at the northeast corner of Arena Boulevard and Duckhorn Drive. Staff recommended denial, arguing the project was inconsistent with the 1994 North Natomas Community Plan and the 2035 General Plan, which envision employment center uses rather than highway-oriented commercial. The applicant countered that the uses are permitted under the existing PUD and that staff had previously expressed support. During the public comment period, five callers spoke in favor of the project. However, later in the meeting, during the “Public Comments-Matters Not on the Agenda” section, many callers reported they were unable to get through to speak on this item and expressed strong opposition. The Commission debated a substitute motion to approve the project. The substitute motion passed (8-2-1, with Commissioners Lenzi and Farrell voting no, Commissioner Ogilvie absent), forwarding the project to the City Council with a recommendation of approval. The Commission acknowledged the technical difficulties and noted that the City Council would provide another opportunity for public input.
6. Folsom Boulevard Special Planning District (M20-002)
- Staff recommended approval to create two new Special Planning Districts along Folsom Boulevard between 63rd and 69th Streets and between Howe and Watt Avenues. The SPDs would prohibit massage parlors, check cashing facilities, tobacco retailers, and cannabis dispensaries, aiming to promote a greater mix of land uses and attract new private investment. The Commission approved (10-0-1) and forwarded the recommendation to the City Council.
Key Outcomes
- Consent calendar items approved.
- Items 3, 4, and 6 approved as recommended by staff.
- Item 5: The Commission voted 8-2-1 to recommend approval to the City Council, overturning staff’s denial recommendation. Technical issues with the teleconference system prevented many opponents from speaking during the public hearing; staff will convey these issues to the City Council.
- The meeting adjourned at 9:17 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Okay. We can get started right on time whenever you're ready. Everybody, um go ahead and keep yourself your cameras off and uh mute yourself unless you're a commissioner. What's that? I said I'm ready, but there's music was still going. Okay. Okay. Well, good evening. Welcome to the Sacramento 10th. Sorry. Sacramento City. City of Sacramento Planning and Design Commission hearing tonight is September 10th, 2020. Uh reminder to staff, commissioners, and applicants that are logged into the meeting. Please remember to keep your microphones muted until you are speaking. And when you are speaking, be good if you had a phone next to you. That was muted. For members of the public that are joining meeting, in addition to submitting e-comments, you have the option to phone in during the phone comment period. Stacia will share her screen now to display both of those options. Comments that are submitted through the email or e-comments before 5 p.m. today have been received by city staff and are available for commissioners to review. If you would like to give an e-comment during the meeting, please do so. E-comments posted after 5 p.m. today will be pulled up and we will take a moment to review them after the staff presentation. If you are calling in to comment on an item, please refer to the instructions on the screen. After you dial, after you dial in, you will be prompted to select a hearing item number to move into that item's queue. You can call in any time before the public comment period, before or during the public comment period for that item, and you will be placed on hold until it is your turn to speak. Once you call in, please keep in mind it will take a minute or so to move you into the queue. With that, uh let's get started with the agenda. And we have no changes for the agenda tonight. So commissioners, if you could unmute your mics, and we'll do road call. Commissioner Wong Connolly. Here commissioner Messias Reed. Here Commissioner Hernandez. Commissioner Lenzi? Here. Commissioner Farrell. Commissioner Ogilvy. Commissioner Burke. Commissioner Yi. Here. Vice Chair Pluckybaum? Here. Here. Have a quorum. Thank you very much. Okay, moving to the consent calendar. Keep in mind we'll be voting on all items on the consent calendar at the end with one vote. And if you want to abstain, please do so at the end during the roll call vote. And we have two items on the consent agenda. Approval of the minutes and the director's report.
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