Sacramento Planning and Design Commission Meeting Summary - January 28, 2021
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Sacramento Planning and Design Commission Meeting Summary
Date: Thursday, January 28, 2021, 5:30 p.m. (Open Session began at 5:31 p.m.) Location: Teleconference Meeting Only (due to COVID-19), City Hall Council Chambers, 915 I Street, Sacramento, CA
The Sacramento Planning and Design Commission held a teleconference meeting to review and act on several land use and development items. The commission approved four public hearing items, including a rooftop sign, a cannabis facility, a telecommunications tower, a Wendy's drive-through, and the Klotz Ranch Apartments project, along with a consent item and a discussion on the 2040 General Plan organization. All approvals were unanimous, with one abstention on each item from Commissioners Hernandez and Buckley on the consent calendar and multiple commission members absent (Chair Covill).
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Meeting Minutes of December 10, 2020 (File ID 2021-00090): Approved unanimously by a 7:0:3 vote (Commissioners Macias Reed and Yee moved and seconded; absent: Chair Covill; abstained: Hernandez, Buckley).
- Director's Report (File ID 2021-00092): Received and filed.
Public Hearings
Item 3: Forty Acres (Oak Park) Placemaking Roof Top Sign (P20-018)
- Location: 3428-3436 3rd Avenue, Council District 5
- Proposal: Approve an Environmental Exemption (CEQA Section 15311), Site Plan and Design Review, and a Conditional Use Permit for a new rooftop sign on the historic Lewis Building (40 Acres complex), 30 feet wide by 11 feet tall, with yellow neon tube letters, set back 10 feet from the parapet.
- Staff Presentation: Sean de Courcy, Associate Preservation Planner, presented the staff report. The Preservation Commission had previously recommended approval on December 16, 2020. Conditions include limiting illumination hours and restricting color temperature to 3,800 degrees Kelvin to mitigate light impacts on neighboring residences.
- Public Comments: Staff received emails from neighbors requesting more information and expressing concerns about light impacts and gentrification in North Oak Park. No callers were present during the meeting. No e-comments were received.
- Applicant/Owner Presentation: Adrianne Hall, Chief Administrative Officer of St. Hope, spoke in favor, emphasizing the historic significance of the '40 acres' name and the project's role in revitalizing Oak Park. She presented a list of more than 50 individuals who support the sign.
- Commission Discussion: Commissioner Yee asked technical questions about the sign's illumination, hours of operation, and recourse for neighbors with complaints. Staff clarified that complaints would go through code enforcement and planning. Commissioner Lenzi asked about the sign's compatibility with the historic district; staff noted the design balances historic reference with scale.
- Vote: Approved unanimously (9:0:1) with Commissioner Macias Reed moving and Commissioner Lenzi seconding. Chair Covill was absent.
Item 4: 35 Quinta Court – Cannabis Facility CUPs (P20-020)
- Location: 35 Quinta Court, APN: 117-0170-055-0000, District 8
- Proposal: Approve an Environmental Exemption (CEQA Section 15301), and two Conditional Use Permits: one for a cannabis production (cultivation and distribution) facility and one for a delivery-only cannabis dispensary, both within a 6,400-square-foot portion of an existing ±12,800-square-foot building on approximately 3.56 acres in the General Commercial Zone (C-2-R).
- Staff Presentation: Robert Williams, Associate Planner, presented. The dispensary requires a CUP due to proximity to small churches. No exterior changes are proposed. The Police Department reviewed and recommended conditions. No public comments were received.
- Commission Discussion: No questions or public comments.
- Vote: Approved unanimously (9:0:1) with Commissioner Farrell moving and Commissioner Yee seconding. Chair Covill was absent.
Item 5: T-Mobile at 69th Street (P20-017)
- Location: 1719 69th Street, APN 015-0010-032, District 3
- Proposal: Approve an Environmental Exemption (CEQA Section 15303), a Conditional Use Permit for a telecommunications facility, and Site Plan and Design Review to construct a 74-foot telecommunications tower with associated equipment within an 844-square-foot lease area on a 1.03-acre site in the Residential Mixed Use and Transit Overlay (RMX-TO) zone, with deviations for height and setbacks.
- Staff Presentation: Robby Thacker, Associate Planner, presented. The tower replaces a decommissioned tower on a neighboring parcel. The applicant provided an analysis of service needs. No public comments were received.
- Commission Discussion: Commissioner Yee asked why the decommissioned tower could not be reused. Staff explained the tower had been removed.
- Vote: Approved unanimously (9:0:1) with Commissioner Macias Reed moving and Commissioner Lenzi seconding. Chair Covill was absent.
Item 6: Wendy's Drive-Through Natomas Crossing (P20-032)
- Location: 2630 Arena Boulevard, APN: 225-2300-013-0000, District 1
- Proposal: Approve use of a previously certified Environmental Impact Report (EIR) (Resolution 2009-531), a Conditional Use Permit for a drive-through restaurant in the Shopping Center (SC-PUD) zone, and Site Plan and Design Review for construction of a 3,135-square-foot drive-through restaurant with a deviation to exceed the maximum front setback. Operating hours proposed: 6 a.m. to 1 a.m., seven days a week.
- Staff Presentation: Jose Quintanilla, Assistant Planner, presented. The project received a letter of support from the North Natomas Community Coalition. A nearby resident questioned the need for another Wendy's given one about 10 minutes away.
- Public Comments: Two callers were in queue but no comments were made. An email was received questioning the need for another Wendy's. Mark Burlberger, on behalf of Wendy's, explained the location is a different market and the existing store on Northgate Boulevard is performing well.
- Commission Discussion: Commissioner Lenzi asked about pedestrian and bicycle access; staff described sidewalks and enhanced crossings. Commissioner Yee asked about exterior materials; the architect explained the red and bronze finishes are pre-finished aluminum composite metal, designed to resist fading.
- Vote: Approved unanimously (9:0:1) with Commissioner Lenzi moving and Commissioner Farrell seconding. Chair Covill was absent.
Item 7: Klotz Ranch Apartments (P19-070)
- Location: 7699 Klotz Ranch, APN:031-1550-002, District 5
- Proposal: Approve a Resolution certifying the Environmental Impact Report, a Mitigation Monitoring Plan (MMP), a Resolution to amend the Klotz Ranch Planned Unit Development (PUD) Schematic Plan, Site Plan and Design Review for a clubhouse and six buildings with a deviation to the 35-foot maximum height standard, and a Tree Permit to remove three private protected trees and one City tree. The project is for a 266-unit apartment complex on a vacant 12.7-acre site.
- Staff Presentation: Angel Anguiano, Assistant Planner, presented. The applicant, Brian Hooper with the Law Offices of Gregory Thatch, represented the Spanos Corporation and highlighted the project's community support and amenities.
- Public Comments: Multiple callers supported the project, including:
- Antonio Rif, Community Heritage Specialist for the United Auburn Indian Community, expressed appreciation for collaboration on tribal cultural resource protection.
- Kaisha Dixon (8543 Dartford Drive) voiced strong support, noting family attended community meetings.
- Joe Flores, President of the South Land Park Neighborhood Association, spoke about the project's connectivity to the Del Rio Trail and appreciated coordination.
- Karen Johnson (District 8) supported the project to alleviate homeless encampments on the vacant site.
- Dorothy A'Reev (7638 Winbridge Drive) expressed strong support.
- Staff also acknowledged a letter of support from the Betterview Neighborhood Association.
- Commission Discussion: Commissioner Lenzi questioned the removal of condition D33 regarding a pedestrian/bicycle path to the Del Rio Trail. Applicant clarified the city is constructing the connection, while Spanos will build the gate and connection up to the property line. Commissioner Yee suggested adding a condition to enhance garage door design for pedestrian experience; the applicant agreed, and it was added.
- Vote: Approved unanimously (9:0:1) with the added condition, moved by Commissioner Macias Reed and seconded by Commissioner Farrell. Chair Covill was absent.
Discussion Item: Proposed Organization of the 2040 General Plan (Item 8)
- Location: Citywide
- Staff Presentation: Remy Mendoza, Senior Planner, introduced Andrew Hale from Dyett & Bhatia, the general plan consultant. The proposal organizes the 2040 plan into about six chapters, moving the housing element under separate cover, creating a sustainability and equity framework chapter, combining land use, placemaking, and economic development, creating a combined environmental justice/environmental resources chapter, and integrating community plans into the main document.
- Commission Discussion:
- Commissioner Hernandez suggested creating one-page fact sheets and interactive online interfaces for accessibility.
- Commissioner Macias Reed emphasized interactive websites with GIS mapping and word search.
- Commissioner Ogilvie supported the sustainability/equity framework but stressed these values must be interwoven throughout the plan, not just isolated chapters.
- Commissioner Buckley expressed strong support for the sustainability/equity chapter but raised concerns about combining environmental justice with broader environmental issues, cautioning against diluting the focus.
- Commissioner Wang-Connelly asked about how the plan would prioritize goals and handle conflicts; Andrew Hale mentioned developing 10-15 indicators to measure progress.
- Commissioner Hernandez and others raised the need for multilingual accessibility and public engagement tools.
- Public Comments: None received.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Approved.
- Public Hearings: All four items (Rooftop Sign, Cannabis Facility, T-Mobile Tower, Wendy's) were approved unanimously, with Chair Covill absent.
- Klotz Ranch Apartments: Approved unanimously with an added condition requiring the applicant to work with staff to enhance garage door design.
- 2040 General Plan: The commission reviewed the proposed organization and provided comments, including recommendations for user-friendliness, interactive website features, multilingual resources, and ensuring sustainability and equity are integrated throughout the document. No formal action was taken.
- The meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Hey Phil, are we broadcasting right now? No. Um, it'd be great at some point maybe we can formally introduce the oh my god. We just restarted. AJ, I think we're up. Are we? Are you able to um see video? Yep, if uh folks are comfortable on your end, we can proceed. Okay, sounds good. All right, take two. Uh welcome to the City Sacramento Planning and Design Commission hearing for Thursday, January 28th, 2021. Uh we've already had roll call, consent calendar, and director's report. Um, we're gonna proceed to the uh public hearing item uh number three uh for the um 40 acres placemaking rooftop sign. Uh do we have any commissioner um disclosures or recusals? Kendra. Yes, thank you. I had um a conversation, I spoke with a representative of the Oak Park Neighborhood Association. All right, with that, uh Sean, take it away. All right, thank you, Vice Player Chair Plecabaum and members of the Planning Design Commission. My name is Sean DeCoursi, Associate Preservation Planner with the Community Development Department, and I'm pleased to present the 40 acres placemaking sign project. Staff recommends the planning and design commission review the project and pass a motion approving the use, approving the use of a sequel exemption for accessory structures, and approve the site plan and design review for a conditional use permit entitlement for installing a rooftop sign on the historic Lewis building, which is listed on the Sacramento Register as both a landmark and contributing resource to the Oak Park Historic District. The site plan and design review portion of the project and the CEQA exemption were reviewed by the Preservation Commission on December 16th. That commission passed a motion recommending approval of the project by the Planning and Design Commission. The proposed project would erect a 30-foot wide by 11 foot tall rooftop placemaking sign with yellow neon tube letters at the corner of 34th Street and Broadway. The sign is proposed to for face northeast, set back 10 feet from the building's parapet, mounted to the roof of the building, commonly known as 40 acres. The project is a.5 site is a.54 acre parcel within the general commercial zone and the Broadway Stockton Special Planning District. The parcel is currently developed with two separate buildings, a two-story mixed-use building with ground floor retail and residential units on the second level, originally known as the Lewis Building, and the separate Guild Theater Building at 282835th Street. Both buildings were constructed in 1915 and rehabilitated by the St. Hope Development Company in 2003 when the site became known as 40 acres. The Lewis building is currently occupied by five tenants. Staff concluded the placemaking side is consistent with the city's 2035 general plan goals and policies. The Broadway Stockton Special Planning District, the Oak Park Historic District Plan, and the Secretary of Interior Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Staff received two emailed comments from neighbors who requested more information about the project and a follow-up email from one of those neighbors requesting the hours of illumination be reduced to limit the light impact on her dwelling and neighbors across the street. Staff has considered these comments in consultation with the applicant and provided conditions of approval that would minimize the effect of light on surrounding residences and businesses by limiting the hours the sign can be eliminated and restricting the temperature of the sign to 3,800 degrees Kelvin. Compliance with these conditions will be verified during these inspection process. On Monday, staff received an additional email comment raising objections to the proposed sign, citing similar issues associated with light impacts on adjacent properties. The email also raised issues related to gentrification in the North Oak Park area and noted the sign might exacerbate that perception. The comment letter has been circulated to commissioners as supplemental material to your staff report. This concludes my presentation. We do have a member of the ownership group who would like to say a few words before commissioner comments. And we have members of the architect group who are here to answer any technical questions, but do not have a formal presentation to make tonight. So with the chair's indulgence, I will turn it over to uh a member of this St. Hope Company to make a brief presentation. Please do, Ms. Holt. Thank you. On behalf of St. Hope, thank you for thank you, Planning Commissioners, and staff for considering this project and the opportunity to speak on its behalf tonight. We did not want to miss this opportunity to express just how important this project is to us. My name is Adrianne Hall, and I am the chief administrative officer for St.
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