Sacramento Planning and Design Commission Meeting - June 10, 2021
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Sacramento Planning and Design Commission Meeting - June 10, 2021
The Sacramento Planning and Design Commission met on June 10, 2021, at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting covered the consent calendar, a director's report, and six public hearing items, including telecommunications infrastructure, multiple cannabis facility permits, and an alcohol sales conditional use permit. Commissioners voted on all items, with significant public participation on several agenda items, particularly the cannabis and alcohol matters.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Meeting Minutes (May 13, 2021): The Commission approved the minutes from the May 13, 2021 meeting with a vote of 7 ayes, 2 abstentions, and 2 no votes (Commissioners Messias Reed, Ogilvie, and Chair Coville abstained; Commissioner Yee? Not specified – roll call shows abstentions from Messias Reed, Ogilvie, and Chair Coville. Motion passed.)
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 4 – Eden of Sac Cannabis Site (P21-003): One public comment by Don Carlson (Power and Alliance) expressed support for conditions including interior transfer of cannabis material and waste security. No other callers.
- Item 5 – 5360 South Watt Delivery-Only Dispensary (P21-005): Two callers: Mike Lean (neighbor, also PBID board member) requested additional conditions for landscape maintenance and security; a second caller from Power and Alliance supported the project with added security conditions.
- Item 7 – 1636 Kathleen Avenue Delivery-Only Cannabis Dispensary (P20-028): Multiple callers opposed the project, citing overconcentration of cannabis in District 2, code violations, crime, and proximity to residences. Speakers included Jay McCauley, Tina Eccles, Grace McConnell, and others. Some callers also expressed support for the project, highlighting improved property maintenance and reduced traffic by consolidating operations.
- Item 6 – Orchard Lane CUP (P20-012) (Alcohol Sales): Extensive public testimony. Opponents (Heather Fargo, E. Wayne Johnson, David Brady, Leslie Gordon, Katya Townsend, and others) argued the location is too close to schools (Two Rivers Elementary, Westlake Charter) and parks (Orchard Park, Sandcove Park), and cited potential increases in loitering, crime, and homelessness. Supporters (including the applicant’s representatives and several residents) argued the business is well-run, the area is safe, and other nearby locations sell alcohol. eComment report: 344 total comments; 207 opposed, 80 in support, 1 neutral (as of the meeting).
Discussion Items
- Item 3 – New Monopine at Parkside Community Church (P21-004): Staff presented a request for a 80-foot monopine telecommunications tower replacing an existing 59-foot bell tower. No public comments. Commissioners asked about design accuracy and height justification. Approved unanimously (8-0-0, with some abstentions? Vote was 8 ayes, 0 noes, with Commissioners Boyd, Chase, Lenzi, Messias Reed, Ogilvie, Wallace, Won Connolly, Yee, Young, Vice Chair Pluckybaum, Chair Coville all ayes – motion passed).
- Item 4 – Eden of Sac Cannabis Site (P21-003): Staff recommended approval for a cannabis cultivation, distribution, and delivery-only dispensary in an existing building. Discussion centered on a one-year activation condition to ensure square footage under the district cap is used. Commissioners and staff addressed concerns about the cap, the Office of Cannabis Management, and equity applicants. Approved unanimously (8-0-0).
- Item 5 – 5360 South Watt Delivery-Only Dispensary (P21-005): Staff recommended approval with modifications. Public comments led to added conditions for landscape maintenance and security. Commissioners debated the notification procedures. Approved with amendments (motion by Commissioner Wallace, seconded by Commissioner Yee; vote 10-0-0).
- Item 7 – 1636 Kathleen Avenue Delivery-Only Cannabis Dispensary (P20-028): Heated discussion. Staff recommended approval. Opponents cited overconcentration, code violations, and safety. Some commissioners argued that the applicant had improved the property and that the use would reduce vehicle trips. Vice Chair Pluckybaugh moved to deny based on overconcentration; seconded by Commissioner Chase. Motion passed 7-4 (Commissioners Boyd, Wallace, Young, and Chair Coville dissenting). The project was denied.
- Item 6 – Orchard Lane CUP (P20-012) (Alcohol Sales): Continuation from April 22, 2021 meeting. Staff recommended denial due to proximity to multiple sensitive uses (schools, parks). Commissioners debated the policy and community input. A motion to deny (supporting staff) was made by Vice Chair Pluckybaugh, seconded by Commissioner Yee. After extensive discussion, the motion passed (7-2-0, with Commissioners Boyd and Young dissenting; Chair Coville also dissenting? Vote tally: Boyd no, Chase yes, Lenzi yes, Messias Reed yes, Wallace aye, Won Connolly aye, Yee aye, Young? not recorded but likely no, Vice Chair Pluckybaugh yes, Chair Coville no – motion passed). The CUP was denied.
Key Outcomes
- Item 3: Approved with conditions (staff recommendation).
- Item 4: Approved with one-year activation condition.
- Item 5: Approved with additional conditions for landscape and irrigation maintenance.
- Item 7: Denied (7-4). Applicant may appeal or resubmit after one year.
- Item 6: Denied (7-3 or 7-2? Likely 7-3). The decision supports planning staff’s findings of over concentration near sensitive uses.
- Director’s Report: Noted City Council approval of Delta Shores amendments and 16R mixed-use project.
- Commissioner Comments: Welcome back to Commissioner Ogilvie after sabbatical.
- Meeting Adjournment: Approximately 9:00 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome to the June 10th, 2021 City of Sacramento Planning and Design Commission hearing. For city staff, commissioners and applicants that are logged into the meeting, please remember to keep your microphones muted until you are speaking. For members of the public that are joining the meeting, in addition to submitting e-comments, you have the option to phone in during the public comment period. Stacia will share her screen now to display both those options for you. Comments that are submitted through email or e-comments before 5 p.m. today have been received by the city staff, and we are available and we're available for commissioners to review. If you'd like to give an e comment during the meeting, please do so. E comments posted after 5 p.m. will be pulled up and we will take a moment to review them. If you're calling in to comment an item, please refer to the instructions on the screen now. After you dial in, you'll be prompted to select a hearing item number to move into that item's queue. You can call in at any time before or during the public comment period for that item, and you will be placed on hold until it's your turn to speak. Once you call in, please keep in mind it may take a moment or so to move you into that queue. Okay, going on to the consent agenda. Um not the consent agenda, the agenda itself. We have made a change. So item six will be 1636 Kathleen Avenue delivery only dispensary, cannabis dispensary, and item seven will be Orchard Lane C U P. And with that, let's Commissioners uh unmute your mics and we'll call the roll. One item to note, um, Chair, just to clarify the item numbers will remain the same for the phone queue. So if someone is calling in for the Orchard Lane C UP, they should get into queue number six. That's how we have it set up on the phone line. Uh we'll just take item seven out of order. Very good. Thanks for clarifying that. Yeah, no problem. Uh so we'll go ahead with roll. Um hold on one second. Commissioner Buckley. Commissioner Boyd, I just admitted into the room. So I'm gonna mark him as as here. Commissioner Chase. Here commissioner Hernandez is absent this evening. Commissioner Lenzi here, Commissioner Messias Reed. Here, Commissioner Ogilvie. Here Commissioner Wallace here, Commissioner Won Connolly. Here Commissioner Yee. Here Commissioner Young. Here Vice Chair Pluckybaum. Here Chair Coville. Here. We have a forum. Thank you very much. Okay, moving on to the consent calendar item number one approval of the minutes from last May 13th. Looking for a motion. I can move the consent calendar. Thank you, Commissioner Lindsay. We have a motion from Commissioner Lindsay and a second from who was that? Chase. Commissioner Chase. Thank you both very much.
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