Sacramento Planning and Design Commission Meeting - February 23, 2023
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Sacramento Planning and Design Commission Meeting - February 23, 2023
The Sacramento Planning and Design Commission met via teleconference on Thursday, February 23, 2023, at 5:32 p.m. The meeting was called to order by Chair Nicolina Hernandez and adjourned at 7:21 p.m. Commissioners present: Barry Boyd, Dov Kadin, Kendra Macias Reed, Lee Xiong, Enoch Yeung, Vice Chair Maya Wallace, and Chair Hernandez. Commissioners absent: Tyrone Buckley, Robert Chase, and Julio Lamas. The Commission heard two public hearing items, continued two items, and received a Director's Report.
Public Hearings
Item 1: Bannon Street Name Change (P22-048)
- Staff recommended approving a resolution to change the name of a 961-foot segment of Bannon Street to Sequoia Pacific Boulevard, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) (No Significant Effect). The segment is located between the east-to-west Bannon Street and Water Street/North B Street in the River District.
- Public comment: Gordon Spector, CFO of Shadow Electric (a business on Bannon Street for 45 years), opposed the change, arguing it would cause more confusion, increase costs for his business (1,500 suppliers, 810 customers), and that first responders are already familiar with the area. He requested reimbursement through tax waivers or other mechanisms.
- Commissioner discussion: Several commissioners expressed sympathy for affected businesses and asked staff about compensation options. Staff (Karlo Felix, Senior Planner) stated there is no funding mechanism or compensation required under Sacramento City Code Chapter 12.04, but staff would assist businesses with address updates and applications. Commissioner Kendra Macias Reed emphasized the need for support, and Commissioner Barry Boyd suggested exploring tax reductions or other creative solutions.
- Vote: Motion by Commissioner Macias Reed, second by Vice Chair Wallace. The resolution passed unanimously (7 yes, 0 no; 3 absent).
Item 2: 1195 Florin Road – Proposed Storefront Dispensary (P22-015)
- Staff recommended approval of a Conditional Use Permit for a cannabis dispensary (storefront with delivery) in ±3,514 square feet of an existing 6,794-square-foot retail building on approximately 0.99 acres, with a CEQA exemption (Section 15301) and Site Plan and Design Review for a new roll-up door.
- Public comments: Six members of the public spoke in support, including Richard, Danny, Elsa Romo (a core applicant and business partner), Michael Snell (another core applicant), Kimberly Cargyle (CEO of A Therapeutic Alternative), and Jay Hill. Supporters cited the applicant's experience, community engagement, security measures, and the positive impact of properly run dispensaries.
- Commissioner discussion: Commissioner Enoch Yeung raised concerns about the proximity of the Kumon tutoring center (within 600 feet, though just over 600 feet building-to-building) and Pony Express Elementary School (about 2,000 feet away). Staff confirmed the tutoring center operator, James Shin, had no objection. Commissioner Barry Boyd proposed a condition prohibiting portable A-frame signs, but staff and legal counsel noted that such signs are exempt under city code, and the proposal was withdrawn. Vice Chair Wallace asked about minors; the applicant confirmed that minors are not allowed inside the building at any time.
- Vote: Motion by Commissioner Macias Reed, second by Vice Chair Wallace. The project was approved unanimously (7 yes, 0 no; 3 absent).
Continued Items
Item 3: Sacramento Music Hall (P20-041) – The applicant requested a continuance to March 9, 2023. The Commission voted unanimously to continue the item.
Item 4: Council Rules of Procedure Review (Oral Report) – This discussion item was also continued to March 9, 2023, without a vote (announcement only).
Director's Report
- Greg Sandlund, Planning Director, announced that commission meetings will return to in-person at City Hall starting March 9, 2023, with a hybrid option for the public.
- City Council recently approved the Trinity House project and Bell Avenue Commercial Project (heard by the Commission on January 12, 2023), and on February 21, 2023, approved the Sacramento King Equity Ventures Cannabis Project on Bruceville Road.
- The Commission will elect its chair and vice chair at the March 23, 2023 meeting, moving to a calendar-year election schedule.
Public Comments – Matters Not on the Agenda
- None.
Commissioner Comments
- Commissioner Macias Reed asked about the timeline for the cannabis ordinance and sensitive uses review. Greg Sandlund indicated it was delayed about three months and likely to come back in the third quarter of 2023. He offered to provide a primer for newer commissioners.
Key Outcomes
- Approved the Bannon Street name change to Sequoia Pacific Boulevard (unanimous).
- Approved the 1195 Florin Road storefront dispensary (unanimous).
- Continued the Sacramento Music Hall and Council Rules of Procedure Review items to March 9, 2023.
- Staff committed to assisting affected businesses with address updates and to reevaluating the administrative process for identifying sensitive uses.
Meeting Transcript
Thank you. Chair, staff is ready when you are. Thank you very much. Julia. Good evening, everybody. We have some agenda changes today. So as soon as we finish the Pledge of Allegiance, I will need a vote and announcement. But first, we'll start with the instructions for public participation via Zoom. For members of the public who wish to join, you can find a Zoom link on the agenda. Once you've joined the meeting and wish to speak, please use the raise your hand feature when your desired item begins in order to join the queue. We'll first have a staff presentation, then the applicant will have an opportunity to speak. Commissioners can ask questions and then we'll open up the public comment period or the clerk will call upon you to speak. If you're joining us online, you can click on raise hand at the bottom of your screen. In the mobile app, you can raise your hand by tapping the raise hand option in the more tab. And if you're calling in by telephone to raise your hand, dial star nine to mute and unmute yourself. You can dial star six, and the speakers will be called upon using the last four digits of their phone number. You'll have three minutes to let us know your opinion. Members of the public can also submit written electronic comments for the record. An email address and a link to submit your comments online are also available on the agenda. A reminder for folks who are logged in the Zoom meeting as a panelist to please mute your mics and use the raise your hand feature for questions and comments during the appropriate time. For commissioners, please turn on your cameras. So we'll now open the session and call this meeting to order. You know you're in the right place because this is the planning and design uh the planning and design commission meeting uh day February 23rd and it's 5 32 p.m. Clerk, will you please establish a quorum? Thank you, Chair. Commissioners, please unmute and turn on your video at this time. Commissioner Boyd. Commissioner Buckley is absent. Commissioner Chase is absent. Commissioner Caden. Here. Commissioner Lamas. It's absent. Commissioner Reed. Here. Commissioner Zong. Here. Commissioner Wang. Commissioner Young, I'm sorry. Uh. Vice Chair Wallace. Chair. Chair Hernandez. Here. Thank you. We have a quorum. Thank you very much. And I understand that my internet connection might be a little bit spotty today, so please uh bear with us on any technical issues. Um we will uh move on to the land acknowledgement. So please uh please rise for the acknowledgments in honor of Sacramento's indigenous people and tribal lands.
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