Sacramento Planning and Design Commission Meeting - March 23, 2023
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Sacramento Planning and Design Commission Meeting - March 23, 2023
The Sacramento Planning and Design Commission met on Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 5:30 PM in the City Hall Complex. The meeting lasted approximately 2 hours and 17 minutes, adjourning at 7:47 PM. The commission approved a cannabis delivery-only dispensary, denied an appeal for an electric fence project, approved a telecommunication monopine, and re-elected its chair and vice chair for 2023. All votes were unanimous with the exception of two abstentions on the consent calendar.
Director's Report
- Planning Director Stacia Cosgrove reported that the City Council on March 14 approved the rail yard surface parking lot project (consistent with the commission's recommendation) and the 2023 Planning and Zoning Work Program.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1 – Approval of Minutes (March 9, 2023): Passed by a motion (Commissioner Macias Reed/Commissioner Chase) with 7 ayes and 2 abstentions (Commissioners Buckley and Lamas, who were absent at the prior meeting). Commissioner Boyd absent.
Public Hearings
Item 2 – 2122 X Street Cannabis Delivery-Only Dispensary (P22-010)
- Location: 2122 X Street, District 4.
- Proposal: Conditional Use Permit and Site Plan/Design Review for a delivery-only cannabis dispensary in an existing 1,984 sq ft building with minor exterior renovations. The project required commission review because it is within 600 feet of a tobacco retailer.
- Staff Recommendation: Approve, citing CEQA exemption (Section 15301 – Existing Facilities) and findings that cannabis businesses have not negatively impacted nearby uses per the comprehensive cannabis study.
- Public Comment: None.
- Commission Discussion: Commissioners asked about police/fire conditions; staff clarified that the project was modified to exclude the front house and added secure wall infill.
- Outcome: Motion to approve (Commissioner Macias Reed/Commissioner Chase). Vote: 9-0 (Boyd absent). Approved.
Item 3 – Florin Road Electric Fence Appeal (DR22-127)
- Location: 3801 and 3803 Florin Road, 7041 and 0 Luther Drive, District 5.
- Proposal: Appeal of the Design Director's denial of a deviation to install approximately 2,753 lineal feet of 12-volt electric fencing (behind an existing wrought-iron fence) around an auto sales business. The fence would be 10 ft high, powered by a 12V battery, and activated during non-business hours.
- Staff Recommendation: Deny the appeal (i.e., uphold the director's denial). Staff argued the fence is inappropriate for a commercial corridor due to pedestrian traffic (near Luther Burbank High School, light rail, residential uses), conflicts with the Florin Corridor Design Guidelines, and sets an undesirable precedent. Staff also noted that alternatives like hostile vegetation and enhanced video surveillance with AI analytics were not exhausted.
- Appellant (Keith Kaneko, Amrock): Argued that the business has suffered severe catalytic converter theft, vandalism, and trespass despite existing measures (cameras, lighting, security guards). He emphasized the safety of the technology (medically safe, UL-certified, no continuous current) and offered to reduce the fence height to 8 ft. He claimed no other solutions have worked.
- Police Sergeant Matt Young (CPTED unit): Opposed the fence at this location, stating it is inconsistent with CPTED principles. He suggested AI-powered analytic cameras with 24/7 monitoring as a more effective and cost-efficient alternative, noting success in the cannabis industry.
- Public Comment: None.
- Commission Discussion: Commissioners expressed sympathy for the business but noted the long-term vision for the Florin corridor (transit-oriented development, housing, revitalization). Concerns included aesthetics, precedent, and the potential for the fence to undermine pedestrian-friendly goals. Staff suggested that a hybrid solution might be explored with the property owner.
- Outcome: Motion to approve staff recommendation to deny the appeal (Vice Chair Wallace/Commissioner Young). Vote: 9-0 (Boyd absent). Denied.
Item 4 – 1610 Garden Highway Monopine (P22-049)
- Location: 1610 Garden Highway, District 3.
- Proposal: Conditional Use Permit and Site Plan/Design Review to construct an 85-ft-tall monopine telecommunications facility (disguised as a pine tree) on a 1.99-acre site, with a deviation to exceed the 50-ft height limit in the Agricultural zone. The facility addresses a T-Mobile coverage gap and allows future co-location.
- Staff Recommendation: Approve, noting the monopine design blends with the heavily wooded surroundings and the height is necessary for coverage.
- Public Comment: Two e-comments and one email in opposition, citing aesthetics and height. None in person or via Zoom.
- Commission Discussion: Commissioner Lamas asked about noise; applicant stated equipment is solid-state with negligible sound. The monopine design was praised for blending in.
- Outcome: Motion to approve (Commissioner Chase/Commissioner Macias Reed). Vote: 9-0 (Boyd absent). Approved.
Discussion Calendar
Item 5 – Selection of Chair and Vice Chair for Calendar Year 2023
- Background: The commission aligned its election cycle with the calendar year per new ordinance.
- Outcome:
- Chair: Commissioner Macias Reed nominated Nicolina Hernandez to continue as Chair. Seconded by Commissioner Chase. Vote: 9-0 (Boyd absent). Elected.
- Vice Chair: Chair Hernandez nominated Maya Wallace to continue as Vice Chair. Seconded by Commissioner Macias Reed. Vote: 9-0 (Boyd absent). Elected.
Commissioner Comments
- Commissioners welcomed newer members and offered support.
Public Comments – Matters Not on the Agenda
- None.
Key Outcomes
- Approved: Consent Calendar (minutes), 2122 X Street cannabis dispensary, 1610 Garden Highway monopine, and re-election of Chair Hernandez and Vice Chair Wallace.
- Denied: Florin Road Electric Fence appeal (upholding Design Director's denial).
- Next Steps: Staff and police offered to facilitate a meeting with auto dealerships along Florin to discuss alternative security solutions.
Meeting Transcript
Chair staff is ready when you want to thank you, Jacob. Good evening, everybody. Uh, we'll now open the session and call this meeting to order. This is the City of Sacramento Planning and Design Commission. The date is Thursday, March 23rd, 2023, and the time is 5 30 p.m. Uh Clerk, will you please call the roll to establish a quorum? Thank you, Chair. Commissioner Boyd is absent. Commissioner Buckley? Here. Commissioner Chase? Here. Commissioner Caden. Here. Commissioner Lamas? Here. Commissioner Macius Reed. Here. Commissioner Zhang? Here. Commissioner Young. Here. Vice Chair Wallace. Here. And Chair Hernandez. Here. Thank you. We have quorum. Thank you very much. I'd first like to remind members of the public in the chambers if you would like to speak on an agenda item. Please turn in a speaker slip when your item begins. For members of the public who wish to join virtually, please refer to the agenda for the Zoom link. And once you've joined the meeting and wish to speak, raise your hand to provide public comment when the chair confirms the public comment. Speaking period for your desired item. If you're online, 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 under the more tab. And if you're calling in via telephone to raise your hand, dial star nine, then to unmute or mute yourself, dial star six, and speakers will be called upon using the last four digits of their phone number. You'll have three minutes to speak once you're called on. After the first speaker, we will no longer accept speaker slips and the raise hand feature on Zoom will be disabled. We'll move on to the land acknowledgement. Please rise for the opening acknowledgments in honor of Sacramento's Indigenous Peoples and Tribal Lands. To the original people of this land, the Nissanon people, the Southern Maidu, Valley and Plains Mewak, Putwin Winton peoples, and the people of Walton Rancheria, Sacramento's only federally recognized tribe. May we acknowledge and honor the native people who came before us and still walk beside us today on these ancestral lands by choosing to gather today in the active practice of acknowledgment and appreciation for Sacramento's Indigenous People's History contributions and lives. Thank you very much. Please remain standing for the flag solution. Excuse me for the Plance. I pledge 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. You may be seated. Thank you all very much.
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