The Santa Rosa Planning Commission met virtually on June 10, 2021, to consider a modification of a final map, review capital improvement projects, and hear a controversial supportive housing project. The meeting was streamed online due to COVID-19 restrictions. Commissioner Akash Kalia was absent.
Item 9.1 - Summerfield Hills No. 8 Final Map Modification: A request to reduce the front setback for two lots (5494 and 5530 Newanga Avenue) from 40 feet to 20 feet to match the zoning district and allow for potential ADU construction. The applicant, Alice Curtis, and neighbor Stephanie Nakuzi spoke in favor, citing aging-in-place needs and consistency with the neighborhood. Staff recommended approval. No public comments in opposition were received.
Item 9.2 - Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Review: Staff presented 16 new projects for consistency with the General Plan. Projects included water and sewer infrastructure upgrades, recycled water improvements, biosolids management, and two pedestrian/bicycle projects (a SMART pathway crossing signal at 3rd Street and sidewalk gaps on Corby Avenue). Staff recommended approval. No public comments.
Item 9.3 - Hearn Veterans Village (Continuance): The item was initially on the agenda for a public hearing on a tentative map and mitigated negative declaration for a supportive housing development at 2149 W Hearn Avenue. Staff requested a continuance to a date uncertain due to numerous late public comments. The commission unanimously voted to continue the item. The public was then allowed to comment on the now-off-agenda item during the public comment period. Many speakers opposed the project as proposed.
The meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m.
Okay. Turn on your cameras and we'll get going. Great. Okay. So I'd like to call to order the June 10th, 2021 meeting of the Santa Rosa Planning Commission. And before we start, I'd like to read the following statement. I'm reading every meeting. Due to the provisions of the governor's executive orders, N 25-20 and N 29-20, which suspends certain requirements for the Brown Act and the order of the health officer of the County of Sonoma to shelter in place to minimize the spread of COVID 19. The planning commissioners will be conducting today's meeting in a virtual setting using Zoom webinar. Commissioners and staff are practicating from remote locations and or practicing appropriate social distancing. Members of the public may view and listen to the meetings as noted on the city's website and as noted on the agenda. Members of the public wishing to speak during item four, public comment period for items not on the agenda or during our public hearings. Items will be able to do so by raising their hand and will be given the ability to address the commission. And uh Mr. Maloney, if you would uh call the roll, please. Yes, thank you, Chair Weeks. Let the record reflect that all commissioners are present except Commissioner Calia. Thank you. Uh item 2.1 is study session. We don't have one today. Uh item three is approval of minutes, and we have three sets of minutes uh from April 8th, May 13th, May, and May 27th. Um are there any questions or comments on any of the minutes? Okay, see none. Uh they are approved as submitted. And uh the next item is item four, public comments. And I will now open the public comment period for any item not included in this meeting's agenda. If you wish to make a comment via Zoom, please select the raise hand button. If you are dialing in via telephone, please style star nine to raise your hand. Each speaker will have three minutes and a countdown timer will appear for the convenience of the speaker and the viewers. And please make sure to unmute yourself when you're invited to do so by our host, and your microphone will be muted at the end of that countdown. And Chair Weeks, no one has raising their hand at this time. Okay, we'll wait. Just we have one hand raised. Okay. And just as a reminder, this is for items that are not on the agenda today. What? Oh, yes, please. Maybe one second, Chair Weeks. We're gonna get the three minute timer up. Thank you. Arena, the uh ability to speak in one moment. Chair Weeks, would would it be helpful to remind anybody that's participating or viewing that uh 9.3 is being continued uh since it was less than 24 hours ago that was an hour, they may be on your way to speak during 9.3. Uh we will be discussing that um at the beginning um with staff's comments. So thank you for that. But I mean if they want to speak in public comment about it now, they're not gonna have a chance to do it later. So I'm getting it. That's correct, they they won't. All right. So we have a Arena Radic. And we've given you permission to speak.