Santa Rosa Planning Commission Regular Meeting - July 8, 2021
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Santa Rosa Planning Commission Regular Meeting - July 8, 2021
The Planning Commission met virtually on July 8, 2021, at 4:00 PM. The main agenda item was a public hearing on a zoning code amendment (ST21-001) to codify 20 zoning code interpretations issued by the Zoning Administrator and make technical corrections. Commissioner Akash Kalia announced his resignation due to moving outside city limits. The commission unanimously voted to recommend approval of the amendment to the City Council.
Commission Business
- Commissioner Kalia announced his resignation from the Planning Commission, effective after this meeting, as he is moving outside city limits. Commissioners expressed appreciation for his service.
Department Reports
- Andrew Trippel, PC Staff Liaison, reported on upcoming joint study session with City Council on July 20 at 12:30 PM, anticipated transition to hybrid meetings in August, and tentative August 26 meeting.
- Chair Weeks noted two appeals on the City Council agenda: 2300 Bithler's cannabis retail dispensary (approved by Planning Commission, appealed) and 1900 Brush Creek Road (director's determinations appeal). Chair Weeks will represent the commission at those hearings.
Discussion Items
- Public Hearing - Zoning Code Amendment ST21-001: Planner Monet Sheikhali presented the proposed amendment to incorporate 20 Zoning Administrator interpretations issued since 2011 into the zoning code, along with technical corrections. Examples included cottage food operations (per state law), clarification of city project permit requirements, and removal of obsolete language. The project is exempt from CEQA as minor in nature. Staff recommended the commission recommend approval to City Council.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public attended or provided comments.
Key Outcomes
- Motion and Vote: Commissioner Duggan moved, seconded by Commissioner Holton, to adopt Resolution No. 12061 recommending approval of the zoning code text amendments, including the addition of "or its successor agency" as described. The motion carried unanimously (7-0).
- The amendment will be forwarded to City Council for consideration, expected to be agendized in early to mid-fall (approximately 8 weeks).
The meeting adjourned at 4:28 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Ready to go. So with that, I would like to call to order the July 7th, 2021 meeting of the Santa Rosa Planning Commission. Before we start, I'd like to read the following statement. Due to the provisions of the governor's executive orders N-25-20 and N-29-20, which suspends certain requirements of 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 participating from remote locations and are practicing appropriate social distancing. Members of the public may view and listen to the meeting as noted on the city's website and as noted on the agenda. Members of the public wishing to speak during item four, which is public comment period, or during or during our public hearing, will be able to do so by raising their hand and will be given the ability to address the commission. Mr. Maloney, if you'd like to call roll. Thank you, Chair. Weeks let the record reflect that all commissioners are present. Thank you. Item three, approval of minutes, which we don't have. So with that, I'll go ahead and go to item four, which is public comments. Um and I'll open the public comment portion for any item not included in this meeting's agenda. If you wish wish to make a comment via Zoom, please select the raise hand button. If you are dialing in via telephone, please dial star nine to raise your hand. Each speaker has three minutes. A countdown timer will appear for the convenience of the speaker and the viewers. Please make sure to unmute yourself when you're invited to do so. And your microphone will be muted at the end of that countdown. Thank you, Chair Weeks. As of right now, we have one member of the public in attendance and they are not raising their hand. Okay. So with that, I will go ahead and close the public comment portion of the meeting. So then we'll move on to uh item five, planning commissioners report. And I'd also like to start off by reading our statement of purpose. The planning commission is charged with carrying out the California planning and zoning laws in the city of Santa Rosa. Duties include implement implementing of plans, ordinances, and policies relating to land use matters, assisting in writing and implementing the general plan and area plans, holding public hearings, and acting on proposed changes to the zoning code, zoning map, general plan, tentative subdivision maps, and undertaking special planning studies as needed. So with that, um if there uh any uh committee reports from either subdivision or waterway advisory. Okay, seeing none, um then we'll go ahead and go to uh commissioner reports. Are there any uh reports or comments commissioners would like to make? Uh Commissioner Kalia. Thank you, Chair Weeks. Um unfortunately, tonight will be my last meeting. I'll be resigning from the commission as I'm moving to a house that's just outside the city limits. So I will unfortunately not be able to serve on the commission uh further from tonight. So but I just want to appreciate um all of you fellow commissioners and especially Chair Weeks and former Chair Patty Cisco and and staff for an incredible three-ish years, and uh I appreciate everything that I've learned from all of you, and I look forward to hopefully doing something in the future again. Can't can I uh deny that? Can I reject it? Do I have any power as chair? Probably not, huh? Umless you want to annex my new house into the city, which you're more than welcome to do. Feel free. Well, thank you, Commissioner Paglia. It's been a joy to uh get to know you and to work with you. Um, and you will be sorely missed. Uh anybody have any other comments to make. Uh we share quickly.
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