Santa Rosa Planning Commission Regular Meeting - December 9, 2021
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Santa Rosa Planning Commission Regular Meeting - December 9, 2021
The Santa Rosa Planning Commission held a virtual regular meeting on December 9, 2021, starting at 4:00 PM and adjourning at 8:57 PM. The meeting included the approval of minutes, department reports, and two public hearings: the Hearn Veterans Village Tentative Parcel Map and the Dutton Meadows Subdivision. Key decisions involved approval of both projects with conditions.
Consent Calendar
- The minutes from October 14, 2021, and November 19, 2021, were approved as submitted.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made on items not on the agenda during the public comment period.
Discussion Items
- Hearn Veterans Village (MIN21-001): The commission considered a tentative parcel map to subdivide a 2.01-acre parcel into four lots (ranging from ~20,000 to 25,000 sq ft) for permanent supportive housing for 32 veterans. The project also included an addendum to the Roseland Area/Sebastopol Road Specific Plan EIR. Public testimony was mixed: several neighbors (Laurina Radich McKrell, Rebecca Davis, Christina Cramer, Susan Kirk, Ann Hopkin, Paul Moosman, Sal Flores) opposed the project citing concerns over density, two-story design not matching neighborhood character, lack of community engagement, environmental impacts (biological resources), emergency access, and storm drainage. Supporters (Cal Weeks, Scott Kincaid, Shirlee Zane, Ross Liscum) highlighted the need to address veteran homelessness, infill development within urban growth boundaries, and the project’s consistency with zoning. The applicant team noted they held a required neighborhood meeting and modified design elements (e.g., window placement, added walkway, more parking). Commissioners discussed the limited scope of review (only the tentative map, not future land uses) and found the project met all findings. Motions to adopt the EIR addendum and approve the tentative map passed 5-0-1 (Commissioner Okrepkie abstained due to a financial relationship with the applicant; Commissioner Holton absent).
- Dutton Meadows Subdivision (PRJ18-039): The commission reviewed a revised project for 137 market-rate, single-family homes (small-lot subdivision) with a 12% parking reduction, a conditional use permit, and a tentative map on an ~19-acre site. Public improvements include the Northpoint Parkway extension and a new signalized intersection. The project is CEQA-exempt under Sections 15182 and 15183. Public testimony (Arthur Deicke) expressed support with concerns about traffic impacts on Hearn Avenue, the safety of the Sally Ann/Hearn intersection, construction vehicle use of Aloise Avenue, the timeline for building a 4-acre park, and incomplete disclosure forms. Staff and the applicant responded, noting traffic studies showed acceptable level of service and that additional conditions could be added. After extensive discussion, the commission amended the DAC report to require a median (instead of a two-way turn lane) and added two new conditions: (1) an emergency vehicle access gate at the end of Aloise Avenue during construction, and (2) a prohibition of construction staging or parking on existing Aloise sections. The conditional use permit resolution (No. 12080) passed 6-1 (Commissioner Carter dissenting, citing insufficient emergency access until the future Dutton Avenue extension). The tentative map resolution (No. 12081) passed 7-0.
Key Outcomes
- Item 9.1 – Hearn Veterans Village: Adopted Resolution 12078 (EIR addendum) and Resolution 12079 (tentative parcel map) with votes of 5-0-1 (Okrepkie abstaining, Holton absent).
- Item 9.2 – Dutton Meadows Subdivision: Approved Conditional Use Permit (Resolution 12080) 6-1 (Carter opposed) and Tentative Map (Resolution 12081) 7-0. Conditions were amended to require a median on Northpoint Parkway/Dutton Meadow (removing right-turn lane language) and to install an EVA gate and restrict construction staging on Aloise Avenue.
- Department Reports: Staff noted upcoming City Council items (appeal of old school cannabis project, 38 Degrees general plan amendment), the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan adoption, the general plan update alternative workbook release, a new cannabis dispensary map, and efforts to move toward hybrid meetings for boards and commissions.
- Commissioner Reports: Chair Weeks reported on the city’s redistricting process and Charter Review Committee (chaired by Commissioner Cisco).
Meeting Transcript
December 9th, 2021 special meeting. It's not a special meeting, is it? Regular meeting of the housing authority of the Santa Rosa Planning Commission. I'll get this. Sorry, sorry. Okay, I'm gonna start over. I'd like to call the December 9th, 2021 meeting of the Santa Rosa Planning Commission to order. And before we start, I'm gonna read my standard um spiel. Uh due to the provisions of the governor's executive orders, N 25-20 and N-29-20, which suspend certain requirements of the Brown Act and the order of the health officer of the county of Sonoma to shelter in place and 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. And members of the public wishing to speak during item number four, the public comment period, or during our two public hearing items tonight, we'll be able to do so by raising their hand and we'll be given the ability to address the commission. So with that, uh Mr. Maloney, if you would like to call roll. Thank you, Chair Weeks. Let the record reflect that all commissioners are present except Commissioner Holton. Thank you very much. The next item is uh item 2.1 study session. We do not have one tonight. And then item three, approval of minutes. And there are two sets of minutes in your packet. Uh the first is from October 14th. Uh, are there any changes, corrections, additions to those minutes? Okay, seeing none. Uh those minutes would stand as approved, and then uh November 19th, uh 2021, those minutes. Are there any changes on that on those? Okay. Uh then those minutes are approved also. Uh so now we're on to our public comment portion of the meeting. And um this portion is for items that are not on the agenda tonight. So if you wish to speak on the two items that are on the agenda under public under the public hearing portion, you may do so at that time. So I will now open the public comment for any item not included on this meeting's agenda. And if you wish to make a comment via Zoom, please select the raised hand button. If you are dialing in via telephone, please dial star nine to raise your hand. And each speaker has three minutes. 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 time. Um Mr. Maloney, do we have any raised hands? Thank you, Chair Weeks. It looks like no one is raising their hand at this time. Okay, thank you. Uh, then with that, I will go ahead and close the public comment portion. And um, then we'll go on to planning commissioners' report and our statement of purpose for the planning commission is that we are charged with carrying out the California planning and zoning laws within the city of Santa Rosa. Duties include 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, we'll move to um subdivision and waterways advisory committee reports. Um you have any, Mr. Okay.
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