Santa Rosa Planning Commission Regular Meeting - February 24, 2022
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Santa Rosa Planning Commission Regular Meeting - February 24, 2022
The Santa Rosa Planning Commission held a virtual regular meeting on February 24, 2022, at 4:30 PM via Zoom. Chair Karen Weeks presided over the meeting with a quorum present (Commissioners Carter, Cisco, Duggan, Peterson, and Chair Weeks). Commissioners Holton and Okrepkie were absent. The meeting lasted approximately 29 minutes, adjourning at 4:59 PM.
Consent Calendar
- None.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public provided comments during the general public comment period or during the public hearing.
Discussion Items
- Commissioner Reports: Commissioner Carter reported on the Waterways Advisory Committee’s review of a Hyatt landscaping and fence proposal. Chair Weeks reappointed Commissioner Carter to the Waterways Advisory Committee. Commissioner Cisco noted an upcoming charter review report to the City Council on May 1, 2022.
- Department Reports: Supervising Planner Jessica Jones reported on several items:
- The City Council approved decoupling the assistant city manager positions from the Planning and Economic Development Director and Transportation and Public Works Director roles, allowing dedicated directors in the future.
- The department is recruiting for three city planner positions: one permanent full-time, one three-year limited term (backfilling for a planner working on the cannabis program), and one two-year limited term (funded by PG&E settlement funds, focused on housing development streamlining). An informational meeting was held, and the recording is posted on the city website.
- The General Plan update alternatives are out for review, with six public workshops scheduled in March (five in-person, one virtual on March 10, 2022).
- A Housing Element update survey will be released on March 10, 2022, along with a webinar.
- Public Hearing – CUP21-081 (UMMA2 LLC): The commission held a public hearing for a Major Conditional Use Permit to allow cannabis cultivation (Type 2A) within an existing 19,428-square-foot industrial building at 3055 Wiljan Court. The project is CEQA exempt (categorical exemptions).
- Staff Planner Monet Sheikhali presented the project details: hours of operation 8 AM to 5 PM, seven days a week; the site is zoned light industrial; 34 parking spaces provided (19 required); security measures include lighting, cameras, alarm system, and secure loading bay; odor control includes activated carbon filters, sealed doors, and negative air pressure in flowering rooms.
- Staff received one late comment about a vision triangle issue; staff responded that the property owner must maintain landscaping to three feet within the vision triangle.
- Applicant representative Ilaura Babini (Wayfinder LLC) presented on security and odor control measures.
- No public speakers testified. The public hearing was opened and closed at 4:52 PM.
Key Outcomes
- The commission adopted Resolution No. PC-2022-005 approving Conditional Use Permit CUP21-081 for commercial cannabis cultivation at 3055 Wiljan Court. The motion was made by Commissioner Duggan, seconded by Commissioner Cisco, and passed by a vote of 5-0-2 (Commissioners Holton and Okrepkie absent).
- Chair Weeks adjourned the meeting at 4:59 PM.
Next Steps
- The approved minutes will be presented for approval at the March 10, 2022 meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Ms. Montoya, do we want to go ahead and start since we do have a quorum? Yes, that's exactly what I was about to say. We do have a quorum, so staff is ready whenever you are. Okay. So with that, I will go ahead and call this meeting of the February 24th, 2022 meeting of the Planning Commission to order. So 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 also on the agenda. Members of the public wishing to speak during item number four public comment or during our public hearing item tonight will be able to do so by raising their hand and will be given the ability to address the commission. So with that, um uh could you take roll. Commissioner Charles Carter. No, you don't have to vote on that. Go ahead and take it. Oh, let the record reflect that all commissioners are present except Commissioner O'Krepke and Commissioner Holton. Thank you very much. And uh Commissioner O'Krepke will be um absent this whole meeting. So with that, we'll go to item three public comments. Uh I'll go ahead and open the public comment period for any item not included in the meeting's agenda. If you wish to make a comment via Zoom, please select the raise hand button. If you're dialing in via telephone, please dial star nine to raise your hand, and each speaker will have three minutes. 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. And your microphone will be muted at the end of that countdown. Chair weeks after public comment period. Can we go back to item number two? We can finish the first. Oh, I'm sorry. Uh yes, we will. Thank you for keeping me on my toes. I appreciate it. So are there any public comments? None at this time. Okay. So with that, I will close the public comment. Um, and then go back to item two, approval of minutes. Um, we have one set of minutes from January 27th, 2022. Um, were there any changes, corrections to those minutes? Okay. Seeing none, I think those will stand as approved. So with that, I will get back on order and um go on to planning commissioners' report. And I'll read, I'll start off with 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 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. Um, so we'll go ahead to 4.2, which is um subdivision and waterway committee. Uh Commissioner Carter, have you had a waterways committee? Uh we did have a meeting this morning, and we had a single item uh which involved uh comments by the waterways advisory committee on a proposal from the Hyatt to make some landscaping and fence changes at that site, uh which has a history, a long history in the design and utilization side. Uh we provided comments that will be summarized by staff and passed on to the zoning administrator who will uh make the final approval on the proposal. Thank you.
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