Santa Rosa Planning Commission Regular Meeting – January 12, 2023
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Santa Rosa Planning Commission Regular Meeting – January 12, 2023
The Santa Rosa Planning Commission met virtually on January 12, 2023, at 4:30 p.m. to consider two public hearing items: a rezoning of properties along West Barham and Barham Avenues to Light Industrial, and a Conditional Use Permit for a commercial cannabis microbusiness at 460 Timothy Road. The meeting lasted approximately 39 minutes, with Commissioner Cisco abstaining from both agenda items. Both proposals received unanimous support from the remaining commissioners.
Consent Calendar
- None.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were received on non-agenda items.
- During the public hearings:
- Item 8.1 (Rezone): Applicant representative Nick Abbott expressed support, noting that the existing PD zoning is outdated and has hindered business development. He commended staff for including neighboring parcels to avoid a spot rezone.
- Item 8.2 (Cannabis CUP): Applicant architect Michael Napolitano thanked staff and the commission for their guidance and stated he was available for questions.
Discussion Items
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Department Reports: Staff Liaison Jones reported on new and reappointed Planning Commissioners (effective February 1), including the appointment of Terry Sanders to the seventh seat. She also reminded commissioners of an upcoming League of California Cities conference and the January 26 meeting to consider the draft Housing Element.
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Commissioner Abstentions: Commissioner Cisco disclosed that both projects are within 500 feet of her property and abstained from voting on items 8.1 and 8.2, leaving the meeting at 4:39 p.m.
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8.1 – Rezone – 11 W. Barham Avenue (REZ22-003): Project Planner Suzanne Hartman presented a rezoning of seven parcels from Planned Development (PD 96-002) to IL (Light Industrial) to achieve General Plan consistency. No new development is proposed; one existing use will become legal nonconforming. The project is CEQA-exempt per Section 15183. No public comments opposing the project were received. Commissioners expressed support, noting the PD zoning is outdated and the rezone aligns with the General Plan. All commissioners who voted made the required findings.
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8.2 – Conditional Use Permit – 460 Timothy Road (CUP22-025): Project Planner Monet Sheikhali presented a Major Conditional Use Permit for a commercial cannabis microbusiness at an existing 14,949-square-foot industrial building. The proposal includes 10,610 sq ft for cultivation, 252 sq ft for non-volatile manufacturing, and 395 sq ft for distribution, plus a 3,429-sq-ft building addition and site improvements (landscaping, parking). Hours of operation: 24/7, with three to four employees per shift. The site is separated from residential uses by a wall and road. Staff determined the project qualifies for three CEQA exemptions. A certified odor control plan, security plan, lighting, noise, and delivery plans were submitted. No public comments were received. Commissioners commended the completeness of the application and noted conditions in Exhibit A protect neighboring residences.
Key Outcomes
- Item 8.1: The Planning Commission voted 5–0–1 (Commissioner Cisco abstained) to adopt Resolution PC-2023-001, recommending City Council approval of the rezoning of seven parcels along West Barham and Barham Avenues from PD to IL.
- Item 8.2: The Planning Commission voted 5–0–1 (Commissioner Cisco abstained) to adopt Resolution PC-2023-002, approving a Conditional Use Permit for a commercial cannabis microbusiness at 460 Timothy Road (File Nos. PRJ22-008, CUP22-025, DR22-017).
- Decisions are final unless appealed within 10 calendar days.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, everyone will be ready to go in about one minute. That's fine. Okay. Well, that's good. I was just not willing to do anything. I'll bet it's all that's not. Okay. Uh staff, are you ready? With that, I'd like to call the January twelfth, twenty twenty-three meeting of the Santa Rosa Planning Commission to order. Due to the provisions of the governor's executive orders, N twenty five-twenty and dash twenty-nine-twenty, which suspends certain requirements of the Crown Act and the order of the health officer of the county of Sonoma to shelter in place to minimize the spread of COVID nineteen. Commissioners and staff are participating from remote location and or practicing appropriate social distancing. Members of the public wishing to speak during item three, the public comment portion, or during our two public hearing items 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, we have roll call, please. Let the record reflect that all commissioners are present. Thank you. So item two is the approval of minutes, and we have two sets of minutes, one from December 8th and one from December 14th. Are there any changes to the minutes or corrections? Okay, seeing none, um, they'll be approved as submitted. And then we'll move on to item three public comments. So we're now taking public comments on item three, which is the non-agenda item. Uh any person who would like to address the commissioner, the commission on matters not listed on the agenda, but which but which are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the commission may do so. If you wish to make a comment via Zoom, please raise your hand. If you're dialing in via telephone, please dial star nine to raise your hand and then star six to unmute once called upon. And there will be a countdown timer on the screen for your use. So do we have any um public wishing to speak? I don't see anybody. Is that correct? That is correct. There are no public comments at this time. Great. Thank you. So with that, I'll go ahead and close the public comment and bring it back to the commission. So we move on to item four planning commission's report. Our statement of purpose is that we are charged with carrying out the California planning and zoning laws within the city of Santa Rosa. Duties include implementation 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 map, and undertaking any special planning studies as needed. And with that, we'll move on to the subdivision and waterway advisory committee reports. Um are there any and that just reminded me, I believe. Um Ms. Jones, if you can help me, I believe now Councilmember O'Krepke was on the subdivision committee. And so we will believe we actually were looking at this uh the other day. Uh thank you, Chair Weeks. Uh, I think that our last subdivision committee meeting, we had uh Vice Chair Peterson. Oh okay. Is that correct? Yeah. So we will actually be having one coming up here soon. Uh so Vice Chair Peterson, yeah. I can keep an eye on your email. We'll be contacting you. Great, thank you.
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