Santa Rosa Planning Commission Regular Meeting - April 13, 2023

The Santa Rosa Planning Commission held a regular meeting on April 13, 2023, at 4:30 PM in the Council Chamber (100 Santa Rosa Ave) and via Zoom. The meeting lasted approximately 1 hour 45 minutes, adjourning at 6:15 PM. Commissioners present: Chair Karen Weeks, Vice Chair Julian Peterson, Commissioners Vicki Duggan, Jeffrey Holton, Terrence Sanders, and Patti Cisco. Commissioner Charles Carter was absent. The meeting addressed two public hearings: a conditional use permit for alcohol sales at The European Food Store and three one-year extension requests for the North Village II tentative map.

Approval of Minutes

• Minutes from February 23, March 9, and March 23, 2023, were approved as submitted.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made on non-agenda items.
• During the North Village II public hearing, five residents of North Village I spoke via Zoom, expressing concerns about parking, traffic, unfulfilled promises (community center, pool, daycare), maintenance of the vacant property, and protection of wetlands. They urged the commission to ensure commitments from Phase I were honored before Phase II proceeds.

Discussion Items

8.1 - European Food Store Conditional Use Permit (CUP22-054)

• Project Planner Suzanne Hartman presented a proposal to allow beer and wine sales for off-site consumption (Type 20 ABC license) at the existing European Food Store (100 Burt Street, Suite M). The store is under 10,000 square feet. Staff determined the project is exempt from CEQA (Class 1 & 3). The applicant had submitted a Public Convenience or Necessity (PCN) letter due to an over-concentration of licenses in the area, which was approved by the City. The police department raised no objections. The project required a conditional use permit per Zoning Code 20-42.034. The updated staff report clarified that the over-concentration finding was based on the 2021 submittal date. No ex parte disclosures were made. The public hearing opened at 4:51 PM and closed at 4:52 PM with no public testimony. Commissioners unanimously supported the project, noting the store’s quality and the appropriateness of the use.

8.2 - North Village II Extensions (EXT17-0026, EXT20-0003, EXT22-0012)

• Contract Planner Mike Wixon presented the request for three consecutive one-year extensions of the tentative map for North Village II, a 120-unit residential subdivision (24 detached single-family, 90 attached single-family, and a 6-unit apartment complex) on 17.9 acres at 2406 Fulton Road. The project includes 8 affordable units, a pool, gym, daycare, 11 acres of open space, and a bike/pedestrian connection. The project was originally approved in 2011 and extensions were delayed by the Tubbs fire and COVID-19. Staff recommended approval with a modification to Condition 85 (park construction) to allow the applicant to amend the park agreement rather than requiring construction prior to final map recording. Commissioners questioned staff and the applicant (Frank Gobar) about parking, HOA formation, and the community center. Public testimony highlighted parking issues, traffic concerns, and unfulfilled promises from Phase I. The public hearing opened at 5:20 PM, closed at 5:33 PM, reopened at 6:01 PM for a late speaker, and closed at 6:04 PM. The commission approved all three extensions with minor corrections to the date (April 13 instead of April 14) and the street name (Fulton Road instead of Fulton Avenue).

Key Outcomes

• Resolution PC-2023-008 (European Food Store): Approved unanimously (6-0, Commissioner Carter absent) to grant a conditional use permit for alcohol sales. The decision is final unless appealed within 10 calendar days.
• Resolution PC-2023-009 (EXT17-0026): Approved unanimously (6-0) to grant a one-year extension of the tentative map, as revised.
• Resolution PC-2023-010 (EXT20-0003): Approved unanimously (6-0) to grant a one-year extension of the tentative map, as revised.
• Resolution PC-2023-011 (EXT22-0012): Approved unanimously (6-0) to grant a one-year extension of the tentative map, as revised.
• All three extensions require the final map to be recorded by October 2023; if not, the project would need to re-apply for new entitlements.
• The commission directed staff to correct the date and street name in the resolutions before finalization.