Santa Rosa Planning Commission Regular Meeting - February 22, 2024
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Santa Rosa Planning Commission Regular Meeting - February 22, 2024
The Santa Rosa Planning Commission held a regular meeting on February 22, 2024, at 4:31 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting focused on a public hearing for a proposed zoning text amendment to establish standards for wayfinding signs. The commission unanimously voted to recommend that the City Council adopt the amendment. No public comments were made in person.
Consent Calendar
- No consent items were on the agenda.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke during the meeting. However, staff noted that a public survey conducted from October 9 to November 9, 2023, received over 400 responses. The survey indicated support for wayfinding signs for tourism and pedestrian use, though some comments raised concerns about budget impact, maintenance, and sign design.
Discussion Items
- Public Hearing: Wayfinding Ordinance (REZ23-009)
- Presenter: Christian Candelaria, City Planner.
- The proposed zoning text amendment would add definitions and standards to Title 20 of the Santa Rosa City Code for two types of wayfinding signs: Business Identification Wayfinding and Civic/Public Amenity Wayfinding.
- The ordinance would allow sign programs in the Downtown Station Area and North Station Area, with a minimum of three signposts. Maximum signpost height: 8 feet; sign plaque dimensions: 12 inches by 24 inches; font size: 2 inches minimum, 6 inches maximum.
- Design standards prohibit flashing/digital signs, require directional arrows, and require sign headers with area name and iconography. Public civic signs must include English and Spanish text.
- The ordinance is CEQA-exempt and would be a ministerial process (no discretionary review by Design Review Board or Cultural Heritage Board).
- Commissioners asked about existing pole use, 911 poles, logo legibility, business selection, maintenance of defunct business signs, and the role of the permit holder (e.g., Railroad Square Association, Downtown Action Organization).
- Staff noted that 40 businesses currently participate in the Railroad Square pilot program, and downtown has 21 signposts (some double-sided). The permit holder is responsible for sign removal within 30 days of a business closure.
- The Cultural Heritage Board and Design Review Board provided recommendations, including larger sign plaque dimensions (12 inches), minimum of three signposts, and use of business logos. Staff did not include recommendations for concept review to keep the process ministerial.
Key Outcomes
- Motion: Commissioner Holton moved to adopt Resolution No. PC-2024-003, recommending that the City Council adopt the zoning text amendment for wayfinding signs (File Number REZ23-009). Seconded by Commissioner Cisco.
- Vote: 5-0 in favor (Chair Weeks, Commissioners Cisco, Holton, Peterson, and Sanders voted yes; Vice Chair Duggan and Commissioner Carter were absent).
- Next Steps: The ordinance will be considered by the City Council in March 2024, with an effective date in April 2024.
- The meeting adjourned at 5:07 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Hello. Mine works. Hello. Hello. I think so. The combination of that and my hearing aids. Okay, so with that, um, it's a little after 4 30, and we'll go ahead and call the planning commission of February twenty second, twenty twenty-four, uh to order, and can you please call the roll? Thank you, Chair Weeks. Uh Commissioner Carter is absent. Commissioner Sisko. Here. Commissioner Sanders. Present. Commissioner Peterson. Present. Commissioner Holton. Here. Vice Chair Dugan is absent and Chair Weeks. Here. I let the record reflect that all commissioners are present with the exception of Commissioner Carter and Vice Chair Dugan absent. Great, thank you. Uh so with that approval of minutes, uh item two point one. Uh we have one set of minutes from January eleventh. Are there any changes? Okay, seeing none, those will stand as approved. Um there's nobody in the chamber, so I my assumption do we still need to go through the process of saying is there anybody in the chamber for public comments? I'm sorry. Yes. Okay. If you are in the chamber and wish to make a comment, please make your way to the podium. You will have three minutes. Okay. Seeing no one, we'll go ahead and um close this item and go down to public comment. Um we're now taking public comments on item three, not agenda matters. This is the time uh you may address the commission on matters not listed on this agenda but are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the commission. So seeing nobody go to the podium, we'll go ahead and close the public comment. So with that, um I'll read 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, area and area plans, holding public hearings and acting on proposed changes to the zoning code, zoning map, general plan, tentative map, tentative subdivision maps, and undertaking special planning studies as needed. Um so four point two commissioner reports. Are there any reports by commissioners? Uh only to say that we're pretty excited that we have one extra day of black history months this month because of leapy or so. Um I have a couple things. Uh I attended the council goal setting a couple of weeks ago, and um since m the majority of it was done in closed setting, I don't have um anything to report, but hopefully there will be some information coming out that we can pass on. Um today I attended the mayor and board chair lunch with a variety of different other board chairs. And um I just wanted to mention that I am the representative from the commission to the memorial hospital neighborhood meetings. They meet once a quarter with the neighbors regarding the uh helicopter and the uh new application or revised application to the uh county on that. So with that. Do we have any public comments on item 4.2? If you are in the chambers and wish to make a comment, please make your way to the podium.
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