Santa Rosa Planning Commission Regular Meeting – May 9, 2024
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Santa Rosa Planning Commission Regular Meeting – May 9, 2024
The Santa Rosa Planning Commission met on Thursday, May 9, 2024, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:59 p.m. in the Council Chamber. Commissioners present: Chair Karen Weeks, Vice Chair Vicki Duggan, Commissioner Charles Carter, Commissioner Julian Peterson, and Commissioner Terrence Sanders. Commissioner Patti Cisco was absent. The meeting included a presentation on the Active Transportation Plan update, a study session on the 2023 General Plan Annual Review, and a public hearing on a time extension for the Holly Hock Subdivision.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made on non-agenda items.
- During the Active Transportation Plan presentation, Eris Weaver, Executive Director of the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition, spoke in support of the plan but raised several concerns: he questioned the accuracy of the existing conditions report (noting that the word "most" was used when statistics were closer to half), pointed out that the Vision Zero definition should be "zero fatalities" not "zero collisions," and noted that the report's description of transit connections implied the SMART train station was adjacent when it is half a mile away with an unpleasant walk.
- During the public hearing for the Holly Hock Subdivision, Larry Corban, a neighbor at 1770 Meda Avenue, spoke in support of the time extension but expressed concerns about the lack of sidewalks on Meda Avenue, no crosswalks from the subdivision to existing sidewalks, and traffic safety. He also questioned whether this was the fourth extension (staff clarified it was the second extension, with two automatic extensions from resilient city measures).
Discussion Items
Presentation: Santa Rosa Active Transportation Plan Update
Torina Wilson, Transportation Planner, presented an update to the 2018 Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, to be renamed the Active Transportation Plan. The plan aims to create low-stress facilities for all ages and abilities, with a focus on equity priority communities. Key features include an active trip potential analysis, extensive public outreach (including a bike-in block party on May 16 and a community workshop on May 23), and an interactive online map. The plan is expected to be adopted by City Council in Spring 2025. Commissioners asked questions about Vision Zero integration, equity priority community outreach, and the need for protected bike lanes near schools. Commissioner Peterson encouraged "thinking big" to reduce car dependency, and Vice Chair Duggan offered specific suggestions regarding Humboldt Bike Boulevard and enforcement of bike lane parking.
Study Session: 2023 General Plan, Inclusionary Housing & Growth Management Annual Review Report
Sheila Wolski, City Planner, presented the annual report covering 2023 progress. Highlights included: 1,708 residential building permits issued (1,376 multifamily), progress toward the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), and several projects in planning or construction (e.g., Reynata at Perennial Park, Fountain Grove Apartments, Caritas Village). Other elements covered: land use (Boys & Girls Club expansion, Ceres Community Project), youth and family programs (violence prevention partnership, children's college savings accounts with 980 accounts opened), transportation (bike/pedestrian improvements, free youth transit ridership with 390,000 youth trips in 2023), parks (Finlay Aquatics Center expected completion early summer 2024, Kawana Springs Community Garden planning), public safety (In-Response mental health team), and climate action. Commissioners asked about "luxury" units and affordability, accessory dwelling unit pre-approved plans, the Southeast Greenway timeline, Fremont Park updates, the missing middle ordinance, and use of "high resource areas" (revised from "affluent"). Staff responded and noted revisions would be made before the report goes to City Council. The commission received and approved the report.
Public Hearing: Holly Hock Subdivision Time Extension (EXT24-0002 & EXT24-0003)
Jandon Briscoe, City Planner, presented a request for a second one-year time extension for the approved Tentative Subdivision Map at 1650 Meda Avenue, which subdivides a 2-acre parcel into 16 single-family small lots. The original approval was in August 2017; a first extension was approved in August 2023. The requested extension would move the expiration date to February 10, 2025. Staff recommended approval, noting the project is exempt from CEQA. No ex parte disclosures were made. The public hearing included Larry Corban's comments. After discussion, the commission approved the extension.
Key Outcomes
- Approval of Minutes: The April 11, 2024 draft minutes were approved as submitted.
- Active Transportation Plan: Presentation received; no formal action taken. Commissioners provided feedback and directed staff to continue outreach.
- 2023 General Plan Annual Review Report: The Planning Commission received and approved the report (as a study session, acceptance recommending transmittal to City Council for consent calendar). Staff will incorporate revisions before council submittal.
- Holly Hock Subdivision Time Extension: Motion by Vice Chair Duggan, seconded by Commissioner Sanders, to approve Resolution PC-2024-008 approving the second one-year time extension. The motion carried 5-0 (Commissioner Cisco absent). The decision is final unless appealed within 10 calendar days.
- Commissioner Reports: Commissioner Sanders noted the Rose Parade on May 18. Chair Weeks reminded of Merit Award nominations due in early June.
- Other: Staff noted that Assistant City Attorney Ashley Crocker was absent and legal counsel was provided via Zoom from Burke Williams & Sorensen.
Meeting Transcript
Okay. It is uh 4 30. And if we're ready, uh I'd like to call this meeting of the planning commission to order. Will you please call the roll? Thank you, Chair. Uh Commissioner Carter. Here. Commissioner Sisko is absent today. Commissioner Sanders. Here. Commissioner Peterson is present. Thank you. And Vice Chair Duggan. Here. Chair Weeks. Let the record reflect that all chairs are present with the exception of Commissioner Sisko. Thank you. And with that, we'll move on to item two approval of minutes. We have the April 11th minutes. Are there any changes, corrections? Okay. Then if there are none, they will be approved as mended. And we will go through the public comment on this. Is there anybody who would have a public comment on item two? Approval of minutes. Seeing no one rise, we will go ahead and move on to item three public comment. So this is public comment on non-agenda matters. This is a time when any person may address a commission on matters not listed on the agenda, but which are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the commission. If there's anybody who would like to make comment, please go to one of the podiums. Seeing no one rise, we'll go ahead and close the public comment portion and move on to commission business. 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 on to item 4.2 commissioner reports. Yes, all I have to say is that the Rose Parade is coming back May 18th. If you couldn't tell, I'm pretty proud of that. And um, I'm just want to thank the city for all the work that they've done to help us get the parade uh back from um its COVID hiatus. I've learned that it is the second or first, depending on who you ask, who you want to arm wrestle with. Oldest parade in California. We date back to 1893. Was our first rose um carnival is what we called it back then. And uh Pasadena. Um they generally take the the mantle for being the oldest, but it depends on yes. Though I do uh would love to say that the person who is responsible for the Pasadena Rose Parade, one of the people that organizes that actually lives here in Hillsburg. So there you go. May 18th, 10 o'clock. See you there. Thank you. Uh any other comments from commissioners. Okay, well, I would like to mention uh the merit awards are now available to nominate anybody who you think is deserving of a merit award, and uh it is would be somebody or an organization that is all volunteer uh that does work in Santa Rosa. Uh it's uh the applications are open until the beginning of June. So with that, um I will open public comment on this.
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