Santa Rosa Planning Commission Regular Meeting – August 22, 2024

The Santa Rosa Planning Commission met on August 22, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. The meeting was called to order by Chair Karen Weeks and adjourned at 6:04 p.m. Commissioners present: Chair Weeks, Vice Chair Vicki Duggan, Commissioners Patti Cisco, Aaron Pardo, Julian Peterson, and Terrence Sanders. Commissioner Charles Carter was absent. The meeting addressed a public comment period, a map modification, and an appeal of a zoning administrator’s decision regarding a health club’s multi-use sport courts.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Duane DeWitt (Roseland resident) commented on the Santa Rosa Plain Vernal Plan and a 2011 Community Development Commission meeting. He urged the city to include Roseland in downtown-specific planning and infrastructure financing districts, and suggested extending the “Rosie the Trolley” service to Roseland.

Discussion Items

• Fistor Drive Map Modification (11.3): Staff planner Sheila Wolski presented a request to modify the 1975 Fistor Subdivision Final Map for lots 1 and 45 (4301 & 4500 Fistor Drive) to adjust building setback lines along Brush Creek Road to be consistent with the Scenic Road Combining District. The modification does not involve construction. Neighbors had expressed concerns about future development and loss of open space, but staff found no grounds for denial. The project is exempt from CEQA (Class 5). No public testimony was offered. The Commission unanimously approved the modification.

• Appeal of Zoning Administrator’s Decision – Club at Flamingo (11.2): The appeal concerned a Minor Conditional Use Permit (CUP23-066) for the continued operation of a sport and active recreation facility at 2777 4th Street, including expansion of tennis courts to multi-use sport courts (primarily used for pickleball). The Zoning Administrator had approved the permit on May 16, 2024, with a condition requiring guests of the hotel to use sound-dampening paddles. The appellant, Mark Holzman (adjacent property owner at 2170 Rogers Way), appealed, citing noise, proximity to residential property (5 feet from property line), loss of property value, and inadequate sound mitigation. He argued for reducing the number of courts from eight to four and for greater setbacks. Staff (Monet Sheikhali, Senior Planner) presented the city’s response, noting that the zoning code does not regulate court orientation or setbacks, that a second noise study (July 18, 2024) after installation of acoustic tarps showed compliance with the 55 dB noise ordinance, and that the resolution had been revised to specify operating hours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The appellant and his wife (Catherine Arnold) and another neighbor (Nicholas Allen) testified in opposition, citing noise spikes, inadequate testing methodology, and lack of enforcement contingencies. Tom Skinner spoke in support, citing the sport’s popularity and the club’s good-faith efforts. The applicant’s representative, Laura Crown (Executive Director of Wellness at Flamingo Resort), stated that the club had spent $27,000 on sound-absorbing tarps, that the permit covers multi-use courts (not exclusively pickleball), and that the club had lost over $100,000 in revenue during the 10-month delay. She requested removal of the paddle condition, noting it is unenforceable and that players prefer their own equipment. Assistant Chief Building Official Lou Kirk addressed concerns about the noise measurement settings, explaining that he used fast response to capture fleeting pickleball sounds, which is at his discretion under the ordinance. Commissioners discussed the importance of being good neighbors, the general plan goals of livability and economic development, and the lack of zoning setbacks for recreational facilities. They agreed to remove the paddle condition from the permit. The Commission voted to deny the appeal and approve the minor conditional use permit with modified conditions.

Key Outcomes

• Fistor Drive Map Modification (MOD24-001): Approved unanimously (6-0). Resolution PC-2024-013 adopted. The modification is final unless appealed within 10 calendar days.
• Appeal of Club at Flamingo (CUP23-066): Appeal denied and minor conditional use permit approved (6-0) via Resolution PC-2024-014. The permit allows multi-use sport courts with hours restricted to 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. and requires compliance with the noise ordinance. The condition requiring sound-dampening paddles for hotel guests was removed.
• Acacia Village (11.1): Item continued to the September 12, 2024 regular meeting.