Stockton Planning Commission Meeting – December 14, 2023
Stockton Planning Commission Meeting – December 14, 2023
The Stockton Planning Commission met on December 14, 2023, at 5:31 PM, with six commissioners present (Commissioner Rajan Nathaniel absent and excused). The meeting lasted 23 minutes, concluding at 5:54 PM. Commissioners approved the 2024 meeting schedule, adopted a resolution for a convenience store use permit, and continued a major subdivision application. Staff provided updates on the newly adopted warehouse ordinance and upcoming Shape Stockton efforts.
Consent Calendar
- Item 3.1 (23-1100) – 2024 Planning Commission Meeting Schedule: Approved unanimously (6-0) via Motion 2023-12-14-0301. The calendar sets regular meeting dates for calendar year 2024.
- Item 3.2 (23-1130) – Use Permit Resolution for 9036 Thornton Road: Approved (4-0) via Resolution 2023-12-14-0302, reflecting the Commission’s November 9, 2023 intent to approve a use permit for a convenience store with off-sale beer/wine, fueling station, general merchandise, and a car wash. Commissioners Brenda Jones and Greg Thompson recused themselves; Commissioner Rajan Nathaniel was absent. The approval includes a waiver of location restrictions related to overconcentration of alcohol licenses.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were submitted or presented during the meeting.
Discussion Items
- Item 5.1 – Tentative Subdivision Map at 4849 Carolyn Weston Boulevard (P21-0999): The applicant requested a continuance to January 25, 2024. The project proposes a 224-lot subdivision with 211 single-family residential lots and 13 common area lots. Staff supported the continuance. The Commission voted 6-0 (Motion 2023-12-14-0501) to continue the public hearing to the January 25, 2024 meeting.
Reports/Communications/Informational Items
- Warehouse Ordinance Update (Stephanie Ocasio, Community Development Director): The City Council adopted Option C of the warehouse ordinance at its December 12, 2023 meeting, meeting the December 31, 2023 deadline under the Agreement with the Attorney General. Desired amendments—including applicability to pending projects, a minimum size of 400,000 square feet (versus 100,000), and environmental justice measures—will be studied via a feasibility analysis. Staff has six months (until the first Council meeting in July 2024) to complete the analysis and bring back potential amendments. The amendments will first come before the Planning Commission. Staff reported that over 1,500 hours of staff time were spent on the ordinance, at a cost of approximately $170,000.
- Shape Stockton Update: Staff is working on code overhaul, neighborhood plans, housing action plans, and design guidelines. A full update will be provided to the Commission by February 2024.
Commissioner Comments
- Commissioner Greg Thompson: Thanked fellow commissioners and staff, reflecting on his first year on the Commission. Extended holiday greetings.
- Commissioner Brenda Jones: Thanked the Mayor and city staff for attending her mother’s homegoing service; encouraged residents to vote carefully in upcoming city council elections.
- Commissioner Gurneel Boparai: Celebrated city achievements, particularly the warehouse ordinance and the protection of 435 trees, sidewalk repairs, and ADA ramp installations funded through reoriented monies.
- Commissioner Anne Mallett: Praised staff for the warehouse ordinance work; promoted the Lantern Festival at the ballpark and dining at Delta Bistro at University Hotel.
- Commissioner Terry Hull: Noted his first year on the Commission and the value of training; acknowledged the ad hoc committee’s work on the warehouse ordinance, calling it one of the most restrictive in the state.
- Chair Waqar Rizvi: Thanked commissioners and staff, especially the ad hoc committee. Closed with holiday wishes.
Key Outcomes
- Approved the 2024 Planning Commission meeting schedule (6-0).
- Adopted Resolution 2023-12-14-0302 for the use permit at 9036 Thornton Road (4-0, with two recusals).
- Continued the public hearing for the 224-lot subdivision (P21-0999) to January 25, 2024 (6-0).
- Noted the City Council’s adoption of the warehouse ordinance and the upcoming six-month study for potential amendments.
- Acknowledged that the Shape Stockton update will be presented by February 2024.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the City of Stockton Planning Commission meeting of December 14, 2023. At this time, I will request the city clerk to please do the roll call. Commissioner Jones. President Commissioner Mallet. Present. Commissioner Hall. Present. Chair Risby? Present. Vice Chair Nathaniel is absent. Commissioner Thompson? Present. Commissioner Bapara is absent. We have a quorum. Thank you. At this time, I would like to request my fellow Commissioner Thompson if you were willing to do the flag salute, sir. The honored. Thank you. And to the republic for which it stands. Under the visible with liberty and thank you, Commissioner Thompson. Moving on to agenda item number three, consent. Item 3.1, the uh 2024 planning commission schedule, which is already listed there for the meeting times. And item number 3.2 is the resolution reflecting direction providing at the November 9th Planning Commission meeting. For item 3.2, there were absences on November 9th. With myself absent, but I was able to review and uh see the video and the minutes. And Commissioner Thompson, uh were you able to review or I was not able to review. Commissioner Jones. I was not. I left early. Okay. And since we are discussing that item, um, I'm gonna take a 10 seconds pause because we have Commissioner Boparaye uh entering. So if you the record shows that Commissioner Bopurai is present at 533. Commissioner Boparaye, thanks for being here. Um I was going through consent item number three, and I believe uh you were present in the meeting on November 9th since I saw you there. So with that said, we do have a quorum for this vote to be taken. Anything else you want to add for the public? I would just ask that you take the two items separately, um, given that the voting um the qualified voting members are different for each item. Okay, so let's start with item 3.1. That is the 2024 calendar for planning commission meeting. At this time, I like to entertain a motion to accept item 3.1. Commissioner Hull. Sure. I move that we uh approve the calendar for the two thousand 2024. I moved by Commissioner Hull. Could we have a second? I'll second it. Commissioner Mallet, could we please vote? Motion passes 60 with uh Vice Chair Nathaniel absent. Thank you. Uh item number 3.2 is the resolution reflecting direction provided on November 9th, uh 2023 planning commission meeting.
openpublica.com