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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 2023 0425 PC REGMINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION Moorpark, California April 25, 2023 A Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Moorpark was held on April 25, 2023, in the Council Chambers of said City located at 799 Moorpark Avenue, Moorpark, California. 1.CALL TO ORDER: Chair Landis called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. 2.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Director Saxton led the Pledge of Allegiance. 3.ROLL CALL: Administrative Specialist Lugo administered roll call. Present: Commissioners Alva, Barrett, Brodsly, Di Cecco, and Chair Landis. Staff Present: Carlene Saxton, Community Development Director (remote attendance); Doug Spondello, Deputy Community Development Director; John Bandek, Management Analyst; Daniel Kim, City Engineer/Public Works Director; Jeremy Laurentowski, Parks and Recreation Director; Brendan Kearns, City Attorney; Captain Darin Hendren, Ventura County Sheriff's Office; and Jeannine Lugo, Administrative Specialist. 4.PROCLAMATIONS AND COMMENDATIONS: None. 5.PUBLIC COMMENT: None. 6.REORDERING OF, AND ADDITIONS TO, THE AGENDA: None. Minutes of the Planning Commission Moorpark, California Page 2 April 25, 2023 7.ANNOUNCEMENTS, FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, AND REPORTS ON MEETINGS/CONFERENCES ATTENDED BY THE COMMISSION: Commissioner Alva announced that she attended, along with Commissioner Barrett and Brodsly, the Planning Commissioners Academy March 29-31. Commissioner Barrett reported his and Commissioner Alva’s attendance to the State of the City address on April 20. Deputy Director Spondello announced he and Director Saxton represented the City at the American Planning Association Central Coast Awards, on Saturday April 22, to accept an award of excellence in urban design for the Hitch Ranch Specific Plan and an award of merit for the City’s Housing Element. 8.PUBLIC HEARINGS: A.Consider Resolution No. PC-2023-691, Recommending to the City Council the Certification of a Final Program Environmental Impact Report Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, including a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, California Environmental Quality Act Findings of Fact, and Statement of Overriding Considerations and Approving General Plan Amendment No. 2023-02 Adopting General Plan 2050. Staff Recommendation: 1) Open the public hearing, accept public testimony, and close the public hearing; and 2) Adopt Resolution No. PC- 2023-691, recommending that the City Council adopt a resolution: a) certifying the Final Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the General Plan 2050, including the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Finds of Fact, and adopt a Statement of Overriding Considerations pursuant to CEQA; and b) approving General Plan Amendment No. 2023-02 adopting General Plan 2050 with the revisions included in the Addenda and Errata Memo. (Staff: Doug Spondello) Deputy Director Spondello gave the staff report and a PowerPoint presentation. Management Analyst Bandek gave the presentation on the Economic Development section of the Draft General Plan. Director Saxton reviewed the recusal segments for all five Planning Commissioners as they relate to discussion of the Land Use Element section of the General Plan. A discussion followed between the Commissioners and staff regarding the following: 1) clarification of revision to densities being consequential to RPD applications already received by the City; 2) reiterated that all public comments received were addressed in the staff report and changes due Minutes of the Planning Commission Moorpark, California Page 3 April 25, 2023 to such comments have been proposed to the commission; 3) changes proposed by the General Plan support projects previously submitted to the City and simultaneously bring into line effective planning for the future; 4) Specific Plans will individually address certain proposed projects within the City’s identified Specific Plan areas; 5) reviewing and updating the General Plan will be key to staying in alignment with what the community desires for its future; 6) risks associated with projects and plans are thoroughly analyzed by staff in the evaluation of a project, the presence of “significant unavoidable impacts” does not designate a project should not move forward, CEQA requirements as projects come forward will continue to be presented to decision makers; and 7) clarification on how the “parks” designation was determined based on the roadway connectivity that allowed for walking pathways to areas designated as a park. Chair Landis opened the public hearing at 8:07 p.m. Administrative Specialist Lugo verbalized a written statement from resident and General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) member, Sharon Noel in opposition to the increases in per acre densities proposed in the Draft General Plan. Zoom participant Michael McCaron, member of the Southwest Mountain States Regional Council of Carpenters, urged the commission to incorporate language in the Draft General Plan that requires contractors to hire local, pay prevailing wages, and use state certified apprentices. John Newton, in favor of the Draft General Plan, spoke to address specific concerns with the Circulation Element. Mr. Newton presented the commission with a packet outlining his concerns, which was made available to the public as presented and included as a recorded comment received for the General Plan. Andrew Thomas, Southern California Edison (SCE) representative, discussed the two parcels owned by SCE on Gabbert Road, operating under the Administrative Permit 2020-09. The City has informed SCE the new land use designation proposed in the updated Draft General Plan will not allow for a permanent facility as currently used by SCE on one of the parcels. Mr. Thomas requested the Commission consider a revision to the General Plan 2050 and Zoning Code update to re-designate both parcels with Utility land uses. The Commission questioned if SCE currently owns both parcels requested for redesignation, and Mr. Thomas confirmed that SCE owns both parcels. Dr. Roseanne Mikos, Moorpark resident, expressed her overall support for the General Plan but requested the Commission consider keeping the Minutes of the Planning Commission Moorpark, California Page 4 April 25, 2023 public hearing open for further digestion by the public, staff, and the commissioners themselves. Dr. Mikos discussed the evacuation routes from a particular map in the Draft General Plan. Chair Landis closed the public hearing at 8:29 p.m. Chair Landis led the discussion on each of the Recusal Segments. There were no questions or comments on zoning changes proposed for Recusal Segments 1 (Alva), 2 (Barrett and Brodsly), 3 (Barrett), 4 (Brodsly and Landis), and 5 (Di Cecco and Landis). No recusals were required. Questions and discussion followed among Commissioners and staff. The Commission requested staff clarify the impact of SCE request; staff stated the recommendation would be an administrative action that would not require further environmental review within the context of the General Plan EIR, but updates to the proposed maps and language will need to occur for recommendation to City Council. The request from SCE would be changing the land use designation in the proposed General Plan to create contiguous land use designations for both parcels owned by SCE. The future use of the parcels would be separately addressed through an application submitted to City staff for final approval through the Planning Commission. Should the change in land use designation as requested by SCE go through, both SCE owned parcels will have the same designation of Utility. The request from SCE does not impact the Hitch Ranch Specific Plan. Commission consensus was to update the recommendation to council to change the appropriate parcel from Agricultural to Utility designation. Director Saxton clarified map SE-2 was not purposefully creating new color-designated areas and stated the final version of the map will have a note explaining the orange coloration is not a different designation or change to the legend to better distinguish the designations. Discussion on the Circulation Element began with the public comments included in the draft General Plan and presented by speakers. With all public comments considered, there did not appear to be a clear consensus for removing or keeping the line that designated a connection from Broadway to SR- 23. GPAC supported removing the roadway line on the map due to feasibility of implementation and consequently included a policy that would initiate a city-wide study and discussion about the issue should it be implemented in the future. The Commission commented on the logistics of the City feeling disconnected when considering the connectivity of Campus Park to the rest of the City. The implementation of such roadways to change connectivity will require further environmental Minutes of the Planning Commission Moorpark, California Page 5 April 25, 2023 review, which can be initiated in the future should the City desire to reconsider implementation of the connection to SR-23. There were concerns raised about the engineering and funding concerns for initiating the connections to SR-23 and the regional impact such connections will create. The Commission consensus was to remain open to change as it could benefit the future of the City; however the General Plan would remain as proposed. The Commission discussed the land use designation of lots in the Gabbert community. Despite previously expressed desire maintain the community land use designations, by some residents effected by the change, currently proposed General Plan was collectively agreed upon to remain intact. A brief discussion on the colors used in the Circulation Element and how measurements and evaluations now consider vehicles miles traveled, not level of service, for environmental analysis. The Commission made a remark about the public comment letter referencing a project outside of the City, and the Planning Commission not having an impact on the agreements between labor unions and applicants for development. The City’s Parks Master Plan was briefly discussed with the concern for a map not accurately representing park designations within the City. Staff confirmed the Parks and Recreation department would be leading the effort on the Parks Master Plan update, at which point there would be comprehensive community engagement efforts. Commissioners provided commendations to staff and the GPAC on the vision statement and execution of the update to the General Plan. MOTION: Commissioner Di Cecco moved, and Commissioner Brodsly seconded a motion to Adopt Resolution No. PC-2023-691, as amended, recommending that the City Council adopt a resolution: a) certifying the Final Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the General Plan 2050, including the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Finds of Fact, and adopt a Statement of Overriding Considerations pursuant to CEQA; and b) approving General Plan Amendment No. 2023-02 adopting General Plan 2050 with the revisions included in the Addenda and Errata Memo and a change to land use designation of the SCE property. The motion carried by roll-call vote 5-0. 9.PRESENTATION/ACTION/DISCUSSION: None.