HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission 2020-09-15 Minutes
San Rafael Planning Commission
Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, September 15, 2020, 7:00 P.M.
Virtual Meeting
(669) 900-9128
Meeting ID: 872-0645-4435#
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) ADVISORY NOTICE
In response to Executive Order N-29-20, the City of San Rafael will no longer offer an in-
person meeting location for the public to attend. This meeting will be streamed through
YouTube Live at www.youtube.com/cityofsanrafael. Comments submitted via YouTube Live
must be submitted according to the directions located on the YouTube video description.
The City is not responsible for any interrupted service. To ensure the Planning Commission
receives your comments, submit written comments to the Alicia Giudice, Principal Planner
(alicia.giudice@cityofsanrafael.org), prior to the meeting. For more information regarding
real-time public comments, please visit our Live Commenting Pilot page at
https://www.cityofsanrafael.org/live-commenting-pilot/.
Want to listen to the meeting and comment in real-time over the phone? Call the telephone
number listed on this agenda and dial the Meeting ID when prompted. Feel free to contact
the City Clerk’s office at 415-485-3066 or by email to lindsay.lara@cityofsanrafael.org if you
have any questions.
Any member of the public who needs accommodations should contact the City Clerk (email
lindsay.lara@cityofsanrafael.org or phone at 415-485-3066) who will use their best efforts to
provide reasonable accommodations to provide as much accessibility as possible while also
maintaining public safety in accordance with the City procedure for resolving reasonable
accommodation requests.
Present: Chair Mercado
Commissioner Davidson
Commissioner Hill
Commissioner Lubamersky
Commissioner Previtali
Commissioner Samudzi
Absent: Commissioner Saude
Also Present: Raffi Boloyan, Planning Manager
Alicia Giudice, Principal Planner
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Mercado called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. and invited Principal Planner Alicia
Giudice to call the roll. All were present, except for Commissioners Saude and Davidson.
Commissioner Davidson arrived at 7:06 p.m.
APPROVAL OR REVISION OF ORDER OF AGENDA ITEMS
None.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF MEETING PROCEDURES
Chair Mercado invited Planning Manager Raffi Boloyan who informed the community the
meeting would be streamed live to YouTube and members of the public would provide public
comment either on the telephone or through YouTube live chat. He explained the process for
community participation through the telephone and on YouTube.
Chair Mercado reviewed the procedures for the meeting.
URGENT COMMUNICATION
None.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Chair Mercado invited public comment; however, there was none.
Commissioner Lubamersky moved and Commissioner Hill seconded to approve the Consent
Calendar.
1. Approval of the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of August 11, 2020
Minutes approved as submitted
AYES: Commissioners: Davidson, Hill, Lubamersky, Previtali, Samudzi & Chair Mercado
NOES: Commissioners: None
ABSENT: Commissioners: Saude
ABSTAIN: Commissioners: None
Motion carried 6-0
PUBLIC HEARING
2. 38 Upper Fremont
The applicant is requesting Environmental and Design Review for a new single-family
residence with 4 parking spaces on a vacant hillside lot. Parking will be provided using
mechanical parking unit located within the garage; APN: 012-041-48; Single-Family
Residential – Hillside Overlay (R5-H) Zoning District; Jeffrey Prose, owner/applicant;
File No.: ED18-082
Commissioner Hill stated he lived within 500 feet of the site and was recusing himself from
this item and left the meeting.
Alicia Giudice, Principal Planner presented the staff report.
Staff responded to questions from the Commissioners.
Owner/Applicant Jeff Prose gave a presentation.
Staff responded to questions from the Commissioners.
Chair Mercado declared the public hearing opened.
Speakers: Rena Harel, Jim Schmidt, Mark Abadi, Name withheld, Rena Harel
Staff responded to public comments.
Staff responded to comments and questions from the Commissioners.
Commissioner Samudzi moved and Commissioner Lubamersky seconded to adopt the
resolution approving project as presented with the addition of one new condition of
approval requiring merger of the lots.
AYES: Commissioners: Davidson, Lubamersky, Samudzi & Chair Mercado
NOES: Commissioners: Previtali
ABSENT: Commissioners: Saude
ABSTAIN: Commissioners: Hill
Motion carried 4-1
Resolution 20-18 - Resolution of the San Rafael Planning Commission Approving an
Environmental and Design Review Permit (ED18-082) for a New Two-story Approximately 1,709
Square Foot Single-family Residence on a Vacant Lot at 38 Upper Fremont Drive APN: 012-
041-48
Commissioner Hill reentered the meeting to participate in the next item.
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS
3. Progress Report on San Rafael General Plan 2040/Downtown Precise Plan
A progress report and update on General Plan 2040 and Downtown Precise Plan will be
presented to the Planning Commission. The report will include a recap of work
completed to date, outcome of the General Plan subcommittee work, organization of the
new plans, major draft policy changes that will be included in draft plans and upcoming
schedule/tasks anticipated for the upcoming release of the public review draft of the
Plans and associated Environmental Impact Report (EIR); Case Nos.: GPA16-001 &
P16-013.
Raffi Boloyan, Planning Manager introduced Barry Miller, GP2040 Project Manager who
presented the staff report.
Staff responded to questions from the Commissioners.
Chair Mercado invited public comment.
Speakers: Bill Carney, Sustainable San Rafael
Staff responded to comments and questions from the Commissioners.
Commissioner Davidson moved and Commissioner Previtali seconded to accept the report.
AYES: Commissioners: Davidson, Hill, Lubamersky, Previtali, Samudzi & Chair Mercado
NOES: Commissioners: None
ABSENT: Commissioners: Saude
ABSTAIN: Commissioners: None
Motion carried 6-0
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Alicia Giudice, Principal Planner announced that Marin is in the next phase of opening our
restaurants and retails, that they are able to expand their openings to indoor with some
limitations.
Raffi Boloyan, Planning Manager announced that due to Veterans Day and city staff
furloughs, the first November Planning Commission meeting will be held on Thursday,
November 12, 2020.
COMMISSION COMMUNICATION
None.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Mercado adjourned the meeting at 9:15 p.m.
___________________________
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk
APPROVED THIS _____DAY OF____________, 2020
_____________________________________
ALDO MERCADO, Chair