HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission 2021-06-15 Minutes
MINUTES
San Rafael Planning Commission
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, June 15, 2021, 7:00 P.M.
Virtual Meeting
Watch on Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/pc-2021-06-15
Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/cityofsanrafael
Telephone: (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 held virtually
using Zoom and is being streamed to YouTube at www.youtube.com/cityofsanrafael.
How to participate in the meeting:
• Submit public comments in writing before 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting to
Alicia.giudice@cityofsanrafael.org.
• Join the Zoom webinar and use the 'raise hand' feature to provide verbal public
comment.
• Dial-in to Zoom's telephone number using the meeting ID and provide verbal
public comment.
Any member of the public who needs accommodations should contact the City Clerk
(email city.clerk@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 Samudzi
Commissioner Davidson
Commissioner Haveman
Commissioner Lubamersky
Commissioner Mercado
Commissioner Saude
Absent: Vice Chair Previtali
Also Present: Alicia Giudice, Community Development Director
Michele Ginn, Permit Services Coordinator
Barry Miller, Project Planner
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Samudzi called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. and welcomed newly appointed
Planning Commissioner Haveman. He then invited Community Development Director Alicia
Giudice to call the roll. All commissioners were present at roll call, except for Commissioner
Mercado and Vice Chair Previtali. Commissioner Mercado turned his camera on after the
roll call, at 7:03 p.m.
APPROVAL OR REVISION OF ORDER OF AGENDA ITEMS
None
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF MEETING PROCEDURES
Chair Samudzi invited Community Development Director Alicia Giudice 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 Zoom. She explained the
process for community participation on the telephone and Zoom.
Chair Samudzi reviewed the procedures for the meeting.
URGENT COMMUNICATION
None
CONSENT CALENDAR
Chair Samudzi invited public comment; however, there was none.
Commissioner Davidson moved and Commissioner Lubamersky seconded to approve the
Consent Calendar.
1. Approval of the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of March 23, 2021
Approved as submitted
AYES: Commissioners: Davidson, Lubamersky, Saude & Chair Samudzi
NOES: Commissioners: None
ABSENT: Commissioners: Mercado, Previtali
ABSTAIN: Commissioners: Haveman
Motion carried 4-0
After the roll call for this vote, Community Development Director Alicia Giudice announced
that she now recognizes Commissioner Mercado as being present.
PUBLIC HEARING
2. Final Environmental Impact Report for the General Plan 2040 and the Downtown
Precise Plan
a) Resolution Recommending to the City Council Certification of the Final Environmental
Impact Report (FEIR) (SCH #2019039167) Prepared for the San Rafael General Plan
2040 and Downtown San Rafael Precise Plan
b) Report on the Upcoming Review of the San Rafael General Plan 2040 Document and
the Downtown Precise Plan
Project Planners: Barry Miller
Barry Miller, Project Planner and Steve Noack, PlaceWorks presented the Staff Report.
Staff responded to questions from the Commissioners.
Chair Samudzi invited public comment.
Speakers: Bill Carney, Sustainable San Rafael, Victoria DeWitt, Bell Cole, Organizing for
Action (OFA), Barbara Salzman, Leslie Simons
Staff responded to questions from the Commissioners.
Commissioners provided comments.
Commissioner Mercado moved and Commissioner Saude seconded to adopt the
resolution as submitted, with the additional “Whereas” clause to the top of page 3 as
presented by staff.
AYES: Commissioners: Davidson, Haveman, Lubamersky, Mercado, Saude & Chair
Samudzi
NOES: Commissioners: None
ABSENT: Commissioners: Previtali
ABSTAIN: Commissioners: None
Motion carried 6-0
Resolution 21-02 - Resolution of the San Rafael Planning Commission Recommending to
the City Council Certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) (SCH
#2019039167) Prepared for the San Rafael General Plan 2040 and Downtown San Rafael
Precise Plan;
and Continued the Public Hearing to 6/29/2021
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
• Discussion of reopening plan and staff recruitment
• Summary of the last Design Review Board meeting
• Marin Municipal Water District Board meeting tonight, topics to include possible
moratorium on development
• Hotel on East Francisco update
• Inquiries from Commissioners on Marin IJ article on City considering purchasing lands
from Caltrans
COMMISSION COMMUNICATION
• The Commission congratulated new Community Development Director Alicia Giudice
• Commissioner Davidson’s last meeting will be on June 29, 2021
• Chair Samudzi welcomed a baby girl this past week
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Samudzi adjourned the meeting at 8:42 p.m.
___________________________
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk
APPROVED THIS _____DAY OF____________, 2021
_____________________________________
SHINGAI SAMUDZI, Chair