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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCD Planning Commission 2015 UpdateC'ry 01�. Agenda Item No: 6 . a . 4 Meeting Date: June 1, 2015 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: Community Development Prepared by: Raffi Boloyan, Planning Manager Approval:% SUBJECT: Annual Update Presentation from the Planning Commission (PC); P15-006 RECOMMENDATION: Receive update presentation from the PC BACKGROUND: The City of San Rafael City Council forms commissions and committees to provide guidance to City Council on community issues. At its 2014 Annual Retreat, the City Council requested that each of the commissions and committees provide an annual update to City Council to improve communications and assist with planning city-wide strategic goals. Staff provided a brief summary of recent PC activity (see Attachment A). The current Chair of the PC, Barrett Schaeffer, will provide an update report during the meeting. Current PC membership includes: Barrett Schaefer (Chair), Mark Lubamersky (Vice Chair), Gerald Belletto, Jack Robertson and Viktoriya Wise. There is currently one vacant position due to the recent resignation of Commissioner Charlie Pick (whose terms was set to expire in June 2017). The 4 year terms for two other current members (Commissioners Lubamersky and Robertson) are set to expire at the end of June 2015 and the application deadline is closed for all 3 positions and interviews are scheduled for June 1St. Both current members whose terms are set to expire in June have expressed an interest in reappointment. FISCAL IMPACT: None. OPTIONS: 1) Receive the Update Report. 2) Direct Staff to Provide Additional Information. ACTION REQUIRED: None. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A - Annual Report. FOR CITY CLERK ONLY File No.:01--j-6 Council Meeting: Disposition: C1 Lc c 12C L � Attachment A 2014 Annual Report Planning Commission (PC) Mission: The Planning Commission consists of citizen volunteers appointed by the City Council to make decisions or advise the Council on land use and property development issues. The Commission assures that new development is consistent with our long-range General Plan, State laws and other public policies that advance the interests of our community. Duties and Powers: Established by SRMC 2.16.110. Duties include: • Prepare and adopt comprehensive long term General Plan for the physical development of the city, and of any land outside the boundary thereof which bears relation to the city. • Exercise decision-making authority for such functions requiring environmental review (CEQA) and quasi -legislative matters such as subdivisions or land use/zoning entitlements (Use Permits, Design Review Permits, Variances, Signage, etc.), as may be prescribed by City's Zoning Ordinance, City resolutions, and State law. • Consider appeals of lower level decisions on land use zoning entitlements, if filed. • Exercise recommending -authority to the City Council on legislative matters, such as the adoption, the amendment or the repeal of a General Plan, a Neighborhood/Specific Plan, the Zoning Ordinance, or a site-specific master plan for a Planned Development (PD) District, or any part thereof, for the physical development of the City. • Serve as a liaison to Design Review Board (one member, rotating a two month term) • Serve on other as needed City-wide task force; examples include Climate Change Action Plan, Citizen of the Year. Membership: The Planning Commission is composed of 7 San Rafael residents who are appointed by the City Council to four-year terms, with staggered expirations. The current Planning Commission membership includes: Commissioner First Appointed Term Ends Barrett Schaefer, Chair 08/2012 08/2016 Mark Lubamersk , Vice Chair 10/2012 06/2015 Gerald Belletto 02/2013 06/2017 Larry Paul 07/2002 06/2018 Jack Robertson 07/2011 06/2015 Viktori a Wise 05/2009 06/2018 Vacant Position There are seven members on the PC. The current Chair is Barrett Schaefer. The Vice Chair position is currently held by Mark Lubamersky, whose term on the Commission is up at the end of June and is seeking reappointment. Tenure on the Commission averages 5.85 years of service, ranging from Commissioner Paul who has been on the Commission since 2002 to Commissioner Belletto who has been on since 2013. Chairpersonship is rotated amongst Commissioners on a yearly basis, based on tenure and history of chairpersonship. Meetings • Meetings are held twice monthly, usually on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 7:00pm in the City Council chambers. • Meetings are videocast through Grancius system, as well as broadcast on local cable Recent Commission Background: • Workload and frequency of Commission meetings has decreased in past few years. This is partly due to downturn in number of larger projects, but also due to downgrading of permit review authority over the past few years. Recent Commission Highlights: • Reviewed and provided recommendation to the City Council on the Housing Element update for 2015-2023 • Reviewed and made recommendation on series of Zoning Ordinance amendments, known as Phase II of the Zoning Ordinance amendments meant to streamline processes, update sections, modify animal keeping provisions and a variety of other minor amendments. • Provided preliminary feedback on a Pre Application for redevelopment of Whistlestop senior housing project. Commission review and comment is not common on pre applications, but given the complexity of the proposed project and policy questions, Commission provided insights. • Reviewed 4 fairly larger scale or controversial projects in 2014 thru May 2015, including Marin Academy Science building (1600 Mission Ave). G St mixed use project at (1700 4th St). new Mark Day School and library building (39 Trellis DrL and Marin Airporter relocation (1011 Anderson Dr l 2015 Goals: • Review the 10 year status report for implementation of the General Plan 2020. • Consider any General Plan amendments and land use changes as a result of the review of the General Plan 2020 10 -year report. • Review and process land use applications that require Planning Commission review and approval or recommendation. Tentative projects that may appear before the Commission in 2015 include Marin Sanitary Service Master Plan amendment (1050 Andersen Dr.) and 41 unit residential project and EIR (809 B St/1212 & 1214 Second St). • Introduce use of I*Pad technology. for Commission staff reports, similar to that of the Council, depending on staff time to implement the required changes to procedures and process Other Potential Upcoming Items • Discuss potential ways to streamline staff report and reduce scope and length of staff report and time it takes to prepare report, while still maintaining the provision of information needed by public and Commission to reach decisions Issues Commission Faces • Some recurring issues include questions about the effect of development on traffic and parking, and also bulk and mass concerns due to building height rules in some locations.