HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission 2021-10-12 Minutes
San Rafael Planning Commission
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, October 12, 2021, 7:00 P.M.
MINUTES
Virtual Meeting
Watch on Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/PC-2021-10-12
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
Leslie.Mendez@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 Haveman
Commissioner Lubamersky
Commissioner Mercado
Vice Chair Previtali
Commissioner Saude
Absent: Commissioner Harris
Also Present: Leslie Mendez, Planning Manager
Steve Stafford, Senior Planner
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Samudzi called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. He then invited Planning Manager
Leslie Mendez to call the roll. All commissioners were present, except Commissioner Harris.
APPROVAL OR REVISION OF ORDER OF AGENDA ITEMS
None
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF MEETING PROCEDURES
Chair Samudzi invited Planning Manager Leslie Mendez 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.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
None
CONSENT CALENDAR
Chair Samudzi invited public comment; however, there was none.
Commissioner Lubamersky moved and Commissioner Haveman seconded to approve the
Minutes.
1. Approval of the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of September 28, 2021
Approved minutes as submitted
AYES: Commissioners: Haveman, Lubamersky, Mercado, Previtali, Saude & Chair
Samudzi
NOES: Commissioners: None
ABSENT: Commissioners: Harris
ABSTAIN: Commissioners: None
Motion carried 6-0
ACTION ITEM
2. 800 Mission Ave. (“Aegis Living San Rafael”) –
Resolution of the City of San Rafael Planning Commission Amending Use Permit
(UP21-006) and an Environmental and Design Review Permit (ED21-022) Approvals to
Allow an 11’ 2” Increase in Height, from 36’ to 47’ 2”, and Increase in Rooms, from 77
to 103 rooms, and an Increase in Beds, from 88 to 105 beds for a Previously Approved
Senior Living Facility with Memory Care Services, with 40 Garage Parking Spaces and
Site Improvements on Two Vacant Downtown Lots Located at 800 Mission Ave.
(APNS: 011-184-08 & -09)
Steve Stafford, Senior Planner presented the Staff Report.
Staff responded to questions from the Commissioners.
Applicant Team gave a presentation.
Applicant Team responded to questions from the Commissioners.
Chair Samudzi invited public comment.
Speakers: Nina Lilienthal-Murphy, Lincoln San Rafael Hill Neighborhood Association, Kay
Karchevski, Anna de Benedictis
Commissioners provided comments.
Staff and Applicant Team responded to comments and further questions from the
Commissioners.
Commissioner Mercado moved and Commissioner Saude seconded to adopt the resolution.
AYES: Commissioners: Haveman, Lubamersky, Mercado, Saude & Chair Samudzi
NOES: Commissioners: Previtali
ABSENT: Commissioners: Harris
ABSTAIN: Commissioners: None
Motion carried 5-0
Resolution 21-08 - Resolution of the City of San Rafael Planning Commission Amending
Use Permit (UP21-006) and an Environmental and Design Review Permit (ED21-022)
Approvals to Allow an 11’ 2” Increase in Height, from 36’ to 47’ 2”, and Increase in Rooms,
from 77 to 103 rooms, and an Increase in Beds, from 88 to 105 beds for a Previously
Approved Senior Living Facility with Memory Care Services, with 40 Garage Parking
Spaces and Site Improvements on Two Vacant Downtown Lots Located at 800 Mission
Ave. (APNS: 011-184-08 & -09)
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Planning Manager reported on the following items:
• City Council accepted comments on the San Rafael Transit Center Draft Environmental
Impact Report (DEIR).
• Caltrans closure of the San Rafael off-ramp as part of the Grand Avenue bridge project
from Friday, October 22 at 10 p.m. through Monday, October 25 at 5 a.m.
• Housing Element Community Meeting is expected to be held on Wednesday, October 27.
Notices to go out soon.
• City recently hired Jacob Noonan, Housing Program Manager and Alexis Captanian,
Housing Program Analyst
COMMISSION COMMUNICATION
• Commissioner Saude commented on the tough meeting tonight, but was glad that they
could carry a good debate.
• Vice Chair Previtali announced the Othering and Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley to
hold a remote conference on Monday, October 18 and Tuesday, October 19.
• SB 9 discussion
• Commissioner Mercado backed up Commissioner Saude’s comment regarding the
meeting tonight.
• Vice Chair Previtali commented on the New York Times article, Where the Suburbs End.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Samudzi adjourned the meeting at 9:13 p.m.
___________________________
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk
APPROVED THIS _____DAY OF____________, 2021
_____________________________________
SHINGAI SAMUDZI, Chair