HomeMy WebLinkAboutDRB 2023-06-06 MinutesDesign Review Board
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, June 6, 2023 7:00 P.M.
MINUTES
Participate In-Person:
San Rafael City Council Chambers
1400 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901
Or
Participate Virtually:
Watch on Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/drb-2023
Telephone: 1 (669) 444-9171
Meeting ID: 885 6816 1418
This meeting will be held in-person. The public may attend in-person or participate
virtually using Zoom.
How to participate in the meeting virtually:
· Submit public comment in writing before 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting to
PlanningPublicComment@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 press *9 to raise your
hand, and *6 to unmute yourself, then provide verbal public comment.
If you experience technical difficulties during the meeting, please contact
PlanningPublicComment@cityofsanrafael.org
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Kovalsky called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Chair Kovalsky then invited Staff &
Senior Planner Jeff Ballantine to call roll.
RECORDING OF MEMBERS PRESENT AND ABSENT
Present: Chair Sharon Kovalsky
Vice Chair Jeff Kent
Board Member Michael Alexin
Board Member Sarah Rege
Board Member Stewart Summers
Alternate Board Member Donald Blayney
Absent: None
Also Present: Jeff Ballantine, Staff, Senior Planner & DRB Secretary
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF MEETING PROCEDURES
Chair Kovalsky invited Staff & Senior Planner, Jeff Ballantine, to inform the public that
members they can provide public comment either in person in the Council Chambers, by
telephone or via zoom with the raise hand feature. Written comments submitted prior to the
meeting time would be read aloud into the record during the public comment portion of each
item.
Chair Kovalsky reviewed the procedures for the meeting.
URGENT ORAL/EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
Chair Kovalsky called for any comments from the public on items NOT on the agenda.
There were no public comments.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Chair Kovalsky invited public comment on the Consent Calendar. There was no comment
on the Consent Calendar.
1.Approval of the Design Review Board Meeting Minutes of April 18, 2023
Member Kent moved and Member Summers seconded to approve the Minutes as
submitted.
AYES: Members: Alexin, Kent, Kovalsky, Rege, Summers
NOES: Members: None
ABSENT: Members: None
ABSTAIN: Members: None
Motion passes.
ACTION CALENDAR
Chair Kovalsky introduced the Action Calendar and invited staff to present the Staff Report.
2.513 Francisco Blvd. E. – Lexus Dealership Expansion
A Request for Zoning Administrator recommendation for an Environmental and Design
Review Permit for a proposal to renovate and expand the existing Lexus automobile
dealership and repair center from approximately 19,400 square feet to 34,000 square
feet. APN 179-221-03; General Commercial Zoning District (GC); Permit # ED23-018,
PLAN22-069
Project Planner: Renee Nickenig (renee.nickenig@cityofsanrafael.org)
Recommended Action – Review and provide input on items discussed in staff report
Assistant Planner, Renee Nickenig, provided a staff presentation on the project.
Applicant Team gave a presentation on the project.
Applicant Team and Staff responded to questions from the Board Members.
Chair Kovalsky asked for public comments. No public comment was provided.
Board Members provided comments.
Member Alexin moves, Member Summers seconds motion to recommend Planning
Commission approval of this Environmental and Design Review Permit with the following
recommended conditions of approval:
•Identify the existing plants to be removed or retained on the submitted landscape
plan.
•Consider not planting native species near the front of the property and entrances
due to maintenance and plant lifecycle concerns.
•Consider additional plantings and/or varying heights and sizes of plantings to create
a softer buffer between the property and the public right-of-way.
•Consider reducing the lighting intensity to between 3,000 – 4,000 kelvins at all areas
of the property.
AYES: Members: Alexin, Kent, Kovalsky, Rege, Summers
NOES: Members: None
ABSENT: Members: None
ABSTAIN: Members: None
Motion passes.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Jeff Ballantine provided updates regarding the appointment of Senior Planner, Monica Ly,
as the new DRB Secretary and the targeting of scheduling the Northgate Town Square
project for one of the July DRB meetings..
BOARD COMMUNICATION
No Board Communication was provided.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Kovalsky adjourned the meeting at 7:45 p.m.
_________________________________
JEFF BALLANTINE, Senior Planner