M I N U T E S
REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1994 CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
7:00 P.M. ROOM 213, CITY HALL
1. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 7:17 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Pyne led the Pledge of
Allegiance.
3. ROLL CALL:Present: Kenneth Breisch
Ralph Mechur
Pamela O'Connor
Eric Parlee
Thomas Pyne
Kathy Weremiuk
John Zinner
Also Present: Paul Casey, Transportation Planner
Kyle Ferstead, Commission Secretary
Suzanne Frick, Director of Planning/LUTM
Amanda Schachter, Senior Planner
Mary Stobel, Deputy City Attorney
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Commissioner Breisch made a motion to approve the minutes
for April 6, 1994, as submitted. Commissioner Zinner
seconded the motion, which was approved by voice vote.
Commissioner Pyne made a motion to approve the minutes for
May 4, 1994, as submitted. Chair Mechur seconded the
motion, which was approved by voice vote with Commissioner
Breisch abstaining..
5. PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT: Ms. Frick gave the Director's
Report. She reminded the Commission of the Livable Cities
Conference next month, and which will include lunch.
6-A: Meeting minutes contain no additional text for this item.
6-B: Meeting minutes contain no additional text for this item.
6-C: Meeting minutes contain no additional text for this item.
6-D: Meeting minutes contain no additional text for this item.
8-A: Conditional Use Permit 94-004, Variance 94-006, 1323 Ocean
Avenue, Residential-Visitor Commercial (RVC) District,
Applicant: K. Momdjian Associates. Application to permit
the change of use from residential to office use at the
Gussie Moran House site. The Gussie Moran House and site
is a designated City landmark. The Variance application
requests the reduction of required parking for the
proposed change of use. (Planner: Patrice McCartney)
Staff Report
The applicant's representative, Chris Harding, was
present to discuss the application with the
Commission.
Chair Mechur asked staff how the number of employees
will be confirmed. Staff stated that the applicant
must supply this information when they apply for their
business license and Planning staff reviews all
business license applications; additionally, staff
stated that the GIS computer system will be able to
track such information in the new future.
Chair Mechur closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Pyne made a motion to approve the
application per staff's recommendations and with the
amended condition regarding the front yard setback as
cited by Mr. Harding and staff.
Commissioner Parlee seconded the motion.
Commissioner O'Connor commented on the significance of
the structure in question and praised the property
owner for the renovation and for the reuse of the
structure. She also stated that the granting of the
variance is a good incentive.
Commissioner Breisch expressed agreement with
Commissioner O'Connor. He also commented on
continuing the economic viability of the property. He
asked the City Attorney if the variance could be tied
to the property's landmark status. Deputy City
Attorney Strobel stated this could be done.
Commissioner Breisch asked Commissioners Pyne and
Parlee if they would accept tying the variance to the
structure's landmark status as a friendly amendment.
Commissioners Pyne and Parlee agreed to the friendly
amendment.
The motion, as amended, was approved by the following
vote:
AYES: Breisch, Mechur, O'Connor, Parlee, Pyne,
Weremiuk, Zinner.
8-B: Recommendation that the Planning Commission conduct a
public hearing and recommend to the City Council the
adoption of the Bicycle Master Plan and Certification of
the Environmental Impact Report. (Planner: Paul Casey)
Staff Report
Following the staff report, Commissioner Parlee asked
if there are any conflicts between the proposed
Bicycle Plan and mitigation measures for lane
restriping, etc. Mr. Casey stated that there are no
known conflicts at this time.
Commissioner Pyne commented on the purpose of the
proposed Bicycle Plan. He expressed concern regarding
whether the plan will indeed reduce commuter trips and
why certain streets were chosen for the plan. Mr.
Casey commented on problems in designing a route
network for bicycle travel in the City, which included
barriers such as the freeway and boulevards.
Commissioner Pyne stated he is not opposed to the
ideas of the Bicycle Plan and commended the effort
made, however he expressed concerned regarding the
safety of riders and whether the bicycle lanes will be
used on the proposed routes.
Commissioner Weremiuk asked staff if 14th Street had
been considered as an alternative to 11th Street as a
bicycle route. Mr. Casey stated that 14th Street had
been considered, however the Transportation Department
objected to 14th Street as it is a bus route.
Commissioner Pyne commented on the width of streets,
using less traveled streets and the problem of car
doors opening in front of cyclists.
Commissioner Zinner asked why Montana Avenue was
omitted from the plan. Mr. Casey stated that due to
the current plans to restrip Montana Avenue and other
plans going before the City Council in July, Montana
Avenue was omitted from the plan.
Commissioner Zinner about the downtown area of the
City. Mr. Casey stated that the Bayside District is
currently working on a circulation plan.
Commissioner Zinner commented on cycling on San
Vicente Boulevard. He also noted that the bicycle
route on 17th Street stops at Santa Monica College.
Mr. Casey stated that the college will not allow the
path to cut through the college property.
Commissioner Zinner asked if the college could be
urged to let a path go through the campus. Ms. Frick
stated the Commission could make such a recommendation
in their motion.
Commissioner Zinner asked staff if the City buses will
be installing bicycle racks on their buses as the
Metropolitan Transist Authority (MTA) has done. Mr.
Casey stated this issue was pursued with the
Transportation staff, however they are reluctant to
install the racks for a variety of reasons.
Commissioner Breisch asked about the previously
proposed bicycle boulevards for Washington Avenue and
Pearl Street. Mr. Casey stated that the City Council
had directed staff to begin a community process, that
workshops were done and there was a very low turnout
from the public. Due to the low turnout, staff
determined there was little support for the bicycle
boulevards.
Commissioner Breisch commented on the "watered down"
plan and expressed his desire to see the boulevard
alternative reinstated as an experiment.
Mr. Casey stated that the proposed Pearl Street
bicycle boulevard would have been in conflict with the
Sunset Park traffic plan currently being devised. Ms.
Frick stated that a recommendation could be made to
reinstated the bicycle boulevard concept.
Commissioner Parlee commented on the Main Street
bicycle plan and how the plans for changing Main
Street may cause problems for the current bicycle
lanes.
The Commission commented on the prior Bicycle Plan
meeting and the strong opposition raised by the public
to the bicycle boulevard concept.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 9:22 p.m.