A G E N D A

 

 SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION

 OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA

 

Founded 1875

"Populus felix in urbe felici"

 

WEDNESDAY, June 16, 2004

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

6:00 P.M.

ROOM 213, CITY HALL

 

1.         CALL TO ORDER

 

2.         PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

3.         ROLL CALL

 

4.         PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT:

Information concerning future Planning Commission Agendas.  Update on recent City Council action on appeals, ordinances, development projects, and planning policy studies. Information on recent Architectural Review Board and Landmarks Commission actions.  Update on project status and related planning matters.

 

5.         PLANNING COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 

6.         APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Consent Calendar

 

6-A.     May 5, 2004

 

6-B.     May 19, 2004

 

7.                  PUBLIC HEARING:  Continued from June 2, 2004.

 

7-A.     Continued Study Session to Review and Comment on Proposed Policy and Zoning Ordinance Revisions Related to Auto Dealership Development Standards in Commercial, Industrial, Residential and Parking Overlay Zones. [Planner: Elizabeth Bar-El, AICP] (Continued from April 21, 2004.)

 

            See Staff Report from June 2, 2004.

 

8.         PUBLIC HEARINGS: 

 

8-A.     Conditional Use Permit 03-012, Variance 03-024; 1001, 1009 Eighteenth Street Conditional Use Permit 03-012 for the expansion of the Garden of Angels pre-school from a pre-school use of approximately 62 students to a pre-school and school use that also accommodates kindergarten through 12th grade and a total maximum enrollment of 150 students.  Variance 03-024 to allow a 12 foot hedge in the front yard and a reduction in the required number of required off-street parking spaces for pre-school and multi-grade school use from 96 spaces to 22.  [Planner: Sarah Lejeune] APPLICANT:  Bambi Forsman. PROPERTY OWNER:  Church of the Nazarene.

 

            Staff Report

 

8-B.     Design Compatibility Permit 04-002, Vesting Tentative Parcel Map 60641 and Variance 04-001, 403-405 Idaho Avenue.  Design Compatibility Permit DCP04-002, Vesting Tentative Parcel Map 60641and Variance 04-001 to allow the construction of a new three-story, two-unit condominium building with 4 subterranean parking spaces on a substandard parcel with a 50-foot depth in the R3 Medium Density Multiple Family Residential District.  The project requires variance approval of modifications to front, rear and side yard setbacks, including upper level setbacks, and would modify the off-street parking requirements related to parking access and the number of vehicle maneuvers within the subterranean garage. [Planner; Sarah Lejeune]  APPLICANT: Christina Facio.  PROPERTY OWNER:  James Robert Porter.

 

            Staff Report

 

8-C.     Text Amendment 04-005, C2 – Montana Avenue Commercial District.  Amend the Santa Monica Municipal Code to modify permitted uses, prohibited uses and property development standards in the C2 Neighborhood Commercial District along Montana Avenue.  The proposed amendments require modifications to Section 9.04.08.16.020, Section 9.04.08.16.050 and Section 9.04.08.16.060 of the Municipal Code. {Planner: Paul Foley]  APPLICANT: City of Santa Monica.

 

            Staff Report

 

8-D.     Development Review 03DR-005, Text Amendment 04TA004, Conditional Use Permit 04CUP008, 2901 Ocean Park Boulevard.  The applicant requests an amendment to an existing Development Review permit (DR 285) to allow closure of the Ocean Park Boulevard driveway and to provide ingress and egress traffic from an existing driveway on Twenty Ninth Street and a new driveway on Thirtieth Street. The project also includes a Text Amendment to conditionally permit restaurants with greater than 50 seats in the C2 District; current regulations limit restaurant seating to no more than 50 seats. The Conditional Use Permit application has been filed in conjunction with the text amendment to allow a restaurant tenant, Il Forno, an opportunity to have greater than 50 seats. [Planner: Jonathan Lait, AICP] APPLICANT/PROPERTY OWNER: Claire Heron. 

 

            Staff Report

 

9.         DISCUSSION:   Note: There are no staff reports associated with these items.

Public Input Permitted

 

9-A.     Discussion regarding how the Commission manages its caseload, schedules meetings, and sets reasonable time-limit expectations for its agendas. In addition, review and update of the Land Use Element and Zoning Ordinance may begin in upcoming months. Discussion regarding how this review will be incorporated into the existing workload, which may include noticed work sessions in more informal settings. Requested by Commissioner O’Day via e-mail on December 16, 2003, with addendum by Commission Pugh via e-mail on April 22, 2004. [Initial Discussion Item Continued from April 21, 2004.]

 

9-B.     Discussion and possible direction to staff regarding the creation of a master plan of the existing LMSD district, to include traffic pattern/planning, pedestrian enhancement issues, housing creation, preservation of light manufacturing and the creation, incubation and preservation of artist live / work space, small local businesses and related quality of life and sustainable community issues. Requested via e-mail on March 4, 2004 by Chair Clarke, Commissioners Johnson, Hopkins and Pugh. [Continued from March 24, 2004.]

 

9-C      Review and discuss Sustainable City Plan, including its status and possible application to General Plan update.  Include, too, approach strategies and options to incorporate sustainable city practices. Make any direction to staff.  Requested by Commissioners Dad and Hopkins via e-mail on April 15, 2004.

 

9-D.     Review and discuss General Plan -- Circulation Element – update “approach” and “work plan,” including, but not limited to, the following:  methodology, consultant selection criteria, consultant selection, scope, schedule, public process, work products / deliverables, and relationship to General Plan update.  Include, too, approach, strategies, options to incorporate sustainable city practices and evaluation criteria applicable to evaluating success of outcomes and optimization opportunities.  Discuss possible direction to staff on approach or “work plan.”  Make any direction to staff.  Requested by Commissioners Dad and Hopkins via e-mail on April 15, 2004.

 

9-E.     Discussion on Planning Commission procedures and practices, and possible direction to staff. Specific topic to include, but not be limited to: Improvements to Case Management and Scheduling, Meeting Scheduling, Agenda Preparation and Approvals, and Public Noticing. Requested by Commissioner Hopkins via e-mail on April 22, 2004.

 

9-F.     Discussion on the possible establishment of Planning Commission working “committees” or similar approach to proactively address a broad range of issues and matters associated with the mission, responsibilities, jurisdiction, or authority of the Planning Commission. Committees topic area might include, but not be limited to: (1) Sustainable Development, Master Plan / General Plan update, Land Use Elements, Associated Plans, Specific Plans, Development Guides, Associated Programs and Plans and Zoning Ordinance; and (2) Planning Commission Management. Requested by Commissioner Hopkins via e-mail on April 22, 2004.

 

9-G.     Discussion on the possible opportunities to both streamline and improve staff report and meeting minutes. Requested by Commissioner Hopkins via e-mail on April 22, 2004.

 

9-H.     Discussion on streamlining staff reports for Planning Commission cases. Requested by Chair Clarke via e-mail on April 22, 2004.

 

10.       FUTURE COMMISSION AGENDA ITEMS

 

11.       PUBLIC INPUT

 

12.       ADJOURNMENT

 

Note:  The Council Chambers is wheelchair accessible. If you have any disability-related accommodation request, please contact (310) 458-8341, or TDD Number: (310) 458-8696 at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. All written materials are available in alternate format upon request.

 

Santa Monica Blue Bus Lines #2, #3 and #8 serve City Hall. Parking is available in front of City Hall and on Olympic Drive.

 

CITY PLANNING COMMISSION

 

Barbara Brown, Commissioner

Darrell Clarke, Chairperson

Julie Lopez Dad, Commissioner

Arlene Hopkins, Commissioner

Jay P. Johnson, Commissioner

Terry O’Day, Commissioner

Gwynne Pugh, Commissioner

 

Kevin McKeown, City Council Liaison

 

Suzanne Frick, Director of  Planning & Community Development Department

 Barry Rosenbaum, Senior Land Use Attorney

 Kyle Ferstead, Commission Secretary

 

AGENDA POLICIES

 

The Planning Commission considers a range of requests for development permits, appeals, and planning policy matters, and conducts public hearings on many of its agenda items. Due to the number, complexity and public interest associated with many agenda items, meetings of the Commission are generally lengthy. The Commission makes every effort to proceed as expeditiously as possible; your patience and understanding is appreciated.

 

REQUESTS TO SPEAK on an item must be submitted on a speaker's request form and submit it to the Commission secretary. All requests to address the Commission on public hearing items must be submitted prior to the Commission's consideration of the item.

 

CONSENT CALENDAR items will be acted upon by the Commission at one time without discussion unless a Commissioner requests discussion on an item or a member of the public has submitted a request to speak on an item.  If such a request is made, the item will be heard after the balance of the Consent Calendar has been voted upon.

 

PUBLIC HEARING PROCEDURES on each public hearing item include presentation of a staff report; Commission questions of staff; a fifteen minutes presentation by the project applicant or applicant’s representative or team, if any; Commission questions of the applicant; four minutes for each member of the public wishing to speak to the item; three minutes for project applicant to respond to the public or clarify issues raised by the public; Commission deliberations and decision.

 

PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC should begin with the speaker stating his or her name and address followed by a statement regarding the item under consideration.  Please speak to the Commission as a whole. 

 

PROFESSIONALS APPEARING BEFORE THE COMMISSION should clearly identify their status, such as "attorney", "paralegal", "architect", "designer", or "landscape architect".  Instances of misrepresentation of professional status may be referred to the City Attorney for possible prosecution.

 

LETTERS OR WRITTEN MATERIALS regarding agenda items may be submitted to the City Planning Division staff prior to or at the Commission meeting; written materials submitted in advance of the meeting will be given to the Commission on the night of the public hearing.

 

ASSIGNING OF TIME for members of the public wishing to speak to an item is permissible within specified limits.  A "representative speaker" may be allowed one additional minute of speaking time, to a maximum of five additional minutes (hence, nine minutes total) for each person actually in attendance who assigns his or her right to speak via a request to speak form to the "representative speaker."

 

ACTION BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION on most matters occurs with the affirmative votes of at least four Commissioners.

 

DESIGN ASPECTS OF PROJECTS considered by the Planning Commission must also be approved by the Architectural Review Board.  For more information on this process, contact the City Planning Division.

 

APPEALS of certain actions of the Commission are appealable to the City Council.  For specific information on appeals, please contact the City Planning Division.

 

For more information regarding the Planning Commission agenda or development permit procedures and standards,  please contact the  City Planning Division at (310) 458-8341.

 

Copies of agendas and staff reports are available at our Planning Counter, Room 111 of City Hall, and through the City’s Home Page on the World Wide Web using the following address: http://www.smgov.net or www.santa-monica.org

 

No smoking in City Hall