CITY OF WEED PLANNING COMMISSION

      REGULAR MEETING

JUNE 6, 2001

 

 

The Planning Commission of the City of Weed held a regular meeting on Wednesday, June 6, 2001, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

 

Chairman Virgil Tuman called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance.  Present, in addition to Chairman Tuman were Commissioners Richard Acquistapace, Harold Baltar, Candace Dillingham, and Teddy McGaughey.  Planning Commission Secretary Deborah Salvestrin was also present.  City Administrator Earl Wilson was out of the City. 

 

Ms. Salvestrin stated that Planning Commissioners Jess Gonzales and Karen Heiser had both previously reported they would be unable to attend the Commission meeting and asked to be excused. 

 

Commissioner Baltar moved and seconded by Commissioner Dillingham that the absences of Commissioners Gonzales and Heiser be excused. 

AYES:               Commissioners Acquistapace, Baltar, Dillingham, and McGaughey

NOES:              None

ABSENT:            Commissioners Gonzales and Heiser

 

 

3.  PUBLIC BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR

 

Chairman Tuman invited comments and/or questions from the audience, and noted that no action could be taken by the Commission except to set the matter presented for the next regular Commission meeting.  There were none. 

 

 

4.  CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

 

Chairman Tuman called for Commissioners to declare conflicts of interest on any item on this agenda.  Commissioner Acquistapace reported he is the owner of property on S. Weed Boulevard that is the subject of a request for sign permit.  Chairman Tuman stated that Commissioner Acquistapace should step from the dais at the time the matter comes under Commission consideration.

 

 

5.  REGULAR AGENDA

 

A.  Zoning ordinance text amendment:  Consideration of a draft of an ordinance that will regulate future residential uses in industrial zones. 

 

The Commission received a memorandum from City Administrator Wilson that reviewed a recommendation for a zoning ordinance text amendment that proposes to limit residential uses in limited industrial, or CM, zones. 

 

Mr. Wilson’s memo reminded the Commission that a public hearing was held at its May 2, 2001 meeting at which time comments were received from proponents interested in limiting mixed uses, and owners of CM zoned properties as opponents because they wanted to preserve the flexibility the existing ordinance provides. 

 

Commissioners discussed the intent of caretaker residential uses in industrial zones, and then Commissioner Dillingham moved to recommend the City Council amend the ordinance to exclude residential uses except for a caretaker’s residential facility under use permit.  Commissioner McGaughey seconded the motion. 

AYES:               Commissioners Acquistapace, Baltar, Dillingham, and McGaughey

NOES:              None

ABSENT:            Commissioners Gonzales and Heiser

 

 

B.  Sign Permit:  Consideration of application for sign permit for 616 S. Weed Boulevard submitted by the C.O.S. Foundation.

 

Commissioner Acquistapace stepped from the dais due to a previously declared conflict of interest. 

 

The Planning Commission received an application for permit to install two 3’ x 6’ (36 sq. ft.) flush-mounted signs on the building that will house the College of the Siskiyous’ Foundation Thrift Shop that is moving off of the COS campus. 

 

After brief discussion, the Commission finds that the establishment and maintenance of the use applied for will not be detrimental to the health, safety, morals, comfort and general welfare of the persons residing or working in the neighborhood, and it will not be injurious or detrimental to the property and improvements in the neighborhood or the general welfare of the city.

 

Commissioner Dillingham then moved, seconded by Commissioner Baltar, to approve the application for sign permit subject to the following conditions: 

A.  All signs for business owners who go out of business, or discontinue the particular line of business or service advertised in the sign, shall be dismantled and removed within thirty days of such going out of business or service, by the owner of the building or property.  In case of the failure of the owner to do so, the city will cause such sign to be dismantled and removed, and the cost of this shall be borne by the owner of the building or property. 

 

B.  Outdoor advertising structure or sign shall not display or makes use of the words "stop", "danger", or any other word, phrase, symbol or character in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic. 

 

C.  Signs shall not have red, green or amber lights that could be confused with traffic signals.            

 

D.  The city council is authorized and empowered to revoke any permit issued by the city administrator or his duly authorized agents, or the planning commission upon failure of the holder to comply with any of the provisions of this section.  Revocation proceedings shall be conducted as detailed in Sections 18.32.140 and 18.32.150. 

 

E.  Signs shall be suspended so as to leave a clearance of at least ten feet perpendicularly above all sidewalks, and a clearance of at least fourteen feet perpendicularly above all driveways, and shall not extend beyond a point of two feet inside the outer or curb line of the sidewalk; provided, however, that no such sign shall be suspended at such a height so as to interfere with the illumination from street lights erected and maintained by the city. 

 

F.  All signs shall be maintained in good repair and have a neat appearance. 

 

G.  It shall be the responsibility of the sign owner to clean up any and all debris resulting from a failure of a sign.

 

H.  Sign permits shall not be issued until fifteen days have elapsed from the granting thereof, and in case an appeal is filed from the planning commission decision thereon shall not be issued until decision has been made by the city council on such appeal.

 

I.  Sign permits shall not have any force and effect until the permittee acknowledges receipt thereof and acceptance of any conditions thereto. 

 

J.  After the required 15-day waiting period, a building permit must be obtained prior to installation.  Engineering for the wind-loading requirement may be required as determined by the building inspector. 

AYES:               Commissioners Baltar, Dillingham, McGaughey, and Tuman

NOES:              None

ABSENT:            Commissioners Acquistapace, Gonzales and Heiser

 

Commissioner Acquistapace returned to the dais. 

 

 

  1. COMMUNICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE

 

A.  Project Application Review for Siskiyou County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan submitted by Siskiyou County Planning Department.

 

Planning Commissioners discussed the Plan and no action was taken. 

 

B.  Project Application Review for Keith & Lois Darrah Boundary Line Adjustment submitted by Siskiyou County Planning Department. 

 

Planning Commissioners discussed the project and no action was taken. 

 

 

7.  COMMISSIONER'S REPORTS

 

Commissioner Acquistapace asked if something could be done about the phone books left in various outdoor areas noting that the remaining ones are subject to the elements and look messy. 

 

Commissioner Acquistapace also asked if staff has heard anything about a local place to recycle cardboard. 

 

Commisssioner McGaughey recommended that all the street light standards on Main Street and Weed Boulevard be painted before the centennial weekend noting it will help spruce up the City.  Commissioner Acquistapace added that the sign advertising health foods should be removed. 

 

Commissioner Baltar asked if the Public Works Department could repair the bricks on the foundation of the Cougar statue that were damaged when a car backed into it.  Commissioners suggested one or two parking spaces be eliminated at the Mercantile Mall so that doesn’t happen again. 

 

8.  ADJOURNMENT

 

Commissioner Dillingham moved adjournment, and Commissioner Baltar seconded the motion.   

AYES:               Commissioners Acquistapace, Baltar, Dillingham, and McGaughey

NOES:              None

ABSENT:            Commissioners Gonzales and Heiser

 

MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:27 P.M.