REGULAR
MEETING
NOVEMBER
7, 2001
The Planning Commission of the City of Weed held a regular meeting on Wednesday, November 7, 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, Candace Dillingham, Jess Gonzales, and
Teddy McGaughey. Also present were City
Administrator Earl Wilson and Planning Commission Secretary Deborah
Salvestrin.
Commissioner
Harold Baltar was absent due to a work commitment, and Commissioner Karen
Heiser called in just prior to the time of the meeting to say she was
sick.
Chairman
Tuman invited comments and/or questions from the audience on specific agenda
items, or any item of interest that is within the Commission’s jurisdiction,
noting that no action could be taken by the Commission except to set the matter
presented for the next regular Commission meeting. There were none.
Chairman
Tuman called for Commissioners to declare conflicts of interest on any item on
this agenda. There were none.
A. Shasta Mountain RV Park: 1) Environmental Determination; 2) Conditional Use Permit
Chairman Tuman reviewed the procedures for the conduct of
public hearings, and then declared the present as the time and place for the
scheduled hearing. Chairman Tuman asked
for and received verification that proper notice had been given in accordance
with the law, and then declared the hearing open at 7:10 p.m.
City Administrator
Earl Wilson reported receipt of application for conditional use permit for the
construction of a recreational vehicle park that would include 463 motor
home/recreational vehicle sites, 50 cabins, recreation facilities, clubhouse,
dining room, kitchen, entertainment room and offices. The park would gain access through a pay point station off an
extension of Vista Drive, will be a membership park with memberships being sold
throughout the United States and will accommodate membership owners for one to
three week stays. Recreational
activities will be provided for members through private providers. In addition to the RV sites and campgrounds,
two large open grassy fields will be provided for group or team use. Mr. Wilson recommended acceptance of the
Negative Declaration and approval of the conditional use permit subject to the
findings and conditions shown in the staff report.
Chairman Tuman asked for comments and/or questions in
support of the requested use permit.
Jim Bennett one of the owners of the property came before
the Commission to discuss the recommended conditions. Mr. Bennett specifically commented on conditions 8 and 9 questioning
whether the maintenance road on the rail right of way could be used as the fire
emergency access road. Mr. Bennett
questioned condition 11 noting he is of the assumption that the required
turn-a-round is temporary until Vista Drive is extended to the east. Mr. Bennett clarified that with regard to
condition 13, the extension of Vista Drive is not extended to the entrance to
the project but rather the entrance to the project will take off of Vista
Drive.
Chairman Tuman requested comments and/or questions in
opposition to the requested conditional use permit.
Dick Shepard, resident of Hidden Meadow Drive, stated he is
not against the project but requested the owners use discretion with regard to
the lighting of the RV Park. Mr.
Shepard stated eventually there will be 60 plus homes in Hidden Meadows
Subdivision and 40’ stanchions with flood lights on top could take away some of
their evening.
Mr. Bennett responded to Mr. Shepard’s comment stating that
the elevation of the railroad grade may diffuse some of the glare, and he and
is partner intend to use lighting that illuminates the ground, and not the
surrounding sky.
Chairman Tuman recommended the hearing be continued to
permit a more in-depth review of the conditions.
Commissioner Dillingham questioned condition #5 with regard
to the paving, and City Administrator Wilson explained that the business could
not be opened until the City issues the Certificate of Occupancy.
Commissioner Dillingham also questioned condition #13 and
requested and received clarification that Vista Drive and associated
development infrastructure will be extended to the point where the entrance to
the RV Park takes off.
City Administrator Wilson reviewed receipt of
correspondence from the State Department of Fish and Game requiring a 100-foot
buffer along the watercourse, and noted that the developers received a letter
requesting a new plot plan indicating the required buffer, and the new plan has
not been received.
There being no further discussion, Commissioner Dillingham
moved, seconded by Commissioner Gonzales that action be continued so that more
information can be gathered.
AYES: Commissioners
Acquistapace,
Dillingham, Gonzales, and McGaughey
NOES: None
ABSENT: Commissioners Baltar and Heiser
A. Siskiyou
County sponsored General Plan Amendment:
Planning Commission will consider request for comments on amendment of
the General Plan to add Polices and Objectives to the Conservation Element and
the Land Use Element regarding Groundwater Management Plans.
City Administrator Wilson reported receipt of application
for proposed General Plan Amendment referred to the City by the County for
review and comment. Commissioners
discussed the proposal to add policies and objectives to development
groundwater management plans for all groundwater basins of Siskiyou
County. There was no comment to be
forwarded to the County.
City
Administrator Wilson recalled that the Planning Commission at its September 5
meeting reviewed the mitigating measures and conditions for the use permit for
Black Butte Auto. Mr. Wilson added that
Jim Gubetta requested that review, and at the time of the meeting requested
additional items for review. Mr. Wilson’s
staff report listed responses to conditions 5, 7, 8, and 9 as shown in the June
17, 1998 Planning Commission action, and noted that the project is not yet
paved as required.
Jim
Gubetta, resident of Woodridge Court, came before the Commission to request the
Planning Commission pay additional attention to the storm water permit, and the
Federal requirement prohibiting junkyards within a certain proximity to
highways recommending Charles Burley in Washington, DC be contacted at
1-202-366-4842 regarding the applicability of the Federal regulations. Mr. Gubetta complained that there are
currently 20 to 30 vehicles out front of the building where six parking places
are required, and additionally questioned the operations layer that was
required on the former landfill site.
Commissioner
McGaughey stated that she stopped at the business, and believes Mr. Palmer has
good reasons for having cars in certain areas and not completing his use permit
conditions. Ms. McGaughey also stated
that Mr. Palmer will be constructing mini-storage buildings soon and suggested
those buildings could be placed so as to provide a visual barrier.
Chairman
Tuman asked about the Federal highway regulations and questioned why a citation
has not been issued. Jim Gubetta responded
in part that the Federal monies were turned over to the State to administer the
program.
Commissioner
Dillingham stated that the project needs some visual screening, and noted that
the landscaping was required to screen the view and to reduce the glare from
windshields. Ms. Dillingham noted that
no more than 6 cars were to be out front and those were to be in a paved
parking area.
Commissioner
McGaughey stated the landscaping is in place but unfortunately there were no
requirements as to size of trees to be planted.
Commissioner
Dillingham questioned the timeline for the water line installation so that the
paving requirement can be set. City
Administrator Wilson responded that the Public Works Department is attempting
to schedule the water line installation but noted the paving of Mr. Palmer’s
parking lot should not interfere with that.
Commissioner Dillingham requested staff provide information as to the
timing of the water line installation.
Commissioner
Gonzales stated the cars parked in front need to be cleaned up.
Commissioners
questioned whether the trailer is functioning as a sign at the roadway edge,
and Commissioner Acquistapace noted that if the sign ordinance was amended in
its entirety, the painted trailer would not be allowed but the City Council
decided it didn’t want to do the whole ordinance.
Chairman
Tuman requested staff follow up on the items mentioned.
C. Report on request for review of proposed land use map submitted by Jim Bennett and Greg Walkup
City Administrator Wilson reviewed that the Planning
Commission was asked by Jim Bennett and Greg Walkup to review a development
concept for their property in South Weed, and the Planning Commission selected
a committee that developed information regarding general plans and zoning, and
recommended the developers hire a professional planner to develop a concept
that will comply with the City’s General Plan.
Jim Bennett appeared before the Commission representing his
partner Greg Walkup and himself. Mr.
Bennett requested clarification of the suggestion to hire a planner because
they developed their land use plan and submitted it to the City along with the
Aspen Creek Subdivision application and it was accepted.
Chairman Tuman agreed that the concept was accepted as the
developers’ view of land uses however, the land use concept does not conform to
the General Plan guidelines and the City Council’s concept of land use
there.
Jim Bennett again spoke to the Commission requesting
direction from the Commission as to how the property should be developed. Mr. Bennett stated that the property is
zoned so that residential use is allowed by use permit and that is what they
are trying to do however the City Council has said they do not want housing in
south Weed. Mr. Bennett reminded the
Commission that when the zone change to limited industrial was approved, he and
his partner estimated they would develop the land in thirds with industrial,
commercial, and residential. The industrial
park is under way in the vicinity of Crystal Geyser, and the master land use
plan was drafted to provide housing in the middle third area of the
property. Mr. Bennett said that he and
his partner continue to work to get limited industrial uses however the
property has been sitting vacant for 40 years, and if uses are restricted, the
property will remain vacant for another 40 years.
Jim Patten, principal partner in Shasta View Development
Company, appeared before the Commission to express concern about what may take
place in the south area because his group has a substantial investment there
and limitations on uses could affect that investment.
Chairman Tuman agreed that the zoning designation was
appropriate years ago as sort of a general idea but now that the property is
starting to develop, it is appropriate to place the development so that uses
are grouped in a systematic manner with buffers to make the transition between
the uses.
Jim Bennett reiterated from a previous meeting that they
are not planning light industrial uses south of the rail line and Shasta View
Development Company property is also meant for commercial and residential
development.
Commissioner McGaughey stated that she would be more
receptive to the plan if the residential use is on the south end of the property
with the commercial in the central area near the truck stop. Mr. Bennett noted that the central area is
flat and the south area is hilly and more scenic and not appropriate for
residential uses due to costs for constructing roads associated with residential
areas. Mr. Bennett stated the example
of a golf course as appropriate development for that area.
Commissioner Dillingham stated that City staff and elected
and appointed officials are looking for well-planned development not one where
walls are in place to protect residential uses because commercial development
came along as an afterthought.
Jim Bennett expressed frustration that he doesn’t
understand what the Commission is asking him to do, and asked if it would be
okay to talk to the City’s Planning Consultant for direction and definition of
what the Commission is asking.
City Administrator Wilson agreed that Mr. Bennett should
get direction from Mark Teague as to the next step to get his master land use
plan approved.
Commissioner Dillingham questioned the timing for the land
use element amendment because the language in the drafted plan is clearer as to
the south Weed area, and may be helpful to the planning process. City Administrator Wilson responded that the
element requires maps and Great Northern Corporation has been notified of the
City’s interest to get the project moving.
D. Workshop schedule: Commission will consider scheduling for continuation of the Planning Commissioner’s workshop held on August 29, 2001, and October 15, 2001.
City Administrator Wilson asked Commissioners to find a
date for the continuation of the workshop that was started in late August and
continued to October. After some
discussion, it was determined that Commissioners could not find a common date
before the end of the month so the matter will be placed on the next agenda to
try again.
Commissioner
Gonzales moved, seconded by Commissioner Dillingham, approval of the minutes of
the meeting of August 29, and October 15, 2001 as written, copies of which were
distributed to the Commission for review prior to the time of the meeting.
AYES: Commissioners
Acquistapace,
Dillingham, Gonzales, and McGaughey
NOES: None
ABSENT: Commissioners Baltar and Heiser
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Acquistapace moved adjournment, and
Commissioner Dillingham seconded the motion.
AYES: Commissioners
Acquistapace,
Dillingham, Gonzales, and McGaughey
NOES: None
ABSENT: Commissioners Baltar and Heiser
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:48 P.M.