CITY OF WEED PLANNING COMMISSION

                                                             REGULAR MEETING

                                                               OCTOBER 6, 1999

 

The Planning Commission of the City of Weed held a regular meeting on Wednesday, October 6, 1999, 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, Jack Colombana, and Jess Gonzales.  Also present were Interim City Administrator Earl Wilson and Planning Commission Secretary Deborah Salvestrin. 

Ms. Salvestrin reported that Commissioner Candace Dillingham is still out of the County on a job-related assignment and requests her absence be excused. 

Chairman Tuman moved to excuse the absence of Commissioner Dillingham, and Commissioner Gonzales seconded the motion. 

AYES:              Commissioners Acquistapace, Baltar, Colombana, and Gonzales

NOES:              None

ABSENT:          Commissioners Dillingham, and Heiser

                                              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.

                                                        CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Chairman Tuman called for Commissioners to declare conflicts of interest on any item on this agenda. There were none.

                                                              REGULAR AGENDA

A.  Sign Permit: Tom Brantley=s Chevron, 12 S. Weed Boulevard B Approval is requested for a free-standing reader board advertising sign

Interim Administrator Wilson reported receipt of application for sign permit for additional advertising sign submitted by Tom Brantley.  Mr. Wilson explained that Mr. Brantley proposes the installation of a reader board type sign sized three feet by nine feet in the landscaped planter area at the corner of South Weed Boulevard and Main Street, and that the request meets the City=s requirements. 

Mr. Brantley came before the Commission in support of his request, noting that he is seeking City approval and then must obtain Chevron approval for the installation of the sign.

Commissioner Baltar requested and received permission to step from the dais to take a phone call, and then returned to ask to be excused in order to respond to an emergency call related to work.  Chairman Tuman excused Commissioner Baltar from the meeting. 

Commissioner Gonzales moved, seconded by Commissioner Colombana, to find that the establishment, maintenance or operation 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, and, to approve the sign use permit subject to the following conditions:          

1.  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. 

2.  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. 

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

4.  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. 

5.  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. 

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

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

8.  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.

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

10.  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 Acquistapace, Colombana, and Gonzales

NOES:              None

ABSENT:          Commissioners Baltar, Dillingham, and Heiser

B.  Sign Permit:  Main Street Market, 123 Main Street B Approval is requested for flush-mounted advertising signs

Interim City Administrator Wilson reported receipt of application for sign permit submitted by Keith Cool who proposes the installation of flush mounted advertising signs on both the south facing and the Main Street walls of the Main Street Market.  Mr. Wilson explained that the signs for the south side are painted sign plywood and that the signs meet the City=s requirements.  

Mr. Cool appeared before the Commission in support of his request, and noted that he will come back to the Commission at a later date with plans for the replacement of the can-type illuminated sign on the front of the building. 

Commissioner Colombana moved, seconded by Commissioner Gonzales, to find that the establishment, maintenance or operation 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; and

Approve the signs with the following conditions:

1.  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. 

2.  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. 

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

4.  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. 

5.  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. 

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

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

8.  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.

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

10.  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 Acquistapace, Colombana, and Gonzales

NOES:              None

ABSENT:          Commissioners Baltar, Dillingham and Heiser

C.  Zone Change/Tentative Parcel Map (Sphere of Influence): Gustav Orosz, 2605 College Avenue B Siskiyou County Planning Department is offering opportunity to comment on an application for zone change and subdivision

            Interim City Administrator Wilson reported receipt of copy of application to the County for approvals of a zone change and tentative parcel map.  Mr. Wilson noted the application refers to property within the City’s sphere of influence. 

            The Planning Commission discussed traffic impacts associated with additional parcels of land, and Chairman Tuman moved, seconded by Commissioner Gonzales, to send a letter to the County expressing concern for the means for the future improvement of College Avenue due to traffic impacts and request that subdividers address this issue. 

AYES:              Commissioners Acquistapace, Colombana, and Gonzales

NOES:              None

ABSENT:          Commissioners Baltar, Dillingham, and Heiser

                                                          APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Commissioner Gonzales moved, seconded by Commissioner Colombana, approval of the minutes of the meetings of June 30, and August 4, 1999, as written, copies of which were distributed to the Commission for review prior to the time of the meeting. 

AYES:              Commissioners Acquistapace, Colombana, and Gonzales

NOES:              None

ABSENT:          Commissioners Baltar, Dillingham, and Heiser

                                                      COMMISSIONER'S REPORTS

            Chairman Tuman requested and received a status report on the street patching work done by Cox and Cox in conjunction with the sewer project. 

                                                                STAFF REPORTS

            Interim Administrator Wilson gave a status report on the sewer improvement and replacement project.

            Mr. Wilson also reported that there is interest in commencing the Sign Committee’s work regarding a recommendation on off-site advertising signs.  Mr. Wilson noted that the Committee has not been able to meet due to work conflicts with one or more Committee members but those meetings should be able to commence soon. 

                                                                 ADJOURNMENT

            Commissioner Gonzales moved adjournment and Commissioner Acquistapace seconded the motion. 

AYES:              Commissioners Acquistapace, Colombana, and Gonzales

NOES:              None

ABSENT:          Commissioners Baltar, Dillingham, and Heiser

MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:35 P.M.