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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-13-2008 City Council Minutes Joint Study SessionMINUTES CITY COUNCIL/PLANNING COMMISSION JOINT STUDY SESSION MAY 13, 2008 Mayor Waltonsmith called the Joint Study Session meeting to order at 6:OOPM. Rni,i, C".Ai,i. PRESENT: Councilmembers: Jill Hunter, Aileen Kao, Kathleen King, Vice Mayor Chuck Page, Mayor Ann Waltonsmith Planning Commissioners: Yan Zhao, Linda Rodgers, Susie Nagpal, Robert Kundtz, Joyce Hlava, Chair Manny Cappello ABSENT: Planning Commissioner Rishi Kumar ALSO Dave Anderson, City Manager PRESENT: Richard Taylor, City Attorney Ann Sullivan, Acting City Clerk John Livingstone, Community Development Director REPORT OF CITY CLERK ON POSTING OF AGENDA FOR MARCH 19, 2008 Ann Sullivan, Acting City Clerk, reported that pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2, the agenda for the meeting of May 13, 2008, was properly posted on May 8, 2008. COMMUNICATIONS FROM COMMISSIONS & PUBLIC The following people requested to speak at tonight's meeting: Priscilla Ho -referred to the last joint meeting she had attended regarding the topic of "How to Guide Home Builders to Qualify Architect and Designers" and the difference it makes. She noted the experiences she and her family had experienced during the application and design process with the Saratoga Community Development Department for their new home and stated that it had been a very positive experience and she commended Director John Livingstone and his department staff. COMMUNICATIONS FROM BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS Commissioner Joyce Hlava addressed the Council and Planning Commission noting an informational Housing Element meeting has been scheduled for June 17, 2008 at the North Campus; and afollow-up meeting on August 5, 2008 highlighting the results of the June 17, 2008 meeting. She stated that the consultant would provide a draft of the Housing Element sometime in late 2008 or early January 2009 and then bring it to the Planning Commission. She also noted that they hope to see more people attend these meetings and become more familiar with the Housing Element as well as the Planning Commission's role in the Housing Element. ORAL COMMUNICATION and COUNCIL DIRECTION TO STAFF None JOINT MEETING AGENDA ITEM: 1. Review Permitted and Conditional Use Permits (CUP) Requirements for Commercial Districts in the City. Community Development Director John Livingstone presented staff report noting that based on Council feedback from the February 2008 Council Retreat this item was scheduled as a study session with the Planning Commission to review permitted and conditional uses in the commercial zoning districts. Director Livingstone noted this is afact-finding meeting where the City Council and Planning Commission could discuss the item and ask questions as well as receive input from members of the public attending the meeting. Director Livingstone explained the various permitted uses and conditional uses for each zoning district, and noted the Planning Commission must approve conditional uses. He also explained that because of unusual characteristics, conditional uses require special considerations with respect to the objectives of the Zoning Ordinance and the effects on surrounding properties. There was lengthy discussion between Council and Planning Commission. Mayor Waltonsmith invited public comments. The following people spoke on this item: Gene Zambetti addressed the Council and Planning Commissioners on the CH-1 and CH- 2 Zoning Districts. He also stated that the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) process takes too long to approve and is too costly. Thor Wiles noted that he works in commercial real estate and that it is his job to bring the interested party to the vacant buildings. He stated that the problems he is faced with is telling an interested party how much time and money it takes to go through the CUP request process and not know the results for several months. He noted some communities have "accelerated reviews"; which helps provide some comfort to the potential lessee. Lea Ann Hernandez commented on the lengthy process for the CUP requests and stated there is a great need for improvement in the processing of permits. Paul Hernandez commented on the experience he had regarding signage and the high fees he was required to pay for the type of sign he wanted to install. In addition, he was told he would have to use an architect to design the sign, which he felt was unnecessary; there would be an additional fee for the CUP and an additional fee for the variance -due to the fact that his business was in the CH-2 District. 2 Steve Calli addressed the Council and Planning Commission on the costly and lengthy use permit process and that there is no guarantee that your application will be approved. He also stated he would like to see a market in the Village, and suggested having an outdoor cafe with music on the corner of Fourth and Big Basin. He thought this would be a perfect location for attracting people and the music would help create a warm inviting atmosphere. Mayor Waltonsmith closed the public comment. There was additional discussion between Council, Planning Commission members, and staff regarding businesses in the Village and what can be done to be more business friendly. Mayor Waltonsmith polled the Council and Planning Commissioners regarding their suggestions for the Village and the CUP requirements. The following was stated: Councilmembers - Chuck Page: o Village businesses should remain open later in the day -would generate more sales dollars. o We need to define which businesses we don't want to see more of. o Create a Planning Commission/Council AdHoc to research Village needs. o If research money is allocated -use money responsibly. o Bring back Dave Kilbourne -performed Village Study several years ago. o Use Buxton Survey data. Jill Hunter: o Not opposed to subsidizing certain use permit fees. o City should work closely with Buy & Save market in the Village. o Encourage certain businesses, such as: garden shop, family restaurant, breakfast restaurant, ice cream shop. o Supports Steve Calli's suggestion regarding the outdoor cafe area on the corner of Fourth & Big Basin. o Medical offices at end of Big Basin. o Saratoga wineries need to be more involved in the Village activities. Kathleen King: o Does not want to see more nail salons and real estate firms. o Likes idea of a regulatory committee. o Would like to see a bakery, garden shop and ice cream shop in the Village. o Supports idea to use some General Funds to subsidize specific permit fees. o Willing to lower some fees to attract specific businesses. o Not in favor of creating an Economic Development Coordinator position. o Supports having a committee to study CH-2 District. o Likes the idea of the outdoor corner cafe. o Some type of exercise place for kids. Aileen Kao: o Would like to utilize the Buxton Survey data. o In favor ofsub-committee to research types of businesses needed in Saratoga in general, not just in the Village. 3 o In favor of subsidizing certain permit fees. Planning Commissioners - Joyce Hlava: o Interested in streamlining the CUP application process. o Create a Planning Commission Subcommittee to go through CUP applications. o Improvement of the CH-2 District o Fee subsidy. o Would like to see a Trader Joes, art and movie house. Manny Cappello: o City of San Jose implemented a Fast Track process, we could consider that. o Conditional Use Permit for restaurants was not a requirement. o Should limit nail salons and real estate businesses in the Village. o Feels it is easier to determine types of businesses we no longer need more of - such as nail salons and real estate, versus what we do want to see in the Village. The businesses we want less of, should be required to apply for a Conditional Use Permit;. o Believes that most businesses do not want to have to go through the CUP process. o If we eliminate the CUP requirement, we would not have to subsidize or reduce fees; this would eliminate the uncertainty and time element for the CUP applicant. Suzie Nagpal: o Feels that a good mix of businesses is not a result of the market place, it is the result of planned development. o Feels there has to be some process involved and we could define that process. o Cannot just let the market place take control. o Agrees with having asub-committee to research types of businesses we want. o Agrees with a Fast Track process. o Agrees with the idea of not requiring use permits for certain business -such as a bakery. o Need more activities for children. Linda Rodgers: o Would like to explore the idea of taking out some of the requirements in the Conditional Use Permit and putting those into an Ordinance as a Permanent Use Condition for restaurants, retail, personal services, etc. o Feels the permit process needs to be streamlined. Yan Zhao: o Should waive the CUP process for specific businesses, such as restaurants, bakery, personal services, if they meet the pre-established criteria. This would eliminate the lengthy permit process. City Manager Dave Anderson suggested that as a catalyst to all the suggestions, we bring back Dave Kilbourne to assist in working out the process, form a committee to work on the specific concerns, including the use permit process and the types of businesses that are needed in the community. Mayor Waltonsmith noted that the City of Saratoga needs something that stands out from all the other towns and cities and that it will attract people from all over. She also agreed 4 with the suggestion that the businesses need to stay open later in the day to attract more business. She noted the following recommendations from the Council and Planning Commissioners: 1) Organize a subcommittee to determine types of shops businesses the Village needs. 2) Bring back Dave Kilbourne to assist in determining the types of business we need not only in the Village but in all the business areas of the community. 3) Have public involvement. 4) Look at subsidizing specific use permit fees. 5) Have a small regulatory group look into the Fast Track process. 6) Look into the CH-2 District. 7) Look into Steve Calli's suggestion for the outdoor corner cafe with music. 8) Bring the Planning Commissioners up to date with the Buxton Study data and work with the Buxton representatives utilizing the data from the survey. 9) Have a small group look into the suggestion to have an Ordinance with pre- established business criteria. There was additional discussion and the group concluded to form two committees consisting of the following members: CH-2 District Committee: Councilmember Kathleen King Planning Commissioner Joyce Hlava Village Economic Development Committee: Vice Mayor Chuck Page Councilmember Jill Hunter Planning Commissioner Suzie Napgpal Planning Commissioner Linda Rodgers Direction to Staff: Get price quote for Dave Kilbourne to come back, meet with Economic Development Committee and provide input. Notice committee meetings. Mayor Waltonsmith adjourned the Study Session at 8:20 PM. Respectfully submitted by: -~~ Ann Sullivan, CMC Acting City Clerk