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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-02-1993 Planning Commission minutes.r,. i REGULAR ADJOURNED PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF February 2, 1993 ACTION MINUTES ---------------------------------------------------- Present: Vice Chairperson Bogosian, Commissioners Moran, Asfour, Murakami, Wolfe and Jacobs Absent: Chairperson Caldwell HOUSING ELEMENT - CONTINUING REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF COMMENTS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT Planning Director Curtis gave an update on the status of the Planning Commission's review of the comments on the Saratoga Housing Element made by the State of California, Department of Housing and Community Development. He also outlined the comments from the State and presented various options the Commission had with regard to addressing the State's comments. Planning Director Curtis noted that a conference on Housing Element issues was scheduled for later in the year which may offer ideas and way in which cities can address the comments made by the State. Both Planning Director Curtis and Planner George White answered questions from the Commission. There was discussion regarding the time line for which the comments from the State must be addressed. It was determined that no actual deadline had been given by the State. Commissioner Moran stated that she favored waiting until after the conference, mentioned by the Planning Director, to address the comments from the State. She stated that she felt that the Commission was in a good position since they had already received the State's comments on the Housing Element and by delaying action on those comments would allow the Commission to attend the conference with focus on learning how Saratoga could address the State's comments. Commissioner Asfour recommended that the Commission wait until after attending the conference to address the comments made by the State. • • 2 • Commissioner Moran suggested that the Commission go ahead and hear any testimony from the public on this issue. (Public testimony, if any was inaudible) Commissioner Murakami expressed his preference to wait until after the conference to address the comments made on the Housing Element. The new Commissioners indicated that the issue was too new to them at this time to make comments on recommended action for addressing the State's comments. There was consensus from the Commission to delay addressing the comments made by the State on the Draft Housing Element until after attending the conference. The Commission will gather on April 6, 1993 to begin work on addressing the State's comments on the Housing Element. OPEN SPACE ELEMENT - CONTINUING REVIEW OF DRAFT POLICIES AND IMPLEMENTATION (Beginning on Page 16 "Acquisition of Open Space) Open Space Acquisition Vice Chairperson Bogosian suggested the words "Open Space" be the first words which begin the paragraph instead of just the word "acquisition". He also noted and expressed agreement with a written comment made by Chairperson Caldwell regarding the third sentence of the paragraph. Chairperson Caldwell suggested the sentence read as follows: "Since the City is best able to move quickly with large sums of money need for acquisition, private monies should be sought in advance for acquisition opportunities and help with preservation, development and maintenance after acquisition has occurred." Commissioner Moran inquired whether the sentence that begins "The City should establish and maintain a coordinated funding program..." would trigger a mechanism to establish ways in which this funding would be acquired. There was discussion regarding this sentence and the sentences which follow. Vice Chairperson Bogosian suggested that the paragraph end with the sentence suggested (above) by Chairperson Caldwell and the remaining sentences of the paragraph be moved to #43 "Funding" under the Policies section. Commissioner Moran agreed with the suggestion to end the first paragraph with the sentence ending with "occurred", and also suggested taking the remaining ' • • 3 sentences of the paragraph (beginning the sentence "The City should establish and maintain a coordinated...") and place them under "Policies" #43 and delete the existing wording which serves as Policy #43. There was consensus for Commissioner Moran's suggestion. Criteria for Acquiring City Open Space Vice Chairperson Bogosian inquired whether this section was repetitious of the State Open Space Element. With regard to the second bullet, Scenic View (visual backdrop or edge, unique site features, ridgelines- Chairperson Bogosian stated that he had a problem including the word "edge" if a clear definition of "edge" has not been determined. He also suggested that the 3rd bullet, Biological Resource Conservation include a provision for wildlife corridors. There was discussion regarding the significance of including the Development Potential and Matching Cost Potential bullets in the list under Criteria for Acquiring Open Space. Planning Director Curtis explained that the criteria list included not only physical criteria, but also fiscal criteria for open space acquisition and that these points in question address the fiscal criteria. There was agreement to leave these two points on the criteria list. Policies #39 Standards Staff was directed to check the feasibility of the numbers noted in this paragraph - specifically the 5 acres per 1000. #40 Conservation Easements There was discussion on whether this paragraph should be more specific regarding the critical areas in subdivisions. Planning Director Curtis recommended that the Commission allow this the be general. Commissioner Moran stated that she felt that the words "critical areas" should be defined or be made more specific. Commissioner Asfour suggested that examples of critical areas be given in the paragraph. He suggested that the words "such as, but not limited to" be utilized therefore giving examples, but not excluding other possibilities of critical areas. #41 Density Transfer • • 4 Vice Chairperson Bogosian inquired whether Saratoga has such preservation districts and if the City has such a transfer program. He also expressed concern with this paragraph because he felt that it essentially allows certain areas to be disregarded as far as establishing and preserving open space areas. He suggested that language be added to explain why the City has such districts. #42 Agricultural Land Vice Chairperson Bogosian suggested that there be a definition of Agricultural Land Trust. Linda, Open Space Task Force Member, gave an explanation of how the Agricultural Land Trust program works. Discussion commenced regarding this paragraph. No changes were made. #43 Funding There was consensus that the current language should be replaced with the following: "The City should establish and maintain a coordinated funding program for neighborhood and community park and open space acquisition. To acquire open space, the City should pursue all means available including direct purchase, private donations and dedications, private land trusts, State, Federal and other grant sources, use of assessment districts, bond issues, development requirements, user fees, public/private joint ventures and all other means to insure park and recreation facilities are available for all City residents." #44 Acquisition Legislation There was brief discussion regarding this paragraph, but no changes were made. #45 Open Space System Linkage Commissioner Asfour suggested that the heading "Open Space System Linkage" be changed to "Open Space System Coordination". This was agreeable to the Commission. #46 Dedication Acceptance by other Agencies No changes were made to this paragraph. #47 Public Utility Rights-of Way Vice Chairperson Bogosian suggested the word "recreation" be replaced with the words "open space". This was acceptable to the Commission. • • lyi Implementation Programs Dedications and In-Lieu Fees No changes were made. New Funding There was consensus to replace the word "consider" with the words "by considering". Sale, Lease, or Use Agreements The Commission directed staff to develop language to be added to this paragraph which would require that the monies from sale, lease or use of City-owned park or open space be exclusively used for park or open space so the balance of use remains the same within the City. The Commission strongly recommended that monies derived from lease or sale of City-owned property be put back into acquiring properties for open space and park use so the City will maintain a balance of land for such open space/park use. The Commission expressed interested in protecting such money from being channelled into other branches of the government. School Progertx No changes were made. Voluntary Contributions No changes were made. Planning Director Curtis explained that staff would prepare a revised draft of the Open Space Element which would come back before the Planning Commission for their review and comments. A member of the audience addressed the Commission regarding implementing a policy which would permanently protect City-owned open space from being sold in the future. She spoke of an occurrence where a piece of land had been preserved for open space use, but several years later was sold and developed. There was discussion regarding the time line for the revised Draft Open Space Element. Staff indicated that they hoped to have a draft for Planning Commission review at the April worksession. • • 6 The Open Space segment of the meeting was concluded at this point.