PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES

CITY OF SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA

Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at 6:30 P.m. - 7:30 P.m.

City Hall Council Chambers

110 East Cook Street

Santa Maria

Members Present:

• Commissioner Esau Blanco, 
• Commissioner Robert Dickerson, 
• Commissioner Tom Lopez, 
• Commissioner Yasameen Mohajer, 
• and Commission Chair Tim Seifert 

Staff Present:

• Planning Division Manager Dana Eady, 
• Assistant City Attorney Heather Whitham, 
• Senior Planner Carol Ziesenhenne, 
• and Recording Secretary Kathleen Wilson 

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1.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Commissioner Mohajer led the Pledge of Allegiance.

2.

CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

Commissioners Esau Blanco, Robert Dickerson, Tom Lopez, Yasameen Mohajer, and Commission Chair Tim Seifert.

Chair Seifert called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

3.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

• Moved by: Commissioner Robert Dickerson
  Seconded by: Commissioner Esau Blanco

  Approve the minutes of the Planning Commission for the meeting of July 19, 2023.

  For (3)	Commissioner Robert Dickerson, Commissioner Esau Blanco, and Commissioner Tom Lopez
  Abstained (2)	Commission Chair Tim Seifert, and Commissioner Yasameen Mohajer

  Motion carried by a recorded vote (3 to 0)

4.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD (NOT TO EXCEED A TOTAL OF 15 MINUTES)

Each member of the audience may address the Commission on any subject within the Commission's business.  Each member of the audience and each subject is limited to discussion of three minutes or as otherwise directed by the Commission Chair.

There were no requests to speak.

5.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS FOR PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS:

Staff presentation.
Disclose any Commissioner communications.
Applicant presentation.
Questions from the Commission.
Open meeting to the public:
      Written communications
      Public comment 
      Any rebuttals to be heard
Questions of the public or applicant the from Commission.
Public hearing to be closed.
Discussion and decision on the item.

5.a

ALVIN NEWTON APARTMENTS DOWNTOWN PERMIT AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF BROADWAY AND MAIN STREET

Property Location: Southeast corner of Main Street and Broadway

Review of a Downtown Permit (DT2022-0022) for The Vernon Group to construct a 6-story, 75,340-square-foot mixed-use building with 5,760-square-feet of ground floor commercial, 82 apartment units, a rooftop deck, outdoor plazas, parking, and a firefighters' memorial on a 1.49-acre site in the Gateway District of the Downtown Specific Plan.

Environmental: The project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15332 (Class 32), Infill Development.

Planner Contact: Carol Ziesenhenne, 805-925-0951 ext. 1607; 

• Moved by: Commissioner Robert Dickerson
  Seconded by: Commissioner Esau Blanco

  That the Planning Commission, by motion, continued the item to the September 6, 2023, public hearing.

  For (5)

  Commissioner Robert Dickerson, Commissioner Esau Blanco, Commission Chair Tim Seifert, Commissioner Tom Lopez, and Commissioner Yasameen Mohajer

  Motion carried by a recorded vote (5 to 0)

5.b

BETTERAVIA PLAZA CHEVRON PLANNED DEVELOPMENT PERMIT AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF BETTERAVIA ROAD AND WALKER AVENUE.

Property Location: Northeast Corner of Betteravia Road and Walker Avenue

Review of a Planned Development Permit (PD2021-0010) and Conditional Use Permit (U2023-0015) for Morris Kautz Jr. to construct a 10-pump fueling station, electric vehicle charging facility, and carwash with a 6,100-square-foot convenience store with second-floor office/storage area, and a 2,500-square-foot drive-through restaurant on a 2.9-acre site in a PD/C-2 (Planned Development/General Commercial) district.

Environmental: The Project was adequately covered in a previously adopted Environmental Impact Report (SCH# 2015011029) and only minor technical changes were required; therefore, an Addendum has been prepared pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines Section 15164.

Planner Contact: Carol Ziesenhenne, 805-925-0951 ext. 1607; 

 

Commissioner Mohajer recused herself, citing a conflict of interest.

• Moved by: Commissioner Robert Dickerson
  Seconded by: Commissioner Esau Blanco

  That the Planning Commission take the following actions:

  1. By resolution, approve an Addendum to the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared for the Betteravia Plaza Chevron project;

      

  2. By motion, approve Planned Development Permit PD2021-0010; and

      

  3. By motion, approve Conditional Use Permit U2023-0015

  For (4)	Commissioner Robert Dickerson, Commissioner Esau Blanco, Commission Chair Tim Seifert, and Commissioner Tom Lopez
  Conflict (1)	Commissioner Yasameen Mohajer

  Motion carried by a recorded vote (4 to 0)

6.

OTHER BUSINESS

Oral Reports from the Planning Commission and staff.

7.

ADJOURNMENT

Next Study Session: August 17, 2023
Next Public Hearing: September 6, 2023

There being no further business, Commission Chair Seifert declared the Planning Commission meeting adjourned at 7:22 p.m.

8.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

DISCLOSURE:

This agenda is prepared and posted pursuant to the requirements of Government Code Section 54954.2. By listing a topic on this agenda, the Planning Commission has expressed its intent to discuss and act on each item. In addition to any action identified in the brief general description of each item, the action that may be taken shall include: a referral to staff with specific requests for information; continuance; specific direction to staff concerning the policy or mission of the item; discontinuance of consideration; adoption, approval or disapproval or recommendation thereof. If you challenge a determination made on a matter on this agenda in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described on this agenda, or in written correspondence to the Planning Commission at, or prior to, the public hearing. Materials related to an item on this agenda submitted after posting the agenda online will be available for public inspection during normal business hours in the Community Development Department Office, 110 South Pine Street, Room 101, Santa Maria or by calling the Community Development Department at 805-925-0951 ext. 2244.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION:

To receive reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act during the meeting, please notify the Community Development Department of what you need during business hours at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting. The Community Development Department office is at 110 South Pine Street, Santa Maria; 805-925-0951, ext. 2244. The City will give primary consideration to your request in providing assistance. Examples of assistance may include exhibits in large-sized format, use of assisted listening equipment, use of the California Relay Service, texting by cellular phone, or the services of a live interpreter. Assisted listening equipment can also be used for interpretation by Spanish-only speaking persons. To allow the City to coordinate and request a Spanish interpreter from the volunteer corps, contact the Office of the City Clerk at [phone] x2307 by 1:00 p.m. on Monday before the meeting. Equipo también puede ser utilizado para la asistencia de interpretación para esas personas que solamente hablan español. Para permitirle a la Ciudad que coordine y solicite un interprete de un grupo de voluntarios, llame al [phone] extensión 2307 a la 1:00 de la tarde el lunes antes de la junta.

Next Study Session: 
Next Public Hearing: