City Hall, Council Chamber

100 Santa Rosa Ave

Santa Rosa, CA

City of Santa Rosa

Planning Commission

Regular Meeting Minutes - Final

Thursday, December 12, 2024

4:30 PM

1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

Chair Weeks called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.

6 -

Present

Chair Karen Weeks, Vice Chair Vicki Duggan, Commissioner Patti

Cisco, Commissioner Aaron Pardo, Commissioner Julian Peterson,

and Commissioner Terrence Sanders

1 - Commissioner Charles Carter

Absent

2. REMOTE PARTICIPATION UNDER AB 2449 (IF NEEDED)

None.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

3.1

November 14, 2024 - Draft Minutes.

Approved as submitted.

Chair Weeks opened and closed public comment at 4:31 p.m.

4. PUBLIC COMMENTS

Chair Weeks opened and closed public comment at 4:32 p.m.

5. COMMISSION BUSINESS

5.1 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Chair Weeks read aloud the Statement of Purpose.

5.2 COMMISSIONER REPORTS

Chair Weeks reminded Commissioners to check their emails.

Chair Weeks opened and closed public comment at 4:35 p.m.

5.3 OTHER (i.e. VICE CHAIR ELECTION, NEW MEMBER INTRODUCTIONS)

None.

6. DEPARTMENT REPORTS

Deputy Director Jones reported.

Chair Weeks opened and closed public comment at 4:37 p.m.

7. STATEMENTS OF ABSTENTION BY COMMISSIONERS

Commissioner Sanders announced recusal from item 11.2 due to

owning a property in a Historic District.

8. PRESENTATIONS

None.

9. CONSENT ITEMS

None.

10. REPORT ITEMS

None.

11. PUBLIC HEARINGS

11.1

PUBLIC HEARING - STATE LEGISLATION ZONING CODE TEXT

AMENDMENT

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the State Legislation Zoning Code text

amendment is to ensure the City Code remains in compliance with any

State laws which preempt local regulations. In 2023 and 2024, the State

of California adopted legislative bills that impact how local governments

process housing development projects and regulate shared parking.

This text amendment includes modifications to the City’s Zoning Code

related to Accessory Dwelling Units, Density Bonuses, Shared Parking

and eliminates the requirement for rezoning for General Plan

consistency for housing projects. This Zoning Code text amendment is

exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality

Act (CEQA).

PRESENTED BY: Amy Nicholson, Supervising Planner

RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by the Planning and

Economic Development Department that the Planning Commission, by

resolution, recommend that the City Council adopt a Zoning Code text

amendment to amend City Code Chapter 20-31(Density Bonus and

Other Incentives), Section 20-12.020 (Zoning Code Rules of

Interpretation), Section 20-36.050 (Adjustments to Parking

Requirements), and Section 20-42.130 (Accessory Dwelling Units) as

described in Attachment 1.

Senior Planner Nicholson presented.

Staff representatives responded to Commissioner inquiries.

Chair Weeks opened and closed the Public Hearing at 5:02 p.m.

A motion was made by Commissioner Cisco, seconded by Vice Chair

Duggan, to waive reading of the text and adopt

RESOLUTION NO. PC-2024-026 ENTITLED: RESOLUTION OF THE

PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA RECOMMENDING

TO CITY COUNCIL A ZONING CODE TEXT AMENDMENT TO ENSURE

MUNICIPAL CODE CONSISTENCY WITH STATE LAW - FILE NUMBER

REZ24-004

The motion carried by the following vote:

6 -

Yes:

Chair Weeks, Vice Chair Duggan, Commissioner Cisco,

Commissioner Pardo, Commissioner Peterson and Commissioner

Sanders

1 - Commissioner Carter

Absent:

11.2

PUBLIC HEARING - LANDMARK ALTERATION PROCESS

IMPROVEMENTS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE BOARD AND DESIGN

REVIEW BOARD CONSOLIDATION

BACKGROUND: The proposed project includes recommendations to

amend the Santa Rosa Zoning and Municipal Codes and the

Processing Review Procedures for Owners of Historic Properties. The

proposed amendments are two-fold: 1) streamline and enhance the

Landmark Alteration Permit process for properties located in the City’s

eight Preservation Districts and for properties designated as local

landmarks; and 2) consolidate the Cultural Heritage Board and Design

Review Board duties and composition into a single Design Review and

Preservation Board, in order to provide a more streamlined process,

enhance the City’s preservation efforts, and better allocate City

resources.

PRESENTED BY: Jessica Jones, Planning Deputy Director

RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by the Planning and

Economic Development Department that the Planning Commission, by

resolution, recommend to the City Council adoption of Zoning and

Municipal Code amendments to (1) address streamlining and process

improvements for the Landmark Alteration Permit process, and (2)

consider consolidation of the duties and composition of the Cultural

Heritage Board and Design Review Board into a single Design Review

and Preservation Board.

Deputy Director Jones presented.

Chair Weeks opened the Public Hearing at 5:33 p.m.

Brian Meuser spoke in support of the item.

Sher Ennis spoke in opposition of the fee's.

Denise Hill spoke in support of the item.

Chair Weeks closed the Public Hearing at 5:43 p.m.

Staff representatives responded to Commissioner inquiries.

A motion was made by Commissioner Cisco, seconded by Vice Chair

Duggan, to waive reading of the text and adopt

RESOLUTION NO. PC-2024-027 ENTITLED: RESOLUTION OF THE

PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA MAKING

FINDINGS AND DETERMINATIONS AND RECOMMENDING TO CITY

COUNCIL ADOPTION OF ZONING AND MUNICIPAL CODE TEXT

AMENDMENTS TO ADDRESS STREAMLINING AND PROCESS

IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE LANDMARK ALTERATION PERMIT PROCESS,

AND CONSOLIDATION OF THE DUTIES AND COMPOSITION OF THE

CULTURAL HERITAGE BOARD AND DESIGN REVIEW BOARD INTO A

SINGLE DESIGN REVIEW AND PRESERVATION BOARD

The motion carried by the following vote:

5 -

Yes:

Chair Weeks, Vice Chair Duggan, Commissioner Cisco,

Commissioner Pardo and Commissioner Peterson

1 - Commissioner Carter

1 - Commissioner Sanders

Absent:

Recused:

12. ADJOURNMENT

Chair Weeks adjourned the meeting at 6:02 p.m.