City Hall, Council Chamber

100 Santa Rosa Ave

Santa Rosa, CA

City of Santa Rosa

Planning Commission

Regular Meeting Minutes - Final

Thursday, September 14, 2023

4:30 PM

1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

Chair Weeks called the meeting to order at 4:30 P.M.

7 -

Present

Chair Karen Weeks, Vice Chair Vicki Duggan, Commissioner Charles

Carter, Commissioner Patti Cisco, Commissioner Jeffrey Holton,

Commissioner Julian Peterson, and Commissioner Terrence Sanders

Chair Weeks re-ordered the agenda, moving item 7.1 Study

Session - Draft General Plan to be heard last, after item 10 Public

Hearings.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

2.1

July 13, 2023 - Draft Minutes

Approved as submitted.

2.2

August 24, 2023 - Draft Minutes

Approved as amended.

3. PUBLIC COMMENTS

None.

4. COMMISSION BUSINESS

4.1 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Chair Weeks read aloud the Statement of Purpose.

4.2 COMMISSIONER REPORTS

Commisioner Carter reported about the Subdivision Committee

meeting on September 5, 2023.

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

None.

5. DEPARTMENT REPORTS

Staff Liaison Jones reported.

6. STATEMENTS OF ABSTENTION BY COMMISSIONERS

None.

7. STUDY SESSION

7.1

STUDY SESSION - DRAFT GENERAL PLAN- SANTA ROSA

FORWARD

RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by the Planning & Economic

Development Department that the Planning Commission review and

provide input on the Draft General Plan.

PRESENTED BY: Shari Meads, Senior Planner

Planner Meads and Planner Auna-Guerrero presented.

Staff responded to Commissioner inquiries.

Chair Weeks opened the public comment period at 6:41 P.M.

Duane Dewitt commented about the Roseland District being an

equity priority area.

Alexa Forester expressed concerns about the language being used

in the Active Transportation Plan of the General Plan.

Chris Gunther expressed the need for a multi-mobile transportation

network and commented on the environmental impact vehicle miles

traveled has on the City.

Avery Figueroa commented on the roads not being bicycle friendly

for her children.

Justin Borten commented on affordable transportation options.

Jenny Bard made suggestions for safe transportation.

Emily Shardon supports the comments made by Bikeable Santa

Rosa.

Calum Weeks supports all of the comments made about

transportation.

Mark Frenezaka commented on CO2 reduction deadlines and the

impacts it has on climate change.

Chair Weeks closed the public comment period at 7:06 P.M.

Staff responded to Commissioner inquiries.

Commissioners provided comments and feedback.

Chair Weeks called for recess at 8:05 P.M.

Chair Weeks reconvened the meeting at 8:13 P.M.

Commissioners continued the Study Session.

8. CONSENT ITEMS

None.

9. REPORT ITEMS

None.

10. PUBLIC HEARINGS

10.1*

PUBLIC HEARING - BUNYA BUNYA TREE REMOVAL (APPEAL) -

1080 2ND ST - TR22-062 (CONTINUED FROM AUGUST 24, 2023)

BACKGROUND: On March 3, 2023, a Tree Permit requesting to

remove an approximately 125-foot Bunya Bunya Tree was denied by

the Director of Planning and Economic Development. The Salvation

Army Residences, Inc. has appealed that decision to the Planning

Commission. The tree is located at 1080 2nd Street, between the

community garden and the sidewalk along the 2nd Street frontage. The

project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act.

PRESENTED BY: Susie Murray, Senior Planner

Ex Parte Disclosures: None.

Planner Murray presented.

Staff responded to Commissioner inquiries.

Appellant Representatives presented.

Appellant Representatives responded to Commissioner Inquiries.

Chair Weeks opened the public hearing at 5:14 P.M.

Sharon King, part time Salvation Army Employee, commented on

the safety risk and injury the Bunya Bunya tree has caused.

Captain Sean Kelsey, Sonoma County Coordinator with the

Salvation Army, commented on the funds being used for tree

maintenance and injury the tree has caused.

Evan Hughes commented that the tree is a Heritage Tree and

should be preserved.

Duane Dewitt suggested Staff conduct a risk assessment and table

the conversation till sufficient proof is collected.

Ricky Scott, a parapalegic, commented on the safety risk to Santa

Rosa residents.

Henry Garrison commented on the pods falling from the tree.

Ethel Rogers commented on the danger of the tree.

Chair Weeks closed the public hearing at 5:33 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-2023-021 ENTITLED: RESOLUTION OF THE

PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA DENYING AN

APPEAL AND UPHOLDING THE PLANNING AND ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR’S DENIAL OF A TREE PERMIT TO REMOVE

AN APPROXIMATELY 125-FOOT ARAUCARIA BIDWILLII (BUNYA BUNYA

TREE) AT 1080 2ND STREET, ASSESSOR’S PARCEL NO. 009-082-003;

CITY FILE NO. TR22-062

The motion carried by the following vote:

5 -

Yes:

Chair Weeks, Vice Chair Duggan, Commissioner Cisco,

Commissioner Holton and Commissioner Sanders

2 - Commissioner Carter and Commissioner Peterson

No:

Chair Weeks called for a recess at 5:47 P.M.

Chair Weeks reconvened the meeting at 5:52 P.M. and

introduced item 7.1.

10.2*

PUBLIC HEARING - COFFEY PARK SELF-STORAGE, EXEMPT

PROJECT - CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT - 3282 COFFEY LN -

CUP21-101

BACKGROUND: Major Conditional Use Permit for the use of

twenty-five off-site parking spaces in an existing parking lot at 3300

Coffey Lane for the development of a 2 story self-storage building

with an overall building size of 69,832 sf gross.

PRESENTED BY: Mike Wixon, City Planner

Planner Murray requested a continuance of item 10.2 to a date

uncertain.

A motion was made by Commissioner Cisco, seconded by

Commissioner Holton to continue item 10.2 to a date uncertain.

The motion carried by the following vote:

7 -

Yes:

Chair Weeks, Vice Chair Duggan, Commissioner Carter,

Commissioner Cisco, Commissioner Holton, Commissioner

Peterson and Commissioner Sanders

11. ADJOURNMENT

Chair Weeks adjourned the meeting at 9:03 P.M.

Approved on: October 26, 2023

s/Lani Buckheit