Benicia Planning Commission Meeting

BENICIA PLANNING COMMISSION

CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS

AGENDA

Thursday, December 8, 2011

7:00 P.M.

I. OPENING OF MEETING

A. Pledge of Allegiance

B. Roll Call of Commissioners

C. Reference to Fundamental Rights of Public -

A plaque stating the Fundamental Rights of each member of the public is posted at the entrance to this meeting room per Section 4.04.030 of the City of Benicia’s Open Government Ordinance. 

II. ADOPTION OF AGENDA

III. OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons wishing to address the Commission on any matter not on the agenda that is within the subject jurisdiction of the Planning Commission. State law prohibits the Commission from responding to or acting upon matters not listed on the agenda.

Each speaker has a maximum of five minutes for public comment. If others have already expressed your position, you may simply indicate that you agree with a previous speaker. If appropriate, a spokesperson may present the views of your entire group. Speakers may not make personal attacks on council members, staff or members of the public, or make comments which are slanderous or which may invade an individual’s personal privacy.

A. WRITTEN

B. PUBLIC COMMENT

IV. CONSENT CALENDAR

Consent Calendar items are considered routine and will be enacted, approved or adopted by one motion unless a request for removal for discussion or explanation is received from the Planning Commission or a member of the public by submitting a speaker slip for that item.

*Any Item identified as a Public Hearing has been placed on the Consent Calendar because it has not generated any public interest or dissent. However, if any member of the public wishes to comment on a Public Hearing item, or would like the item placed on the regular agenda, please notify the Community Development Staff either prior to, or at the Planning Commission meeting, prior to the reading of the Consent Calendar.

A. Approval of Minutes of September 8, 2011

V. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS

A.   AN APPEAL OF THE HPRC’S DENIAL OF A DESIGN REVIEW REQUEST TO REPLACE THREE WOOD WINDOWS WITH VINYL WINDOWS ON THE FRONT FACADE OF THE EXISTING SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE LOCATED AT 410 WEST J STREET

11PLN-00064 Design Review Appeal

410 West J Street

APN: 0089-031-090

PROPOSAL:

The applicant requests design review approval to replace three wood windows with new, paintable custom vinyl windows on the existing single-family residence located at 410 West J Street, a contributing structure within the Downtown Historic Overlay District. The HPRC has a longstanding policy of NOT allowing wood windows to be replaced with vinyl. The HPRC approved the replacement of the two windows (one on each side of the house) but they denied the change on the front facade.

Staff’s recommendation to the HPRC to approve this request was based on a number of factors including that the windows are not the most prominent façade feature of the residence and that the replacement windows are high quality and nearly identical in dimension to the existing windows and frames.

 Recommendation:

Consider the appeal of the Historic Preservation Review Commission’s (HPRC’s) denial of a request by Julian and Claudia Fraser for a minor exterior modification (replacement of wood windows with vinyl) to the front façade of the existing residence located at 410 West J Street. The HPRC approved the request for the side windows, but denied the request for the front windows. Note that staff’s recommendation was to approve the whole design review request.

B. USE PERMIT FOR AN INDOOR ARCHERY RANGE AT 3001 BAYSHORE ROAD, UNIT #9

3001 Bayshore Road, Unit #9

APN: 0080-340-020

11PLN-67 Use Permit for Commercial Recreation and Entertainment

PROPOSAL:

In accordance with the Benicia Municipal Code Section 17.32.020, the applicant requests approval of a Use Permit for the establishment of an indoor archery range at 3001 Bayshore Road of approximately 4,500 square feet. The archery range will have regular business hours of Monday through Friday 12:00pm – 9:00pm and Saturday 9:00am – 5:00pm.

Recommendation:

Approve a Use Permit for an indoor archery range (Commercial Recreation and Entertainment) located at 3001 Bayshore Road, Unit #9, based on the findings, and subject to the conditions listed in the attached resolution and as discussed during the public hearing.

C. GENERAL PLAN CONFORMANCE ASSOCIATED WITH VACATION OF PORTION of ACCESS EASEMENT ADJACENT TO 532 CAMBRIDGE DRIVE

PROPOSAL:

To allow the property owner of 532 Cambridge Drive to purchase a pie-shaped portion of an existing easement along his east property line. The portion is approximately 40’ wide at the north edge of the subject property, tapering easterly to 0’ at the south property boundary. The change still allows for a wide access to the open space area that is approximately 38 feet wide along Cambridge Drive, and remains 25’ wide at the open space boundary. Consistent with the Benicia Municipal Code, staff recommends Commission approval of a General Plan Conformance to vacate the approximately 2,340 square feet of existing right of way easement adjacent to 532 Cambridge Drive. The proposed request is that the Planning Commission determines that the vacation of a portion of an existing open space access easement on the east edge of the property at 532 Cambridge Drive is consistent with the General Plan. A 25+ foot wide strip would be retained for public access.

Recommendation:

Approve a General Plan Conformance to vacate an access easement along the east side of the property at 532 Cambridge Drive consistent with the goals, objectives and policies of the General Plan and based on the findings set forth in the attached resolution.

VI. COMMUNICATIONS FROM STAFF

VII. COMMUNICATIONS FROM COMMISSIONERS

VIII. ADJOURNMENT