REP PC 056 2020/10/06 2018-2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PC-56 Page 2 October 6, 2020 based on fear that the lots will be reverted back to five acre lots as they were originally zoned, because the Planning Director has the capacity to reasonably change the zoning. Committee Member Valerie Poindexter thanked the Planning Department and Commission for referring to the Community Development Plans (CDP) in their decision making process and counseled those bodies to consistently consider CDP’s in all future decision making. Committee Member Rebecca Villegas asked Mr. Fuke why the applicant didn’t apply for an extension when the ordinance expired in 2015. He explained that Mr. Cook did not have a developer willing to develop until 2018 when he filed the application for extension. Ms. Villegas asked why the applicant was in a rush to get through the process and not go through design review. Mr. Fuke shared his belief that this body must decide if the proposed use is an appropriate use of land or not, and that the design center approval is not what should be scrutinized at this time. Mr. Van Bergen clarified that while Spring Capital is not in a rush, it has the finances and desire to develop the project but they are unable to close on the land until they have the zoning extended. Ms. Villegas explained that in previous instances, developers would apply for entitlements, obtain them, and then not build what they said they would and that there is no legal requirement for them to do so. She asked for confirmation that this developer would follow through with what they are committing to in this proposal. Mr. Van Bergen confirmed that yes, the developer, Spring Capital, intends to develop a commercial residential mixed use project but the exact design is subject to change based on Planning Department’s comments, timeframe, and profitability. Ms. Villegas wanted it on the record that a large amount of her community is “diabolically against” any more development in this corridor due to issues such as traffic. However, she appreciates the alignment of timeframe, CDP’s, improvements to infrastructure and roadways and would like to see these affordable homes be for those that are already on island struggling and looking for affordable housing. She said Director Yee’s mention of the rush by the applicant led her to wonder if there is something happening within Spring Capital. She also asked Director Yee what is wrong with the Master Plan as submitted by the applicant. Director Yee said that the master plan presented to Planning was not acceptable. He shared that a Master Plan for the design center to review could expedite the approval process, but that the plan as presented did not include the Planning Department’s suggested changes. Ms. Villegas asked what the average timeframe for review is and Director Yee replied “months to years.” He clarified that the aforementioned expedited timeframe could have been 45 days and that the plan submitted was missing details about what was being proposed in phases and was not inclusive of a phasing plan. Ms. Villegas asked Mr. Van Bergen for his input and he said it was almost impossible to provide a detailed plan before purchasing a property. PC Report No. 56