2004-03-19 timming - Laserfiche WebLink

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FUJIKAWA:Mr. Yuen? YUEN:Let me try to make an answer on behalf of the Planning Commission. The laws that are involved in an SMA Permit allow people who may be affected by the project in a way thatÓs different than the general public to request a more formal kind of hearing procedure, than just the Commission taking a vote on it today, up or down on the merits of your project. So the adjoining apartment did request that; and because they are an adjoining property owner they may be affected in a way that is different than the general public by your project. So the Commission voted to put this into as a more formal type of procedure to make a decision. They did not vote that they, their vote doesnÓt mean that you think that you should have more parking or that the other condominium should have more parking, or that they agree with the objections that are being made by the adjoining property, just that it has to be put into this contested case hearing process. IMMING:Okay, a question on that then is, in a contested hearing, how many individuals are hearing it, one? YUEN:WhatÓs going to happen is that the Planning Department will appoint a hearings officer to hear what you have to say and to hear what the objectors have to say; and that hearings officer will make a, thatÓs one person. And that hearings officer who is selected from a list of potential hearings officers that we have, most of them are attorneys, that hearings officer will then make a repor back to the Planning Commission, which will then take a final vote on the permit to grant or deny the permit. IMMING:Okay, so that was, the background is that that person is an attorney thatÓs used to mitigating litigation or something like that? Is that correct? YUEN:Most of the people on the hearings officers list are attorneys. I think we do have a few people who are civil engineers, planning consultants and the like. IMMING:Yeah, cause that was my other question, was what is their background in land development planning, engineering, traffic engineering, you know, all of those type things? Do they have the proper background to be able to make a determination on this? In your opinion, I guess, this group that youÓve selected do have that in that they have done other public hearings, or other hearings of this nature and have that background. Is that correct? YUEN:The attorneys, certainly the attorneys have qualifications. The attorneys have been involved in land use planning and permitting of this type. IMMING:Well, it wonÓt do any good. But IÓll make a recommendati you get someone that has some traffic engineering background since the contestant here is alleging traffic problems. Okay? ThatÓs all I have, thank you. 11