2008-10-03 Planning Commission Minutes

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be visible from Highway 130,” and deleting from new Condition 8 the phrase regarding native species from the area shall be used when possible. In response to Commissioner Alameda’s inquiry, Mr. Darrow noted that the Department has been deleting the condition regarding native species shall be used in the landscaping because of the fact that it is difficult to achieve the required buffer Rule 17 attempts to achieve, noting it was not to say that it cannot be used. In response to Commissioner Alameda’s further inquiry, Mr. Yuen said that where the goal is to have a really thick visual screen as soon as possible, the Department did not want to have a condition requiring native species since having that screen may take 20 years to accomplish in certain environments; and he noted, however, there is a general goal to encourage people to plant native plants for landscaping purposes. Commissioner Iwashita understood Mr. Yuen’s comment but expressed his concern of an environmental discouragement if an applicant does want native plants. The applicant’s representative, Sandra Song, said the applicants, who were unable to be present, would prefer no time limits on the permit but that the conditions proposed were acceptable. She stated the reasons for the request to delete the conditions were that the applicants have invested large sums of money into the property; it is unlikely that there is going to be industrial land within a four-mile radius in the next 5-10 years; and the special permit is for special, reasonable and unusual uses in the agricultural district, noting there is nothing that would preclude the Commission from issuing a special permit with an unlimited time period and that special permits have been issued before by the Commission without a drop-dead provision or a time limit provision. The Chair noted the Commission on the previous agenda had a discussion about the deletion of time conditions, so he believed Ms. Song was quite aware of the response by the Commissioners. There was no one from the public wishing to testify on the agenda item. For the Commission’s information, Mr. Yuen clarified that the required landscaping being installed within six (6) months from the effective date of this permit is to have the foliage placed in the ground and not that it would accomplish the screening effect at that specific time. For Mr. Housel’s information, Mr. Darrow explained that the signage ban on Highway 130 is a new requirement because of recent public complaints. It was moved by Commissioner Iwashita and seconded by Commissioner Domingo that the application be approved based on the recommendation of the Planning Director with conditions, with Condition 3 amended to read, “No signage shall be visible from Highway 130” and Condition 8 amended to read, “The required landscaping shall be installed within six (6) months from the effective date of this permit.” Commissioner Alameda commented that in light of the discussion on the previous application the Commission should continue to limit special permits in this area to five years. A roll call vote was taken and motion carried with six ayes (Iwashita, Domingo, Alameda, Housel, Woodward and Watanabe) and two absent and excused (Bowman and Ogata). 3