2005-08-05 Planning Commission Minutes

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The applicant, Didier Flament, stated he did review the Planning Departments Background Report and Recommendation with conditions and had no questions at this time. In response to Commissioner Siracusas inquiry, Mr. Flament said that the second floor is his main bedroom and the other small bedroom between the B&B units will be used as a small office and storage room. He did not think the 8 people from the B&B plus the two owners would generate a considerable amount of traffic inasmuch they would usually be couples, and a majority of their guests are tourists who would head out about mid-morning and return after dinner when the general commuters would be off the road. In response to Commissioner Grahams comment Mr. Darrow said it was unusual that one of the units is in the auxiliary building and not the main residence, but it is something that could be approved in relation to a special permit. For Commissioners McCalls and Alamedas information, Mr. Yuen said the Department has beenrecommendingbottledwaterforB&Bestablishmentsthatotherwiserelyonacatchment system as a way of protecting the reputation of the visitor industry. He said although bottled water is not regulated, the commercial brands of bottled water are not likely to have bacterial contamination. Commissioner Siracusa raised several questions, to which Mr. Flament said he was not sure of the exact sequence when they got the building permits to do the auxiliary and main buildings because when he bought the property it was under construction, and by then there were already four separate permits issued, noting he simply had the permits transferred to his name. He said given that they were in the Agricultural district, the auxiliary building had to be some sort of storage shed, to which Ms. Siracusa commented the auxiliary building was pretty fancy for a storage shed and she could live in a shed/building like that. Mr. Darrow noted at the beginning it was very questionable whether or not the auxiliary building could be used as an extension of the bed and breakfast operation; and it was concluded that it could be if it was approved through the special permit. Mr. Yuen said if the ag storage building was not approved as a habitable room, the Commission would need to put in the catch-all condition that the applicant would have to secure appropriate building permits for the structures. Mr. Darrow noted that a timeframe condition should be included. Mr. Yuen agreed with Commissioner Alameda that the Commission would have to impose a condition which would require the applicant to submit a permit to change the use of the structure to include a habitable room and that there is to be no kitchen. Babette Ackin stated she supported the application. Philip Maise, business partner, noted they were first thrown a loop because they hired someone to change the use who came back with a set of blueprints that were signed by the Planning Department that indicated they had an approved change of use on the auxiliary building already in place. However, they were informed that they needed to receive approval from the 7