[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:06]
FOR BEGIN, I PLEDGE JUDGES TO THE FLAG OF OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH AS STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
SO PRESENT AND COMMISSIONER VICE PRESENT.
[CHAIRPERSON’S WELCOME]
THANK YOU.WELCOME TO THE EL CAJON PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
THIS MEETING IS BEING LIVE STREAMED ON THE CITY OF EL CAJON WEBSITE.
APPEALS OF FINAL DECISION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MADE THIS EVENING MUST BE FILED WITH IN WRITING WITH THE CITY CLERK BEFORE 5:00 PM MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH, 2022, AND MUST INCLUDE THE PAYMENT OF A FILING FEE.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON EITHER A NON AGENDA ITEM OR AGENDA ITEM TONIGHT, PLEASE FILL OUT THE REQUEST TO SPEAK CARD LOCATED BY THE AGENDA AND TURN IT INTO THE SECRETARY WHO WILL CALL YOU UP TO SPEAK.
WHEN THE AGENDA ITEM COMES UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, WE ASK THAT YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME, SPELLING OF YOUR LAST NAME.
SPEAKERS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES.
THE DISPLAY ON THE PODIUM, AS WELL AS OTHER MONITORS IN THE CHAMBER WILL SHOW TIME COUNTING DOWN AT 30 SECONDS.
THE PODIUM CLOCK READOUT WILL TURN RED.
SIGNIFYING YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS UNTIL THE END OF YOUR TIME.
APPLICANTS AND INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING GROUPS OF PEOPLE MAY BE ALLOWED MORE TIME IF APPROPRIATE.
ALL PUBLIC HEARING COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO ME AS THE CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION AND NOT TO INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS OR TO STAFF MEMBERS.
PLEASE TURN OFF ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO ALREADY.
PURSUANT TO CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NUMBER ONE 14 DASH 79, A COMMISSIONER WHO HAS RECEIVED EVIDENCE RELATED TO A MATTER BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION, OTHER THAN AN UNESCORTED VIEW OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE SUCH INFORMATION.
[PUBLIC COMMENT]
OKAY.AT THIS TIME, WE WILL TAKE COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBER OF PUBLIC ON ANY ITEM OF BUSINESS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE COMMISSION.
THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA UNDER STATE LAW.
NO ACTION CAN BE TAKEN ON ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT EXCEPT TO REFER IT TO STAFF FOR ADMINISTRATION OR TO PLACE IT ON A FUTURE AGENDA.
IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
COMMISSIONER MELROSE, BEFORE YOU OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT, I BELIEVE, COMMISSIONER, COME ON DOWN.
LET'S, DO YOU NEED SOME HELP ON THE RECORD? COMMISSIONER REBECCA POLLU IS PRESENT AT 7 0 5.
WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR TABLET FROM THE BACK? ALL RIGHT.
UH, IS YOU HEAR THAT OKAY? UH, THERE'S NO ONE THAT WANTS TO COME FORWARD UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT.
GIVE US YOUR NAME, SPELLING OF YOUR LAST NAME, COMMISSION.
OH, UH, MY LAST NAME IS SPELLED G R I L L O T.
UM, I WANTED TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION, UM, ON THE HOUSING ELEMENT, UM, THAT WAS RECENTLY APPROVED BY HCD, UM, AND CONGRATULATE THE CITY, I THINK, ON THAT ACCOMPLISHMENT.
UM, AND WORKING COOPERATIVELY AND COLLABORATIVELY WITH HCD OVER THE HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE, UM, OVER A PERIOD OF MANY MONTHS AND ITERATIONS AND BACK AND FORTH WITH THAT.
UM, I KNOW IT'S BEEN A DIFFERENT PROCESS, I GUESS I'LL SAY THIS TIME AROUND WITH A LOT OF THAT, A LOT MORE TEETH TO THAT PROCESS WITH A LOT OF THE NEW HOUSING LAWS FROM THE STATE.
UM, AND MANY OTHER JURISDICTIONS HAVE NOT TAKEN THE SAME APPROACH THAT HAVE BECOME OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH THAT.
AND THERE HAVE BEEN, UM, BUILDERS, REMEDIES AND OTHER, UH, CONSEQUENCES TO THAT.
UM, SO I WANT TO AGAIN, CONGRATULATE THE CITY AND TO THE EXTENT THE PLANNING COMMISSION SUPPORTS THAT AS WELL.
[00:05:01]
AND ENCOURAGE FUTURE CONTINUED COOPERATION WITH THE STATE, UM, ON SHARED GOALS OF EXPANDING HOUSING, AVAILABILITY, THE HOUSING STOCK GENERALLY, UM, AND ALSO ESPECIALLY FOR LOW INCOME AND VERY LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS.UM, AND LASTLY, I'LL JUST NOTE THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS A REASONABLE ESTIMATION OF THE, UM, VERY LOW AND LOW INCOME HOUSING TO BE ALLOCATED TO AUS.
UM, SOME OTHER CITIES IN THE STATE HAVE SAID THEY'RE GONNA GET ALL OF THEIR LOW INCOME HOUSING FROM ADUS, UM, AND HC SHUT THAT DOWN.
SO I'M GLAD WE DIDN'T EVEN PURSUE THAT AND THAT WE'RE BEING REALISTIC, UM, BUT ALSO, UM, TAKING THE RIGHT STEPS FORWARD, UH, ALIGNED WITH THE STATE GOALS, UM, AND DID NOT OUTRIGHT REJECT THE ARENA ALLOCATION EITHER.
UM, SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
BUT, UH, AGAIN, I THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATE YOU ON THAT AND HOPE THAT IT'S A CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE.
ANYBODY ELSE UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT? NO MORE GUEST SPEAKERS.
[CONSENT]
ALL RIGHT.AT THIS TIME WE WILL GO TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR AND HAS EVERYBODY REVIEWED THE MEETING MINUTES? OKAY.
WELL, DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER VALEZ, SECONDED BY POLL.
MOTION CARRIES BY UNANIMOUS VOTES.
[Public Hearing Item 2]
WE'LL MOVE TO OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING THIS EVENING.GET MY, THAT IS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO.
IT IS PROJECT FOR OFF SALE ALCOHOL SALES AT PARKWAY PLAZA FOR THE ALDI STORE.
AND THE REQUEST IS TO AMEND SPECIFIC PLAN NUMBER 19 TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR OFF SALE ALCOHOL SALES AT PARKWAY PLAZA STAFF.
UH, SO AGAIN, THIS IS A REQUEST TO AMEND SPECIFIC PLAN 19 OR SP 19.
AND, UH, THE PURPOSE IS TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR OFF SALE ALCOHOL SALES AT PARKWAY PLAZA.
SO CURRENTLY, UM, SPECIFIC PLAN 19 DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY PROCEDURES RELATED TO OFF SALE ALCOHOL, ALCOHOL SALES, AND AS SUCH, UH, ANY PROPOSED OFF SALE ALCOHOL RELATED USES, UM, ARE JUST SUBJECT TO THE STANDARD ALCOHOL AND MUNICIPAL CODE SECTIONS, UH, WHICH REALLY DO INCLUDE STRICT REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO THE LOCATION AND CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR NEW OFF SALE ALCOHOL USES.
SO, AS YOU MAY RECALL, THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UM, DID DENY A REQUEST FOR ALDI, UM, AT PARKWAY PLAZA TO ADD OFF SALE ALCOHOL.
UM, AND THAT WAS ON OCTOBER 4TH.
UM, AND THAT WAS DUE TO THE OVER CONCENTRATION OF EXISTING OFF SALE ALCOHOL USES.
SO WE WERE WORKING ON OUR PRESENTATION.
UH, WE DO HAVE AN AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH OF THE SUBJECT SITE, UH, WHICH HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO YOU.
UM, BUT THE BOUNDARIES FOR SPECIFIC PLAN 19 ARE, UM, FLETCHER PARKWAY TO THE NORTH AND THEN NORTH JOHNSON AVENUE ON THE WEST.
AND THEN, UH, STATE ROUTE 67 ON THE EAST AND THEN INTERSTATE EIGHT TO THE SOUTH.
UM, SO THAT'S THE BOUNDARY FOR SPECIFIC PLAN 19.
UM, LARGE SCALE ALCOHOL OUTLETS.
UM, LARGE SCALE, UM, BUSINESSES WITH OFF SALE ALCOHOL SALES AT THE MALL.
UH, ONLY INCLUDE WALMART CURRENTLY, SO THAT'S THE ONLY OFF SALE ALCOHOL OUTLET AT THE MALL.
UM, THERE ARE OTHER, UM, LARGE SCALE OUTLETS, UM, IN THE VICINITY.
UM, THOSE INCLUDE SMART AND FINAL TO THE EAST AS WELL AS, UH, TARGET, UM, SORRY, TARGET TO THE EAST AND THEN AS WELL AS FOOD FOR LESS TO THE EAST, AND THEN SMART AND FINAL TO THE WEST.
SO STAFF REALLY TOOK TO HEART THE, UM, COMMENTS FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT THE OCTOBER 4TH MEETING.
UM, WE MET WITH ALDI REPRESENTATIVES AFTER THE MEETING AND, AND REALLY, UM, TRIED TO TAKE A THOUGHTFUL LOOK AT THE GENERAL PLAN AND OTHER, UM, OPPORTUNITIES AND OPTIONS, UH, IN ORDER TO MEET THE GOALS OF THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO ACHIEVE.
UM, LOOKING AT THE GENERAL PLAN, UH, WE LOOKED AT GOAL NINE AND THAT ADVOCATES FOR THE CREATION AND RETENTION OF A STRONG COMPETITIVE REGION-WIDE COMMERCIAL BASE.
AND THEN OBJECTIVE 9.1 OF THE GENERAL PLAN, UH, STATES THAT PARKWAY PLAZA WILL BE MAINTAINED AS THE CITY'S REGIONAL SHOPPING CENTER.
AND THEN LASTLY, WE LOOKED AT POLICY 1.1 AND THAT FURTHER STATES THAT PARKWAY PLAZA SHALL BE EXPANDED, UH, FROM ITS ORIGINAL SIZE, AND THAT THE NUMBER OF MAJOR TENANTS AND STORES SHALL BE INCREASED.
SO LOOKING AT THE OVERALL MALL, WHAT WE SAW WAS THAT, UM, THE OFF-SALE ALCOHOL, UH, NOT BEING ALLOWED, UH, WOULD BE A CONSTRAINT TO THE ATTRACTION OF
[00:10:01]
ADDITIONAL LARGE SCALE RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS.SO SOMEONE LIKE ALDI OR A SIMILAR STORE WANTING TO COME TO THE MALL, UH, MAY DECIDE THAT IT'S NOT THE RIGHT LOCATION, UH, BECAUSE OF THE RESTRICTION ON OFF SALE ALCOHOL USES.
SO IN, UM, LOOKING AT THE AMENDMENT, WHAT IS BROUGHT FORWARD TONIGHT IS TO, UM, AMEND SPECIFIC PLAN 19 TO ALLOW GENERAL RETAIL STORES, GROCERY STORES OR RETAIL PHARMACIES WITH GREATER THAN 10,000 SQUARE FEET OF GROSS FLOOR AREA, AND A MAXIMUM OF 10% OF GROSS FLOOR AREA DEVOTED TO OFF SALE ALCOHOL USES AT PARKWAY PLAZA.
SO ANY DECISION WOULD BE, UM, SIMILAR TO THE, UH, CURRENT PROCEDURE THAT'S IN THE MUNICIPAL CODE.
SO IT WOULD BE A PUBLIC CONVENIENCE, UH, AND NECESSITY FINDING, UH, BUT IT WOULD BE BASED SOLY ON THE OPERATIONAL STANDARDS OF THE BUSINESS, UM, AS WELL AS THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO THERE'S STILL DISCRETION, UH, PROPOSED WITH THIS AMENDMENT SO THAT, UH, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND STAFF MAKE SURE LOOKING AT THE FLOOR PLAN, THE OPERATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS, WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S SECURITY GUARDS.
UM, ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL MEASURES THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD RECOMMEND WOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO ANY APPROVAL.
SO THE SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT, UM, ESSENTIALLY SITS ON TOP OF THE ZONING CODE.
SO IT SUPERSEDES THE, UM, THE REGULATIONS THAT APPLY CITYWIDE.
AND SO IT'D BE A SPECIFIC, UH, REGULAT REGULATION ONLY FOR PARKWAY PLAZA.
SO IN ORDER TO, UH, RECOMMEND A CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL, THE SPECIFIC PLAN DOES HAVE TO GO TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
UH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION NEEDS TO FIND THAT THE PROPOSED SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT SERVES THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND THAT IT WILL IMPLEMENT THE GENERAL PLAN.
SO DRAFT FINDINGS ARE INCLUDED, UM, AND THEY DETERMINE THAT THE SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT SERVES THE PUBLIC INTEREST BY PROVIDING CONVENIENT ACCESS TO OFF SALE ALCOHOL AT A REGIONAL SCALE, AND THAT THE AMENDMENT WILL IMPLEMENT THE GENERAL PLAN BY ATTACKING, UH, ATTRACTING AND RETAINING, UH, MAJOR TENANTS AT PARKWAY PLAZA.
SO STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND THAT CONCLUDES STAFF'S UH, PRESENTATION.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF AT THIS TIME? UH, YES, I HAVE ONE.
UM, IT STILL WOULD REQUIRE THAT THE, UH, ESTABLISHMENT WOULD HAVE TO BE 10,000 SQUARE FEET OR LARGER.
SO IN LOOKING AT THE GENERAL PLAN, UM, IT REALLY TALKS ABOUT ATTRACTING, UM, LARGER TENANTS TO THE MALL AND RETAINING THOSE TENANTS.
AND SO, UM, THE FOCUS OF THE AMENDMENT THAT'S BROUGHT FORWARD IS FOR THOSE LARGER, UM, GROCERY AND UH, RETAIL STORES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? JUST TO COMMENT THAT, UH, THIS IS WHAT I WAS HOPING WE'D BE ABLE TO FIND.
UH, YEAH, WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE A LARGE LIQUOR STORE AT PARKWAY PLAZA, BUT ALLOWING LARGE RETAIL STORES WITH THE ANCILLARY USE, IT HELPS, HELPS THE AREA, HELPS.
AND YOU KNOW, WE, WE, UH, I'M NOT SURE IF THE APPLICANT'S GONNA COME FORWARD TONIGHT, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD A GREAT PRESENTATION LAST TIME.
THEY SHOWED US EVERYTHING THEY DO, HOW MUCH FLOOR SPACE THEY USE, WHERE THEY POSITION IT, WHERE THE REGISTERS ARE LOCATED.
I MEAN, THEY'RE VERY, UH, DILIGENT.
SO, UM, I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT HAPPEN AS WELL.
UM, AT THIS TIME, LET'S, UH, OPEN UP PUBLIC HEARING.
DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKER CARDS? WE DO.
I'LL KEEP IT BRIEF, I PROMISE.
UH, CHAIRMAN, UH, MY NAME IS SKIP JAMES.
IT'S J A N AS IN NANCY, E S I'M WITH ALDI.
UH, CHAIRMAN, THANKS FOR HAVING US COMMISSIONERS.
STAFF, UH, THANKS FOR HAVING US CITIZENS OF EL CAJON.
UH, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO OPENING THE STORE HERE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
UM, AND WE CAN'T THANK STAFF ENOUGH, UH, FOR COMING UP WITH A RESOLUTION TO THIS FOR, I THINK IT BENEFITS BOTH EL CAJON AND ALL THE, AND THE CITIZENS OF EL CAJON.
SO, AS, UH, AS, UH, CHAIRMAN SAID, UH, WE GAVE YOU OUR PRESENTATION LAST TIME.
WE'LL CERTAINLY ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE, BUT WE ASKED THAT YOU APPROVE, UH, THE AMENDMENT TO THE, UH, SPECIFIC PLAN.
UH, HOW, HOW'S IT GOING? TIMELINE, TIMELINE, CONSTRUCTION WISE? WHAT DO YOU PLAN ON SLINGING YOUR FIRST, UH, WATERMELON.
HOPEFULLY AS SOON AS WE GET THIS IN OUR HAND, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA OPEN THE DOOR.
SO, IS CONSTRUCTION DONE? IT, IT IT'S PROBABLY LOOKING AT AT FEBRUARY, MORE THAN LIKELY.
CAUSE WE GOTTA GO TO CITY COUNCIL NEXT MONTH AND THEN THE NOTICING PERIOD, YOU KNOW, AND THEN, AND TO GET THAT ACTUAL LICENSE IN OUR HANDS.
SO WE'RE PROBABLY TALKING FEBRUARY.
HOW IS, HOW MUCH MORE CONSTRUCTION YOU GOT LEFT ON SITE? UM, NOT MUCH, MUCH.
WE'RE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF OUR BIGGEST PROBLEMS HAS BEEN PROCUREMENT MATERIALS RIGHT NOW.
AND FOR SOME REASON TILE'S A PROBLEM.
SO AS SOON AS WE GET OUR SALES FLOOR TILE IN, THEY'LL
[00:15:01]
FINISH UP THE INTERIOR AND WE'LL BE GOOD TO GO.THE CITY STAFF HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL BUILDING DEPARTMENT, GETTING OUR INSPECTIONS AND EVERYTHING, SO WE CAN'T BE, CAN'T BE MORE THANKFUL FOR THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? YES, I, I JUST HAVE ONE.
I KNOW LAST TIME THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT MOVING A LIQUOR LICENSE.
IS THAT STILL? AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT QUESTIONS FOR YOU, IF I SHOULD HAVE ASKED THAT FOR STAFF.
IS THAT STILL THE PROCESS THAT YOU'LL BE DOING THIS TIME? YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN, UH, SEARCHING HIGH AND LOW FOR A LICENSE IN THE CITY OF EL CAJON, EITHER TYPE 20 OR TYPE 21, WHICH IS KIND OF OUT OF OUR NORM FOR 21.
WE WOULD NEVER USE IT, BUT, UH, THERE'S STILL NONE AVAILABLE, SO WE'LL BE TRANSFERRING ONE IN.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, WELL, GREAT.
WELL, WE LOOK FORWARD TO STARTING TO SHOP THERE.
I MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING.
MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER MORROW, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SERCO, PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION CARRIES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS? THE STAFF DID EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.
THIS SETS PARKWAY PLAZA, WHICH IS A LARGE SHOPPING CENTER UNLIKE ANY STRIP BALL OR LITTLE CORNER STORE.
THIS REALLY SETS IT OFF AS A REGIONAL AREA AND ALLOWS FOR SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE SPECIAL PLAN.
SO THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.
IF WE EVER DO ANY MIXED USE IN PARKWAY PLAZA, IT'D BE NICE IF THEY WOULD HAVE A, A STORE THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, CLOSE ENOUGH TO GET TO FOR GROCERIES.
DOES ANYONE CARE TO MAKE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
I MOVE TO ADOPT THE NEXT RESOLUTIONS IN ORDER RECOMMENDING CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED C EXEMPTION AND TO AMEND SPECIFIC PLAN NUMBER 19, TO ALLOW FOR OFF SALE ALCOHOL SALES SUBJECT TO SPECIFIC STANDARDS.
I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER SERCO, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PAUL CRUZ, PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION CARRIES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
ALL RIGHT, WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT.
AND THANKS FOR WORKING WITH US AND STAYING PATIENT, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS.
NEXT ON MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I MAY TO, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, ANNOUNCE THAT, UM, THE CITY COUNCIL HEARING WAS JOINT NOTICE WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING, AND IT'S SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 13TH.
[Public Hearing Item 3]
UM, ALRIGHT.UH, NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTHCARE GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT.
IT IS A REQUEST FOR A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT AND ZONING RECLASSIFICATION SECRET RECOMMENDATION.
DECLARATION AND STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO RECOMMEND CITY COUNCIL'S APPROVAL STAFF.
GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS MIKE VALON, SENIOR PLANNER WITH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
UH, THE ITEM BEFORE YOU AGAIN IS A REQUEST FOR GENERAL PLAN, AMENDMENT AND ZONING OR CLASSIFICATION AT FOUR 70 NORTH MOLLISON AVENUE.
UH, THE SUBJECT SITE IS AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF NORTH MOLL AND EAST MADISON AVENUES.
UM, IT'S GOT AN EXISTING 12,500 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING, 121 PARKING SPACES.
UH, IT'S ACCESSED FROM BOTH, UH, NORTH MOLL AND EAST MADISON AVENUES.
UM, THE SITE IS ALSO OPEN TO AND SHARES ACCESS WITH 8 55 EAST MADISON, WHICH IS A PARCEL TO THE NORTH, UH, WHERE NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTHCARE CURRENTLY OPERATES.
SO THE GENERAL PLAN LAND USE DESIGNATION AT FOUR 70 NORTH MOSSON IS MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL, AND IT HAS A CORRESPONDING ZONE OF ARM 2200, WHICH WOULD TYPICALLY PERMIT MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL AND LIMITED NON-RESIDENTIAL USES.
UM, THE SITE WAS PREVIOUSLY USED AS A CHURCH BEGINNING IN 1962, UH, WITH CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, UH, NUMBER ONE 16.
AND THEN IN 2008, UH, SPECIFIC PLAN NUMBER FIVE 13 WAS APPROVED, WHICH PROVIDES FOR 16 PARKING STALLS ON THE PROPERTY FOR THE EXISTING CLINIC.
UM, IN 2020, AFTER TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THE PROPERTY, NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTHCARE OBTAINED A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, UH, NUMBER 2028, UH, FOR A NON-PROFIT SERVICE CENTER DEVOTED TO ASSISTANCE, ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS SUCH AS MEDICAL ENROLLMENT, UH, HOUSING ASSISTANCE, JOB COUNSELING, TRAINING, AND SO FORTH.
SO ULTIMATELY, THE APPLICANT DETERMINED THAT THE USE OF THE SITE, UM, WOULD, WOULD BEST FIT THEIR NEEDS AS A MEDICAL CLINIC.
SO UNFORTUNATELY, THE, UM, ARM 2200 ZONE DOESN'T PERMIT MEDICAL USES.
[00:20:01]
THEREFORE THEY'VE REQUESTED AND FILED AN APPLICATION FOR THE GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT AND ZONING RECLASSIFICATION FOR GENERAL PLAN, LAND USE, DESIGNATION OF OFFICE, NON-RETAIL, AND A CORRESPONDING ZONE OF, OF OFFICE PROFESSIONAL, WHICH WOULD PERMIT A MEDICAL CLINIC BY RIGHT.UM, THE PRO, THE PROPOSED MEDICAL CLINIC WOULD NOT REQUIRE FURTHER SITE DEVELOPMENT AND WOULD OPERATE WITHIN THE EXISTING BUILDING.
UM, UH, IT WOULDN'T NECESSITATE ANY ADDITIONAL ACCESS OR PARKING NEEDS, UM, THAT THE PARKING DEMAND FOR THE SERVICE CENTER AND THE PROPOSED MEDICAL CLINIC ARE EQUIVALENT UNDER THE CODE.
SO ESSENTIALLY, UM, IT WOULD EXTEND THE OFFICE NON-RETAIL DESIGNATION, UM, AND THE CORRESPONDING OFFICE PROFESSIONAL ZONE, UH, FROM THE 8 55 MADISON PROPERTY FROM THE NORTHWEST DOWN ACROSS THE PROPERTY.
UM, THE PROPERTIES AT THE NORTHERN SIDE OF THAT INTERSECTION ALSO SHARE THOSE SAME DESIGNATIONS AND ZONING DISTRICTS.
UM, THERE ARE SINGLE FAMILY AND MULTI-FAMILY LAND USE DESIGNATIONS AND ZONES IN THE VICINITY, BUT THE GENERAL PLAN RECOGNIZES THAT AREAS DEVOTED TO OFFICE AND NON-RETAIL BUSINESSES CAN BE LOCATED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY, PROVIDED THEIR OPERATIONS ARE COMPATIBLE.
UM, SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE IMPLEMENTED INTO THE ZONING CODE AS THE OFFICE PROFESSIONAL ZONE IS LIMITED TO OFFICE RELATED USES AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS THAT ARE CODIFIED ENSURE THAT NOISE, PROPERTY UPKEEP, ODOR, AND OTHER CONDITIONS WOULDN'T RESULT IN A NUISANCE.
SO IN ORDER TO APPROVE, UM, A REQUEST FOR A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT, THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD NEED TO MAKE CERTAIN FINDINGS.
TO PARAPHRASE, THE CITY COUNCIL MUST FIND THAT THE CITY HAS COMPLIED WITH APPLICABLE SECTIONS OF THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE, THAT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, AND THAT THE AMENDMENT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE REST OF THE GENERAL PLAN.
THESE FINDINGS CAN BE MADE APPLICABLE SECTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE ARE OBSERVED AND APPROPRIATE NOTICES WERE GIVEN.
UM, THE REQUEST IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND THAT IT FACILITATES INVESTMENT INTO THE PROPERTY AND RESULTS IN A COMMERCIAL AREA, WHICH IS WELL DESIGNED WITH INTERCONNECTING ACCESS LOCATED NEAR MAJOR STREETS, UH, CONSISTENT WITH GENERAL PLAN POLICIES.
UH, 9.4 0.1 3 9, 4 0.4, AND 11, UH, DASH 1.2.
LASTLY, THE GENERAL PLAN REMAINS INTERNALLY CONSISTENT AS THIS SITE WAS NOT IDENTIFIED FOR HOUSING IN THE HOUSING ELEMENT, AND IT PROVIDES SERVICES IN THE UNDERSERVED, UH, BOSTONIAN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY.
SIMILARLY, TO APPROVE A ZONING RECLASSIFICATION, THE CITY COUNCIL MUST FIND THAT THE ZONING AMENDMENT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE GENERAL PLAN, CONSISTENT WITH ANY SPECIFIC PLAN IS IN THE GENERAL WELFARE, AND THAT THERE IS ADEQUATE CAPACITY TO MEET THE CITY'S SHARE OF REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS.
THESE FINDINGS CAN BE MADE BASED LARGELY ON THE REASONING IDENTIFIED IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, UH,
IT IS WORTH NOTING HOWEVER, THAT SPECIFIC PLAN NUMBER FIVE 13, UH, FOR THE 16 SHARED PARKING STALLS WOULD BE PRESERVED AS THERE IS ADEQUATE, UH, PARKING AVAILABLE ON SITE.
FULL DRAFT FINDINGS ARE PROVIDED IN THE AGENDA REPORT.
SO IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT AND INITIAL STUDY, UH, EVALUATED THE POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT AND FOUND THAT IT COULD NOT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
CONSEQUENTLY, NEGATIVE DECLARATION WAS PREPARED.
STAFF THEREFORE RECOMMEND THAT PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE SE NEGATIVE DECLARATION, GENERAL PLAN, AMENDMENT AND ZONING RECLASSIFICATION.
THIS CONCLUDES STAFF'S REPORT.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? UH, ONE QUESTION.
YOU, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT THE, UH, NORTHWEST CORNER, I BELIEVE IS, WASN'T THERE, UH, A PROPOSED, UH, DAYCARE CENTER THERE AT THAT CORNER? UH, SOMETIME AGO.
I BELIEVE THERE WAS ONE, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S STILL THERE.
SO AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE INTERSECTION THERE, THERE IS AN EXISTING DAYCARE.
AND, AND THE, UH, MEDICAL CLINIC WOULD BE ALL SERVICE MEDICAL CLINIC.
DO YOU KNOW ANY PARTICULAR, WHAT THE PARTICULAR SERVICES WOULD BE? THE APPLICANT IS HERE AND, AND COULD SPEAK TO THAT, I BELIEVE, BUT, UM, I'M NOT AWARE OF THE SPECIFIC TYPES OF SERVICES THAT WOULD BE OFFERED, UH, BEYOND THOSE THAT MIGHT NORMALLY BE ANTICIPATED AT A MEDICAL CLINIC.
I I'LL ASK THE, THE APPLICANT.
SO I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION.
SO THE, THE BUILDING IT SAYS WAS BUILT IN 1962 THAT THEY'LL BE TAKING OVER.
UM, UH, JUST KNOWING HOW MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND THINGS NEED TO BE IS THERE'S, IS THERE ANY CONCERN ABOUT BRINGING THINGS UP TO CODE OR, THAT WOULD ONLY BE IN THE EVENT THAT THEY PUT PUT FORTH.
[00:25:01]
AS FOR ANY KIND OF BUILDING PERMITS OR ANYTHING FOR REMODELING AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THE APPLICANT WOULD BE SEEKING, UM, AND HAS ACTUALLY ALREADY SUBMITTED FOR A BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION, UH, TO MAKE THOSE, UH, NECESSARY INTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE, TO THE STRUCTURE TO MAKE IT SUITABLE FOR THEIR NEEDS.UH, FIRST WE HAVE CARL HIGGINS AND HE HAS A GROUP PRESENTATION.
THE CEO AND THE DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES IS AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
UH, MR. CHAIRMAN? MR. HIGGINS, YOU SAID? YES.
REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT WITH ME ALSO IS DR.
RAKESH PATEL, THE CEO OF NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTHCARE, AND ALSO MR. MIKE DELEON, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES.
MR. CHAIRMAN, UM, WE AT YOUR DISPOSAL TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED SO FAR AT, AT YOUR, AT YOUR REQUEST.
WE'D BE HAPPY TO RESPOND TO THOSE.
UM, COMMISSIONER, SO WAS THAT YOU, THEY HAD THE QUESTION.
WHAT TYPE OF SERVICES WILL THE HEALTHCARE CLINIC BE PROVIDING? SURE.
SO NEIGHBOR HEALTHCARE, UM, PROVIDES CARE TO LOW INCOME POPULATIONS.
WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR OVER 50 YEARS.
UH, WE'VE BEEN IN EL CAJON ACTUALLY SINCE THE LATE NINETIES.
THIS USED TO BE A BUILDING THAT WAS TIED TO THE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND THEN WE'VE TAKEN OVER THAT ENTIRE, UM, LOCATION BACK IN THE LATE NINETIES.
THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE, SO WE TAKE CARE FROM BABIES TO SENIORS, SO WE PROVIDE PRENATAL CARE, WE PROVIDE CARE FOR THE NEWBORNS, PEDIATRIC CARE, WE PROVIDE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, SO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, CHIROPRACTOR SERVICES, ACUPUNCTURE, PODIATRY AS WELL, A LITTLE BIT OF OPHTHALMOLOGY AS WELL.
BUT REALLY IT'S PRIMARY CARE AND GENERAL HEALTH IS WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THE BULK OF WHAT WE DO.
HOW MANY DOCTORS DO YOU HAVE AT YOUR CLINIC? SO WE, WE HAVE A, I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER OF DOCTORS.
SO WE, OUR, OUR PEOPLE THAT TAKE CARE OF US, WE HAVE PSYCHIATRISTS, WE HAVE THERAPISTS, WE HAVE, UM, PHYSICIANS.
SO I THINK WE HAVE ABOUT FIVE PHYSICIANS, BUT THEN WE ALSO USE NURSE PRACTITIONERS, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT.
SO ALL ALTOGETHER, PROBABLY 20 STAFF AND DIFFERENT MODALITIES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO ASK A QUESTION AS I'M A NURSE PRACTITIONER,
UM, SO I WAS VERY EXCITED TO READ THE PROPOSAL, HONESTLY, UM, AND TO SEE THE SERVICES.
UM, AND EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THAT WE'RE ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT HOUSING, THAT, THAT THIS WASN'T AN AREA THAT WAS DESIGNATED FOR HOUSING, BUT IF WE INCREASE OUR HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO INCREASE, UM, ACCESS TO CARE.
UM, IS, UH, YOUR PRIMARY, YOUR PRIMARY CLIENTELE OR, OR PATIENTS ARE, I'LL SAY LIKE YOU SAID, FROM THE LOW INCOME, SO MEDI-CAL OR UNINSURED CORRECT.
UM, AND I DO BELIEVE I SAW, I THOUGHT I SAW SOMEWHERE THAT YOU WERE LOOKING TO HAVE LIKE OB GYN PRENATAL.
UM, I, I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE ACUPUNCTURE AND CHIROPRACTIC THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR NON-OPIOID, UH, OPTIONS FOR PAIN MANAGEMENT.
UM, UM, SO I THINK THAT THAT'S, UH, THAT'S GREAT.
AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT THOSE THINGS WERE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE ON MEDI-CAL, SO I THINK THAT'S GREAT.
DO YOU ALSO TAKE MEDICARE, UM, AT YOUR SITE AS WELL? YEAH, WE DO.
WE TAKE CARE OF A LOT OF FRAIL SENIORS THAT ARE MEDICARE MEDI-CAL AS WELL.
UM, AND THEN WE ACTUALLY, UM, ARE A NO OPIATE PRACTICE, AND SO WE DON'T REALLY WRITE NARCOTICS FOR CHRONIC PAIN AND, BUT WE WANT IT TO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE, UM, SOURCE OF PAIN RELIEF THROUGH CHIROPRACTOR AND ACUPUNCTURE AS WELL AS THROUGH, UH, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS.
AND THEN, SO MY NEXT QUESTION WAS ON THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
IS THERE ALSO OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING FOR DRUG REHABILITATION THROUGH YOUR, THROUGH YOUR MENTAL HEALTH, THROUGH A PATHWAY? WE DO MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT AS WELL.
AND SO WE HAVE TWO ADDICTION FELLOW SPECIALISTS ON STAFF, AND WE DO A LOT OF VIRTUAL CARE NOW AS WELL.
SO WE HAVE PSYCHIATRISTS UP ESCONDIDO THAT ARE SPECIALISTS THAT CAN WORK WITH OUR PATIENTS HERE IN EL CAJON.
WE'RE REALLY THANKFUL FOR YOU GUYS BEING HERE AND PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES.
UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? JUST A QUICK QUESTION FOR THE HOURS OF OPERATION IS, IT'S NOT LIKE AN URGENT CARE, IT'S JUST LIKE A, LIKE A NINE TO FIVE TYPE FACILITY OR? YEAH.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
SO BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, WE WERE EIGHT TO FIVE, UH, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, AND THEN TUESDAYS WE DID AN EIGHT TO EIGHT SHIFT MM-HMM.
UM, AND THEN ACTUALLY SATURDAYS WAS AN EIGHT TO 12.
WITH THE PANDEMIC THINGS IN STAFFING, WE'RE KIND OF BACK TO AN EIGHT TO FIVE FOR THE MOST PART, BUT WE'RE JUST, WE'RE CONTINUING TO LOOK TO SEE WHAT THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS THAT WHEN WE OPEN LATE, THE PATIENTS ACTUALLY DON'T WANT TO COME.
SO IT'S THE EIGHT TO FIVE SEEMS TO WORK THE BEST, BUT YOU'RE OPEN ON A SATURDAY.
SO FOR THIS, WE ARE, RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT, BUT WE, YEAH, WE PROBABLY WILL AT SOME POINT, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT.
[00:30:01]
ANY OUTPATIENT, UH, SURGERIES DONE IN YOUR, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING TO GET DONE NOW?WE DO LUMPS AND BUMPS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
TOENAIL REMOVES LIKE INGROWN TAIL TOENAILS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT BEYOND THAT, NOT, NOT VERY COMPLEX SORT OF THINGS.
I DID WANT TO ASK, UM, IS THIS GOING TO SHIFT THE LINES THAT I SEE IN THE MORNINGS, THAT FORM AT THE FRONT OF, RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF MADISON, IS THAT GONNA SHIFT THESE PEOPLE TO THE LARGER BUILDING AND PARKING LOT? THAT'S OUR GOAL.
UM, IT'S KIND OF THE BAN OF MY EXISTENCE IS LINES, YOU KNOW, MY DREAM IS TO GET RID OF WAITING ROOMS THAT YOU JUST COME AND YOU GO TO YOUR EXAM ROOM, YOU STILL GOT WAYS TO GET THERE.
THE PART OF THE PROBLEM IS SCREENING STILL.
BECAUSE WE GOTTA MAKE SURE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE CODE WALKING INTO THE BUILDING.
SO THERE'S A BIT OF PROCESS THERE, BUT REALLY WHAT WE LEARNED DURING COVID WAS THAT OUR ORIGINAL CLINIC, WE, WE SQUASHED A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THERE, AND IT'S JUST NOT HEALTHY FOR EMPLOYEES OR FOR PATIENTS.
AND SO BY EXPANDING INTO THIS SPACE, YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE SOME ORGANIC GROWTH, BUT REALLY NOW WE'VE GOT ELBOW ROOM AND OUR, AND OUR DOCTORS WILL BE HAPPIER.
THE EXPERIENCE, WE BETTER, BECAUSE SO MUCH ABOUT HEALTHCARE IS THE EXPERIENCE YOU GET WHEN YOU WALK INTO A BUILDING.
AND AS YOU SAID, IF YOU'RE WALK STANDING IN LINE OUTSIDE FOR 50 MINUTES, THAT DOESN'T FEEL VERY GOOD.
SO HOPEFULLY, UM, THAT'S OUR GOAL.
AND PRESS GAINY SURVEYS ARE A REAL THING.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE SURVEY.
WE'RE COMPANY, WE'RE, WE USE DIFFERENT COMPANY, BUT YES.
TO STAFF, THROW A BONE TO STAFF.
THEY'VE BEEN TREMENDOUS TO WORK WITH.
UH, ANY OTHER SPEAKER CARDS? YES, PATRICK GR OKAY.
COMMISSION, UH, AGAIN, PATRICK GRILLO, UH, G R I L L O T.
UM, I SHOULD HAVE SAID THE FIRST TIME, I'M A RESIDENT OF EL CAJON, UM, AND AS A PUBLIC, YES, AN ADVOCATE FORS OF HOUSING.
UM, BUT I DO WANNA SAY I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, UM, PROPOSED, UH, AMENDMENT.
UM, BECAUSE IT'S NOT IDENTIFIED AS A SITE IN THE HOUSING ELEMENT, IT DOESN'T REDUCE OUR PLANNED, UM, HOUSING GROWTH FOR THAT.
UM, AND ALSO I THINK IT, IT IS A KEY, UM, GROWTH AREA FOR PROVIDING MORE HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND SOCIAL SERVICES, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE, UM, LOW INCOME AND UNDERSERVED AND HISTORICALLY OPPRESSED COMMUNITIES IN THAT AREA.
AND, AND, UM, LOTS OF AREAS OF THE CITY.
UM, I DO HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
UM, ONE, I GUESS FOR STAFF AND ONE THAT MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANNA HAVE THE APPLICANT ANSWER OR MAYBE SEPARATELY.
UM, I WAS CURIOUS IF SOME OF THOSE SOCIAL PROGRAMS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING OR HAD BEEN DOING WITHOUT THIS REQUESTED NEW USE, UM, WILL BE CONTINUING AND, AND HOW THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE FACILITY NOW BEING USED FOR HEALTHCARE.
SO THOSE SORTS OF LIKE, I THINK THEY'VE BEEN DOING FOOD DRIVES AND THINGS OR, UM, HANDOUTS OF THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, AND THEN FOR STAFF, I'M WONDERING IF THE NEW, UM, OP ZONING, UM, DOES THAT ALLOW FOR ANY SORT OF HOUSING IN THE FUTURE? I KNOW IT'S PRIMARILY A COMMERCIAL ZONE, BUT THERE'S BEEN LOTS OF CHANGES IN STATE LAW AROUND, UM, REQUIRING THE ALLOWANCE OF HOUSING TO BE BUILT IN PREVIOUSLY NOT ALLOWED ZONES LIKE CERTAIN COMMERCIAL.
AND I BELIEVE AB 2011 MAY HAVE AFFECTED OP UM, ZONING THAT WAS PASSED THIS YEAR.
SO I'M CURIOUS IF STAFF COULD COMMENT ON THAT OR IF IT'S, IF THERE ARE THINGS IN THE PIPELINE THAT THEY MIGHT BE AWARE OF AT THE STATE LEVEL.
I CAN TAKE MY ANSWER OFF THE AIR IF THAT'S
UH, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THOSE THINGS.
SO REGARDING THE SOCIAL SERVICES, THERE ARE, THERE IS AN ALLOWANCE IN CODE FOR AN ACCESSORY USE OF UP TO 15%.
UM, THE OP, THE OP ZONE WOULDN'T ACCOMMODATE, UH, A STANDALONE SERVICE CENTER LIKE THE PREVIOUS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT THAT THEY HAD IN PLACE.
UM, BUT THEY COULD OFFER, UH, SERVICES THAT YOU MIGHT ANTICIPATE A PATIENT NEEDING AS A PART OF THEIR NAVIGATION THROUGH THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, AN OMBUDSMAN OR, OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.
UM, SO THAT THERE ARE, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THERE, AND I THINK THAT'S ANTICIPATED IN THE USE.
UM, REGARDING HOUSING AT THE SUBJECT SITE, THE OP ZONE, I BELIEVE ALLOWS FOR ESSENTIALLY A CARETAKER UNIT IN ITS EXISTING, UM, UH, THE WAY IT'S CODIFIED NOW.
WE WILL, UM, I THINK THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM MAY SPEAK TO THIS AS WELL.
WE, WE ARE LOOKING TO MAKE UPDATES TO THE CODE, HOWEVER, TO, UM, BETTER ALIGN IT WITH STATE LAW.
AND SO, UM, THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSING BASED ON STATE LAW AT THAT SITE.
[00:35:01]
THE ANSWERS.WELL, AT THIS TIME I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING.
MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER MORROW, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER.
MOTION CARRIES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, UH, WHAT'S SAY YOU, I JUST HAVE ONE COMMENT.
AS, AS I AM SO FOND OF READING THROUGH NEGATIVE DECLARATIONS, UM,
SO I, I LIKE TO FIND THE LITTLE BITS OF HUMOR IN A NEGATIVE DECLARATION.
IT'S, IT'S, SE Q IS ONE OF THOSE, I KNOW THE REASON THAT THEY PUT IT IN CODE, BUT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, LIKE ANY GOVERNMENT, IS REALLY BAD AT MAKING STREAMLINED DEFICIENT THINGS.
AND SO TRANSFERRING THE SITE FROM NEIGHBORHOOD OR RESIDENTIAL TO OFFICE PROFESSIONAL, I DON'T SEE WHY IT NEEDS A SEQ STATEMENT THAT WE'RE NOT, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT CHANGING ANYTHING ON THE PROPERTY.
UH, I, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IMPROVEMENT ON THAT CORNER.
AND I, I THINK IT, UH, IT'LL, IT'LL SERVE WELL, ESPECIALLY THERE'S ANOTHER HEALTHCARE CLINIC, UH, KITTY CORNER, NOT KITTY CORNER, ACROSS, ACROSS THE STREET.
SO, UH, I THINK IT'S GOOD PROJECT.
WELL, THERE'S NO FURTHER DELIBERATION.
I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND, UH, MOVE TO ADOPT THE NEXT RESOLUTION IN ORDER RECOMMENDING CITY COUNCIL APPROVE APPROVAL OF SE NEGATIVE DECLARATION NUMBER 2 0 2 2 0 0 2 G 2 0 2 1 2 AND Z 2 0 21 1.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER VA, PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION CARRIES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS VERY MUCH.
AND THIS ONE GOES TO THE CITY COUNCIL AGAIN ON DECEMBER 13TH.
[Public Hearing Item 4]
ITEM NUMBER FOUR.IT'S TIME THE 2022 ZONING CODE AMENDMENT INITIATE ZONING CODE AMENDMENTS.
IT IS SE EXEMPT AND STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS APPROVED.
UM, SO AGAIN, THIS IS A REQUEST TO INITIATE OUR ANNUAL OMNIBUS, UH, UPDATE TO THE ZONING CODE.
UM, THIS YEAR WE'RE LOOKING TO FOCUS ON, UH, TWO PRIMARY AREAS, UM, THE FIRST BEING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO SUPPORT BUSINESS RETENTION AND GROWTH.
AND THEN AS, UM, MR. ION, UH, ALLUDED TO EARLIER, UH, WE'RE GONNA BE DOING QUITE A FEW HOUSING ELEMENT RELATED UPDATES.
SO ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, INITIATIVES, UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT ALLOWING, UH, FOR BIOTECH OFFICE AND RESEARCH USES.
UH, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING TO ACCOMMODATE ELECTRIC VEHICLES THROUGH STORAGE, SALES AND DELIVERY.
UH, CUZ THEY OPERATE, UM, SOMEWHAT DIFFERENTLY, UM, THAN, UH, NORMAL AUTOMOBILES.
AND THEY HAVE DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR THEIR REPAIR.
AND THEN ALSO WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, SOME MINOR UPDATES, LIKE TO HOME BASED BUSINESSES.
UH, RIGHT NOW WE DON'T, IN THE HOME BASED HOME OCCUPATION PERMIT REGULATIONS, WE DON'T ALLOW PIANO TEACHERS TO HAVE PIANO LESSONS FROM THEIR HOME.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SOME TWEAKS TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.
JUST SOME COMMON SENSE UPDATES TO THE CODE.
UH, WE ALSO WANT TO LOOK AT, UM, DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO WE'LL BRING BRINGING THAT BACK AS WELL.
AND THEN ON THE HOUSING SIDE OF THINGS, UH, WE'RE LOOKING TO MAKE ADDITIONAL UPDATES TO OUR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT ORDINANCE BASED ON NEW STATE LAWS.
UH, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT NEW OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
SO OBJECTIVE RATHER THAN SUBJECTIVE SO THAT EVERYONE THAT COMES THROUGH THE DOOR KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO GET A PROJECT APPROVED.
UH, WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SOME UPDATES TO OUR, UH, DENSITY BONUS LAW.
AND THEN, UM, WE'RE ADDING SECTIONS TO THE CODE FOR URBAN LOT SPLITS, UM, AS APPROVED BY THE STATE.
AND THEN, UH, WE ALSO WANT TO EXTEND THE EMERGENCY HOUSING PILOT PROGRAM SUNSET DATE, UH, FOR THE AMICUS CABINS, UM, OUT AT MERIDIAN BAPTIST.
UM, THAT'S SCHEDULED TO END AT THE END OF 2023.
WE WANT TO PUSH THAT OUT SO THAT THERE'S SUFFICIENT TIME TO
[00:40:01]
EVALUATE HOW THE USE IS GOING, UH, BEFORE THAT, UH, OR ORDINANCE SUNSETS.SO WITH THAT, UM, STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS JUST THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION ADOPT, UH, THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION TO INITIATE THAT ZONING CODE AMENDMENT.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR STAFF? I HAVE ONE QUESTION, AND IT'S ON THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE STORAGE.
I KNOW THAT, UH, YOU GUYS HAVE DO A TON OF RESEARCH.
YOU DO COVER EVERYTHING, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE WE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO BATTERY STORAGE BECAUSE, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF, YEAH.
THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL RECENT FIRES WITH ELECTRIC BATTERIES EXPLODING, AND I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'RE OVERCHARGING.
I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES, AND I FIND IT AMUSING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE DANGERS OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
ELECTRIC FUELS HAVE BEEN AROUND LONGER THAN GAS VEHICLES, AND ORIGINALLY GAS VEHICLES WERE MET WITH THE, YOU PUT WHAT, AND THEN YOU LIGHT IT ON FIRE.
I DID, I DID HAVE A QUESTION JUST KIND OF IN RELATION TO THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE'LL BE A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE GRID OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
I NOTICE EL CAHO DOESN'T REALLY SUFFER FROM ANY POWER FAILURES.
IS THAT MAINLY BECAUSE OF THOSE PEAKER PLANTS THAT WE HAVE? THE SDG E PLANTS OVER ON JOHNSON? UM, THOSE, I SEE THOSE ON THE HOT DAYS.
THEY'RE BOTH FIRED UP AND, AND THEY'RE RUNNING.
I DON'T KNOW HOW BIG THEY ARE, BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS IF THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE DON'T REALLY SUFFER FROM ANY OF THE, THE BROWN OUTS.
DO YOU GUYS KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT? I'M NOT.
UM, AS IT RELATES TO RECENT, UH, ROLLING, UM, BROWN OUTS OR BLACKOUTS, I'M, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING THAT'S BEEN A LARGER, UM, REGION-WIDE BASIS.
UM, I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE DONE, UM, SOME POWER OUTAGES FOR SAFETY PURPOSES IN A MORE RURAL EAST COUNTY.
UM, JUST CAUSE OF THE FIRE RELATED CONCERNS.
UM, THE PEAKER PLANTS DO AUGMENT THE OVERALL GRID INTEGRITY SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN THERE IS PEAK DEMAND AND THE SOLAR PANELS AREN'T, AND THE, AND THE SOLAR PANELS AREN'T, AREN'T GENERATING ELECTRICITY, UM, THE SPEAKER PLANTS HELP TO MAINTAIN THE STABILITY OF THE GRID.
UH, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S DIRECTLY RELATED TO THEIR PROXIMITY AND PLACEMENT IN EL CAJON AS TO WHY, UM, LARGER, UM, BROWN OUTS OR OR OTHER ELECTRICAL SERVICE, UH, INTERRUPTIONS ARE OCCURRING IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.
YEAH, BECAUSE I MEAN, WE, WE APPROVED THAT ONE WAS ABOUT SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS AGO, THAT SECOND ONE THEY BUILT OUT THERE MM-HMM.
AND IT WAS JUST, IT WAS A GOOD IDEA.
YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD THEY DID THAT.
SO I KNOW WHY YOU GET LESS BLACKOUTS.
WHY? BECAUSE OF THE HOSPITAL ON SD GENIE'S GRID, THE ELCON VALLEY HOSPITAL STILL EXISTS.
AND SO THERE ARE THREE CIRCUITS THAT SERVE THE EAST SIDE OF EL CAJON THAT ARE LABELED HOSPITAL.
HALF OF THE SHADOW MOUNTAIN CAMPUS IS ON THE HOSPITAL GRID, AND THE OTHER HALF IS NOT.
THE HALF NOT ON THAT GRID GETS BLACKOUTS FROM TIME TO TIME THE HALF ON THE GRID.
WELL, THAT'S INTERESTING INFORMATION.
WOULDN'T SAY ONE THING JUST TO ADD KIND OF TAGGING ON THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE STORAGE AND SALES AND THINGS WHERE WE LOOK TO PUT IN EVEN, UM, OR FOR BUSINESSES WHERE THEY LOOK TO PUT IN CHARGING STATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I KNOW THAT AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS, ALL THE HIGH, ALL THE HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE GONE TO ELECTRIC BUSES.
UM, AND I KNOW SPECIFICALLY HERE AT THE ONE IN EL CAJON HIGH, THEY, UM, THE ELECTRICAL COMPANY THAT PUT THEM IN, PUT IN CHARGING STATIONS THAT ARE ACTUALLY SOLAR.
SO NOT ONLY DOES THE SOLAR CHARGE, YOU KNOW, END UP BEING WHAT PROVIDES THE ELECTRICITY TO CHARGE THE BUS, BUT IT ALSO, YOU KNOW, PROVIDES ENERGY BACK ON THE GRID.
AND I THINK SINCE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE MOVING TO A LOT OF THESE THINGS AND CONCERNS ABOUT THE GRID WHEREVER WE CAN, WE SHOULD BE TRYING TO A, YOU KNOW, ASK OR MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR SOLAR.
UM, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY IN, IN THE CASE WHERE THERE'S GONNA BE ANYTHING WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES, UM, OR CHARGING STATIONS.
AND THAT MAY BE A REQUIREMENT NOW FROM SDG AND E.
I DON'T THAT PART, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT, UM, IT CERTAINLY THEN, LIKE YOU SAID, TAKES OUT THE WHOLE ISSUE OF, YOU KNOW, ARE WE GONNA BE PULLING FROM PEOPLE'S HOMES AND RISK A, A COLLAPSE OF, OF EVERYTHING OR A BLACK, YOU KNOW, BROWN OUT OR BLACKOUT.
UH, ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANNA, WELL, SHOULD WE JUST TELL STAFF TO GET WORKING
IS THERE ANY SPEAKER CARDS FOR THIS GENERATOR? YES, WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER CARD.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPELL YOUR NAME, WE KNOW IT.
THERE'S ONE OR TWO OF US, RIGHT,
UM, SO, UM, I JUST HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
I GUESS I'M, I THINK THEY WERE ANSWERED A LITTLE BIT DURING THE STAFF PRESENTATION ABOUT THE, UM, DESIGN STANDARDS.
I'M, SO I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT WE'LL BE KIND OF FOLLOWING AGAIN, THAT THOSE WILL BE OBJECTIVE STANDARDS AS STATE LAW REQUIRES.
[00:45:02]
UM, I NOTED KINDA MUCH OF THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN STANDARDS CURRENTLY IN THE CODE, UM, DO NOT SEEM TO ME TO BE OBJECTIVE.AND I GUESS THAT TO ME INDICATES THAT MAYBE THAT MEANS THEY ARE SUBJECTIVE
UM, SO I THINK THAT THOSE THINGS AROUND, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT IT MUST BE NOT, UH, I FORGET THE EXACT PHRASING, BUT THINGS THAT ARE NOT JARRING OR THINGS LIKE THAT ARE NOT OBJECTIVE.
SO I HOPE THE COMMISSION CAN, I'M SURE STAFF WILL REPORT OUT, UH, APPROPRIATE CHANGES IN THAT REGARD.
THE REASON I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT IT, IT GIVES CLEAR GUIDANCE TO BUILDERS AND ANYTHING WHERE THERE'S AMBIGUITY OR THAT TO BE BACK AND FORTH AT THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT ULTIMATELY INCREASES THE COST TO BUILD AND THEN THEREFORE THE COST TO OWN OR RENT YOUR HOUSING TOO.
SO I THINK EVERYTHING WE DO TO STREAMLINE, REDUCE THAT, MAKE IT CLEAR, UM, THAT'S THE BIG PICTURE.
IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT LIKE, WHETHER IT'S A SHARP CORNER, ROUNDED CORNER ON THE BUILDING.
UM, AND THEN ALSO I HAD, UM, A QUESTION THAT ABOUT, UM, IF THE SCOPE OF THE PLANNED CHANGES INVOLVES ANYTHING RELATED TO THE DEEMED APPROVED, UM, HOTELS AND THE HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM THAT THE COUNTY HAS HAD, UM, IF STAFF IS PLANNING TO INCLUDE THAT IN ANY ZONING CODE UPDATES, AS I KNOW COUNCIL HAD AND PLANNING COMMISSION HAD CONSIDERED THAT AND THEN TABLED THAT, UM, INDEFINITELY.
SO I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW IF THAT'S PLANNED TO BE PART OF THIS UPCOMING CODE CHANGES AS WELL.
UM, AND IF IT IS, I, I WOULD INSTEAD I GUESS URGE THE COMMISSION AND THE CITY GENERALLY TO FOCUS, UH, TO THE EXTENT IT FOCUSES ON THAT PROGRAM, FOCUS ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND ANY, UM, EXCEPTIONS OR CRIME THAT MAY HAPPEN AS A PART OF THAT.
UH, AS OPPOSED TO PURSUING, SETTING A CAP ON THE PERCENTAGE OF ROOMS THAT CAN BE OCCUPIED, USED IN A VOUCHER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
UM, THAT RESTRICTS USE OF THE VOUCHER, UH, WITHOUT FOCUSING ON, UH, OR INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON, UM, PROBLEMATIC BEHAVIOR THAT MAY BE HAPPENING AT THE SITES.
UM, STAFF, IS THERE GONNA BE ANYTHING ON THE, UH, ZONING CODE, UH, OMNI THE BUS IN RELATION TO THE VOUCHER PROGRAM? NO, THERE WILL BE NO PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE DEEM TO PROVE LODGING ORDINANCE OR ANYTHING RELATED TO, UM, VOUCHERS.
UM, IN REGARDS TO THE OTHER QUESTION THAT WAS, UH, BROUGHT FORWARD ABOUT THE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS, UM, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH A, UM, COMMITTEE OF, OF LOCAL, UM, DESIGNERS AND ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS, UH, TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK.
UM, AND SO WE CAN SHARE THAT, UH, CUZ IT'S PUBLICLY AVAILABLE.
UM, IT'S BEEN SOME, SOME GREAT WORK ON IT.
UM, IT'S INCLUDING, UH, NOW SOME, UH, GRAPHICS, UH, SO THAT IT'S EASIER TO UNDERSTAND KIND OF THE DESIGN.
CAUSE I KNOW NOW, UM, IT'S A LOT OF, UH, VERY DETAILED DESCRIPTIVE LANGUAGE.
UH, BUT, UH, SOME EASILY, UM, EXPRESS CONCEPTS THROUGH A GRAPHIC, I THINK GO A LONG WAYS WHEN IT COMES TO THE ZONING CODE.
SO WE WILL SHARE THAT WITH THE SPEAKER SO THAT THE SPEAKER CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND GIVE US SOME ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK AS WELL.
ANY OTHER, UH, SPEAKER CARDS? NO.
AND I MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING.
I'LL SECOND MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER MEROSE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SERCO.
AND MOTION CARRIES BY UNANIM FOLK.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON, UH, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR? I'LL MAKE IT.
UH, MOVE TO ADOPT THE NEXT RESOLUTION IN ORDER INITIATING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CAJON ZONING CODE.
I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER SERCO, SECONDED BY, EXCUSE ME, MIS COMMISSIONER.
SO T LATE SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SERCO.
[6. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS]
AGENDA ITEMS, ANY STAFF COMMUNICATIONS OR EITHER ITEMS? YES.UM, I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS ADDED, UH, OUR NEWEST MEMBER WHO'S OUT IN THE AUDIENCE THAT IS SABLE BELTRAN.
UM, SHE IS OUR, UM, JUNIOR PLANNER, UH, COMES OUR WAY, UH, VIA THE PRIVATE NONPROFIT, UH, HOUSING, UM, SIDE.
UM, SO SHE'S GETTING UP TO SPEED ON LOCAL MUNICIPAL REGULATIONS AND HELPING WITH BUILDING PERMITS.
YOU SHOULD BE SEEING HER, UH, GIVING A PRESENTATION TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO JUST HAPPY TO WELCOME SABLE TO THE TEAM.
HAVE YOU STUDIED THE BIG THICK BOOK YET? NO,
THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK ON ALDI AND, UH, APPRECIATE THAT.
WELL, IF THERE'S, UH, NOTHING ELSE, I MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER MONROE.
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER VALEZ.
MOTION CARRIES BY UNANIM VOTE.