DATE OF MEETING: September 20, 2001

TIME OF MEETING: 4:30 p.m.

PLACE OF MEETING: Cotati City Hall, Conference Room

201 W. Sierra Avenue

Vice Chairman Rock called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.

Committee Members Present: Davis, LeDoux, Draper, Kagan, Rock

Committee Members Absent: Leys

Staff Present: Dorch, Brisbine, Lustig, Voge

There were no changes to the agenda.

Director of Planning Dorch presented the staff report. He said that although the architectural design has improved for the building, the truck turning radii at the rear of the site is not adequate according to a traffic engineer that was consulted. Until that issue is resolved, he could not recommend approval. Also, the parking standards specified in the Zoning Ordinance have not been met. If additional parking were provided in the area shown, the truck turning radii would become even worse.

Committee Member Draper asked about the possibility for a variance to allow less parking, but Director of Planning Dorch said that the required findings could not be met.

Director of Planning Dorch also said that the two-foot wide landscape strip bordering the Laguna de Santa Rosa is not consistent with surrounding properties that have a five-foot strip.

He suggested that if the Design Review Committee wanted to approve the plan, they could refer the parking issue to the Planning Commission because it is a land use issue.

Committee Member Kagan requested and received clarification from the project architect on the fall of the handicap ramp at the rear door because there was no elevation to show it. Mr. Matulich said that the angle is 1:20 and that no handrails are needed.

Committee Member Kagan asked about the ordinance being processed to allow parking to encroach by five feet in the required side yard setback. Director of Planning Dorch responded that the ordinance was introduced by City Council at their last meeting.

Marc Matulich, the project architect, discussed the revisions to the plan, particularly the Aaron Street elevation that now has a lower roof. No trellis was included at the advice of their landscape architect.

Mr. Matulich said that the two-foot landscape strip bordering the Laguna de Santa Rosa has been proposed to include star jasmine. He stated the opinion that if the Laguna were ever developed for public access, then significant landscaping, including trees, would occur on the Laguna side.

He said that the Cotati Food Service operation does not require trucks to circulate through the rear of the property. Presently the trucks back in from the street to the loading dock, and then exit the same way. However, without parking on the western border of the property, trucks could access the rear of the property. The size of the trash enclosure could be reduced to allow easier access. He suggested the possibility of a variance to allow a reduced number of parking spaces until such time as the use changes. He said that the applicant has no problems with the conditions of approval.

Director of Planning Dorch said that according to the traffic engineer that was consulted by staff, the truck turning radii would be inadequate even if the parking along the western border was not used, and the trucks would clip the loading dock and the trash enclosure.

Mr. Kenney, the property owner, stated that he would accept the responsibility if trucks clipped the loading dock or the trash enclosure and was not really sure why staff was so concerned about it.

Committee Member LeDoux commented that other single loading docks have been approved that allow backing up from the street. This type of use would have more frequent deliveries and it was not his preference to allow that situation.

Committee Member Kagan suggested that the six-foot planter strip be reduced to five-foot in order to increase the turning radii.

Comments:

Committee Member Davis said that the architect responded to their comments on the design of the building. He found the landscape plan to be acceptable and was all right with no trellis being added. He suggested that the parking issue could be resolved by striping the required number of parking spaces, but using the area for truck access. Or, the trucks could back up to the loading dock from the street. All together, he found the project to be improved and recommended forwarding it to the Planning Commission.

Committee Member LeDoux agreed that the architect did a good job on the design of the building.

He suggested that the fascia designs should match and that this could be shown at final design review. He also suggested that the roof overlap from the addition to the existing building to tie them together. He stated his opinion that the plan needs to provide truck turning capabilities. The Design Review Committee has been willing to compromise on the landscaping, but the site plan needs to demonstrate that increased parking is possible on the site. He was not in favor of trucks backing from the street. He was also all right with no trellis being added. He was willing to forward the plan to the Planning Commission.

Committee Member Draper said that she likes the improved plan. She would not be inclined to deny the application based on insufficient parking, but might recommend that they reduce the size of the trash enclosure. If the property owner believes that he can work with the plan as proposed, then she would find it acceptable.

Committee Member Kagan complimented the revised roofline. He favored striping the new parking spots, but allowing trucks to back up to the loading dock. He restated his recommendation that the six-foot landscape strip be reduced to five feet to improve the turning radii. He also agreed that the trash enclosure could be reduced, but only if it is acceptable to the property owner.

Committee Member LeDoux said that a more intensive use of the building in the future would be reviewed by staff and more parking might be needed. He found it acceptable for the applicant to stripe the new parking spaces now.

It was the consensus of the Design Review Committee to delete condition no. 6 because the ordinance has been introduced; and to amend condition no. 3 to include a requirement that fascia details be included at Final Design Review.

It was moved by Committee Member Davis to grant Preliminary Design Review approval to expand the existing Cotati Food Service facility at 441 Houser Street with the suggested conditions of approval as amended. Second by Committee Member LeDoux.

Yes: 5 Noes: 0 Absent: 1 (Leys) Abstain: 0

Director of Planning Dorch presented the staff report and requested direction from the Design Review Committee on the issue of perimeter fencing.

Dennis Key, the project architect, represented the application. Concerning the perimeter fencing, he said that all but the fence bordering the railroad tracks is proposed to remain as existing. The application had initially proposed no fencing along the border of the railroad track, but they now would like to install a chain link fence for security. Color and material samples were available for review, as well as before and after photos of the building.

Following discussion, the Design Review Committee reached a consensus that the existing perimeter fencing is acceptable and that chain link fence along the railroad tracks is also acceptable.

It was moved by Committee Member Draper to grant Final Design Review approval for the remodel of an existing 11,970 square foot building at 1015 East Cotati Avenue for a commercial window company.

Second by Committee Member Davis.

Yes: 5 Noes: 0 Absent: 1 (Leys) Abstain: 0

Committee Member LeDoux and Committee Member Kagan left the meeting at 5:26 p.m. due to conflicts of interest concerning the next two agenda items.

Assistant Planner Voge presented the staff report.

In response to an inquiry from Committee Member Draper, Assistant Planner Voge said that the indemnification conditions are standard at Planning Commission level and are not usually seen by the Design Review Committee.

Committee Member Davis asked if the Coast Live Oaks in the landscape plan should be changed to another variety (ie: quercus lobata) because of the sudden oak death situation. The applicant said that the wetland consultant recommended the trees.

Jerry Tierney, the project architect, represented the application and described revisions to the landscape plan that address staff's final comments regarding the landscape strip along the street.

Committee Member Davis said that the project looks good. Concerning the landscape plan, he recommended changing the variety of Oak from Coast Live Oak to Quercus lobata, and complimented the tree selections and the use of wisteria. He complimented the color selection.

Committee Member Draper complimented the use of blossoming trees and wisteria. She also complimented the color selection and the project overall.

Vice Chairman Rock agreed with their comments.

The Design Review Committee also reached a consensus that the proposed lighting is acceptable.

It was moved by Committee Member Draper to grant Final Design Review approval for a 15,775 square foot, two-story industrial building at 364 Blodgett Street (Endless Knot). Second by Committee Member Davis.

Yes: 3 Noes: 0 Absent: 3 (Leys, LeDoux, Kagan) Abstain: 0

Assistant Planner Voge presented the staff report. She pointed out the two suggested conditions of approval that involve the tree selection for the landscape strip and additional windows on the western elevation.

Ed Sohl, the project architect, represented the application. He presented revised elevations that include four windows on the western elevation for lot 5. Bike racks are proposed to be the standard ribbon-type bike rack to accommodate four to six bicycles. Also available were a drawing showing both of the buildings together, and a 3-D view of the building on lot 5. The on-site lighting is identical to that approved for lot 1.

Buck Oates, property owner, presented the sign program for the entire business park. He said that all lighting is proposed to be external and no backlit signage is proposed.

Dave Haselwood, the landscape architect, was available to represent the final landscape plan. He said that the wetland consultant has accepted the revised landscape plan. He said that no street trees were included within the landscape strip fronting lot 5 in order to break up the monotony of a long row of trees that he does not find desirable in an industrial setting.

Comments:

Committee Member Davis complimented the project and the selected colors. He recommended that three birch trees be moved out to the landscape strip fronting lot 5. He liked the additional windows on the west elevation for lot 5. He found the sign program and sign lighting to be acceptable although the signs are more modern than is typically recommended.

Committee Member Draper complimented the color selections and the overall project presentation. She also liked the added windows on the west elevation for lot 5. She agreed with Committee Member Davis's recommendation for moving three of the birch trees out to the landscape strip fronting lot 5. She also found the sign program to be acceptable.

Vice Chairman Rock agreed that the design is good, particularly with the added windows. He also found the landscape plan to be acceptable with Committee Member Davis's suggestion about the birch trees.

It was moved by Committee Member Davis to grant Final Design Review with the condition that three birch trees be moved out to the landscape strip fronting lot 5, and Sign Program approval to construct two industrial buildings on lot 5 and lot 6 of the Kandy Business Park, located on Blodgett Street. Second by Committee Member Draper.

Yes: 3 Noes: 0 Absent: 3 (Leys, LeDoux, Kagan) Abstain: 0

Committee Member Davis requested and received clarification on the Comfort Inn project.

Vice Chairman Rock also reported on an Ad Hoc meeting to review planning procedures that was held on Wednesday, September 19.

Vice Chairman Rock adjourned the meeting at 6:10 p.m.