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Planning Commission Meeting

Date: January 20, 2022

Time: 1:00 - 11:59 p.m.

Registration Required: No

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Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting by calling in or by using the Zoom application:

Roll Call

Commissioner District 1 Cornwall

Commissioner District 2 Gilardi

Commissioner District 4 Deas

Commissioner District 5 Grady

Commissioner District 3, Chair Ocana

Staff Members

Scott Orr, Deputy Director

Gary Helfrich, Staff

Chelsea Holup, Secretary

Jennifer Klein, Chief Deputy County Counsel

Disability Accommodation

If you have a disability which requires an accommodation or an alternative format to assist you in observing and commenting on this meeting, please call (707) 565-6105 or email PlanningAgency@sonoma-county.org at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting to make arrangements.

Agenda

1:00 PM Call to order, Roll Call and Pledge of Allegiance.

Approval of Minutes November 18, 2021

Correspondence

Board of Zoning Adjustments/Board of Supervisors Actions

Commissioner Announcements

Planning Commission Regular Calendar

View documents for all items listed digitally>>

Item No.: 1

Time: 1:05 PM

File: ORD21-0005

Applicant: County of Sonoma

Owner: N/A

Cont. from: November 18, 2021

Staff: Gary Helfrich

Env. Doc: Permit Sonoma has determined that the project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to sections 15307 and 15308 as Vacation Rental regulation standards continue, add, or enhance requirements related to wastewater management, refuse management, noise, outdoor burning, and emergency evacuation and further protect natural resources and the environment from potential impacts related to Vacation Rentals. The Ordinance is further exempt under CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that the project will have no significant effect on the environment, because the Ordinance imposes additional regulations on a currently allowed use through the imposition of a business license, makes clarifying changes to existing standards, and establishes new administrative procedures.

Proposal: Proposed project would retitle Chapter 4 to “Amusements and Business Regulations” to define “Vacation Rental License”, and add Section VIII to Chapter 4 to establish a vacation rental business license program with new and enhanced standards, and make related amendments to Chapter 1 (General Provisions) Section 1-7.2., amend Section 26-88-118 (Special use standards for hosted rentals and bed and breakfast inns) to allow dual use rentals, and rescind and replace Section 26-88-120 (Vacation Rentals) to correspond with the new license program and amend Section 26-79 (Vacation Rental Exclusion Combining District) to clarify standards for exclusion and allow area-based Vacation Rentals permit limits in addition to exclusion.

Location: County Wide

APN: Various

District: All

Zoning: Various

Action:

Appeal Deadline:

Resolution No.:

Vote:

Commissioner District 1

Commissioner District 2

Commissioner District 4

Commissioner District 5

Commissioner District 3, Chair

Ayes:

Noes:

Absent:

Abstain:

Permit Sonoma Hearing Waiver Calendar

This calendar serves only to notify the public of hearing waiver projects. The projects listed below are not on the current agenda. During the Sonoma County Shelter in Place order additional accommodations for digital file review of the waiver period are available by contacting the project planner prior to the “last day for public comment” date listed for each item.

File: UPE21-0035

Project Name: Fence Use Permit

Applicant: Natividad Jose Pompa

Staff: Marina Herrera

Location: 1456 Elsie Court, Santa Rosa

APN: 034-073-025

Project Description: Use Permit to legalize an existing solid wood fence ranging 3 feet to 6 feet in height, located on the front property lines, approximately 13 to 8 feet from the street centerline of Jahn Drive and Elsie Court. The fence is accessory to an existing residence on a 0.48 acre corner lot.

Last Day for Public Comment: January 18, 2022

Meeting Documentation

Public Appearances for Non-Agenda Items

Shortly after the hearing begins, the PC invites public participation regarding the affairs of the County. Any person desiring to speak on any matter which is not scheduled on this agenda may do so. Comments may be limited to three minutes, or as imposed at the discretion of the Chair. Under State Law, matters presented during public appearances cannot be discussed or acted upon by the PC commissioners.

Public Appearances for Agenda Items

PC hearings begin at 1:00 PM and are recorded. Agenda items begin on or after the time stated on the agenda. After a county staff project presentation and commission questions, the public hearing is then opened. The applicant may then give a 10-minute project presentation followed by public comments. The time limit for public comments is at the Chair’s discretion and is typically three minutes per speaker. Please state your name for the record when you are called upon. Questions raised by the public may be answered after all public comments are given. The Commission may request staff or the applicant to answer questions, and the applicant is given the opportunity to respond to any public comments. The public hearing is then closed, and no further public comments are received. The commissioners discuss the project and make a decision by motion and roll call vote.

Contributions

Pursuant to Government Code section 84308, members of the Planning Agency, Planning Commission, or Board of Zoning Adjustments (collectively “Planning Agency”) are disqualified and not able to participate in any agenda item involving contracts (other than competitively bid, labor, or personal employment contracts), franchises, discretionary land use permits and other entitlements if the member of the Planning Agency received more than $250 in campaign contributions from the applicant or contractor, an agent of the applicant or contractor, or any financially interested participant who actively supports or opposes the County’s decision on the agenda item since January 1, 2023. Members of the Planning Agency who have received, and applicants, contractors or their agents who have made, campaign contributions totaling more than $250 to a member of the Planning Agency since January 1, 2023, are required to disclose that fact for the official record of the subject proceeding. Disclosures must include the amount of the campaign contribution and identify the recipient Planning Agency member and may be made either in writing to the Clerk for the Planning Agency, Planning Commission, or Board of Zoning Adjustments, as the case may be, prior to the subject hearing or by verbal disclosure at the time of the hearing.

Hearing Waiver Calendar

The hearing waiver calendar lists projects proposed for public hearing waivers for informational purposes only. The listed items are not scheduled on the current or uncontested calendars. For more information on the hearing waiver item, contact the planner assigned to the project or fill out a ‘Request for Information’ card.

Public Comments

Please follow the instructions below to submit a Public Comment in writing, email or in person via the hearing room. The PC invites interested persons to submit comments which are entered into the permanent record. Written comments received prior to and during the hearing are distributed to the commissioners, staff, and are available to the public via the public copies link in the calendar section of this agenda. Written comments received after the package is made public may be read into the record.

Mail Public Comments

Address letters to: Permit Sonoma, 2550 Ventura Avenue, Attn: Planning Agency Secretary, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 and include the project number. This is not the location of the hearing.

Email Public Comments

Email comments to: PlanningAgency@sonoma-county.org. Please provide your name and the project number. It is advised to email comments (no later than the day before) prior to the hearing date to give commissioners and staff review time.

Speaking In-Person on an Agenda Item

If you wish to speak on an item which appears on this agenda, please fill out a speaker card and drop it in the box near the staff table. You will be called by the Chair in the order received. Your name, will be announced when it’s your turn to speak (1 public comment is allowed per person). The meetings are recorded and all in person testimony must be given through the microphone. Please state your name upon approaching the microphone. Each person may speak only once and is usually granted 3 minutes. Time limits are at the discretion of the Chair. Questions raised by the public are to be directed to the Commission. At the end of the hearing, the Commission may ask staff or the applicant to respond to any questions raised during the hearing. 

Comment on a Hearing Waiver Item

If you wish to comment on a hearing waiver item, submit your comment directly to the assigned planner prior to the “last day for public comment” date listed for each item.

Be Respectful and Courteous

Please Be Respectful of others and the varying points of view. No clapping, booing, or speaking out of turn.

Please Be Courteous turn off cell phones and pagers while the meeting is in session.