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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-27-2014 PC Minutes d'4610* , Ili lll Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, May 27, 2014 y CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL A regular meeting of the City of Dublin Planning Commission was held on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in the City Council Chambers located at 100 Civic Plaza. Chair Bhuthimethee called the meeting to order at 6:59:34 PM Present: Chair Bhuthimethee; Vice Chair Goel; Commissioners Do and Kohli; Luke Sims, Community Development Director; Lauren Quint, Assistant City Attorney; Kristi Bascom, Principal Planner; and Debra LeClair, Recording Secretary. Absent: Cm. O'Keefe ADDITIONS OR REVISIONS TO THE AGENDA— NONE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS — On a motion by Cm. Do and seconded by Cm. Kohli, on a vote of 4-0, the Planning Commission approved the minutes of the May 13, 2014 meeting. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS — NONE CONSENT CALENDAR — NONE WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS — NONE PUBLIC HEARINGS — 8.1 PLPA-2014-00025 New Energy Conservation Element of the General Plan Kristi Bascom, Principal Planner, presented the project as outlined in the Staff Report. Chair Bhuthimethee asked if the Planning Commission will be making a recommendation to the City Council on the new element as it is or will they be able to make comments and recommendations on changes to the element. Ms. Bascom responded that Staff's recommendation is that the Planning Commission recommend to the City Council that they approve the Element as is, but if the Commission has questions or if there are changes that they would like, then those would go forward to the City Council as a Planning Commission recommendation along with Staff's recommendation. Cm. Kohli felt that it is great to see that the City is being proactive and ahead of the curve. He stated that he would like the City to continue to stay ahead of the State and be a leader in energy conservation. He wanted to suggest that the City Council continue to be proactive in setting the standards. He asked if a calculation has been done regarding the total economic impact of implementing this new Element. He stated that if Ms. Bascom did not have that information at this time, he would welcome it at some future point. < 'lcinrirtl(('(1117171736.~ft May 27 2014 Ms. Bascom answered that Staff does not have that information, but stated that the language in most General Plan Elements are characterized as encouraging or considering as opposed to specific requirements. Cm. Kohli mentioned that a reduced Building Permit fee for the installation of photo voltaic panels is an economic impact and wanted to ensure that there is some awareness or promotion of that. He felt that it would be good to know the economic impact number so that the Planning Commission can have the information in case there are residents with concerns. Chair Bhuthimethee asked if a task force was convened to help create the Element or were other resources used as well. Ms. Bascom stated that Staff used general research regarding best practices that have been employed elsewhere, and conversations with Public Works and Building Department Staff. She stated that in 2005/06 the City convened a Green Task Force that put forth recommendations for policy changes to be implemented in the future. She stated that Staff referred to those recommendations for both the Water Resources Element and the new Energy Conservation Element, and incorporated those items that were relevant to the different Elements. She stated that there was no task force convened specifically, but Staff used current resources. Cm. Goel referred to Section 3.2.B.3 regarding new commercial and residential parking lots and requiring installation of additional conduit, and stated that it also talks about including trees and following the standard tree guidelines. He asked if Staff took into consideration potential impacts of shading requirements or if that issue would fall under a different guideline. Ms. Bascom asked if Cm. Goel was referring to the shading requirements of the parking lot tree planting standards. Cm. Goel answered yes and was concerned that tree heights could impact the efficiency of solar panels. Ms. Bascom agreed and stated that the intent was to ensure that conduit for electric vehicle charging stations was installed, not necessarily for solar installations in parking lots. She stated that Staff reviewed the cost of requiring the installation of charging stations, but found it was too cost prohibitive to consider it as a requirement. She stated that Staff did not recommend having a policy that required the installation of the charging stations but wanted to ensure that there would be conduit there should a charging station be installed in the future. She stated that one of the requirements of the Green Building Code is for preferred parking for electric vehicles and with the implementation of this policy, conduit would need to be installed, but not a charging station. Cm. Goel suggested including a policy that conduit would also be installed for the ability to install solar panels in parking lots. Luke Sims, Community Development Director, referred the Planning Commission to Section 3.2.B.6 which addresses the issue of possible conflict between trees and solar panels. He noted that, where solar panels will be used, the proposed policy provides flexibility for private parking lots to have lower tree heights or perhaps no trees in certain cases as appropriate, so that the conflict does not exist. 4°fannzng t:'omrnis.ion May 273 2014 Weg'Jar+Aleeting (P a g e 89 Cm. Goel felt that it was important to encourage a balance of trees that provide natural oxygen levels with the requirements of the Green Building Code. Cm. Goel asked to make a correction to Section 2.2, under Alternative Sources, paragraph 3, that mentions Dublin Ranch Homeowners Association but indicated it should be Dublin Ranch Golf Club Homeowners Association. Chair Bhuthimethee mentioned "tankless" water heaters and asked if that would be something the City should promote as part of this policy. Ms. Bascom responded that the policy was not written so that "tankless" water heaters would be a requirement, due to the potential cost. Chair Bhuthimethee agreed, but felt that it would make sense to have "tankless" water heaters a requirement in apartments where the water demand is lower. Chair Bhuthimethee felt that the City should encourage the installation of photovoltaic panels wherever possible on the rooftops, and not take away one resource (trees) to replace it with another. She would discourage removing trees since they provide many benefits. She was also concerned about what the photovoltaic panels might look like in the future. Ms. Bascom referred the Planning Commission to Section 3.2.B which discusses continuing to implement the parking lot tree standards and encouraging landscaping conducive to solar panels in areas where appropriate. She felt that the intent of this section is that one should not replace the other and asked if there is language that the Planning Commission would like to add that would address their concerns regarding the conflict of trees versus solar panels. Chair Bhuthimethee felt that there is no specific language, but the issue is something that concerns her. She felt that the ideal situation is for the trees to remain, with all their benefits, and the photovoltaic panels would provide energy. She added that, whenever possible, solar panels should be placed on rooftops rather than parking lots to avoid the conflict with trees. Cm. Goel suggested that the policy encourage landscaping that provides a well-balanced development plan to accommodate solar panels and the landscaping needs of the parking lot. He felt a well-balanced sustainable Element with the right amount of greenery and solar structures would be appropriate. Chair Bhuthimethee asked that the policy be applied generally. There was a general discussion regarding wording of a guiding policy that states that the City, whenever considering promoting implementation of clean technology or energy efficiency policies, will consider negative outcomes and ways to mitigate those impacts. The Planning Commission agreed that Staff would make the suggested modifications to the Energy Conservation Element that were suggested. Chair Bhuthimethee opened and closed the public hearing although no members of the public were present. On a motion by Cm. Kohli and seconded by Cm. Goel, on a vote of 4-0, the Planning Commission adopted: <=:finning CoriarTssion may 27,2014 Regular;ideal np 2'a l e 1 90 RESOLUTION NO. 14-25 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN RECOMMENDING CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT TO INCLUDE A NEW ENERGY CONSERVATION ELEMENT 4111. NEW OR UNFINISHED BUSINESS — NONE OTHER BUSINESS - NONE 10.1 Brief INFORMATION ONLY reports from the Planning Commission and/or Staff, including Committee Reports and Reports by the Planning Commission related to meetings attended at City Expense (AB 1234). 10.2 Mr. Sims introduced Lauren Quint, City Attorney's office, who may sit in for Kit Faubion in some meetings. ADJOURNMENT— The meeting was adjourned at 7:30:12 PM Respectfully submitted, PI nning Commission Chair ATTEST: Luk Si s, AICP Community Development Director GAMINUTES12014IPLANNING COMMISSIOM05.27.14 FINAL PC MINUTES(CF).docx Planning Commission !May 27,2014 (Regular le eeting 0)a g e 1 91