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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.3 Planning Comission Appointment or 19 82 STAFF REPORT CITY CLERK ` CITY COUNCIL File # 110-30 DATE: January 20, 2015 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Christopher L. Foss, City Manager " SUBJECT: Mayor's Recommendation for Appointment to Planning Commission Prepared by Caroline P. Soto, City Clerk/Records Manager EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: At the December 16, 2014, City Council meeting, the City Council approved the Mayor's appointments to the City's Commissions and Committees, with the exception of one appointment to the Planning Commission. The City Council will consider the Mayor's recommendation for appointment to fill that vacancy. FINANCIAL IMPACT: None. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council confirm the Mayor's recommendation of appointment to the Planning Commission or provide other appropriate direction. y' Submitted By Reviewed By City Clerk/Records Manager Assistant City Manager DESCRIPTION: At the December 16, 2014, the City Council approved the Mayor's appointments to the City's Commissions and Committees, with the exception of one appointment to the Planning Commission. Mayor Haubert has since reviewed previously submitted applications and is recommending Scott Mittan to a four-year term on the Planning Commission, with the term expiring in December 2018. NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH: None. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Application Page 1 of 1 ITEM NO. 7.3 Print Planning Commission Application -Submission #53 Date Submitted: 12/1/2014 F)llanniing Coinninniissiion Applliicabon Date(inninn/dd/yy):� 12/01/14 N ainne:* Scott Mittan Street Addiress°� Ciity, State diilp Code Dublin, CA 94568 F)Ihone(Ilhoinne):� Phone(cellll oir woirlk) Il::::irnaiill Addiress Ccculpabow Supervising Tax Auditor II (Board of Equalization) Why acre you iinteirested In seirvnng on the Planning Coirnirniissiion? I am keenly aware of the vital role the Planning Commission plays in the future development of Dublin. As a manager for the Board of Equalization, the largest sales and use tax administration agency in the nation, I am fully aware of the importance of balance growth. Without a stable tax base that is spread across many different types of industries and economic sectors, the city will be susceptible to the whims of economic forces beyond its control. My ethnically diverse family has a strong interest in keeping Dublin strong as we plan on being life-long residences of this growing diverse city. What its youir Iknowlledge of and exlpeidence In Planning and Zoning? As an 18 year Dublin resident, I am keenly aware of the impact the planning commission's role plays in the development in a growing city like Dublin. The City Council and Mayor rely upon the commission to research, hear out commentary from both developers and the citizens of Dublin all while doing their utmost to fulfill the guidelines stipulated in the Dublin General Plan and Eastern Dublin Specific Plan. I would come to the Planning Commission with over 20 years experience as a president of 3 different Homeowner Associations. The last three years, I have been the President of Dublin Ranch HOA one of the largest HOA's in Dublin. My involvement in these HOA's has included review of architectural change submissions, HOA capital projects and budgets and the development of HOA documents and CC&R's upon which the association is governed. V°flow do you feel) about the grrowth that has occurred iin irecent years iin 11)ulblliin? I am both pleased with certain aspects of both east and west Dublin's growth and also concerned with other aspects. The addition of various national retailers, local proprietors and service enterprises has been a benefit to both the livability of Dublin as well has increased the overall tax base. However, I am quite concerned that the overall development of the available open land has been skewed too much toward residential and, to a lesser extent, retail. The lack of commercial development is of a great concern to me both in terms of livability (making it necessary to commute long distances to reach well paying jobs)and placing an excessive emphasis on a cyclical retail sector. It should be understood that developers and landowner's interests are maximized by developing as many"stack and pack"developments as possible. In turn however, the city and its citizens are left with an unbalanced tax base in which an undue amount of resources are called upon to provide basic city services such as police, fire and parks/recreation. In addition,the local school district must provide facilities to accommodate the influx of students. In short, I am for balanced and smart growth. What should the Ciity's Iposiitton Ibe iregairdiing grrowth? As stated above, I am for a balanced and intelligent growth model that protects the interests of the cities citizens now and well into the future. One must factor in that once growth occurs, especially residential, it is nearly impossible to make substantive changes to that growth years later. It is vitally important to get the right mix, quality and quantity of each type of development at the front end. In my opinion, it is better to let a piece of land sit vacant for years and years than to allow a development that is not in the best interest of the city and its citizens. What type(s)of housing do we need" In general, I agree with the overall goal of the past planning decisions that have been made in Dublin. While I would have liked to have had a larger percentage of low density housing, I am well aware of the fact that it benefits the city to have a place for various socio-economic sectors to be housed and represented in the City. If additional low to medium density housing areas can be identified, I believe this would be worthy goal as currently the development is overly concentrated toward medium and high density housing. What do you think acre the imayoir concerns of IE)ublliin iresiidents iregairdiing future Ipllanniing? I believe that the city should work in better coordination with the Dublin Unified School District in projecting and planning for current and future growth. The fact that the District appears to be constantly under estimating the impact of development on their facilities speaks to this disconnect. I would advocate holding developers to a higher degree of responsibility in providing for both education facilities and parks and recreational facilities. In addition, I am quite concerned that there is distinct lack of community development within eastern Dublin. The lack of churches, day-care facilities and other gathering places creates a sterile environment in which to live. f What, iif anything, should Ibe done to enhance the Downtown business diistidcts? The city should work with developers, business owners, utilities, State and Federal governments and its own citizens to identify areas where business districts can be improved and how to identify funding to accomplish such improvements. If somehow the utility lines within central Dublin could be buried, it would increase the aesthetic appeal of the area and increase the home values as well. This would then increase the tax base. There are several shopping centers within Dublin that are in dire need of redevelopment. All available means should be employed to encourage the property owners of these sites to better their facilities. The City has already spent a substantial sum of money putting in place enhancements to these areas; it's time for the business/property owners to step forward and do their part. What consiideirabons should the Ciity Ibe concerned with iin future devellolpinnents iin IE)ublliin? As I've stated above, the City must balance the needs and desires of the land owners and developers with the needs and desires of the City and its citizens. I am concerned that in the past, some decisions may have been made based upon a notion that a certain project or proposal should be approved in order to expeditiously fill up open land. I believe we need to be more mindful of how a certain development proposal will impact the City and its citizens over the long term. It is highly unwise to use rosy projections of costs to the City and to the school district in order to"sell"a project. If anything, more conservative(realistic)projects should be utilized. V°Ilow do you feel) about innaldng a decision for the oveirallll good of the coinninnuniity, but unpopular with soirne neighbors? I have had to make numerous decisions in my job that were unpopular with a certail taxpayer or group of taxpayer's. These decisions are always based upon the facts at hand and how these facts correlate with State laws and regulations. I am employed to protect the States interests. I would be honored to do the same for the City. In my role as a Board member with the Dublin Ranch Homeowners'Association, I am called upon to make numerous decisions that can negatively impact a certain homeowner(neighbor). These include placing liens and placing a homeowner into collections, fining a homeowner for not adhering to a certain rule within the CC&Rs and rejecting an architectural application. I always make these decisions with the overall goal of promoting the overall HOA's financial interests and homeowner interests; I would do the same as a member of the Dublin Planning Commission. What its the innost iiinnlpoirtant contil you can innalke as a inneinnbeir of the F)IIanniing Coinninniissiion? With my background as a UC Berkeley graduate in Political Economy, nearly 20 years of tax administration, 20 years of HOA Board membership and 18 years as a citizen of Dublin will bring to the Planning Commission someone who is well aware of the positive and negative impacts development can have on a community. I stand ready to serve my fellow Dubliners as a voice for balanced growth that enriches not only the developers but the City's residents as well. f Alplplliicabon innust Ibe subinniitted by end of day IMonday, I)eceinnbeir 1, 2014, If you sellect"°Suubinniit,"youir alplplliicabon wiillll Ibe sent ellectironii call lly to the City Clleirlk"s office. If you'd Iliilke to iretaiin a copy of youir alplpbiicabon, Ipbease choose"°Suubinniit and F)idnt,"After you cuiiclk this button, you wiillll Ibe shown a(page with youir iinfoirirnabon IpiroAded. F)Illease choose Ilmil firoinn youir"If:iille" naAgabon and then sellect"Continue,"