“My feeling is when there is a major type of mixed use development being proposed and considering the scarcity of land available within the city, it would be a good idea to come forward with a concept review,” later said Planning Commissioner Gary Nasalroad.Nasalroad, who was unable to attend the May 27th meeting, noted that applicants who go through concept review would have a “far better chance of success and it would be far less expensive,” than resubmitting the application or going through the City Council appeal process. “We’ve had several developers go this route and we and they were better satisfied when the project went through a conceptual review. The Planning Commission wants to encourage responsible development for the community,” but development must satisfy community and developer interests.“The problem we are seeing is that we have a very liberal housing element; now developers are looking at the element and pushing the envelope even further,” by “loading” applications with variances that cannot be accepted, said Commissioner Dave Johnson. “With the housing element we have a project that should come to the city without asking for variances,” and meet existing requirements ranging from setbacks to open space.“When we start breaking those rules, we’re lowering the bar. . .”Johnson agreed that developers should first present a conceptual review: “If they want to break one or two rules,” with justification and mitigation plans, “then the answer is maybe we can make an exception.”The first such project rejected by the Planning Commission, a 36-unit housing and commercial complex, is being readied for a City Council appeal tentatively scheduled for June 23rd.
Planning Commission rejects second Harvard Blvd. mixed-use project
June 07, 2003
Santa Paula News
The Planning Commission rejected another mixed-use project in the Harvard Boulevard corridor with concerns echoed when they turned thumbs down on a similar plan just weeks before and prompting one commissioner to suggest an emphasis be placed on conceptual reviews.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThe Planning Commission rejected another mixed-use project in the Harvard Boulevard corridor with concerns echoed when they turned thumbs down on a similar plan just weeks before and prompting one commissioner to suggest an emphasis be placed on conceptual reviews.The commission decided on May 27th that the second project, which planned to have mixed commercial and housing next to Isbell Middle School, to be built in two phases, lacked usable open space and a play area for children, insufficient covered parking, and didn’t provide loading spaces for commercial tenants. The commission also objected to the lack of setback between the residential area and the public right-of-way.The development by applicant William Thompson would have created 28 studio, one- and two bedroom units and 10 units of commercial space on about 24,500 square feet of property.The vacant lot adjacent to the Isbell Middle School parking lot was targeted to be developed first for commercial use; after the demolition of the Gasco station on the eastside of the parcel the residential units would have been built.The Planning Commission also dinged the environmental document for the project, noting the Ventura County Environmental Health Department’s should not defer the risk of hazardous materials related to the underground gasoline storage tanks.The commission denied the project 3-2, with Chairwoman Jennifer Matos and Commissioner Bill Irion seeking a continuance. Voting for the motion of denial were Commissioners Rita Graham, Dave Johnson and Gerald Schmidt.
