[00:00:02] GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO MARCH 24TH PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING. [I. CALL TO ORDER] I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AND IF WE COULD JOIN TOGETHER IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. THANK YOU. ROLL CALL, COMMISSIONERS, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER AGUILERA. HERE. COMMISSIONER ACHESON. HERE. COMMISSIONER MOBLEY. HERE. COMMISSIONER ERRECA. HERE. AND CHAIRMAN SPYCHER. HERE. WE HAVE A FULL QUORUM FOR TODAY. THANK YOU. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES. ACTUALLY THERE. I DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARE ANY MINUTES FOR THIS ONE TO APPROVE. IT'S JUST AS ALWAYS, JUST A STANDING ITEM ON THE AGENDA. BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE YOU ACTUALLY HAVE MINUTES TO APPROVE. NO MINUTES TO APPROVE. THAT MAKES IT EASY. MOVING ON, WE WILL GO TO CITIZEN COMMUNICATION. SO THIS PART OF OUR MEETING, ANY MEMBER FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD SPEAK ON SOMETHING THAT'S NOT ON TODAY'S AGENDA, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO DO SO. SEEING NONE. WE ARE GOING TO CLOSE CITIZEN COMMUNICATION AND MOVE ON TO PUBLIC HEARING. [VI.A. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT No. CUP20-018 – SETH ROSSOW] THE FIRST ITEM, A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. NUMBER CUP 20-018. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING CHAIR, COMMISSIONERS. ITEM A IS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NUMBER CUP 20-018 FOR SETH ROSSOW. BEFORE I BEGIN MY PRESENTATION, I NEED TO MAKE A CORRECTION. FOR THE RECORD, YOUR STAFF REPORT FOR THIS ITEM SAYS THAT THE PROJECT IS LOCATED IN SUPERVISOR DISTRICT THREE. THE PROJECT IS ACTUALLY LOCATED IN SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA'S DISTRICT, WHICH IS DISTRICT ONE. SO WITH THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED. SO THIS ITEM IS A REQUEST TO PERMIT THE OPERATION OF AN AGRICULTURAL MATERIAL COMPOSTING FACILITY ON A ON PORTIONS OF ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN ACRE PROPERTY THAT WAS FORMERLY A DAIRY. COMPOSTING WILL TAKE PLACE A MAXIMUM OF FOUR MONTHS PER YEAR, MAY THROUGH AUGUST, AND THE SITE WILL RECEIVE PROCESSED AND STORE LESS THAN FIVE THOUSAND CUBIC YARDS OF MATERIAL PER YEAR. PROJECT SITES DESIGNATED AGRICULTURAL USE IN THE GENERAL PLAN AND IS ZONED A1 GENERAL AGRICULTURAL SITE, IS CURRENTLY FARMED AND CONTAINS A SINGLE FAMILY HOME AND AGRICULTURAL STRUCTURES. THIS IS THE VICINITY MAP. YOU CAN SEE THE PROJECT SITE IS LOCATED SOUTH OF THE CITY OF MERCED. ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF MARIPOSA WAY EAST OF HEALY ROAD. AND THIS IS HIGHWAY. THIS IS HIGHWAY 99 HERE. THIS IS A CLOSE UP OF THE PROJECT SITE WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE ROW CROPS AND THE RELATED AGRICULTURAL STRUCTURES AND THE SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE, AND THIS IS A CLOSE UP OF THE LOCATIONS WHERE THEY WOULD LIKE TO STORE THE COMPOST ROWS HERE AND HERE. AND THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES WHERE YOU CAN SEE MOSTLY THE PROPERTY IS ENTIRELY SURROUNDED BY AGRICULTURAL ROW CROPS AND I BELIEVE THIS IS A CHICKEN RANCH HERE. STAFF HAS FOUND THAT THIS PROJECT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GENERAL PLAN, WITH THE ABOVE GOALS AND POLICIES OF THE AGRICULTURAL ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN, IN THAT IT IS AN ADDED BUSINESS THAT WILL DIRECTLY SUPPORT MERCED COUNTY FARMERS BY PROVIDING A NECESSARY SERVICE. THE PROJECT IS ALSO CONSISTENT WITH THE A1 GENERAL AGRICULTURAL ZONE. STAFF HAS FOUND THAT THE PROJECT CAN BE FOUND EXEMPT FROM CEQA UNDER SECTION ONE FIVE ONE EIGHT THREE PROJECTS CONSISTENT WITH COMMUNITY PLAN OR ZONING OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES. BASED ON THE FINDINGS IN THE STAFF REPORT AND NOTICE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS MAILED TO ALL PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN THREE HUNDRED FEET OF THE PROJECT SITE AND PUBLISHED IN THE MERCED SUNSTAR ON MARCH 12TH. NO COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED AND FINALLY, STAFF HAS TWO RECOMMENDATIONS. THE FIRST IS THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION DETERMINE THE PROJECT IS EXEMPT FROM CEQA REVIEW UNDER SECTION ONE FIVE ONE EIGHT THREE PROJECTS CONSISTENT WITH A COMMUNITY PLAN OR ZONING OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES. BASED ON THE FINDINGS IN THE STAFF REPORT AND TWO THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT CUP 20-018 BASED ON THE PROJECT FINDINGS IN THE STAFF REPORT AND SUBJECT TO THE RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. [00:05:02] ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? THERE WAS NO COMPLAINTS FROM NEIGHBORS, RIGHT? THAT'S A POSITIVE THING. AWESOME. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL AT THIS POINT OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. IF ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND ASK ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO DO SO. SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND BRING THAT BACK BEFORE THIS COMMISSION. WHAT IS THE WILL AND DESIRE? I'LL MAKE A MOTION FINDINGS OF THE STAFF REPORT. WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I USUALLY READ THE MOTIONS AND THEN HE GIVES A SECOND. SO I GUESS I'LL DO THE SECOND WE'RE GOING TO MIX THINGS UP. YEAH, I GUESS SO. GOOD. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR. AYE. CHAIR VOTES AYE. ALL OPPOSED NAY. ZERO NAYS SO AYES HAVE IT. MOVING FORWARD TO OUR NEXT DO THE PROJECT. I'M SORRY, BECAUSE EVERYTHING'S NOT RIGHT WITH THE WORLD. WE'RE CHANGING THINGS UP. NOW PROJECT DETERMINATION. I MAKE THE MOTION THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NUMBER CUP 20-018, BASED ON THE PROJECT FINDING IN THE STAFF REPORT AND SUBJECT TO THE RECOMMENDATION OF CONDITIONAL APPROVAL. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR. AYE. CHAIR VOTES AYE ALSO. ANY OPPOSED. AYES HAVE IT. NOW MOVING FORWARD TO MINOR SUBDIVISION APPLICATION MS 20-008. [VI.B. MINOR SUBDIVISION APPLICATION No. MS20-008 – BETTENCOURT PROPERTY, A PART] ALL RIGHT, GREAT. GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. TODAY I'LL BE PRESENTING MINOR SUBDIVISION NUMBER 20-008 FOR THE APPLICANT BETTENCOURT FAMILY. THE REQUEST IS TO CREATE A TWO POINT SIX FOUR ACRE HOME SITE PARCEL FROM A THIRTY FIVE ACRE PARCEL AND COMBINE THE REMAINING ACREAGE WITH AN ABUTTING PARCEL, WHICH WOULD ULTIMATELY CREATE A FIFTY TWO ACRE PARCEL. THE PROJECT SITE IS LOCATED NEAR THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF SHAFFER ROAD AND PRINCETON ROAD IN THE WINTON AREA, AND THE PROJECT SITES DESIGNATED AGRICULTURAL LAND USE AND ZONED A GENERAL AGRICULTURAL. HERE WE HAVE A VICINITY OF THE PROJECT SITE. THE PROJECT SITE AND SURROUNDING AREAS CHARACTERIZED BY ROW CROPS, AGRICULTURAL FACILITIES AND OCCASIONAL SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES. THE MERCED RIVER IS LOCATED NEARBY TO THE NORTH. AND HERE WE SEE A CLOSER IMAGE OF THE PROJECT SITE, THE HOME SITE PARCEL CONSISTS OF THE EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE IDENTIFIED WITH THE BLUE CIRCLE. WHILE THE ABUTTING PARCEL TO THE EAST WILL ABSORB THE REMAINING ACREAGE. AGRICULTURE OPERATIONS AND OTHER EXISTING LAND USES IN THE AREA WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED. AND HERE WE HAVE THE TENTATIVE MAP FOR THE SUBDIVISION WITH THE PROPOSED HOME SITE OUTLINED IN BLUE. THE 200 FOOT AGRICULTURAL SETBACK REQUIRED BY THE ZONING CODE HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED WHERE REQUIRED SPECIFICALLY TO THE SOUTH OF THE EXISTING RESIDENTS ON THE HOMESITE PARCEL. AND HERE WE HAVE AN IMAGE THAT WAS TAKEN FROM PRINCETON ROAD, LOOKING DIRECTLY NORTH TOWARD THE PROJECT SITE WITH THE RESIDENTS ON THE FAR LEFT BEING THE PROPOSED HOME SITE. AND HERE WE HAVE ANOTHER IMAGE TAKEN FROM SHAFFER ROAD TO THE EAST EXCUSE ME, TO THE WEST, WHICH SHOWS THE EXISTING ACCESS DRIVEWAY THAT LEADS TO THE PROPOSED HOME SITE. AND THE PROJECT IS CAN BE FOUND CONSISTENT WITH GENERAL PLAN GOALS AND POLICIES REGARDING AGRICULTURALLY ZONED PARCELS AND IS CONSISTENT WITH APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE SUBDIVISION MAP ACT AND TITLE 17. THE PROJECT IS ALSO CONSISTENT WITH APPLICABLE ZONING CODE REQUIREMENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT ALTHOUGH THE HOME SITE PERSON DOES NOT HAVE ONE HUNDRED FIFTY FEET OF ROAD FRONTAGE AS A CONDITION IN THE ZONING CODE FOR HOME SITE PARCELS, THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT OF THAT ZONING CODE PROVISION AND THAT THERE'S EXISTING ACCESS TO THE SITE VIA PRIVATE ACCESS ROAD. STAFF HAS FOUND THAT NO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION ONE FIVE ONE SIX TWO. SUBSEQUENT EIRS AND NEGATIVE DECLARATIONS OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES. THIS ANALYSIS, THE ANALYSIS THAT HELPED MAKE THIS DETERMINATION CAN BE FOUND IN THE CEQA FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS PROVIDED AS AN ATTACHMENT TO THE STAFF REPORT. NOTICE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS MAILED TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 300 FEET OF THE PROJECT SITE ON MARCH 12TH AND PUBLISHED IN THE SUNSTAR ON THE SAME DATE. [00:10:03] NO COMMENTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED AND WITH THAT STAFF HAS A COUPLE OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE COMMISSION THIS MORNING. MOTION TO DETERMINE THAT NO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IS REQUIRED AND MOTION TO APPROVE MINOR SUBDIVISION NUMBER MS 20-008. AND THAT NOW CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU BRODY. DOES ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? SEEING NONE. WE WILL NOW OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. THIS WOULD BE A TIME FOR ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME AND MAKE COMMENTS OR ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PROJECT. SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND BRING IT BACK BEFORE THIS BODY, WHAT IS THE WILL AND DESIRE OF THE COMMISSION? I'LL MOVE THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION DETERMINE THAT THERE'S NO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 15162 SUBSEQUENT EIRS AND NEGATIVE DECLARATIONS OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES BASED ON THE ANALYSIS IN THE 2030 MERCED COUNTY GENERAL PLAN PROGRAM ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT AND THE ATTACHED CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15162 FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. WE'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR. AYE. CHAIR VOTES AYE. NAY. NONE. MOTION PASSES. NOW THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE PROJECT DETERMINATION. ASK FOR MOTION THERE ARE ALSO. I MOVE THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED MINOR SUBDIVISION APPLICATION NUMBER MS 20-008 BASED ON THE FINDINGS IDENTIFIED IN THE STAFF REPORT AND SUBJECT TO THE RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. WE'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR. AYE. CHAIR VOTES AYE ALSO. NAY'S. THERE'S NO NAY'S. MOTION PASSES. MOVING FORWARD, COMMISSIONER ACTION ITEMS. NOTHING ADDITIONAL AT THIS TIME, SIR. THANK YOU. DIRECTOR'S REPORT. [VIII. DIRECTOR’S REPORT] JUST A COUPLE OF JUST QUICK ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. ONE. WNAT TO TO TAKE A SECOND TO ACKNOWLEDGE KRISTIN MCHANEY, WHO IS WHO IS HERE AT THE DESK TODAY. BUT SHE'S KIND OF IN A LITTLE BIT OF A TRAINING MODE. SHE IS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, PROMOTED INTO A PLANNING TECHNICIAN ROLE. SO SHE'S ACTUALLY CUSTOMER FACING NOW, WORKING AT OUR FRONT COUNTER AND DOING A NICE JOB THERE ALONGSIDE OUR OTHER PLANNING TECHS AND PLANNING PROS HELPING CUSTOMERS EVERY DAY. SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER AND I WANT TO WELCOME DESIREE DOBBS TO THE ORGANIZATION. SO SHE'S OVER HERE TO TO MY TO MY OUR COLLECTIVE LEFT. SHE IS GOING TO BE TRANSITIONING INTO THIS ROLE, SUPPORTING THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN THE IN THE DAYS AND MONTHS AHEAD. SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE DESIREE JOIN OUR TEAM. SHE JOINS US FROM THE MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM WHERE SHE DISTINGUISHED HERSELF THERE DELIVERING GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE. SO WHEN YOU SEE EMAILS OR GET PHONE CALLS, MAKING SURE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE PRESENT, IF YOU GET A PHONE CALL FROM A DESIREE DOBBS, SHE IS LEGITIMATE. AND WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE HER, BUT VERY, VERY PROUD OF KRISTIN AND THE WORK THAT SHE HAS DONE TO PREPARE HERSELF FOR THE ROLE THAT SHE NOW PLAYS WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION. SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. THAT'S GREAT INFORMATION. NOW, IS THERE ANY COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS? [IX. COMMISSIONER’S COMMENT] I WILL JUST ECHO THANK YOU, KRISTIN, IT'S BEEN NICE HAVING YOU HERE THROUGH THIS TIME AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, DESIREE, GOING FORWARD. ALL RIGHT. AT THIS POINT, WE ARE GOING TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. THANK YOU, EVERYONE. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.