[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:06]
GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR MARCH 11TH.
LET'S CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. 1ST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER ERRECA. HERE. COMMISSIONER SPYCHER.
HERE. COMMISSIONER JAWAD. VICE CHAIRMAN TATUM.
HERE. CHAIRMAN RAMIREZ. HERE. MR. CHAIR, YOU HAVE A QUORUM.
[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
THEY SEE NONE. I CALL FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
OKAY. AT THIS TIME, WE OPEN UP THE CITIZENS COMMUNICATION.
AT THIS TIME, IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE THE COMMISSION ON ANYTHING OF INTEREST, THAT'S WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA. YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON THAT? COME FORWARD STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. OKAY.
SEEING NONE, I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
[6. PUBLIC HEARING(S)]
OKAY. SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR 1ST ITEM ON HERE.MINOR SUBDIVISION NUMBER MS25-017 . GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.
THE PROJECT BEFORE YOU WAS PREVIOUSLY HEARD AT YOUR FEBRUARY 11TH, 2026 MEETING.
AT THAT HEARING, BECAUSE THE ITEM WAS NOT FORMALLY CONTINUED.
THE HEARING HAS BEEN RE NOTICED WITH PUBLIC PUBLIC NOTICE MAILED AND PUBLISHED.
NO DEVELOPMENT IS PROPOSED AT THIS TIME. THE COMMISSION'S CONSIDERATION TODAY IS LIMITED TO THE MERITS OF THE SUBDIVISION, AND STAFF HAS FOUND IT CONSISTENT WITH THE COUNTY ZONING CODE, SUBDIVISION CODE, THE SUBDIVISION MAP ACT AND OTHER APPLICABLE APPLICABLE REGULATIONS.
MARK. GOOD MORNING, PLANNING COMMISSION. MY NAME IS RICARDO MERCADO.
I'M THE PROJECT PLANNER FOR THE PROJECT BEFORE YOU.
MINOR SUBDIVISION NUMBER MS25-017 FOR THE APPLICANT, THEOPHILUS NKWOPARA.
THE PROJECT IS A REQUEST TO SUBDIVIDE AN APPROXIMATELY 5.52 ACRE PARCEL INTO 4 PARCELS RESULTING INTO IN 4 NEW PARCELS THAT ARE JUST OVER 1 ACRE EACH, WITH NO NEW DEVELOPMENT BEING PROPOSED.
MOVING FORWARD TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE HAVE A VICINITY OF THE PROJECT SITE.
THE SITE IS OUTLINED IN RED AND CONSISTS OF 1 APPROXIMATELY 5.52 ACRE PARCEL LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF LOS OLIVOS ROAD, 0.2 MILES NORTH OF CARDELLA ROAD IN THE MERCED AREA.
2 EXISTING DRIVEWAYS ALONG LOS OLIVOS ROAD. THE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE MAINTAINS AN ON SITE DOMESTIC WELL FOR WATER AND HAS AN ON SITE SEPTIC SYSTEM THAT MANAGES WASTEWATER. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS A MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT MID CANAL NAMED YOSEMITE LATERAL THAT BISECTS THE PROPERTY.
THE PROJECT SITE AND SURROUNDING AREA IS CHARACTERIZED BY RESIDENTIAL LAND USES, SUCH AS SINGLE FAMILY HOMES TO THE NORTH, EAST AND SOUTH AND VACANT LAND TO THE WEST. MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
WE CAN HAVE. WE SEE THE TENTATIVE PARCEL MAP WHICH DISPLAYS THE 4 PARCELS.
[00:05:04]
HERE WE CAN SEE THE LAYOUT OF THOSE PARCELS WHICH ARE OUTLINED IN THE COLORS RED, BLUE, GREEN AND PURPLE.THE MERCED COUNTY DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HAS REVIEWED AND DETERMINED THAT THE PROPOSED PARCELS, 2 TO 4 WOULD HAVE ADEQUATE SPACE TO SUPPORT AN INDIVIDUAL, DOMESTIC WELL AND ONSITE SEPTIC SYSTEMS SHOULD DEVELOPMENT OCCUR.
THE EXHIBIT WAS ALSO REVIEWED BY THE CITY OF MERCED WITH NO CONDITIONS BEING SET.
THAT WOULD BE FOR THE BENEFIT OF PARCELS 2 TO 4.
MOVING FORWARD, WE GO INTO PROJECT CONSISTENCY.
THE PROJECT WAS FOUND CONSISTENT WITH THE APPLICABLE GENERAL PLAN POLICIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE LAND USE ELEMENT, WHICH SPEAKS ON RURAL RESIDENTIAL CENTERS AND RESIDENTIAL DENSITIES, AND THE HOUSING ELEMENT WHICH SPEAKS ON ADDITIONAL HOUSING IN IN THE COUNTY, AS WELL AS BEING CONSISTENT WITH THE APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE SUBDIVISION MAP ACT AND TITLE 17 OF THE MERCED COUNTY CODE. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROJECT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE APPLICABLE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS OF TITLE 18 OF THE MERCED COUNTY ZONING CODE. MEETING THE MINIMUM PARCEL SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE RR RURAL RESIDENTIAL ZONE DISTRICT AS OUTLINED IN SECTION 18.12.030.
PURSUANT TO SECTION 15315 MINOR LAND DIVISIONS OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES.
THE PROJECT ADHERES TO THE FOLLOWING POINTS. THE PROJECT IS CONSISTENT.
CONSISTS OF A DIVISION OF A PROPERTY IN AN URBANIZED AREA ZONED RESIDENTIAL INTO 4 OR FEWER PARCELS, AND IS IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE GENERAL PLAN AND ZONING, WITH NO VARIANCES OR EXCEPTIONS REQUIRED.
THE PROPOSED PARCELS MAINTAIN ADEQUATE SPACE TO HAVE INDIVIDUAL DOMESTIC WELLS AND ONSITE SEPTIC SYSTEMS, WHICH WOULD BE SUBJECT TO PERMITS ISSUED BY ENVIRONMENTAL DEALTH.
STAFF WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT NO FURTHER CEQA ANALYSIS WAS REQUIRED FOR THIS PROJECT, AS THIS PROJECT JUST CONSISTS OF A MINOR LAND DIVISION WITH NO PROPOSED LAND USE.
MOVING FORWARD TO PUBLIC COMMENT STARTING FROM THE CHRONOLOGY HERE, THE PROJECT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE CONSIDERED AT A REGULAR PUBLIC HEARING ON JANUARY 28TH, 2026. NOTICE OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING WAS PUBLISHED IN MERCED COUNTY TIMES AND MAILED TO ALL PROPERTY OWNERS LOCATED WITHIN 300FT OF THE PROJECT SITE ON JANUARY 15TH, 2026. DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, STAFF DID RECEIVE 8 LETTERS OF COMMENT LETTERS IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROJECT BETWEEN JANUARY 26TH AND JANUARY 27TH, 2026, IN WHICH ALL THE LETTERS SHARED SIMILAR CONCERNS REGARDING THE PROJECT.
AT THE JANUARY 28TH, 2026 PLANNING COMMISSION, THE COMMISSION VOTED 3 TO 0 TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO FEBRUARY 11TH, 2026. THE VOTE WAS MADE PRIOR TO ANY PRESENTATION OR PUBLIC COMMENT.
5 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PROVIDED COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROJECT.
CONSEQUENTLY, ADDITIONAL NOTICE OF THIS PROJECT AND THE MARCH 11TH, 2026 PUBLIC HEARING WAS PUBLISHED IN THE MERCED COUNTY TIMES AND MAILED TO ALL OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN 300FT OF THE PROJECT SITE.
ON FEBRUARY 26TH, 2026, PRIOR TO THE PUBLICATION OF THIS STAFF REPORT, DTAFF DID RECEIVE A PHONE CALL ON MARCH 26TH, MARCH 4TH, 2026, REGARDING THE EXISTING COVENANT CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS ON THE PROPERTY AND AN EMAIL ON MARCH 9TH REGARDING SIMILAR CONCERNS.
PREVIOUS LETTERS HAD MENTIONED. ADDITIONALLY, THE APPLICANT ALSO PROVIDED WRITTEN RESPONSES TO SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS, WHICH WAS PROVIDED TO THE COMMISSION AND PRINTED TO ATTENDEES OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
THE ITEMS LISTED IN THE NEXT SLIDES WILL SUMMARIZE THE AREAS OF CONCERN AND IDENTIFIED IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT, LETTERS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS. THE 1ST CONCERN WE RECEIVED WAS REGARDING POTENTIAL INCREASE IN RESIDENTIAL DENSITY.
STAFF'S RESPONSE TO THIS IS THAT THERE IS NO INCREASE IN DENSITY.
[00:10:03]
THE DENSITY ALLOWED IS 1 DWELLING PER 1 ACRE.MOVING FORWARD TO THE SECOND CONCERN, THERE WAS A CONCERN FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, TRAFFIC AND SAFETY.
STAFF'S RESPONSE TO THIS IS THAT THE MERCED COUNTY GENERAL PLAN CONTEMPLATED THE DEVELOPMENT OF 1 ACRE PARCELS AND ASSOCIATED IMPACTS, INCLUDING TRAFFIC. THEREFORE, THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION WILL NOT GENERATE ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC BEYOND WHAT IS WHAT HAS BEEN CONSIDERED IN THE GENERAL PLAN AND STUDIED IN THE ASSOCIATED CERTIFIED PROGRAM ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE GENERAL PLAN.
STAFF'S RESPONSE TO THIS IS THAT THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION WOULD MEET DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS TO FACILITATE ONSITE DOMESTIC WELLS AND ENGINEERED SPECIAL TREATMENT SEPTIC SYSTEMS ON EACH OF THE PROPOSED PARCELS. STAFF WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT, THOUGH, THAT ISSUANCE OF WELL AND SEPTIC PERMITS ARE CONTINGENT ON PERCOLATION TESTS AND DESIGNS. ADDITIONALLY, STAFF WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT DOMESTIC WELLS, WHICH AVERAGE 2 ACRE FEET PER YEAR, ARE NOT CONSIDERED TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT DRAW FROM THE BASIN.
THE PROPOSED PROJECT AND SUBDIVISION THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GENERAL PLAN DENSITY STANDARDS, TITLE 18 ZONING CODE. TITLE 17 SUBDIVISION CODE AND THE SUBDIVISION MAP ACT.
THERE HAVE BEEN NO USE PERMIT APPLICATIONS OR BUILDING PERMITS SUBMITTED FOR TRANSITIONAL OR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, BUT STAFF WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT THE PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR TRANSITIONAL AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING BY STATE DAW IS PERMITTED THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS AS ANY OTHER HOUSE IN A RESIDENTIAL ZONE.
STAFF'S RESPONSE TO THIS IS THAT ON JANUARY 27TH, 2026, STAFF CONDUCTED A SITE INSPECTION FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE PROPERTY AND WERE UNABLE TO VERIFY THE VALIDITY OF THE VIOLATION. ON MARCH 9TH.
CODE ENFORCEMENT DID RECEIVE A COMPLAINT FOR THE SAME ISSUE MARCH 10TH, CODE ENFORCEMENT DID CONDUCT A SITE INSPECTION AND WERE ALSO UNABLE TO VERIFY THE VIOLATION. STAFF WOULD NOTE THAT IF THIS PROJECT WERE TO BE APPROVED AND THERE IS A VALID VIOLATION THAT IS VALIDATED AFTERWARDS, THE VIOLATION WOULD HAVE TO BE CORRECTED BEFORE A FINAL MAP GETS RECORDED. 6TH CONCERN WE RECEIVED WAS REGARDING A PUBLIC NOTICING AND POTENTIALLY HAVING SOME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC NOT NOTIFIED.
STAFF'S RESPONSE TO THIS IS THAT THE COUNTY HAS NOT HAS FOLLOWED PUBLIC NOTICING REQUIREMENTS, AS OUTLINED IN MERCED COUNTY ZONING CODE, SECTION 18.146.010 SECTION B, SUBSECTION C, SECTION 1 AND GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 65091, WHICH REQUIRES A PUBLIC NOTICE TO BE PROVIDED TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 300FT OF THE PROJECT SITE AT LEAST 10 CALENDAR DAYS BEFORE OR PRIOR TO THE HEARING AND PUBLICATION OF THE NOTICE TO A NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION.
MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE. WE COME ACROSS PROJECT FINDINGS.
BEFORE THE COMMISSION CAN MAKE A DECISION ON THE PROJECT, THE COMMISSION MUST EITHER FIND THE PROJECT TO EITHER HAVE MET OR DOES NOT MEET THESE FINDINGS TO EITHER APPROVE OR DENY THIS PROJECT, RESPECTIVELY.
IN THE STAFF REPORT, MORE DETAILED FINDINGS FOR APPROVAL WERE INCLUDED.
TO CONCLUDE, STAFF IS ASKING THE COMMISSION TO EITHER APPROVE OR DENY THE PROJECT.
GIVEN THE ANALYSIS, STAFF HAS 2 RECOMMENDATIONS.
DETERMINE THE PROJECT IS CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PURSUANT TO SECTION 15315 MINOR DAND DIVISIONS OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES AND TO APPROVE MINOR SUBDIVISION NUMBER MS25-017. BASED ON THE FINDINGS INCLUDED IN THE STAFF REPORT AND SUBJECT TO THE RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL.
[00:15:04]
THIS NOW CONCLUDES STAFF'S PRESENTATION. I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AND THE APPLICANT'S TEAM IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.RICARDO. COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS FOR RICARDO? OKAY. SEEING NONE, I'D LIKE TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME ON THIS ITEM.
IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE STEP FORWARD.
STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS. AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
HI, MY NAME IS JEFF JUNE. I LIVE AT 2633 LA LOMA ROAD.
THEY CAME INTO EXISTENCE IN 67 1 AND THE 2ND SUBDIVISION IN 68.
AND THE PEOPLE THERE, THEIR RANCHETTES. THE STREET I LIVE ON, WE HAVE 3 ACRE PARCELS.
ALL THE HOUSES HAVE THREE ACRE PARCELS. THE RANCHETTES.
AND WHEN I MOVED IN, EVERYBODY HAD HORSES, COWS, SHEEP, GOATS, WHATEVER.
FOR 17 YEARS I RAISED GEESE AND AND HERDING DOGS OUT THERE.
SO IT'S BASICALLY JUST A RANCH COMMUNITY OUT THERE.
IT GOES RIGHT DOWN THE CENTER OF BOTH SUBDIVISIONS. SO IT AFFECTS BOTH SUBDIVISIONS.
NOT ONE SUBDIVISION, BUT BOTH. AND THAT'S WHY WE DON'T WANT SOMETHING LIKE THAT DEVELOPING, BECAUSE WE WANT TO LIVE IN LITTLE RANCHETTES. WE WANT TO LIVE OUT IN THE MIDDLE, OUT THERE WITH OUR ANIMALS AND OUR GARDENS OR WHATEVER.
AND WE DON'T THINK THAT WE WANT TO HAVE A BUNCH OF HOUSING AROUND US IN THE MIDDLE OF EVERYTHING.
IT'S ALL I REALLY GOT TO SAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JANE ABBOTT. I LIVE AT 4155 LOS OLIVOS ROAD.
MY PROPERTY IS EXACTLY RIGHT NEXT TO THIS. WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING OR SOMEBODY PROPOSING FOR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD? YOU KNOW, I'VE LIVED THERE FOR OVER 50 YEARS.
AND I KNOW WHEN I MOVED IN A LONG TIME AGO THERE WAS, THERE WAS A THING THAT SAID WE COULD NOT DIVIDE OUR PROPERTY. NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO IT.
BUT I WAS HAPPY WITH IT. YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN COWS IN MY BACK PASTURE, THERE'S BEEN SHEEP.
THERE'S BEEN. HORSES, YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS GOING TO CHANGE THE WHOLE FLAVOR OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S A VERY CLOSE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE GET TOGETHER AND HAVE POTLUCKS.
WE'VE RAISED OUR CHILDREN RUNNING THROUGH THE FIELDS AND ALL.
AND NOW THERE'S ANOTHER GENERATION OF SMALL CHILDREN GROWING UP THERE, TOO.
AND I'M JUST SHOCKED. I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THE CODES WERE THAT FLEXIBLE AND FLUID.
I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE LIKE IT IS RIGHT NOW, AND I DIDN'T KNOW SOMEBODY COULD JUST MOVE INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND APPLY FOR A MULTIPLE BUILDINGS OR HOUSINGS AND THIS AND THAT.
NOW A LITTLE BIT SHOCKED. I THOUGHT I WAS PROTECTED AS A LANDOWNER THERE.
SO WE TALKED LAST TIME ABOUT ALL THE PROPERTY THERE HAS YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY CAN EXTEND THE ROADS EXTEND TO THAT AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND OF COURSE, ALL OF THESE PROPERTIES DOWN THE WAY WILL AFFECT MY PROPERTY BECAUSE WE SHARE A PROPERTY LINE.
AND I'M JUST SURPRISED THAT I'M HERE TODAY DEFENDING MY PROPERTY AFTER BEING THERE FOR OVER 50 YEARS. AND I THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME GUARANTEES FOR ALSO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED THERE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME AND THOUGHT THEY WERE LIVING IN A RURAL NEIGHBORHOOD, IF THEY WANTED TO LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THERE WERE HOUSES, YOU KNOW, ACRE HOUSES THERE'S PLENTY OF THOSE IN MERCED AND SOMEBODY WHO WANTED TO DO THAT.
THERE'S PLENTY OF LAND IN MERCED THAT MAYBE WOULDN'T HAVE CONFLICTED WITH OUR CURRENT OUR,
[00:20:10]
OUR CURRENT I'M TRYING TO THINK OF THE WORD AND I CAN'T.ANYWAY, I'M HERE TODAY AND HOPEFULLY.
FOR WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO DO AND BUILD MORE HOUSES.
ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD MIGHT HAVE BEEN MORE TO THEIR LIKING, BUT THAT'S THEIR BUSINESS.
THEIR COMMERCIAL BUSINESS. THIS IS WHAT THEY DO.
AND I'M I'M JUST HAVE TO PLEAD WITH YOU TO ALLOW ME TO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I'VE ALWAYS LIVED IN, YOU KNOW, AND NOT CHANGE THE ZONING.
HI, MY NAME IS MARK HENLEY. I LIVE AT THAT 4050 LOS OLIVOS ROAD.
WHAT ALARMS ME IS I LIVE JUST OUTSIDE OF THOSE 300FT, BUT I'M STILL AFFECTED AND I DIDN'T GET ANY NOTICE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON. I WAS BLINDSIDED BY THIS IN FEBRUARY, AND THERE'S ONLY 1 ENTRANCE INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S ON LOS OLIVOS THAT TURNS INTO LA LOMA, AND TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC INTO THAT AREA IS CRAZY.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY IS DRIVEN ON LOS OLIVOS ROAD IN LA LOMA.
THAT COUNTY ROAD IS FILLED WITH POTHOLES. IT'S IN DISREPAIR.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS ANYTHING THAT IS MAJORLY DONE AND THIS IS MAJOR.
I DON'T CARE WHAT THAT SAYS. MINOR, THIS IS MAJOR.
THIS IS A MAJOR CHANGE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO I DON'T LIKE THE USE OF MINOR.
THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE. AND SO I TAKE GREAT OFFENSE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT JUST LIVE OUTSIDE OF THAT 300FT WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'M DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROPER WAY OF DOING THIS.
I'M NERVOUS UP HERE TALKING TO YOU GUYS ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I FEEL LIKE THE LAST LADY.
I FEEL LIKE I'M HAVING TO DEFEND MY HOME. I MOVED OUT THERE FOR A REASON AND TO BE IN A NICE, SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND NOT TO GET BLINDSIDED BY A PROJECT THAT IS MAJOR, NOT MINOR.
AND SO I PLEASE KEEP THAT IN CONSIDER IN CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
ANYONE ELSE? NOW'S YOUR CHANCE. NOW'S YOUR CHANCE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND EVERYBODY HERE.
MY NAME IS DAVID. I LIVE AT 4235 LOS OLIVOS ROAD WITH DOCTOR NKWOPARA JUST WANT TO JUST MAKE A FEW COMMENTS IN REGARDS TO WHAT EVERYBODY HAS SAID.
WE REALLY ARE NOT PROPOSING ANY COMMERCIAL USE OF THIS PROPERTY AT ALL.
THE SUBDIVISION AS PRESENTED IS ONLY FOR 3 ADDITIONAL LOTS THAT ARE ALL ABOVE ONE ACRE.
AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN FULLY DECIDED HOW ALL THE LAWS WILL BE USED, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT IN THE FUTURE WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AT LEAST AN ADDITIONAL HOME OR 2 THERE FOR FAMILY USE. SO IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME MISUNDERSTANDING AS TO THE INTENTION OF THE FUTURE USE, BUT WOULD LIKE TO REASSURE OUR NEIGHBORS THAT WE'RE NOT BRINGING ANY COMMERCIAL TYPE OF USE TO THIS PROPERTY. I THINK THE ONLY OTHER COMMENT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IS THAT WE HAVE TRIED TO COMPLY WITH ALL THE REGULATIONS OF THE COUNTY, AND I THINK THAT WAS NOTED IN THE PRESENTATION.
AND WE INTEND TO ALWAYS ABIDE BY ALL THE REGULATIONS OF THE COUNTY ON THE USE OF THIS PROPERTY.
IT'S OUR DESIRE TO HAVE GOOD RELATIONS WITH THE NEIGHBORS.
[00:25:04]
WE ALSO WANT TO SHARE IN GETTING TO KNOW OUR NEIGHBORS MORE AND HAVE POTLUCKS TOGETHER.AND, AND LIKE THEY HAVE RAISED THEIR FAMILIES.
WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO DO THE SAME. SO WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR CONCERN.
GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. IF I MAY ASK A QUESTION.
AS HIS CONSULTANT. WE'RE STILL ON PUBLIC OPEN PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM.
YES. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO ADDRESS IT NOW OR WAIT TILL YOU CALL FOR.
NO. YOU CAN ADDRESS IT NOW. GO AHEAD. NOW. YEAH, YEAH.
WELL, GOOD MORNING. CHAIRMAN, COMMISSIONERS, COUNCIL DIRECTOR, STAFF, AND AUDIENCE.
MY NAME IS ALFRED ALVAREZ. I'M A LICENSED CIVIL ENGINEER.
I'VE BEEN LICENSED SINCE 1979. I WORKED FOR THE COUNTY IN PUBLIC WORKS FOR 25 YEARS, AND I AND I'VE DESIGNED AND REVIEWED MORE PROJECTS. AND I EXPRESSED THAT ONLY TO QUALIFY MY EXPERTISE ON THIS MATTER.
LAST SUMMER, I WAS RETAINED BY THE APPLICANT TO DESIGN A BRIDGE OVER THE IRRIGATION DISTRICT LINE THAT'S IN THE IN PART OF THE BODY. AND AT THAT TIME, I TOLD THEM, A BRIDGE IS REALLY AN EXPENSIVE ITEM, AND THERE'S ALTERNATE METHODS THAT GO ENGINEERING WISE THAT MAY BE MORE COST EFFECTIVE.
SINCE THEN, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE MID IS REQUESTING THAT THE WHOLE LATERAL BE, A PIPELINED FROM END TO END. AND THEY WANTED THE APPLICANT TO USE SOME PIPE MATERIAL THAT IS VERY EXPENSIVE.
IT'S AC9O5 BLUE PVC PIPE. AND WITH THE SIZE THAT THEY WANT THAT THEY'LL NEED, IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THAT SIZE OF PIPE.
SO YOU HAVE TO KICK IT UP TO A REINFORCED CONCRETE PIPE ON IT.
I SUGGEST DOING LOOKING AT OTHER CHOICES BESIDES THE BRIDGE BESIDES PIPELINING BY DOING A BOX CULVERT DOING THE CULVERT, ALL DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND ALL VEHICLE LOADS INCLUDING EMERGENCY AND TRUCK, THE H20 LOADING AND THE WIDTH THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO HAVE BOTH THE EMERGENCY VEHICLES CROSS AT THE SAME TIME. THIS ALLOWS FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES TO COME IN WITH PEOPLE EXITING.
I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MID AND WE ACTUALLY FINALLY HAD A SIT DOWN MEETING YESTERDAY WITH THEM WITH THE APPLICANT AND MID STAFF AND WAS VERY FRIENDLY AND VERY, VERY OPEN.
I, I ASKED THEM TO CONSIDER ALTERNATE WAYS BESIDES THEIR DOING BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO USE WHAT THEY CALL THE ADS AND 12 PIPE, THAT'S A CORRUGATED PLASTIC PIPE THAT USED FOR STORM DRAIN SYSTEM IS A NON PRESSURIZED GRAVITY LINE ON IT. AND IT'S MUCH, MUCH MORE ECONOMICAL TO DO.
AND IT CAN BE DESIGNED TO USE IN ROADWAYS CALTRANS USES AND THEIR STUFF.
SO IT'S A GOOD PRODUCT AND IT'S BEEN IN LINE FOR.
I THINK THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING IS, IS IT CONDITIONS THAT THEY SUBMITTED AND THEY HAVE NOT AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY SEEM SURPRISED WHAT THEY SUBMITTED. SO THEY WERE VERY OPEN TO MY SUGGESTIONS AND.
OKAY. AND WHAT, WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT THE CONDITIONS THAT WERE PLACED ON HERE WILL FORCE THE APPLICANT TO DO THE THINGS THAT MIT WANTS, WHICH IS A TAJ MAHAL TYPE OF DESIGN ON IT WHEN IT'S NOT NEEDED.
THERE'S ACTUALLY AN EASEMENT THAT WAS CREATED IN 1888 ALREADY THAT ALLOWS THE WATER TO TRAVERSE OVER THE PROPERTY FROM MID, AND THE APPLICANT CAN TAKE WATER. THE APPLICANT HAS TO HONOR THAT AND IS WILLING TO DO
[00:30:04]
THAT. AND BY CONSTRUCTING WHAT ITEMS THAT WILL NOT IMPEDE MIDS RIGHT.SO THESE CONDITIONS IS ON HERE IS TO ME IS IS AN OVERKILL.
AND I LIKE TO HAVE THEM REMOVED. THE RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS.
ITEM 10 AND 14 TO 20. I BRING IT UP ON THE ITEM IF YOU WISH.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE COMING UP TO YOUR 3 MINUTES. COULD YOU WRAP IT UP? OKAY. THE, THE JUST TO PUT THE COST, THE, THE PIPELINE THEY WANT IS MORE THAN 5 TIMES THE COST OF THIS THING. SO IT WOULD BE SOME STAGGERING AMOUNT TO DO THE WHOLE THING.
SO I'LL JUST CONCLUDE WITH THAT AND COME BACK LATER IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DO YOU HAVE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS SEAN HARPER WITH GR ENGINEERING REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT ON THIS.
AND I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT WE'RE HERE FOR JUST A TENTATIVE PARCEL MAP, A MINOR SUBDIVISION MAP TO CREATE 3 ADDITIONAL PARCELS ON THE PROPERTY. THERE'S NO DEVELOPMENT RIGHT NOW THAT REQUIRES SEPARATE APPROVALS THROUGH THE COUNTY.
AND WE'RE MEETING THE GENERAL PLAN. IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE GENERAL PLAN, CONSISTENT WITH ZONING, GONE THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL WORK WITH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE WHAT BASICALLY WAS SAID IN THE STAFF REPORT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYBODY ELSE WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK? MY NAME IS DANIEL IBRAHIMIA. I LIVE AT 4121 LOS OLIVOS ROAD.
I DID JUST WANT TO MENTION CC&RS THAT THEY DO STATE THAT MY PROPERTY, MRS. ABBOTT'S PROPERTY. IN THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT, NO STRUCTURES WEST OF THE LATERAL ARE ABLE TO BE BUILT.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHY YOU WOULD SUBDIVIDE IT IF YOU CAN'T EVER BUILD ANYTHING ON IT.
AND LIKE WAS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, ALL THE HOUSES ON CARDELLA ALL HAVE PASTURES THAT BACK UP TO MY PROPERTY AND THE OTHER PROPERTIES, ALL THE PROPERTIES DOWN LOS OLIVOS AND ALL THE PROPERTIES DOWN LA LOMA, THEY ALL BACK UP TO THIS ONE BIG BOX.
NOBODY HAS ANY STRUCTURES UP. SO EVERYBODY LOOKS OUT AND SEES COWS AND HORSES AND WHATEVER.
SO THERE'S NO REASON TO CHANGE THAT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THE PUBLIC WANTS TO COME UP AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS BEFORE WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. OKAY. LOOKS LIKE WE WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MOVE ON.
COMMISSIONERS. ANYBODY WANT TO MAKE A MOTION ON THIS DETERMINATION? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION THAT THE COMMISSION DETERMINE THE PROJECT IS CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.
PURSUANT TO SECTION 15315 MINOR LAND DIVISIONS OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES.
SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY IN A MOTION ON THE PROJECT DETERMINATION.
MOTION. MAKE THE MOTION THAT THE COMMISSION APPROVE MINOR SUBDIVISION NUMBER MS25-017.
BASED ON THE FINDINGS INCLUDED IN THE STAFF REPORT AND SUBJECT TO THE RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL. SECOND, SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. SO MOVED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY. COMMISSIONER. ACTION ITEMS? NONE.
[8. DIRECTOR'S REPORT]
DEPUTY DIRECTOR. AND WITH THE COUNTY TIFFANY HAS BEEN A HUGE PART OF THE PLANNING TEAM FOR THE PAST JUST OVER 8 YEARS.DOWN SOUTH, SHE HAS BEEN A HUGE, VITAL PART OF BRINGING THE PLANNING TEAM TO WHAT IT IS TODAY.
[00:35:01]
OVER THE LAST PROBABLY OR HER TIME IS 8 YEARS, BUT A LOT OF CHANGES SINCE THEN.AND WE'LL DEFINITELY MISS HER AS SHE EMBARKS ON HER NEXT ADVENTURE.
THANK YOU. MARK. COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS. MR.
[9. COMMISSIONER'S COMMENT]
TATUM. YOU KNOW I'VE NOT BEEN ON THIS COMMISSION AS LONG AS YOU.AUGUST GENTLEMEN HAVE BEEN. BUT EVERY TIME I'VE HAD A QUESTION OR COMMENT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO REACH HER, OR I GET THIS CALL IN THE EVENING. DO YOU HAVE A MINUTE TO TALK? IS IT CONVENIENT? AND SO I'VE REALLY APPRECIATED YOUR TIME AND YOUR EFFORT.
IT DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED. THANK YOU. TIFFANY. TIFFANY, I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO THOSE COMMENTS FROM MR. TATUM, BUT WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU. THE COUNTY IS LOSING A VERY GOOD EMPLOYEE AND MUCH LESS SUCCESS TO YOU IN THE FUTURE AND YOUR NEW ENDEAVOR.
I'M ALSO GOING TO COMMENT. TIFFANY'S BEEN AMAZING TO WORK WITH.
WELL, WE'VE BEEN DOING ALL OF THIS AND SHE HAS AMAZING EXPERIENCE, SO YOU'LL DEFINITELY BE MISSED.
SO THE CONSTITUENT WILL CALL ME. THEY HAVE A PROBLEM.
WHERE DO I GO? CALL TIFFANY, SHE'LL GET IT DONE.
AND HUGE HOLE. I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK, BUT YOU ARE GOING TO BE TREMENDOUSLY MISSED HERE.
AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IT'S NOW ADJOURNED. OUR MEETING FOR TODAY. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.