3B Public Hearing 2007 0716 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Excerpts from the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Agenda No. 06-02 January 26, 2006 Page 3 of6 Chair KJeebauer opened the public comment portion of the public hearing. Robert Battinich, 2014 Evergreen Avenue, said he owned two properties directly across the street, including property occupied by Rodgers Trucking. He asked how much public storage the City of San Leandro needs. He said a self-storage use for this three-acre property would yield limited tax revenues to a city that is currently starved for tax revenues. He called self-storage a tax revenue graveyard. He said that granting an exception to this project would create a benchmark for nonconforming use to the area that is coming ripe for massive new development. He said he endorses the commercial-light industrial uses proposed for the front of the property but opposes and strongly objects to the proposed self-storage element of the project. Mike Knuppe, 2000 Doolittle Road, said that in 1976 he had come to the Planning Commission requesting a variance to build a self-storage facility and he had been directed to build a facility on Doolittle, which he had done. He said that, thirty years later, San Leandro has sixteen self-storage facilities in San Leandro. He provided a handout indicating that there are currently 3,014 empty storage units within a 5.5 mile radius of the project. He said the proposed architectural plan is great, but there is no need for the project and it will be detrimental to interests of the existing 15 self-storage operators. Motion to Close the Public Hearing (Perras / Reed; 6 Ayes, 0 Noes; Absent - Wohltmann) Chair KJeebauer called for discussion by commissioners. Commissioner Reed said he is concerned that the commercial-light industrial space in the front of the project be protected from conversion to warehouse or any kind of storage space. He said there is a potential for a future owner to convert the entire facility to storage. Secretary Pollart suggested adding a condition of approval that would outright prohibit conversion of the front to storage, although the zoning change to CC(PD) that is requested already addresses the issue since public storage is not permitted outright or conditionally. Commissioner Reed said he would be more comfortable if such a condition was added. Chair KJeebauer asked staff to address Mr. Landes' concerns about constructing the rear structures first to facilitate access by heavy construction equipment. Planner Penaranda said his understanding from Mr. Landes is that he desires to build out the front simultaneously or prior to the rear self-storage portions, with finishing touches to the front building occurring prior to any grant of occupancy for the self- storage portions of the project.