4A Public Hearing 2014 0602 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Exhibit C: Excerpt of Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of April 17, 2014 Page 6 of 10 “Televised events or with such features as ‘big screen’ projection systems,” and the change proposed was intended to make it less restrictive, because any facility with a big-screen TV under this definition would be considered to be offering entertainment that technically requires a CUP. Upon further discussion, Commissioner Fitzsimons recommended expanding the statement to read: Televised events where advertised as a stand-alone events or separate admission is charged, where a set start time or end time is included in the advertisement. Commissioner Fitzsimons also had questions and/or comments about retail sales, temporary political signs, health and fitness centers and commercial recreation.  He asked the rationale for expanding retail uses in industrial areas. The ability to have card shops, markets, and other convenient amenities nearby would be important to attract the “maker” communities San Leandro is seeking, Planner Barros responded. She noted that, as the Next Generation Workplace District Study concluded, lack of parking would discourage huge retailers from moving in.  He asked whether people who post signs other than temporary political signs are required to register with the City. Planner Barros said yes. She referred to proposed Zoning Code Article 18 amendments. When he asked who’s responsible for penalties for signs that are installed in violation of either the Zoning Code or Municipal Code, she said she’d have to check with the City Clerk’s office. Commissioner Collier said it would be the candidate or the organization putting up the sign.  In terms of commercial recreation in the amendments proposed for Article 3, he asked why bowling alleys, ice/roller skating rinks and the word “participant” had been stricken. Planner Barros said bowling alley was stricken in error and ice/roller skating rinks have been moved to health and fitness centers. She noted, however, that ice/roller rinks facilities selling alcohol would be considered commercial recreation. Planner Barros explained that said “participant” was stricken to avoid conflicting with the new health and fitness center definition, but agreed to restore it per Commissioner Fitzsimons’s comments. Commissioner Fitzsimons said he struggles with the recommendation to add mobile food vending to the SA and DA Districts at the request of the Office of Business Development. While he understands the motivation and appreciates the vibrancy food trucks can add, he said this activity is harmful to restaurants that provide more jobs and more permanent benefits and services to the City. He said it’s completely inappropriate in the Downtown Area and the South Area, posing too much competition for the restaurants that are in place and creating an uneven playing field between food trucks and brick-and-mortar restaurants in terms of oversight, licensing, taxation, etc. He said he feels strongly enough about this issue to vote against the entire proposal if this recommendation remains part of it. Commissioner Fitzsimons agreed with the idea of striking dance hall and entertainment from recommended uses in the C-RM District. He said it’s a big enough issue to include with the overall entertainment discussion that has been tabled for the time being. He said if it takes a year or two to resolve the entertainment piece, a use might come in that we’re stuck with. He also said the Tuesday evening “San Leandro Street Eats” events, previously held on the site now under construction for the Village Marketplace and now held at Davis and Hays Streets, seem to fall under the entertainment “event” category, which would be limited to six per year. He said the way the the language written doesn’t allow that, which means it could be every day and therefore problematic.