CITY OF SPARKS PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES SEPTEMBER 3, 2015 Planning Commissioners: James Fewins - Chair George Cammarota - Vice Chair Tom Lean Mitch Nowicki Frank Petersen Art Sperber Doug Voelz 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL PRESENT: ABSENT: STAFF: James Fewins, Thomas Lean, Mitch Nowicki, Frank Petersen, George Cammarota, Doug Voelz, and Art Sperber. None City Planner Armando Ornelas, Chief Assistant City Attorney Shirle Eiting, Senior Planner Karen Melby, Senior Planner Ian Crittenden, and Administrative Secretary Marilie Smith. 3. PUBLIC COMMENT There was no public comment. 4. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA MOTION: Planning Commissioner Nowicki moved to approve the agenda. SECOND: Commissioner Sperber. AYES: NAYS: ABSTAINERS: ABSENT: Planning Commissioners Fewins, Nowicki, Lean, Petersen, Cammarota, Voelz, and Sperber. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Review and possible approval of the minutes from the August 6, 2015 Planning Commission Meeting.
Page 2 of 6 MOTION: Planning Commissioner Nowicki moved to approve the minutes from the August 6, 2015 Planning Commission Meeting. SECOND: Commissioner Petersen. AYES: NAYS: ABSTAINERS: ABSENT: Planning Commissioners Fewins, Nowicki, Petersen, and Lean. Commissioner Cammarota, Voelz, and Sperber 6. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS City Planner Armando Ornelas shared that the Title 20 amendment to the zoning code was approved by the City Council on August 24, 2015. City Council removed two sections of the code that will be brought back as separate items at a later date. The urban agriculture section allowing chickens and bees and the section that addresses prohibited practices of domestic animals will be presented as addendums to the zoning code. The first reading is scheduled for September 28 and the second reading and public hearing is scheduled for October 12. Mr. Ornelas also provided an update on the Comprehensive Plan process. The Comprehensive Plan was first presented to the Planning Commission at the August 6, 2015 meeting. The City has received a number of responses to its request for proposal and have interviewed a select few. A final selection and recommendation will be presented to City Council during the September 28, 2015 meeting. 7. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS 8. PCN15029 - Consideration of and possible action, for a site 0.4 acres in size located at 1040 El Rancho Drive, Sparks, Nevada, of: A Master Plan Amendment to change the land use designation from Medium Density Residential (MDR) to Transit Oriented Development Mixed Residential (TOD-MR); and A request to Rezone the property from PO (Professional Office) to TOD (Transit Oriented Development). Senior Planner Karen Melby presented this item with a recommendation of approval to the City Council for a master plan amendment and rezoning associated with PCN15029. Ms. Melby explained that the request involves two properties both addressed as 1040 El Rancho Drive. The northern parcel is utilized for the parking while the southern parcel is utilized for the office building. The property is designated on the Sparks Land Use Plan as Medium Density Residential. The applicant is requesting the master plan amendment to change the land use to Transit Oriented Development mixed Residential (TOD-MR). Additionally, the properties are currently zoned PO (Professional Office). The applicant is requesting a zone change to TOD. The TOD-MR designation will provide the applicant with new use opportunities. The applicant s intent, if approved, is to continue the current use of the property while allowing a wider variety of permitted uses.
Page 3 of 6 The property is located in an area of mixed residential types and a park. A mixed residential designation for this property is consistent with other developments in the area and provides a transition between the park to the west and the commercial uses farther north along Oddie Boulevard. The master plan amendment and rezone would be compatible with surrounding land uses and is consistent with the City of Sparks Master Plan. Public notice of the project was given and no objections were received. Additionally, a neighborhood meeting was held on June 29, 2015. Three people attended the meeting, no concerns were noted. Mr. Ken Krater, representing the applicant, introduced himself and offered to answer additional questions. Mr. Krater supports the staff report as presented. The public hearing was opened. The public hearing was closed. MOTION: Planning Commissioner Lean moved to forward a recommendation of approval to City Council for certification of a master plan amendment for PCN15029 based on Findings MP1 through MP4 and the facts supporting these findings as set forth in the staff report. SECOND: Planning Commissioner Nowicki. AYES: Planning Commissioners Fewins, Cammarota, Lean, Nowicki, Petersen, Sperber, and Voelz. NAYS: ABSTAINERS: ABSENT: MOTION: Planning Commissioner Cammarota moved to forward a recommendation of approval to City Council for the rezoning associated with PCN15029 based on the Findings Z1 through Z3 and the facts supporting these findings as set forth in the staff report. SECOND: Planning Commissioner Nowicki. AYES: Planning Commissioners Fewins, Cammarota, Lean, Nowicki, Petersen, Sperber, and Voelz. NAYS: ABSTAINERS: ABSENT: 9. PCN15034 - Consideration of and possible action on a Special Use Permit to allow for the construction of a 226 unit apartment complex on a site approximately 10.9 acres in size in the NUD (New Urban District Sparks Galleria) zoning district located at 290 Disc Drive, Sparks, Nevada. Senior Planner Ian Crittenden presented this item with a recommendation of approval for a Special Use Permit associated with PCN15034. The applicant has applied for a Special Use Permit to allow for the construction of 226 multi-family units on 10.9 acres located within in the Sparks Galleria Planned Development.
Page 4 of 6 The proposed multi-family development is in the RCSO 2 (Retail, Commercial, Service, Office) land use area of the Sparks Galleria Planned Development. The Sparks Galleria Handbook identifies multi-family housing as a permitted use in the RCSO 2 land use area subject to a Special Use Permit. The Sparks Galleria Apartments are proposed to be 226 units of market rate apartments. The proposal includes a mix of one, two and three bedroom units in 22 three story buildings. The design of the complex includes 142 attached and detached garages and 283 additional surface parking spaces. Staff is recommending approval of the Special Use Permit with 13 conditions. Ms. Angela Fuss of CFA, representing the applicant, introduced herself and offered to address questions regarding the site plan and ingress/egress issues raised by the Commissioners. Ms. Fuss shared a site plan on the overhead projector and indicated key landmarks. Ms. Fuss pointed out on the site plan that the garages for the complex would be located on the Costco side of the development providing a buffer between the commercial and residential areas. Ms. Fuss also addressed a question regarding the ingress/egress to the project. The ingress/egress area is accessible currently through a median break just before or after the light on Disc Drive at Galleria depending on the direction travel. Ms. Fuss also shared proposed colors and design for the project. The apartment development will be approximately 150 feet away from the single family development to the east and there is a significant elevation difference between the two projects. There will also be trees and landscaping between the multi-family and single-family developments. The public hearing was opened. Mr. William Scott Wood, residing at 4731 Wood Thrush Lane, Sparks, NV. Mr. Wood shared that he had a number of concerns. His first concern is that he does not believe the developer has taken into account the proper site lines necessary to provide safe ingress and egress. His wife was in a near fatal accident in the same general area due to inadequate site lines. In addition, Mr. Wood is unhappy because when he and his wife bought their home they were told that there would not be any multi-family development in the area. Finally, he has concerns regarding the compaction of the soils and the amount of unconsolidated soils on the site. He believes this is going to create a great deal of dust. Mr. John Horn and Ms. Janis Gerhard, residing at 4727 Wood Thrush, Sparks, NV. Mr. Horn states he shares some of the same concerns as Mr. Wood. Mr. Horn states that the apartments will be looking directly down into his backyard. In addition, he has had to construct a retaining wall in his backyard to keep the mud from running down into his yard. Ms. Gerhard shared she is concerned about increased noise and decreased privacy. They are both also concerned about future property values. Mr. Horn and Ms. Gerard also shared their frustrations with the neglect of the current landscaping and maintenance within their development. Ms. Terri Golish, 4791 Tree Swallow Lane, Sparks, NV. Ms. Golish is also concerned regarding the retaining wall between the current single family development and the new proposed apartment building. In addition, she and her family recently relocated from the Spanish Springs area to avoid traffic issues on Pyramid Highway. She is very concerned about the increase in traffic this project will bring. The public hearing was closed.
Page 5 of 6 Mr. Kreg Rowe, representing the applicant, Tanamera, introduced himself and offered to address some of the concerns raised during public comment. Mr. Rowe shared that he is the developer of the proposed project as well as the developer of the Sparks Galleria Shopping Center and the Preserve. Mr. Rowe stated that there would be wrought iron fencing constructed on the top to provide a barrier between the proposed multi-family and existing single-family homes. A traffic study has been done. This will be a first class development with several amenities. Mr. Rowe also addressed the question raised that there would never be multi-family homes built in the area of the single-family homes. Mr. Rowe shared that he was not aware of who may have made this statement but it was incorrect. Mr. Kraig Knudsen, of Tanamera Construction, also representing the applicant, introduced himself. Mr. Knudsen shared that the common areas around the Galleria and the Preserves are owned and maintained separately. Mr. Knudsen also addressed the concern regarding compaction tests and dust control. Compaction tests will be performed to the City s specifications and dust control is regulated by Nevada Department of Environmental Control. Any undocumented fill or stock piled material will be compacted and utilized on site and any non-structural material will be removed from the site. Mr. Rowe shared that he was not aware that the landscaping was not being taken care of by the responsible party and stated he would find out why and ask that it be corrected. MOTION: Planning Commissioner Lean moved to approve the Special Use Permit associated with PCN15034 adopting Findings S1 through S6 and the facts supporting these Findings as set forth in the staff report subject to the conditions of approval 1 through 13 as listed in the staff report. SECOND: Planning Commissioner Voelz. AYES: Planning Commissioners Fewins, Lean, Nowicki, Sperber, Petersen, and Voelz. NAYS: Planning Commissioner Cammarota. ABSTAINERS: ABSENT: GENERAL BUSINESS 10. PCN08011 Consideration of and possible action on a request to approve the architectural building elevations for an approximately 19,500 square foot addition to the Target/TJ Maxx building (Zone D) in fulfillment of the requirements listed in the Legends at Sparks Marina Planned Development Handbook. Senior Planner Ian Crittenden presented this agenda item with a recommendation to approve the architectural building elevations associated with PCN08011. The project is located in the Legends at Sparks Marina Planned Development. The Handbook states that all proposed architectural elevations shall be subject to the review and approval of the Planning Commission. The proposed elevations are for two new buildings to be constructed to the west of the current TJ Maxx building. The elevations conform to the Legends at Sparks Marina Planned Development Handbook and the City of Sparks Design Standards Manual. The east wall façade for the new building will have a similar treatment as did the west wall of the existing building as these two buildings only meet at the extreme south end and the space between them is fairly narrow and only a portion is visible to the public. Staff believes a lower quality of façade on these two walls is not a detriment to the project. Staff is recommending approval of the project.
Page 6 of 6 Mr. Jeff McMahon, partner of Red Development, introduced himself and offered to answer additional questions. Mr. McMahon shared that the proposed architecture is similar to that used on the existing buildings with a few color variations. The building construction will follow the design fundamentals of the existing buildings. MOTION: Planning Commissioner Cammarota moved to approve the building elevations for an approximately 19,500 square foot addition to the Target/TJ Maxx building (Zone D), in fulfillment of the requirements set forth in the Legends at Sparks Marina Planned Development Handbook associated with PCN08011. SECOND: Planning Commissioner Petersen. AYES: Planning Commissioners Fewins, Cammarota, Lean, Nowicki, Sperber, Petersen, and Voelz. NAYS: ABSTAINERS: ABSENT: 11. PUBLIC COMMENT There was no public comment. 12. COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS None 13. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 7:06 p.m.