MINUTES
LIVINGSTON PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
MAY8,2018
A regular meeting of the Livingston Planning Commission was held in the City Council Chambers on May 8, 2018. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Vice-Chair Robert (Bob) Wallis.
ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: Vice-Chair Bob Wallis, Commissioner Francisco Mendoza-Gonzalez, and Alternate Commissioner Jason Roth
Commissioners Absent: Chair Ranjeet Jhutti (excused) and Commissioner Mario Mendoza (unexcused)
Staff Present: City Planner Randy Hatch, Sr. Administrative Analyst Filomena Arredondo
Others Present: Bob Miller (Foster Farms Representative); Carol Mitchell
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The pledge of allegiance to the flag was recited.
MOMMENT OF SILENCE
Vice-Chair Bob Wallis asked everyone in attendance for a moment of silence in memory of Planning Commissioner Warren Urnberg who passed away on April 29, 2018.
CONSENT AGENDA
Action Meeting Minutes From the February 18, 2018, Regular Meeting
Motion by Commissioner Mendoza-Gonzalez, seconded by Alternate Commissioner Roth to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 18, 2018. Motion carried 3-0-2, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Vice-Chair Wallis, Commissioner Mendoza-Gonzalez and Alternate Commissioner Roth
NOES: None
ABSENT: Chair Jhutti and Commissioner Mendoza
PUBLIC COMMENT
Vice-Chair Wallis opened and closed the public comment period at 7:03 p.m. there being no public comments.
PUBLIC HEARING
Site Plan and Design Review 2018-01 – Livingston Foster Farms Plant Expansion Proiect
Foster Farms is proposing to expand its current chicken processing plant facility located at 843 Davis Street, Livingston, CA, APN#: 024-020-021. The expansion will consist of a new 2-story building addition (63,517 sq. ft. for the first floor and 14,147 sq. ft. for the second floor). It will include processing equipment, offices, restrooms, storage and shipping space, and a 5-truck depressed truck dock and support equipment. The property is zoned M-2, General Industrial, and has a General Plan designation of GI, General Industrial.
City Planner Randy Hatch presented the staff report and gave details of the project.
The specific area proposed for the Plant expansion is within Plant property behind the perimeter fence and it is currently adjacent to Davis Street. It is an area that is currently used as an outdoor employee area.
The building will be concrete tilt up construction with the first floor elevation enhanced by concrete block finish and a stucco finish. The expansion will not result in any additional employees at the plant. Those working in this new building will be relocated from other parts of the plant complex. The project, as proposed, complies with the City’s area setback height requirements. The plant complex has an extensive amount of parking provided, 828 regular parking stalls, 18 accessible stalls, and 72 clean air vehicle stalls for a total of 918 parking stalls.
This addition was reviewed under the statutes and guidelines of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and is considered an in-fill project qualifying for a class 32 In-Fill Categorical Exemption under CEQA.
Staff feels the proposed expansion/addition to the Foster Farms plant complex will be an asset to the area and beneficial to the City as Foster Farms is an important economic generator for the City of Livingston providing significant employment and associated taxes. The site layout and the building as proposed and as conditioned complies with all the requirements and standards that such a use would be subject to.
Therefore, staff recommends approval of the project.
The applicant’s representative, was present to answer any questions.
Commissioner Mendoza-Gonzalez said Foster Farms has been a big member of the community for a long time and a good job generator for Livingston residents, so he is happy to see it grow and expand. He asked what their plans are for additional parking should there be a need in the future.
Bob Miller, representing Foster Farms, 1000 Davis Street, said they have sufficient parking for this project, so they do not plan to add additional parking at this time, but their thoughts for future parking are in the area behind the Swan building on Swan Street and on the lots owned by Foster Farms on Stefani Street.
Commissioner Mendoza-Gonzalez asked what prompted the expansion/addition.
Mr. Miller said consumers are changing their eating habits, so businesses are changing their way of doing things to meet their customers’ needs. In order to assist their restaurant and store customers, Foster Farms will now be offering a whole variety of specialty cut chicken parts.
Alternate Commissioner Roth asked if the employees will still have access to the outside area to get fresh air after the expansion.
Mr. Miller said there will be breakroom, but the green area they currently have for the employees will go away with the expansion.
Vice-Chair Wallis asked if there is going to be a plug-in facility or only parking stalls for clean air vehicles.
City Planner Hatch mentioned that as part of the Building Code for the expansion itself, there must be a certain number of electric vehicle plug-in facilities.
Vice-Chair Wallis thinks this project is good for the City and added that Foster Farms is a valuable tenant to the City.
Vice-Chair Wallis opened for public comment at 7:14 p.m.
Carol Mitchell, 2207 W. Beechwood Avenue, Fresno, spoke on behalf of her mother, Esther Flores, who lives at 1244 Swan Street, across the street from the Foster Farms administration building. She asked if this was going to be a 24-hour operation.
Mr. Miller said currently it is a 24-hour operation and it is proposed to remain the same. Ms. Mitchell expressed concern about noise, odor, and traffic.
Mr. Miller said there should be no increased noise, odor, or traffic with this project. They are not hiring any new employees for this. They will only do the specialty cuts in this part of the plant. They have insulated walls to block noise and ventilation and refrigeration to help with odor control.
Vice-Chair Wallis closed the public hearing at 7:20 p.m.
Motion by Alternate Commissioner Roth, seconded by Commissioner Mendoza-Gonzalez, to approve Resolution 2018-04, Recommending to the City Council Approval of Site Plan and Design Review 2018-01, for the Foster Farms Expansion/Addition Project. Motion carried 3-0-2, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Vice-Chair Wallis, Commissioner Mendoza-Gonzalez and Alternate Commissioner Roth
NOES: None
ABSENT: Chair Jhutti and Commissioner Mendoza
REPORTS
Planning Commission Vice-Chair Wallis
• Wanted to give an update on the City’s animal control services. Since there have been various complaints about the lack of animal control services, he went to speak with the Chief of Police about the matter and Chief Chavez informed him that the animal control officer has been on restrictive duty, so currently an explorer scout is handling the animal control duties and he is doing the best he can.
• Asked for an update on the Arco project.
• Asked how the Planning Commission vacancy was going to be filled. He recommends Council appoint Alternate Commissioner Roth to fill the Regular Commissioner vacancy and advertise for the Alternate Commissioner vacancy.
City Staff
City Planner Randy Hatch
• There is nothing new on the Arco Mini Mart at Hammatt Avenue and the Freeway interchange. There have been a variety of tire kickers coming around looking at various sites, but nothing has advanced to an application.
• The City is moving forward with various new home builders that have acquired unbuilt residential lots. Beck Homes on “F” Street/Robin Avenue and Legacy Homes on Hammatt Avenue/Walnut Avenue are busily doing construction. Planning staff has been working with Legacy Homes getting their model home complexes set up and subdivision directional signs approved.
Bright Development is interested in developing Country Villas #4 on Trigger Lane/Dwight Way, but they are moving very slowly. City Staff has had a couple meetings with them, but they have not yet submitted their home plans to Planning so staff can determine if they are consistent with the product already there or if they are going to require a new Site Plan and Design Review.
• Staff is spending a lot of time answering questions about cannabis regulations. Several people have expressed interest – one for a grow operation and two others for manufacturing. Staff has distributed the applications and the City rules and standards to the interested parties, but none have come back to actually submit an application. The City has retained the assistance of SCI Consultants who specialize in formulating cannabis applications and fee structures to make the application fees 100% cost recovery. It takes a long time from expression of interest to the actual filing of the application because there are a lot of legal issues at the state level that applicants have to take care of before they can file at the local level.
• The first reading of the Ordinance for the Gallo Third Amendment to the Development Agreement went to the City Council on May 1, 2018. The second reading and adoption will follow.
• City Planner Hatch said he agrees with recommending to the City Council the appointment of Alternate Commissioner Roth for the Regular Commissioner vacancy and advertising for a new Alternate Commissioner. He will prepare the report for an upcoming Council Meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 7:28 p.m. APPROVED: August 14, 2018
Vice-Chair, ROBERT WALLIS Secretary of the Planning Commission,
RANDYHATCH
The written meeting minutes reflect a summary of specific actions taken by the Planning Commission. They do not necessarily reflect all of the comments or dialogue leading up to the action. All meetings are digitally recorded and are an official record of the meeting’s proceedings. Digitally recorded verbatim minutes are available upon request and may be obtained at Livingston City Hall.
The Gardening Snail 2 