COUNTY OF INYOCOUNTY OF INYO
PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF OCTOBER 22, 2008 MEETING
COMMISSIONERS:
WILLIAM STOLL FIRST DISTRICT (VICE-CHAIR) Inyo County Planning Commission
CYNTHIA LITTLE SECOND DISTRICT Post Office Drawer L
SAM WASSON THIRD DISTRICT Independence, CA 93526
RICHARD WHITE FOURTH DISTRICT (CHAIR) (760) 878-0263/(760) 872-2706
PAUL PAYNE FIFTH DISTRICT (760) 872-0382 FAX
STAFF:
PAT CECIL PLANNING DIRECTOR
DOUG WILSON PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
KEVIN CARUNCHIO COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
SHARON BIRMINGHAM PLANNING COMMISSION SECRETARY
TANDA GRETZ SENIOR PLANNER
JOSHUA HART SENIOR PLANNER
ADENA FANSLER ASSOCIATE PLANNER
The Inyo County Planning Commission met in regular session on Wednesday, October 22, 2008, in the Board of Supervisor’s Room, Administrative Center in Independence, California. Chair White opened the meeting at 10:00 a.m.
These minutes are to be considered for approval by the Planning Commission at their next regularly scheduled meeting.
Absent: Doug Wilson, Public Works Director.
Kevin Carunchio, County Administrator.
ITEM 2: APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Action Item) – Approval of Minutes from September 24, 2008.
MOTION: Moved by Commissioner Wasson and seconded by Commissioner Payne to approve the Minutes from September 24, 2008.
The Motion carried. (5-0).
ITEM 3: ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA – Opportunity for the
Commission to add or delete an item on the Agenda.
A correction to the Agenda on Item No. 5, 2) Create a Section (16.5023) . . .
ITEM 4: PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD – Opportunity to address the Planning Commission on any planning subject that is not scheduled on the Agenda.
There were none.
ITEM 5: REVISION OF SECTIONS 16.48 (CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE) AND 16.52 (PARCEL MERGER) OF THE INYO COUNTY CODE (Public Hearing & Action Item) – The project would revise the 1) Certificate of Compliance Code (Section 16.48) to mirror State law; 2) Create a Section (16.23) for Parcel Map Waivers and; 3) Amend Section 16.52 to become a Property Line Adjustments/Parcel Merger Section; and 4) Amend Section 16.32.010 to change the time limit from 18 months to 24 months consistent with the Subdivision Map Act.
Planning Director, Pat Cecil, presented the Staff Report to the Commission. Mr. Cecil informed the Commission of the necessary changes and positive support he had received from the Public Works Department.
Chair White inquired as to a correction to be made on page six being a typo. The word respected should be changed to respective.
Commissioner Wasson inquired as to the additional cost of obtaining a Title Report.
Mr. Cecil informed the Commission that the requirement of obtaining a Title Report is for the Applicant’s protection, and accuracy for the project.
Commissioner Little asked about the fee for the appeal process.
Mr. Cecil answered the appeal fee as being set by the Board of Supervisors within the Code.
Commissioner Wasson also inquired as to the Fish and Game fee.
Mr. Cecil addressed the Fish and Game fee as the revisions of the Inyo County Code would be considered exempt from the CEQA process.
Chair White opened the public hearing at 10:20 a.m.
There was no one from the audience wishing to speak on this item.
Chair White closed the public hearing at 10:21 a.m.
MOTION: Moved by Commissioner Payne and seconded by Commissioner Wasson to determine that the project is exempt from CEQA under the General Exemption since the project will not have any impact on the environment; make recommendations to the Inyo County Board of Supervisors that they adopt the amendments to the Inyo County Subdivision Ordinance as follows: Section 16.32.010 (Filing-Time limit-Generally), Chapters 16.48 (Certificate of Compliance), 16.52 (Parcel Merger), and adopting a new section titled Chapter 16.23 (Parcel Map Waiver).
The Motion carried. (5-0).
ITEM 6: INYO COUNTY COLLABORATIVE BIKEWAYS PLAN (Public Hearing & Action Item) – The County of Inyo Public Works Department has prepared an Initial Study and Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Inyo County Collaborative Bikeways Plan, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act. The Plan is a long-term planning document meant to identify needs and opportunities for the growth of the County’s Bikeway System. Approval of the Plan by the California Department of Transportation makes the collaborative agencies (County of Inyo, City of Bishop, Bishop Paiute Reservation) eligible to receive funding under Streets and Highways Code Section 891.2.
Courtney Smith, Transportation Planner for the Inyo County Public Works Department; presented the Staff Report to the Commision. Mr. Smith pointed out that there are some inconsistencies in the mapping as it correlates to the Plan. He also requested that the Commission add to their recommendation that they direct staff to correct the inconsistencies of the mapping to correspond to the Plan prior to submission to the Board of Supervisors.
The Commission had several issues regarding the use of motorized vehicles on the bikeways, the facilities along the routes, pedestrian use, and handicap use.
Chair White opened the public hearing at 10:35 a.m.
Dan Bloom, representative from the California Department of Transportation, addressed some of the issues of the Commission to include the requirements of the funding for the project. Mr. Bloom indicated that there will be no use of motorized vehicles on the bikeways as per the requirement for the funding, however enforcement would be an issue.
Mr. Smith informed the Commission as to the Goals of the Implementing Agency.
Chair White closed the public hearing at 10:40 a.m.
MOTION: Moved by Commissioner Wasson and seconded by Commissioner Stoll to direct staff to correct the inconsistencies with the mapping to correspond to the Plan; adopt the Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact and certify that it was prepared and circulated in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act.
The motion carried (5-0).
ITEM 7: COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT/COMMENTS – Commissioner Wasson and Commissioner Payne informed the Commission of an informal meeting that they attended with the California Wilderness Coalition regarding the Wilderness proposal for Inyo County and some of the potential impacts.
ITEM 8: PLANNING DIRECTOR’S REPORT – Planning Director, Pat Cecil, updated the Commission on various projects to include the Coso Project and the timeframes for responses to the large volume of comments received on the project. Also, he updated the Commission on the status of the Housing Element as Request for Proposals has been completed. WEMO has a habitat plan only funds have been limited to do the environmental portion of the project.
ITEM 9: CORRESPONDENCE-INFORMATIONAL – There were none.
ADJOURNMENT - There being no further business, Chair White adjourned the meeting at 11:25 a.m. to reconvene in regular session on Wednesday, December 3, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Room, Administrative Center, Independence, California.
Prepared by: Approved: December 3, 2008
Sharon M. Birmingham
Sharon M. Birmingham,
Secretary To
Inyo County Planning Commission