CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
April 1, 2025 {{section.number}}{{item.number}}
IMPLEMENTATION OF DESIGN REVIEW AND PLANNING COMMISSION CONSOLIDATION RECOMMENDATION:
Provide direction to staff on implementation of the Design Review and Planning Commission consolidation, including Municipal Code references and the Planning Commission membership parameters and process for appointment.
BACKGROUND:
At its November 19, 2024, meeting, the City Council approved consolidating the Design Review Commission and the Planning Commission into a single body that would meet monthly. Both commissions have continued to operate in their normal capacity pending further Council direction.
The Design Review Commission and the Planning Commission (Commissions) are both five member bodies with duties outlined in the Coronado Municipal Code (CMC). Pursuant to the CMC, the functions of the Planning Commission include making decisions and recommendations on land use and environmental matters. These include but are not limited to conducting public hearings and making decisions on land use entitlements such as use permits, coastal permits and variances, and to make recommendations related to subdivision maps and amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and General Plan. The functions of the Design Review Commission are to make determinations on applications submitted pursuant to the design review process such as new commercial and multi-family development projects, as well as awarding floor area ratio design feature bonus points and approving roof decks for single family dwellings.
Under California Government Code 65100 et seq., each city or county must establish a planning agency. If so desired, a city or county may establish one or more planning commissions that report directly to the legislative body, with a minimum of five members.
ANALYSIS:
With the City Council’s November 2024 direction to consolidate the Planning and Design Review Commissions, staff evaluated technical and legal changes necessary for implementation. Staff identified Municipal Code adjustments and questions about membership and seeks clarifying Council direction. The Council may also appoint two new Planning Commissioners from the existing commissioner pool and new applications.
Municipal Code Amendments
The Coronado Municipal Code (CMC) will need to be amended to reflect the reconsolidated work of the Design Review and Planning Commissions under the Planning Commission. There are references throughout the CMC to the Design Review Commission. In lieu of a wholesale revision of the CMC at this time, it is recommended that the CMC be amended with a clause that sets forth any references or duties of the Design Review Commission are those of the Planning Commission. If so directed, staff will return with a draft ordinance to reflect this change. In the future, if/as major changes are contemplated to the relevant sections of the CMC, detailed lineby-line revisions can be prepared.
Membership Considerations
Staff seeks direction on the appointment of five individuals to the consolidated Planning Commission.
First, staff recommends the Planning Commission’s five members conform to staggered terms, so that no more than two members’ terms expire in any one year, as required by CMC Section
2.30.020.
Next, recognizing the importance of design expertise, staff recommends that at least one commissioner have a background or professional experience in a design-related field. Currently, CMC Section 2.30.020 establishes the only mandatory qualification for Planning Commission members as being a qualified elector of the City.
By contrast, CMC Section 2.46.020 provides more specific guidance for the Design Review Commission, preferring three members to be professionals in a design-related field, one member to be a business person owning, operating, or managing commercial or industrial property in the City, and the qualifications for the remaining member to be established at the Council's discretion.
If the Council so directs, staff can return with a CMC amendment to require one member or more of the Planning Commission have background or professional experience in a design-related field.
Third, staff seek direction on the process for filling the Planning Commission seats.
Currently, the commissions are comprised of the following individuals:
Design Review Commission
Member Name Appointment
Date
Reappointment
Date
Term
Expiration
Eligible for
Reappointment
Sue Godwin 07-18-2023 N/A 12-31-2026 Yes
Edry Goot 08-16-2022 N/A 12-31-2025 Yes
Rebecca King 12-06-2022 N/A 12-31-2025 Yes
Jeremy Stein 08-20-2024 N/A 12-31-2027 Yes
Vacant N/A N/A 12-31-2025 Yes
Planning Commission
Member Name Appointment
Date
Reappointment
Date
Term
Expiration
Eligible for
Reappointment
Dana
Cavanaugh
12-19-2023 N/A 12-31-2026 Yes
Scott Metzger 04-05-2022 12-06-2022 12-31-2025 Yes
Jon Ryan 01-15-2019 12-06-2022 12-31-2025 No
Vacant N/A N/A 12-31-2027 Yes
Vacant N/A N/A 12-31-2027 Yes
Additionally, the following individuals have submitted applications for the Planning Commission:
• Andrew Corley
• Robin MacCartee
Staff will present options for the merged Planning Commission membership, which could include selecting five members from a pool of current members of both boards, considering new applicants, or filling the two vacancies on the Planning Commission with current Design Review Commission members, or other options. The City Council is asked to provide direction on its desired process.
It is important to note that individuals assuming the role of planning commissioner in the City of Coronado are designated as Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Form 87200 filers, which requires a higher level of reporting than other commission members.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are no direct fiscal impacts associated with this report.
ALTERNATIVE:
The Council may choose to decline to receive the report and provide further direction to staff regarding the future of the commissions.
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT:
This action is not subject to CEQA.
PUBLIC NOTICE:
No public notice is required for this report. However, members of both the Planning and Design Review Commissions have been notified of this agenda item.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
Submitted By: City Clerk's Office / Kelsea Holian