MINUTES
Planning Commission Meeting
Council Chambers, 380 Civic Drive, Galt, California
GALT Thursday, June 12, 2025, 6:00 p.m.
Chair Denier called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. The Commissioners present were Denier, Gerling, Jackson, Johnson, and Jones.
Staff members present: Interim City Manager Chris Erias, Attorney Olivia Clark, and Senior Planner Kristyn Bitz.
INFORMATION/CONSENT CALENDAR
A. SUBJECT: Minutes of the May 8, 2025 Regular Meeting.
RECOMMENDATION: The Planning Commission approve the minutes of the May 8, 2025, Regular Meeting.
ACTION: Commissioner Gerling motioned to approve the minutes of the May 8, 2025 Regular Meeting. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion. The motion was passed by Chair Denier, Commissioner Gerling, Commissioner Jackson, Commissioner Johnson, and Commissioner Jones.
PUBLIC MEETING:
None
PUBLIC HEARING:
A. SUBJECT: Summerfield at Twin Cities Design Review Public Hearing RECOMMENDATION: 1) Receive a presentation; 2) Open the public hearing to receive comments and; 3) Adopt a resolution approving the Design Review for the Summerfield at Twin Cities project.
CEQA: On September 15, 2020, the City Council adopted an initial study and mitigated negative declaration ("IS/MND") for the Project pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, Public Resources Code section 21000 et seq. ("CEQA"). No substantial changes have been made to the Project, to the circumstances of the Project, or to new information regarding the Project that require major revisions to the IS/MND. Thus, further review pursuant to CEQA is not required pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15162.
ACTION: Staff Bitz presented.
Chair Denier opened the public hearing at 6:10. Pierre Martinez of Lennar Homes thanked staff and the Planning Commission for reviewing Lennar's application. Mr. Martinez introduced Sean MacDiarmid, Director of Forward Planning for Lennar. Jeff Addison, an architect for Lennar Homes, and Chad Roberts, an attorney for Lennar Homes, were also introduced. There being no public comment, Chair Denier closed the public hearing at 6:12.
City of Galt Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 of 3
Regular Meeting of June 12, 2025
Chair Denier stated that, per his interpretation, the proposed architecture still does not meet the intent of the original project approval from 2020. Commissioners Jones and Johnson discussed the proposed exterior light options. Commissioner Johnson also asked about wider front doors. Mr.
Martinez stated supply issues as the reason for not offering wider front doors and stated that the options as proposed exceed what Lennar offers in their other communities, including overhead garage door options.
Staff confirmed that Lennar is proposing a variety of walkways and concrete scoring to enhance the exterior of the proposed homes on all 204 lots.
The discussion turned to the subject of Condition of Approval (COA) A-20. Chair Denier expressed his frustration that Lennar is not providing the Galt community with a housing product type that was promised to the City Council in 2020, regardless of the previous developer's modification of COA A-20 which adjusted the square footage tiers and subsequently removed the executive housing style requirement.
Chair Denier reiterated that he had specifically asked Lennar to bring forward completely different floorplans after the March 13, 2025, workshop; instead, Lennar continued using the same plans with architectural modifications. Chair Denier stated that the proposed architecture does not align with Galt's General Plan policies or the Galt Municipal Code's design review guidelines.
Mr. MacDiarmid addressed the Commission. He stated that Lennar was willing to increase the number of exterior light options if that were what it would take to get approval. He also explained the difficulties Lennar's purchasing department has with increasing light options and other limited architectural enhancement options. Mr. MacDiarmid then respectfully asked the Planning Commission to deny Lennar's project rather than continue with dais-based designs.
Chair Denier asked Ms. Clark how to proceed with a motion of denial. Ms. Clark provided guidance on said request.
Chair Denier motioned for denial of the design review for the Summerfield at Twin Cities project for failure to comply with GMC 18.68.100(B)(6) and due to failure to comply with Galt General Plan Policies CC-1.1 "City Image" and CC-1.4 "Neighborhood Design" as related to failure to have a high quality product, failure to provide a unique sense of place, and failure to provide a design that sets this project apart from others.
Motion seconded by Commissioner Jones. Motion carried 5-0.
REGULAR CALENDAR:
None.
COMMENTS BY PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER/FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
None
City of Galt Planning Commission Minutes Page 3 of 3
Regular Meeting of June 12, 2025
COMMENTS BY STAFF/DIRECTORS REPORT:
Staff Bitz provided the Commission with an update on the status of residential projects under construction and on the status of future projects.
ADJOURN
Meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Kristyn Bitz, Senior Planner.
Can de
/Kristyn Bitz, Senior Planner