City Council Chamber
Merced Civic Center
678 W. 18th Street
Merced, CA 95340
CITY OF MERCED
Minutes
Planning Commission
7:00 PMWednesday, March 8, 2023
A. CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson HARRIS called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
A.1. Moment of Silence
A.2. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
Commissioner GONZALEZ led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
B. ROLL CALL
Clerk's Note: The Planning Commission has 1 vacancy at this time.
Chairperson Michael Harris, Member Dorothea White, Member Jose Delgadillo, Vice Chair Mary Camper, Member Jeremiah Greggains, and Member Anthony Gonzalez
Present: 6 -
Absent: 0
C. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
There were no public comments.
D. CONSENT CALENDAR
D.1 SUBJECT: Planning Commission Minutes of February 8, 2023 ACTION:
Approving and filing the Planning Commission Minutes of February 8, 2023
A motion was made by Member Gonzalez, seconded by Member Greggains and carried by the following vote, to approve the Consent Agenda.
Aye: Chairperson Harris
Member White
Member Delgadillo
Vice Chair Camper
Member Greggains
Member Gonzalez
6 -
No: 0
March 8, 2023Planning Commission Minutes
Absent: 0
E. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ACTION ITEMS
E.1 SUBJECT: General Plan Amendment #23-01, initiated by the City of Merced, involving amendments to the Merced Vision 2030 General Plan Transportation Policy T-1.8 to require the use of Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Thresholds and Guidelines when evaluating the environmental impacts of development projects under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and to adopt by reference the VMT Thresholds and Guidelines as recommended by the Merced County Association of Governments (MCAG) in November 2022. “**PUBLIC HEARING**
ACTION PLANNING COMMISSION:
Recommendation to City Council
Environmental Review #23-02 (Statutory Exemption)
General Plan Amendment #23-01
CITY COUNCIL:
Approve/Disapprove/Modify
Environmental Review #23-02 (Statutory Exemption)
General Plan Amendment #23-01
SUMMARY
The proposed General Plan Amendment would clarify that the City of Merced would be using the Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) metric to evaluate the transportation impacts of development projects under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) instead of Level of Service (LOS) consistent with recent amendments to State Law. The amendment would also adopt by reference the VMT Thresholds and Implementation Guidelines as adopted by the Merced County Association of Governments (MCAG) in November 2022. Staff is recommending approval.
RECOMMENDATION
Planning staff recommends that the Planning Commission recommend approval to the City Council of Environmental Review #23-02 [Statutory Exemption] and General Plan Amendment (including the adoption of the Draft Resolution at Attachment A) subject to the findings in Exhibit A and draft amendments in Exhibit B of the Draft Resolution at Attachment A.
Planning Manager ESPINOSA reviewed the report on this item. For further information, refer to Staff Report #23-181.
Public Testimony was opened at 7:10 PM.
March 8, 2023Planning Commission Minutes
Speaker from the Audience in Opposition
RICK WENDLING, Resident, Merced
There were no speakers in favor of the project.
Public Testimony was closed at 7:12 PM.
A motion was made by Member Delgadillo, seconded by Member Greggains and carried by the following vote to recommend to City Council adoption of a Statutory Exemption regarding Environmental Review #23-02 and approval of General Plan Amendment #23-01 as outlined in Exhibit B and subject to the Findings set forth in Staff Report #23-181 (RESOLUTION #4106).
Aye: Chairperson Harris
Member White
Member Delgadillo
Vice Chair Camper
Member Greggains
Member Gonzalez
6 -
No: 0
Absent: 0
F. INFORMATION ITEMS
F.1 SUBJECT: Report by Planning Manager of Upcoming Agenda Items ACTION
Information only.
Planning Manager ESPINOSA went over items for the next several Planning Commission meetings. Ms. ESPINOSA noted that she would be retiring from the City of Merced after 35+ years and that this would be her last Planning Commission meeting. The Commission thanked her for her many years of service.
F.2 SUBJECT: Calendar of Meetings/Events
Mar. 6 City Council, 6:00 p.m.
8 Planning Commission, 7:00 p.m.
20 City Council, 6:00 p.m.
22 Planning Commission, 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 3 City Council, 6:00 p.m.
5 Planning Commission, 7:00 p.m.
17 City Council, 6:00 p.m.
19 Planning Commission, 7:00 p.m.
March 8, 2023Planning Commission Minutes
25 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission, 4:00 p.m.
G. ADJOURNMENT
Clerk's Note: The Regular Meeting adjourned at 7:24 PM.
A motion was made by Member Greggains, seconded by Member Gonzalez and carried by the following vote, to adjourn the Regular Meeting in honor of retiring Planning Manager Kim Espinosa.
Aye: Chairperson Harris
Member White
Member Delgadillo
Vice Chair Camper
Member Greggains
Member Gonzalez
6 -
No: 0
Absent: 0