Special Planning Commission Agenda Tuesday, March 1, 2022 5:30 p.m. Via Teleconference *

COVID-19 NOTICE * In a continuing effort to reduce the public health effects of COVID-19, the Planning Commission meeting will not be physically open to the public and Planning Commissioners will be teleconferencing into the meeting via ZOOM Teleconference, pursuant to the provisions of Government Code 54953.

To maximize public safety while still maintaining transparency and public access, members of the public can participate in the meeting in several ways: See instructions for participation on the Tuesday, March 1, 2022 Agenda linked at the end of this article. 

Regular Agenda

Staff reports were not distributed for this meeting.

1. Approval of minutes for the December 13, 2021, regular meeting of the Planning Commission.

2. Scoping Session on the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Housing Element Update Staff and Rincon Consultants will conduct a public scoping session to receive comments on the scope and contents of the EIR being prepared for the 2023-2031 Housing Element Update and associated amendments to the General Plan.

3. Presentation on the Piedmont Community Pool Project. The design team from ELS Architecture and Urban Design will provide a verbal update and slideshow on the activities related to the development of a design for the Piedmont Community Pool.

4. Update on Housing Policy Presentation. Staff and Commissioners will provide a verbal update on the activities of staff, the Housing Advisory Committee and City’s housing consultants related to the development of fair housing policy. Adjourn

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk at (510) 420-3040. Notification at least two business days preceding the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. [28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title II] In accordance with G.C. Sec. 54954.2 (a) this notice and agenda were posted on the City Hall bulletin board and also in the Piedmont Police Department on February 15, 2022.

Click Agenda below for details on participation and viewing:

PCA Plan Com 3 2022<

In an effort to improve customer service, the Departments of Planning & Building and Public Works are implementing a pilot program which will change counter service hours, effective February 28, 2022.

Counter service includes unscheduled inquiries at the counter as well as by phone and email. This is a pilot program, which will be effective into the fall of 2022.

Starting February 28th, the new hours will be:

Monday through Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday: Closed

The Planning & Building Department and the Department of Public Works are focused on providing the highest levels of customer service to the Piedmont community, but the past two years have placed unprecedented strain and demands on the departments. The result is a backlog of building permit applications.

Planning and Building Director Kevin Jackson states:

“Customer Service is about more than just being open and available to the public. It is also a function of how quickly we can efficiently process permit applications and approval,” said Planning & Building Director Kevin Jackson.

“In order to improve customer service overall while maintaining our high standard for responding to inquiries, the Planning & Building and Public Works Departments will remain open for unscheduled service during the lunch hour Monday through Thursday and devoting ourselves entirely to permit processing on Fridays. These hours are consistent with those provided by other cities in the Bay Area. We’re also seeking to hire two part-time staff to accelerate building permit review.”

This change in counter service hours is being made in conjunction with technology upgrades, available later this year, which will allow residents to submit permit and project applications, service requests, as well as pay business license taxes online. With this forthcoming system, project plans will be submitted, reviewed, and approved in digital, rather than paper format.

In addition, community members will no longer have to carve out time during the workday and make a trip to City Hall to engage with staff, review documents, ask for a pothole to be fixed, or request other services.

“Once the technology upgrades are fully implemented, we will be better placed to determine if the changes to counter service hours should end or continue,” Mr. Jackson added. “The operational changes forced upon us by the COVID pandemic affected services greatly and made technological upgrades more urgent. Thankfully, the City Council has been proactive in approving technological advances in all departments, ushering our ability to serve the community even farther into the twenty-first century. In the coming months and years the interim changes and long-term improvements will merge into a greatly enhanced customer service experience.”

CONTACT:

Piedmont Planning & Building Department 120 Vista Avenue Piedmont, CA 94611 Phone: (510) 420-3050 Fax: (510) 658-3167 Planning Email: ondutyplanner@piedmont.ca.gov
Building Email:
buildingpermits@piedmont.ca.gov
Current Office Hours: Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

PCA 2022-02-15 Public Works-Planning & Building Counter Hours to Change

Natural Gas Green?  Piedmont says NO, California says NO

Europe says YES –

European Union Commission Classifies Natural Gas as Green Power, while the CA Grid Estimates $30.5 billion for New Electric Transmission Lines to End Use of Natural Gas  –

In 2020 (the latest data year), California’s in-state created electricity was generated by coal (.17%), by natural gas (48.35%), by oil (.02%), by nuclear (8.53%), by large hydro (9.40%). California also gets electricity from other states.  California’s imported (from out of state) electricity was powered by coal (8.76%), by natural gas (10.68%), by nuclear (11:21%), by large hydro (18.78%), and 17.% was generated by “unspecified ” or unnamed sources.

California’s intended switch from natural gas and other fuels to clean power will require $30.5 billion for electric transmission lines and substations by 2040 in preparation for hooking up solar, wind and geothermal plants, according to a report by the state’s grid operator, California Independent System Operator (CAISO).  New connections would be needed to more than 2 gigawatts of new, onshore wind power in California, 12 gigawatts of wind turbines in other western states that could supply California, 53 gigawatts of large-scale solar plants, and 37 gigawatts of batteries plugged into the grid by 2040.  $8.1 billion of the projected budget would be required just to connect 10 gigawatts of future coastline offshore wind turbines.

The report shows the challenge California faces to end greenhouse gas electricity grid emissions by 2045.  The most recent data is for 2020 when renewables contributed a third to California’s electricity power, including contributions from neighboring states.

Read CA power generation sources here

Read January 31, 2022 Transmission Outlook here.

In contrast to the Piedmont City Council’s enthusiastic support for 587 new Piedmont housing units, in Belvedere, “the proposal, which will be submitted to the city next week, is causing consternation…”   The project has a density of 13 units per acre, less than state density bonus laws allow.

The 42-unit, mixed-income Mallard Pointe development would displace the residents of the 22-apartment rental complex that currently exists on the 2.8-acre site, thus only increasing Belvedere’s housing by a net gain of 20 units.  The project proposes 19 homes fronting the lagoon and a 23-unit apartment building on the Mallard Road side of the site. Belvedere is assigned to build about 160 new housing units.

Five affordable units for couples with incomes of $77,000 to $100,000, six affordable accessory units would be incorporated in three of the lagoon houses, and five small one-bedroom affordable units would be located in the 23-unit building.

The opposition group, Belvedere Residents for Intelligent Growth, mentions “serious concerns about the potential impacts on local flood control, zoning consistency and soil stability that could be caused by this large-scale waterfront subdivision.”

Read more in the Jan 24, 2022 article here

Is the State Priority of Affordable Housing as Strong as the Piedmont City Council?

As Piedmonters wonder where 587 new housing units will be built in our compact city, some arms of the State government may not be entirely on the same page as the mandate on Piedmont.

Is shuttling Californians to Las Vegas to gamble really a high public interest to be subsidized?  In a split vote on January 19, 2022, the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee approved opening up some of its $4.3 billion bond capacity for projects other than affordable housing.

With the encouragement of the governor’s representative some of the State’s limited private-activity bonds will be available for non-housing uses, “providing an opportunity for projects such as a private-equity backed train to Las Vegas and a desalination plant to apply for the coveted financing.”

Fortress Investment Group and the Huntington Beach Poseidon Water project are surprising new potential beneficiaries for this funding considering that “Housing developers are expected to need about $9 billion of bonds this year, far more than what’s available.”

Read January 19, 2022 Meeting agenda Here

Read January 19, 2022 Staff report here

Read general reporting about non-housing projects access to cheap financing here

Planning Commission
c/o Kevin Jackson, City Planner

.

Re: SB9 Implementation Planning Commission Meeting on January 10, 2022

.

Dear Planning Commissioners,

   .

 SB9 has created a clear path to satisfying RHNA requirements and retaining the essential character of Piedmont. The choice is clear as by embracing SB9 the City can retain Piedmont’s rigorous Design Review for new housing.  Design Review importantly retains both essential aesthetic character and protects resident light and privacy.  By-Right ADUs afford no such protection.  Sadly the City is moving in a direction of allowing front lot zero setback mini-tower ADUs over existing garages and invasion of existing resident privacy if a new ADU is a mere 10 feet and 1 inch away which then allows window placement directly over and into existing living areas and bedrooms.

.

     The City seems to be ignoring the potential of satisfying the Housing Element by not doing analysis that demonstrate what percentage of existing single-family zoned land parcels have the potential for increased redevelopment by adding duplexes. In reality SB9 has rezoned all single lots into higher density.  With a minimum of 800 sq ft residences allowed, the City can show that middle and moderate income housing mandates are satisfied.

.

     Planning Commissioners can make a critical decision now to retain the inherent character of Piedmont and comply with our RHNA. I urge the PC to direct Staff to submit comments to HCD as to the significant additional potential that is a result of rezoning by SB9 and the ADU legislation. My layman’s reading of SB9 indicates there is nothing in the legislation that HCD [California Housing and Community Development Department] can cite to deny our ability to count the potential of many possible split parcels and increased housing numbers.

.

Respectfully,

.

Rich Schiller, Piedmont Resident

1.9.2022

Special Planning Commission Agenda Monday, January 10, 2022 6:00 p.m. Via Teleconference

Regular Agenda

1. Presentation on the Piedmont Community Pool Project.

2. Presentation on Senate Bill 9 Related to Housing.

READ THE FULL AGENDA FOR PARTICIPATION DETAILS BY CLICKING BELOW:

January 2022 PC Agenda

Contact the Planning Department for additional information at:

510-420-3050

Piedmont Gears Up for Densification – Lot Splits and Increased Housing Units in Single-family Zones Approved Singularly by the Piedmont Planning Staff.

The Piedmont City Council will consider fees to be charged for lot splits and housing developments of up to two units on Dec. 20. > AGENDA

SB 9 requires local jurisdictions, like Piedmont, to grant ministerial approval [Neighbors cannot voice opinions.] of housing developments of one to two units and urban lot splits for property within single-family zoning districts, such as Piedmont’s Zone A and Zone E.1  SB 9 also sets some minimum standards for housing development and lot split proposals, filed under SB 9 regulations.

Changes to Piedmont zoning requirements have yet to be finalized.

READ the full staff report by clicking below:

https://piedmont.ca.gov/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=18207580

COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL AT:

citycouncil@piedmont.ca.gov.

No watering of outdoor landscapes within 48 hours of rainfall.

As more significant rain is predicted leading up to the Christmas weekend, EBMUD’s drought rule for outdoor watering is in effect during and after rainfall.