principal Planner Robertson presented the proposed amendment and provided details on the prior entitlements of the project.
Commissioner Roberts disclosed that he met with several of the adjacent neighbors and walked the property site.
Commissioner Weremiuk disclosed a conversation she had with the applicant and declined a site visit with an adjacent neighbor.
Commissioner Lowe disclosed that he met with adjacent neighbors and walked the site.
Commissioner Calerdine disclosed he walked the site with adjacent neighbors.
Vice-Chair Hudson disclosed he walked the site with adjacent neighbors.
Chair Donenfeld disclosed his telephone conversation with an adjacent neighbor, David Powell, and discussed procedural matters.
Chair Donenfeld opened the Public Hearing portion of the meeting: The following persons spoke in favor of the project:
LAURIE KIBBY, representing Praetor Investments LLC, presented the current project using computer simulations. Ms. Kibby provided an overview of ingress and egress, walkways, view corridors, new restaurant pad, new circulation diagrams, the annex building, parking and sun studies.
GARY CARLSON, resides at Alejo Vista (adjacent to the northeast corner of the site) commented on the beauty of the hotel and is pleased to see the view of a two-story residential instead of the five-story previously approved project.
JIM BAYNER, resides at the Deauville Complex, commented on the tremendous impact the hotel will bring to the community and neighborhood.
RUDOLFO CASTILLO, spoke about the favorable economic impact the Dolce Hotel will bring to the City and will offer have many jobs to the community and indicated that views are not owned by the neighbors.
LAURIE KIBBY, commented that development team met with adjacent neighbors and took their comments seriously and spoke about the reduction in density of the project.
The following persons spoke in opposition of the project:
DAVID POWELL, resides at Center Court Condominiums, commented on the inaccuracies in the Mitigated Negative Declaration prepared for this project, especially views and noise.
BRIAN CRAIN, resides at Center Court Condominiums, commented on the blocked views of the mountains.
STEVE HARRIS, resides at Center Court Condominiums, commented on the blocked views of the mountains.
AAMER MUMTAZ, president of Center Court HOA, commented that this plan is a massively larger project and does not believe the sun studies are accurate.
RANDY BERNARDI, lives at San Tropez Villas, commented on noise coming from outdoor amplified music events and requested a limit of 9 pm Sun. - Thurs. and 10 pm Fri. - Sat. be placed on these events.
ANDY GEORGIOU, president of the Palomino HOA, commented on density, scale and size of project and parking issues associated with the project.
CHARLES ARRAGE, resides at Center Court Condominiums, commented on moving project toward Calle Alvarado and Amado Road to give those views.
DAVID DEVEREAUX, resides at Palomino, commented on the scale of the project to the neighborhood and said the whole project should be moved counter-clockwise.
Chair Donenfeld closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Roberts questioned working with the neighbors during the prior hearings and options for the sun/shade projections.
Commissioner Weremiuk commented on the shadow studies showing during the winter months when shade affects neighboring property it is already dusk.
Commissioner Calerdine questioned what measures will be done to enforce the noise ordinance.
Vice-Chair Hudson asked what efforts have made with landscape or screening wall strategies on elevated parking on the eastern northern corner to address headlights from the adjacent neighbors.
Commissioner Calerdine spoke in favor of the hotel and design. He commented that we do not protect views even though they are a problem. He has a concern with the height of the condominiums on the south side.
Commissioner Roberts commented that it is a good project, however, is concerned with the neighbor's blocked views and height of the hotel. He suggested that moving the hotel away from the neighbors may be helpful.
Commissioner Weremiuk said she likes the hotel but shares the concern regarding the height of the condo building. She does not favor moving the entire building.
Vice-Chair Hudson noted that the project has improved since the previous rendition. However, there are many opportunities of compromise such as rotating the hotel building to allow for certain adjustments. He expressed concern with the height of the northern center of the condominiums.
Commissioner Roberts would like to see other options to work on the view and noise issues from the pool.
Chair Donenfeld thinks this is a marvelous project and with the property adjacent to the Convention Center large developments should be expected.
LAURIE KIBBY responded to the building envelope of the site and is not certain if reconfiguration of the hotel would make a significant impact. Ms. Kibby stated that the development team worked within the envelope of the preexisting approved project.
Vice-Chair Hudson agreed that future development would occur on this site but that all options should be considered, including moving the whole building closer to the street.
