The vesting map of 50 homes on 7.8 acres was approved by a four-to-one vote by the Los Banos Planning Commission at their Jan. 28 meeting. City Attorney Mary Lerner also gave the commission Brown Act Training.
Chair Gregory Hicks led a full quorum of commissioners, Rob Robinson, Shuyue Martinez, Steven Nunes and William McBride.
The Overland Trail Subdivision was originally part of the Mission Villages plan approved in 2007, according to Assistant Planner Justin Ragunton. Following changes from multi-family to medium-density single-family homes, the new design places 50 houses on 7.8 acres.
Raguton elaborated that there will be a total of 21 Craftsman architectural styles, with square footage ranging from 1,380 to 2,392.
The development, to be constructed by Stonefield Homes, is located north of Willmot Avenue, south of Mission Drive and west of San Lorenzo Street.
The one ‘Nay’ on the vesting map and recommendation of the Final Development Plan to the city council was Nunes.
“I’m totally against rolled curbs,” Nunes said. Rolled curbs had been added as a “pilot program” and are currently prohibited in new roads outside of driveways, explained Stacy Elms, the Community and Economic Development Director.
Benchmark Engineering Project Manager Matthew Rodgers explained that they had wanted all curbs to be rolled curbs for aesthetic reasons and to make construction easier.
“We find it’s easier to access your home… It’s a more elevated design than the typical old-fashioned vertical curbs,” Rodgers said. But, Elms and public works director William Via explained that city staff had been concerned that it would encourage parking on lawns. The compromise was allowing it only at driveways.
Nunes was unhappy with the compromise; he pointed to potential issues caused by street sweepers on rolled curbs. “I grew up in an area with rolled curbs, every single person on that street parked on their lawns.” Nunes ended.
Following the subdivision, new in-house city attorney Lerner gave the commissioners training on the Brown Act.
She warned against serial meetings, where commissioners meet one-on-one with each other, even stating that “Hitting the like button on someone’s post could be considered a violation of the Brown Act.” She taught the basics of quorum and not talking about planning commission items outside of the public agendized meetings.
Lerner stressed the importance of the agenda, allowing the public to comment on issues they may be interested in. She highlighted that in July, the council chambers will now have live online comments and that there could be “Zoom bombers” in the comments that will try to make the meeting “go south rather quickly.” Lerner said those “bombers” will be removed from the live chat.
At the end, Lerner quizzed the commissioners, to which they passed with 100%.
Commissioners thanked staff and Lerner before adjourning the meeting at 7:05 p.m.
