by Elaine Roberts Musser –
The Planning Commission rejected the Staff recommendation not to approve the proposed Carlton Plaza Davis project.
The Planning Commission asked very pointed and intelligent questions of both City Staff (Cathy Camacho, Mike Webb) and DWR, but the responses were less than convincing. Here is a sampling:
Q: Commissioners asked if it wasn’t true that DWR cannot negatively impact other surrounding uses with noxious odors or unacceptable levels of noise?
A: DWR insisted it was a good neighbor, admitted it could not and did not intend to produce noxious odors, and conceded noise levels could not violate the city’s noise ordinance. DWR did note that if there was an expansion of DWR operations, the sorting equipment would be closer to the lot line between DWR and the proposed Carlton Plaza Davis assisted living facility.
Q: Commissioners then inquired wasn’t it the case that any expansion of DWR operations would be housed inside a newly constructed building?
A: DWR conceded that any new expansion of operations to recycle industrial and commercial waste would be housed inside a newly constructed building, which could be located away from the lot lines, to mitigate any possible sound problems.
Q: Commissioners went further, and asked DWR if they were saying this property can never be used because of some perceived future problem that may arise? Commissioners pointedly noted land use determinations such as this are based on current use, not on future use which could be potentially problematic.
A: Neither City Staff nor DWR had a suitable or comprehendible response.
Q: Commissioners questioned if not the proposed Carlton Plaza Davis assisted living facility, what would be an acceptable use for that site? How would such an acceptable use be that much different from residential use that already surrounds this property?
A: City Staff stated the preferred acceptable uses would include a high tech business park. But they could not explain how such a use would be any less impacted by noise and odors from DWR than the proposed Carlton Plaza Davis, nor the already existing residential uses in the surrounding area.
Q: Commissioners wanted to know what other available land within the city could be used to build such a facility as Carlton Plaza Davis?
A: City Staff acknowledged there were very few suitable sites for a facility that size, and any others would have greater problems than the one being proposed by Carlton Plaza Davis developers.
Q: Commissioners wanted to know why City Staff was not willing to include the gain in property tax for the City as a positive aspect of this project?
A: City Staff indicated that issue was not within the purview of the Planning Commission, but more appropriate for the Budget and Finance Commission.
City Staff at times presented a moving target for opponents to shoot at, saying they were concerned not so much for DWR and DPD, as they were for the frail elderly who might live in a facility located next to a waste removal operation and police station. A Planning Commissioner quipped to DWR it might consider making one wall of their building glass, so operations would be visible to Carlton Plaza Davis residents for entertainment. City Staff also professed concern for the privacy of those brought in for booking at DPD, ignoring the fact that many arrests take place in public view.
Nevertheless, Planning Commissioners were not persuaded by any of the arguments put forth by City Staff or DWR. In fact, one was irritated enough by the entire proceeding and City Staff’s line of argument to make the observation it would be hypocritical for the Planning Commission to deny Carlton Plaza’s application, when it had just voted that night (at the behest of City Staff) to approve placement of a bar in the middle of a residential neighborhood.
During Public Comment, Elaine Roberts Musser, Chair of the Davis Senior Citizens Commission and Vice-Chair of the Yolo County Commission on Aging & Adult Services, made the Planning Commission aware of the strong support for Carlton Plaza Davis of both commissions. Ellen Berman, the Social Services Director of Eleanor Roosevelt Circle (an independent living facility for seniors), expressed the strong desire to partner with Carlton Plaza Davis by sharing bus shuttle service and social activities. There were also letters in support of this project from Yolo County Supervisor 4th District Jim Provenza, managing attorney Valarie Park of Park, Vaughn and Fleming, the owners of Konditerei, American Diabetes Association and Parkinson Association of Northern CA. One potential neighbor did express concern the building was too large and institutional looking, and might cause parking problems.
Ultimately, it would seem Carlton Plaza Davis assisted living facility is one step closer to reality, but still has many hurdles to overcome for final authorization. If the Planning Commission puts its final stamp of approval on this project, the proposal then proceeds to the City Council for its consideration. One member of the public, Jan Bridge, a member of the Davis Senior Citizens Commission, made an interesting remark to the Planning Commission during Public Comment. She vividly remembers Atria Covell Gardens Assisted Living Facility meeting the same sort of resistance before it was built 25 years ago. Some things never seem to change…
