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Planning Commission

Planning Commission

Tue, March 26, 2024

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Meeting summaryAI-generated

Planning Commission — March 26, 2024


This was a joint meeting of the Planning Commission and Climate Action Commission, held at City Hall. Five of seven commissioners were present; Heidi Bauer and Jessica Mozes were absent. The session was relatively brief, wrapping up by 7:10 PM.


Approval of Minutes (February 27 and March 12, 2024)


Both sets of meeting minutes were approved without amendment or discussion.


Vote (both items): 5–0 (Cader Thompson, Hooper, McErlane, Racusen, Whisman in favor; Bauer and Mozes absent)


Public Hearing: Gaker-Cosin Residence — 560 Hayes Lane (SPAR Approval)


The commission considered a Site Plan and Architectural Review (SPAR) application for a new single-family residence proposed by applicant DJ Gaker at 560 Hayes Lane. The project is categorically exempt from CEQA review under Class 3 (New Construction).


Councilmember Janice Cader Thompson disclosed ex-parte communications at the outset, noting she had not received any new information beyond what was presented in the staff materials. Associate Planner Larissa Alchin presented the staff report, and applicant DJ Gaker also addressed the commission directly. All five commissioners — Racusen, Whisman, Cader Thompson, McErlane, and Chair Hooper — had questions for staff or the applicant, suggesting a substantive review of the project details, though the minutes do not record the specifics of those questions or responses.


Three members of the public submitted written comments via email: Susan Kirks, Kathryn Swanson, and Dana Teicheira. No one appeared in person during public comment. The minutes do not summarize the content of those written comments.


Following deliberation, the commission voted unanimously to approve the SPAR for the Gaker-Cosin residence.


Vote: 5–0 (Cader Thompson moved, Whisman seconded; Bauer and Mozes absent)


Commission and Staff Comments


Several commissioners — McErlane, Hooper, Racusen, and Cader Thompson — offered closing remarks, and Planning Manager Andrew Trippel provided staff comments. The substance of these remarks is not detailed in the minutes.


Key Takeaways


New home approved: The commission unanimously greenlighted site plan and architectural review for a new single-family residence at 560 Hayes Lane, clearing a key local approval hurdle for the project.
Three public emails were submitted on the Hayes Lane project, but their content is not summarized in the minutes — residents who commented may want to follow up on how their concerns were addressed.
Routine housekeeping: Minutes from the prior two meetings were approved without changes.
Quorum but not full attendance: Two commissioners (Bauer and Mozes) were absent, though the 5–0 votes indicate clear consensus among those present.

AI-generated summary from voice-to-text transcript. Not the official record. Verify important details with the source documents linked above.

Agenda items (3)

Procedural (2)
1ProceduralApproval of Minutes for the meeting of February 27, 2024
2ProceduralApproval of Minutes for the meeting of March 12, 2024.
Public Hearing
3Public HearingPublic Hearing – Recommendation to the Planning Commission to Conduct a Public Hearing and Consider a Recommendation to Approve Site Plan and Architectural Review (SPAR) for the Proposed Gaker­Cosin Residence Project Located at 560 Hayes Lane, APN 008­490­035; City Record No. PLSR­2023­0011. The proposed project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Section 15303 (Class 3 – New Construction), and there are no exceptions to this exemption that would make the exemption inapplicable under CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2. – ITEM PUBLISHED ON 03/20/2024

Additional votes recorded in minutes

Approve minutes of February 27, 2024

aye 5 · absent 2
Blake Hooperaye
Darren Racusenaye
Heidi Bauerabsent
Janice Cader Thompsonaye
Jessica Mozesabsent
Rick Whismanaye
Roger McErlaneaye

Approve minutes of March 12, 2024

aye 5 · absent 2
Blake Hooperaye
Darren Racusenaye
Heidi Bauerabsent
Janice Cader Thompsonaye
Jessica Mozesabsent
Rick Whismanaye
Roger McErlaneaye

Approve SPAR for Gaker-Cosin Residence at 560 Hayes Lane (PLSR-2023-0011)

aye 5 · absent 2
Blake Hooperaye
Darren Racusenaye
Heidi Bauerabsent
Janice Cader Thompsonaye
Jessica Mozesabsent
Rick Whismanaye
Roger McErlaneaye

Verbatim transcript available

3 transcript segments indexed

CITY OF PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA JOINT MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND CLIMATE ACTION COMMISSION City Hall Council Chamber 11 English Street Petaluma, CA 94952 MINUTES Tuesday, March 26, 2024 CALL TO ORDER – (6:00 PM) ROLL CALL PC PRESENT: Blake Hooper, Darren Racusen, Janice Cader Thompson, Rick Whisman, and Roger McErlane ABSENT: Heidi Bauer and Jessica Mozes GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT – (6:01 PM) During General Public Comment, the public is invited to make comments on items of public interest that are within the Commission’s subject matter jurisdiction and that are not listed on the current agenda. Public comments are limited to up to three minutes per person. Depending on the number of persons wishing to address the Commission, time will be allocated in equal shares totaling no more than twenty minutes, subject to the Commission’s discretion (Cal. Gov’t. Code §54954.3(a), Petaluma City Council Rules, Policies and Procedures, III). Chair Hooper opened general public comment. - None Chair Hooper closed general public comment. Chair Hooper closed the Meeting Item and continued with the agenda. PRESENTATIONS – (6:01 PM) Chair Hooper announced there were no presentations during this meeting. Chair Hooper closed the Meeting Item and continued with the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – (6:01 PM) 1. Chair Hooper announced Meeting Item 1 – Approval of Minutes for the meeting of February 27, 2024. Chair Hooper opened Meeting Item 1. Chair Hooper invited the Commissioners to provide amendments. No amendments were provided.
Chair Hooper requested a roll call vote. A roll call vote was taken: Vote: Carried 5-0 Yes: Cader Thompson, Chair Hooper, McErlane, Racusen, Whisman No: None Absent: Bauer and Mozes Abstained: None Chair Hooper announced that the minutes were approved by a vote of 5-0. Chair Hooper closed Meeting Item 1 and continued with the agenda. 2. Chair Hooper announced Meeting Item 2 – Approval of Minutes for the meeting of March 12, 2024. Chair Hooper opened Meeting Item 2. Chair Hooper invited the Commissioners to provide amendments. No amendments were provided. Chair Hooper requested a roll call vote. A roll call vote was taken: Vote: Carried 5-0 Yes: Cader Thompson, Chair Hooper, McErlane, Racusen, Whisman No: None Absent: Bauer and Mozes Abstained: None Chair Hooper announced that the minutes were approved by a vote of 5-0. Chair Hooper closed Meeting Item 2 and continued with the agenda. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION – (6:02 PM) 3. Chair Hooper announced Meeting Item 3 - Public Hearing – Recommendation to the Planning Commission to Conduct a Public Hearing and Consider a Recommendation to Approve Site Plan and Architectural Review (SPAR) for the Proposed Gaker-Cosin Residence Project Located at 560 Hayes Lane, APN 008- 490-035; City Record No. PLSR-2023-0011. The proposed project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Section 15303 (Class 3 – New Construction), and there are no exceptions to this exemption that would make the exemption inapplicable under CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2. – ITEM PUBLISHED ON 03/20/2024 Chair Hooper announced this was a public hearing requiring disclosure of any ex-parte communications. Council Member Cader Thompson disclosed ex parte communications, declaring that no new information was received that has not been presented in the meeting item. Associate Planner Larissa Alchin presented on Meeting Item 3.
Applicant DJ Gaker presented on Meeting Item 3. Chair Hooper opened Meeting Item 3 to Commissioner questions and comments for staff. The following Commissioners had questions for staff or the applicant. - Commissioner Racusen - Commissioner Whisman - Council Member Cader Thompson - Commissioner McErlane - Chair Hooper Chair Hooper opened Meeting Item 3 to public comment. Emailed: - Susan Kirks - Kathryn Swanson - Dana Teicheira In-person: - None Chair Hooper closed public comment and the public hearing. Chair Hooper brought the item back to the Commission for discussion. Chair Hooper requested a motion to vote on Meeting Item 3. Council Member Cader Thompson motioned for a vote, and Commissioner Whisman seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken: Vote: Carried 5-0 Yes: Cader Thompson, Chair Hooper, McErlane, Racusen, Whisman No: None Absent: Bauer and Mozes Abstained: None Chair Hooper announced that the motion was approved by a vote of 5-0. Chair Hooper closed Meeting Item 3 and continued with the agenda. COMMISSION COMMENT – (06:59 PM) Commissioner McErlane Chair Hooper Commissioner Racusen Council Member Cader Thompson STAFF COMMENT – (07:04 PM) Andrew Trippel, Planning Manager ADJOURNMENT Chair Hooper adjourned the meeting at 07:10 p.m.