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Development review committee recommends approval of Tree Walker use-permit amendment at 800 South Auburn
Summary
The Grass Valley Development Review Committee voted 3-0 on July 14 to recommend approval of a use-permit amendment allowing Tree Walker Inc. to use 800 South Auburn for office administration and vehicle/equipment parking, subject to screening, parking organization and other conditions; staff found the project CEQA-exempt.
The Development Review Committee on July 14 recommended that the Planning Commission approve a use-permit amendment allowing Tree Walker Inc. to operate office administration and equipment parking at 800 South Auburn Street.
Vanessa Franken, an associate planner in the community development agency, told the committee the property is zoned C-3 (heavy commercial) and was developed in the 1980s as a Ford dealership. The tenant, Tree Walker Inc., is a tree and landscape services company that dispatches a crew from the site, operates about four vehicles and three trailers, and employs four people (one office staff and three field crew). Franken said there is no on-site wood processing or long-term wood storage and that vegetative waste is hauled to an accepted green-waste facility or removed by the property owner depending on project size.
Franken outlined conditions of approval that would require perimeter screening (choice of fiberglass slats or privacy tarps), organization of trailers and company vehicles to be parked perpendicular to the frontage and behind screening, and that tenant signage be brought into compliance with the city's sign ordinance when permits are sought. She said the project is categorically exempt from environmental review under CEQA Guidelines section 15301 (existing facilities) and Class 32 for infill development, and staff recommended forwarding the application with findings and conditions in the staff report.
During questioning, committee members sought clarification that screening applies to the perimeter of the project area, including the highway-facing frontage and shared-lot portions; staff confirmed the screening condition would apply to the project perimeter and noted temporary or movable fencing might be used where portions of the lot are shared with other tenants. The committee and staff also discussed the existing lack of pedestrian infrastructure across East McKnight Way and whether a sidewalk condition should be required; staff said the original condition requires a sidewalk only if a building permit for new construction is pulled.
Resident Matthew Coulter spoke both during the general public-comment period and again on the agenda item, raising concerns about grease being dumped into storm drains, trash and grease at the South Church Street lot, the disheveled condition of the project parcel and nearby properties, lack of striping that pushes cyclists into traffic, piles of tires and possible homeless encampments, and general public-safety risks. Staff said it would notify engineering and maintenance to inspect restriping needs and noted enforcement limits for preventing parking in the public right-of-way.
After discussion, a committee member moved and the committee seconded a motion to recommend that the Planning Commission approve application (transcript text: "26 pln-dash $0.00 $2.01"), adopt staff findings, determine the project exempt under CEQA sections cited in the staff report, and approve the use-permit amendment subject to the conditions of approval. The committee voted 'aye'; the clerk announced "3 ayes, 2 absent," and the motion passed.
The committee adjourned following the vote. The recommendation will be considered by the Planning Commission at a later date; the Planning Commission hearing date was not specified in the record.
