Planning Commission Meeting - July 18, 2023

The City of Atascadero Planning Commission held a meeting on July 18, 2023, addressing two main agenda items related to land use and development permits. The first item involved a request by the Atascadero Bible Church to update their conditional use permit to allow amplified outdoor sound during worship and youth activities. The commission discussed sound level measurements, neighbor concerns, and potential conditions to mitigate noise impact. The permit was approved with an amendment to allow amplified sound year-round, striking previous month restrictions, contingent on the church's commitment to be good neighbors. The second item concerned a conditional use permit for a two-phase outdoor recreational vehicle (RV) storage facility at 65 Sycamore Road, located in an industrial park zoning district adjacent to the Selenus River. The commission reviewed environmental concerns, including potential impacts on wildlife and the river corridor, trail realignment, and consistency with the city's general plan, which is currently under update. After extensive public comment and deliberation, the commission approved the permit with added conditions for a nesting bird and special status species survey, acknowledging the contentious nature of the project and the need for future general plan alignment. The decision is appealable to the City Council within 14 days.