Council also OK’d the addition of a viewing sidewalk around the historic Wrestling Bacchantes statue

ATASCADERO—The Atascadero City Council met for their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 6 p.m. The hybrid meeting was held in the City Council Chambers. Mayor Pro Tem Heather Newsom was absent from the meeting.

The night’s agenda was approved unanimously at the beginning of the meeting.

Two presentations were given at the beginning of the meeting, celebrating awards given by the California Park & Recreation Society District 8. Mark Capozzoli was awarded the 2022 Champion of the Community Award, and the Excellence in Design: Facility & Park Planning Award went to the Colony Park Pickleball Courts.

The Consent Calendar passed unanimously with no items being pulled.

The evening’s Public Hearing on Accessory Dwelling Unit Text Amendments was a continued item from the Sept. 13 meeting and the Oct. 11 meeting. 

Like in the previous meetings, Councilmember Mark Dariz excused himself from being in the room for the discussion of the item, sighting a conflict of interest. 

“Since our last discussion on Sept. 13, there has been some more changes the state has brought us, and we’ve had some more legal review on this topic, and so there’s a little more information needed tonight than I had anticipated when we all left each other on the 13,” said Community Development Director Phil Dunsmore at the beginning of his presentation.

Dunsmore stressed that ADUs can not be used as vacation rentals and that they are used to satisfy Atascadero’s affordable housing requirements.

The council quickly confirmed the amendments based on the council feedback from Sept. 13 meeting, but discussed at length the new state laws.

There were a few changes to setbacks and building height, both of which were quickly approved by the council.

“I think we have a conscience, then. So we’re looking at the 1,200 sq foot allowed on an acre or more. This setback of 10 feet on the side and the rear property lines. Eighteen feet height limit and all other proper development standards” stated Mayor Heather Moreno on ADUs.

The motion passed unanimously after all recommendations, including mixed-use property, were reviewed in detail.

Public Works Director Nick DeBar gave a management report on the Wrestling Bacchantes Statue Enhancements. He asked that a reallocation of $7,000 from 2010 Bond Proceeds Master Agreement Funds got to adding a viewing sidewalk around the historic statue in the Sunken Gardens.

The staff’s recommendation to approve the sidewalk and the reallocation of funds was approved by the council.

The next Atascadero City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 8, at 6 p.m.