HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-16 - Minutes
Design Review Committee
Meeting Agenda
April 16, 2024
FINAL MINUTES
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
New Time: 6:00 p.m.
A. Call to Order
The meeting of the Design Review Committee held on April 16, 2024. The meeting was called to order by
Sean McPherson, Staff Coordinator, at 6:00 p.m.
Design Review Committee members present: Vice Chairman Al Boling and Commissioner James Daniels.
Staff Present: Tabe van der Zwaag, Assistant Planner; Adam Pisarkiewicz, Senior Planner.
B. Public Communications
Staff Coordinator opened the public communication and after noting there were no public comments,
closed public communications.
C. Consent Calendar
C1. Consideration to adopt Regular Meeting Minutes of March 19, 2024.
Motion carried 2-0 vote to adopt the minutes as presented.
D. Project Review Items
D1. DESIGN REVIEW – WESTERN SPIRE – A request for a site plan and design review of a mixed-use
development consisting of 176 residential units (including 2 live-work units), 7,870 square feet of commercial
lease area, and 1,400 square feet of live-work commercial lease area on 1.8 acres of land at the northeast
corner of Red Oak and Spruce Avenues in the Center 2 (CE2) Zone. APN: 208-353-18 (DRC2023-00154).
Staff presented the item to the Design Review Committee. Following the staff’s presentation, members of
the applicant team (Western Spire), including their architect provided additional background and detail on
the project. Following the presentation discussion ensued over various aspects of the project.
The Committee was complimentary of the project design and amenities and was accepting of the proposed
reduction in the square footage of the non-residential floor area. They stated there were adequate
commercial and office uses adjacent to the building and that creating housing was a priority.
The Committee raised mild concerns about the requested reduction in on-site parking. The applicant stated
that they have a parking management plan to ensure adequate on-site parking. The Committee asked
questions about the location of parking spaces for guests, customers, and delivery trucks and whether the
roundabout would require modification of the existing drive approaches for the surrounding land uses. The
applicant outlined the parking and staff stated that the drive approaches are not expected to be impacted by
the roundabout. The Committee recommended that the project be forwarded to the Planning Commission
for their review.
The Committee took the following action:
Recommend approval to PC. 2-0 Vote.
D2. DESIGN REVIEW – FORE PROPERTY (FOOTHILL AND GROVE MIXED USE) – A request to
construct a mixed-use development comprising 308 residential units and 14,704 square feet of commercial
lease area on 9.15 acres of land at the northeast corner of Foothill Boulevard and Grove Avenue in the
Center 1 (CE1) Zone. APN: 0207-011-35, 36, 41, 43, 44, and 45 (DRC2022-00379).
Staff presented the item to the Design Review Committee. Following the staff’s presentation, the Committee
made the following comments:
• Commissioners concerned with the on-street parking along Foothill Blvd and Grove Ave.
o Concern that parallel parking along Foothill Blvd could be dangerous given the speed of
vehicles.
o Concern about the efficacy of back-in, angled parking along Grove and that it will force
drivers to travel north into the residential neighborhoods of Upland in order to circle
back to Foothill Blvd.
• Commissioners would like the applicant to consider a masonry block wall along the northern
property line instead of the tubular steel fence that is being proposed.
• Commissioners concerned that the retail entrances only face Foothill Blvd, rather than also
having rear entrances which would make it more convenient for residents of the development
to access. Applicant explained that there are no rear entrances because the area behind the
retail building is a private area for residents only and the area in front of the retail building is for
the general public.
• Commissioners requested that the applicant accurately depict the proposed back-in, angled
parking on all renderings that include Grove Avenue.
• Commissioners are in favor of the architectural style and associated materials/colors.
The Committee took the following action:
Recommend approval to PC. 2-0 Vote.
E. Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth Thornhill, Executive Assistant