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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-08-28 - Minutes - HPC-PCHPC/PC MINUTES – August 28, 2024 Page 1 of 4 Final Historic Preservation Commission and Planning Commission Agenda August 28, 2024 FINAL Minutes Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 7:00 p.m. The regular Joint meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission and Planning Commission was held on August 28, 2024. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Morales at 7:00 p.m. A. Roll Call Planning Commission present: Chairman Morales, Vice Chairman Boling, Commissioner Dopp, Commissioner Daniels and Commissioner Diaz. Staff Present: Serita Young, Assistant City Attorney; Jennifer Nakamura, Deputy Director of Planning; Bond Mendez, Associate Planner; Shane Adams, Fire Prevention Supervisor; Rick Snawder, Fire Marshal; Tammy Graciano, Fire Prevention Supervisor; Elizabeth Thornhill, Executive Assistant. B. Public Communications Chairman Morales opened the public communications. Hearing no comments, Chairman Morales closed the public communications. C. Consent Calendar C1. Consideration to adopt Regular Meeting Minutes of August 14, 2024. Motion: Moved by Vice Chairman Boling; seconded by Commissioner Diaz. Motion carried 5-0. D. Public Hearings D1. THIS PUBLIC HEARING WILL NOT BE HEARD TONIGHT. A NEW PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED IF AND WHEN THE HEARING WILL OCCUR. TENTATIVE TRACT MAP –FORE PROPERTY - A request to consolidate six (6) parcels into one (1) parcel totaling approximately 9.15 acres of land within the Traditional Town Center General Plan Designation and Center 1 (CE1) Zone, located at the northeast corner of Foothill Boulevard and Grove Avenue; APNs: 0207-011-35, - 36, -41, -43, -44, and - 45. This item is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Section 15305 – Minor Alterations in Land Use Limitations (SUBTT20863; Related file: Design Review DRC2022-00379). Deputy Director of Planning Nakamura announced that this item will not be presented, and no further action will be taken at this time. HPC/PC MINUTES – August 28, 2024 Page 2 of 4 Final D2. Consideration of a Municipal Code Amendment to amend Title 17 of the Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Code Establishing Battery Energy Storage Facilities as a Use Permitted with a Conditional Use Permit for Properties Located in the Neo-Industrial (NI) and Industrial Employment (IE) Zones. This Item is Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act, Pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(B)(3). This Item Will be Forwarded to City Council for Final Action. Planner Bond Mendez presented a PowerPoint presentation (copy on file). Commissioner Dopp asked Fire Marshal Snawder what kind of technology is out there on how to approach combustion of a lithium-ion battery fire. Fire Marshal Snawder explained with batteries evolving and suppression systems getting better, they will suppress the fire and have the appropriate water systems to do so. Commissioner Dopp asked what density of batteries will be included and looked by the fire department. Fire Marshal Snawder replied that density will be part of the inspection process. Commissioner Daniels asked if they had a preference regarding the three difference container configurations, and if one is better than the other. Fire Prevention Supervisor Adams explained that each configuration exposes different hazards and that they do not prefer one type over the other. Chairman Morales opened the public hearing. Public comment by Senior Director Nicholas Connell, Government & Regulatory Affairs at Aypa Power, expressed his appreciation to Commissioners and staff for being transparent during the process. Chairman Morales closed the public hearing. Commissioner Diaz asked if there is a fire at one of the battery storage facilities how would it be suppressed. Fire Prevention Supervisor Adams explained they would be able to apply their latest technology available that would shut batteries down preventing a fire. Commissioner Diaz asked if there was a lithium fire is there a way to suppress it. Fire Prevention Supervisor Adams answered that the latest fire codes do require battery management systems to be able to control the battery system itself and if they cannot control it, he explained that it would provide an early notification so they can respond quickly before it becomes a fully involved structured fire. Commissioner Diaz asked if there are other facilities within the city that have a similar type of plan. Fire Prevention Supervisor Adams responded there are facilities with other types of hazardous materials associated with them. He said there are emergency operation plans and notifications for any applicant to meet the fire code requirements and the environmental requirements by San Bernardino Fire. Commissioner Diaz asked how often they would require inspections. Fire Prevention Supervisor Adams answered it would be every three years, and the district can change the frequency if needed. HPC/PC MINUTES – August 28, 2024 Page 3 of 4 Final Commission Dopp asked that any kind of battery storage facility will need a conditional use permit. Deputy Director of Planning Nakamura confirmed. Commissioner Dopp expressed his concern with Neo Industrial and that these facilities do not bring jobs to the community. He asked staff to respond. Deputy Director of Planning Nakamura explained the Industrial Zones for the city. Commissioner Dopp stated he wishes the technology of the batteries was further ahead given the ordinance right now and with concerns people have about the specific type of battery. He requested staff to take a second look at Neo Industrial before this goes to City Council and see if there may be a further restriction in that specific zone. He said 450,000 sq. ft. of Neo Industrial seems to be extreme. He said as reluctant as he is in a couple of areas, it is better to be forward on this with the minor edits and he is okay with the recommendations. Commissioner Daniels stated he did some research and noticed there is a lot of controversy with these types of facilities going on in the state. He said most of the controversies are where they are located, and it seems if they are in the Industrial zones, a lot of the issues go away. He mentioned he noticed in an ordinance in another city that they required cameras at the facilities and monitoring was done by the applicant and he does not know if it would be a plus or not. He expressed staff did a good job and he does not have any issues with how the ordinance is being presented. Vice Chairman Boling asked for clarity on the maximum 1 mile from the connecting utility. He said what we are talking about is 1 mile from a substation and not the transmission line. Deputy Director of Planning Nakamura confirmed. Vice Chairman Boling asked about the basis for citing requirements of the 1 mile and 1000 feet, are these numbers consistent with other sections of the development code. Deputy Director of Planning Nakamura answered no and mentioned sometimes they may be greater than what is required in the development code for other types of uses. Vice Chairman Boling mentioned in Exhibit B, Section 17.109.04 Emergency Operations Plan. He asked who the approval authority is for Emergency Operations Plan. Fire Prevention Supervisor Adams answered it is collaborative. Vice Chairman Boling asked if it would be Rancho Fire that would be the authority. Fire Prevention Supervisor Adams confirmed. Vice Chairman Boling stated with regards to fire engagement, responding and training he asked are there any tools, chemicals, materials that are specific to battery fire responses. He said if there are specialized equipment for materials necessary to respond and address a fire at one of these facilities does it not make sense to have the applicant pay for those types of specialty equipment that we would not otherwise have a need to purchase out of the district’s budget. Fire Prevention Supervisor Adams answered that other than trying to smother it and cool it, there are no chemicals out there to neutralize it, but they have worked with various industrial businesses in the city that have very unique hazard associated with processes and Fire has required specific materials that businesses maintain and set up before Fire responds. HPC/PC MINUTES – August 28, 2024 Page 4 of 4 Final Vice Chairman Boling clarified if it were to come up some specialized equipment or material would be necessary, we could require, as one of the conditions of approval, the future applicant store, maintain and have available those items for fire response if an emergency was to happen. Fire Prevention Supervisor Adams confirmed. Vice Chairman Boling asked if there was a need for more frequent inspections, is there an inspection fee charged back to the applicant to cover the costs. Fire Prevention Supervisor Adams answered that the fire district is currently on fee waivers for inspections and have a fee waiver as part of their fee ordinance that waves inspections and operational permit costs. Deputy Director of Planning Nakamura mentioned that inspection fees exist, and the waiver program gets reviewed on an annual basis by the Fire Board. Vice Chairman Boling stated regarding CEQA applicability development code amendment, what we are taking action on tonight is exempt from CEQA. However, any future projects that may come forward may or may not be subject to CEQA and would be considered on a case-by-case basis. Deputy Director of Planning Nakamura confirmed. Deputy Director of Planning Nakamura expressed her appreciation to our Stakeholders who worked with us during this process as well as the Fire District. Motion: Moved by Commissioner Diaz, seconded by Commissioner Dopp to adopt Resolution 24-30 to forward recommendation to City Council to adopt proposed Ordinance. Motion carried 5-0. E. Director Announcements Deputy Director of Planning Nakamura mentioned we will have an Economic Development Annual Strategic Plan Update at the next meeting. F. Commission Announcements – None G. Adjournment Motion: Moved by Vice Chairman Boling, seconded by Commissioner Diaz to adjoin the meeting. Hearing no objections, Chairman Morales adjourned the meeting at 7:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Elizabeth Thornhill, Executive Assistant Planning and Economic Development Department Approved: HPC/PC September 11th Meeting.