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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007/11/06 - Agenda Packet G ACTION AGENDA DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6', 2007 7:00 P.M. RANCHO CUCAMONGA CIVIC CENTER RAINS ROOM 10500 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE RANCHO CUCAMONGA Committee Members: Lou Munoz Pam Stewart Mike Diaz Alternates: Richard Fletcher Frances Howdyshell Ray Wimberly CONSENT CALENDAR (Consent items will be heard at 7 p.m.) No Items Submitted. PROJECT REVIEW ITEMS This is the time and place for the Committee to discuss and provide direction to an applicant regarding their development application. The following items do not legally require any public testimony, although the Committee may open the meeting for public input. 7:00 p.m. (Corky/Joe) CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT DRC2006-00926 - WLC ARCHITECTS - Review of Master Phasing Plan for the remaining phases of the Lifeway Church project development including an education building, temporary classroom modules, gymnasium and fellowship hall on 5.03 acres of land in the Low Residential District (2-4 dwelling units per acre), located at 7477 Vineyard Avenue at Calle del Prado - APN: 0208-921-36. Related Files: Conditional Use Permit DRC2001-00439 and Non-Construction Conditional Use Permit DFRC2007-00544. PUBLIC COMMENTS Public comments are noted below. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m. DESIGN REVIEW COMMENTS 7:00 p.m. Corky Nicholson November 6, 2007 CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT DRC2006-00926 - WLC ARCHITECTS - Review of Master Phasing Plan for the remaining phases of the Lifeway Church project development including an education building, temporary classroom modules, gymnasium and fellowship hall on 5.03 acres of land in the Low Residential District (2-4 dwelling units per acre), located at 7477 Vineyard Avenue at Calle del Prado - APN: 0208-921-36. Related Files: Conditional Use Permit DRC2001-00439 and Non-Construction Conditional Use Permit DRC2007-00544. Design Parameters: On September 12, 2007, the Planning Commission directed the applicant to pursue a more complete design presentation for the remaining buildings for the church campus. The applicant is presenting a preliminary concept for Committee feedback. Drawings are attached with an explanation of the building program. More extensive presentation materials will be provided at the meeting. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends providing the applicant with direction and having the applicant return to the Committee with a full presentation of the designs. Attachment Design Review Committee Action: Members Present: (Fletcher, Munoz, Diaz) Staff Planner: Corky Nicholson Also present at the meeting were: Corky Nicholson, Assistant Planning Director; Jim Di Camillo of WLC Architects; Elena Purice of WLC Architects; WLC Architects; Sylvester Mayberry, Lifeway Church; Pastor Chris A Esteves, Lifeway Church; Char Ransom, Lifeway Church. Jim Di Camillo, WLC Architects presented a scale model of the church campus that .offered the opportunity to visualize the building arrangement, site orientation particularly in relation to the neighboring downslope homes, building mass and architecture. He highlighted a few features of the design such as the proposed education building that is tucked into the hillside; the fellowship hall (following the removal of the temporary classrooms); and the gym that now reflects a lowered profile. He confirmed that the gym will be placed approximately 15 feet closer to the roadway abutting the slope than the portable classrooms. He commented that the height of the proposed building is about the same as the two story homes previously proposed for the site. He said moving the gym to a different location on the site would produce a fire access problem. Public Comments Charles Rich, a neighboring resident expressed frustration that the Committee meeting tonight was not advertised to the neighborhood. He complained that it is his understanding that the gymnasium will be DRC ACTION AGENDA CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT DRC2006-00926—WLC ARCHITECTS November 6, 2007 Page 2 built approximately 15 feet closer to the "edge" than the existing portable classrooms and because of the height of the building, will be even more of a visual impact to the homes at the bottom of the slope. He complained that the neighbors have lost their view. He asked if there was going to be a balcony on the fellowship hall. Mr. Rich presented photos to the Committee pointing out the view from the homes. He remarked that he has been given different information on how much the height of the gymnasium has been lowered. He implied that the grading presented to the neighbors prior to construction is different from what has occurred and that the road that leads up to the church is higher than what was presented. He said the path along the wall was not supposed to be there. He complained that the wall that was constructed looks bad from the neighbors' side but looks nice on the church's side. He expressed frustration that Planning Staff has not located the specifics of the materials used for the wall. He responded negatively to offers of mitigation unless they are different to what he has already heard to this point. He remarked that the church has a poor track record in following through. He said the neighbors are concerned about the additional traffic that would be generated if the church renews its application to run a school on site. He expressed concern that the church could have basketball leagues running every night. Corky Nicholson, Assistant Planning Director, reported that the current wall was required by the City, however, no specific conditions could be found that dictated the materials to be used. He said the wall was constructed to mitigate glare from headlights of vehicles traveling to and from the church. He reported that overall the slope is being well maintained. He added that the path was required for maintenance purposes. He noted there were four neighborhood meetings held prior to the original approval. He added that the use of the gym was included in the original environmental review and that traffic concerns were considered with that approval. Pastor Esteves reported that the wall was constructed as it is to properly distribute weight loads on the geo grid related to the building pads and to hold the slopes in place and that it had nothing to do with the cosmetics of the wall facing the neighbors' homes. He said this wall was very,costly. He said the church is willing to stucco the neighbors' side or do something to improve the appearance of the wall. He said the pathway was required for emergency and fire access and for maintenance of the slope. He said the pitch of the gym has been lowered as much as possible without losing the usability and intended function of the building as a gym. He said there will be a great deal of space that can be planted with trees and flowers. He commented that if adequate trees are brought in, it will help make the view more benign. He added that the church wants to do what they can to make the neighbors happy but they would also appreciate consideration because of the possible costs. He noted that the church already spent a great deal of money on grading and construction and now they have to spend money on something else. He personally offered to work with Mr. Rich. Mike Diaz, Senior Planner, suggested they consider a re-orientation of the gym so that the shorter dimension of the building faces the slope and the neighbors homes rather than the longer side of the building so as to reduce the massive appearance of the building from the neighbors' homes. Commissioner Munoz commented that the model is helpful. He noted that the Pastor already offered to mitigate the appearance of the wall. He said the architecture seems fine but that he would prefer to see other alternatives. He suggested a possible change in the pad level and/or landscaping to help mitigate the neighbors' view. He said the hill appears higher from the neighbors' homes and that the view is harsh for the neighbors. He said there should be a halfway point and that what he is seeing thus far in compromise is not sufficient. He said he would like to see a landscape plan the next time they come to the Committee and he would like them to explore more alternatives to take care of the problem. He said Mr. Diaz's suggestion of reorientation of the gym is the type of alternative he would like to have them explore. DRC ACTION AGENDA CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT DRC2006-00926—WLC ARCHITECTS November 6, 2007 Page 3 Commissioner Fletcher noted that this meeting is an open meeting but not a public hearing and that it did not need to be advertised. He commented that the way the wall was constructed was not a neighborly way of doing it, that it should be split faced on both sides. He suggested the gym building be lowered, not just the pitch and eaves, but the grade of the pad that it will rest upon. He said it appears the grading has changed. He said he would like to see a landscape plan. He suggested they explore the idea of a forested hillside with appropriate trees that do not produce debris when the winds come. He said they would need to have substance and height. He asked if the gym could possibly be moved to the east portion of the site. He added that he wants to see a solution to the appearance of the wall facing the neighbors. He noted that the City does not have a view ordinance. He added that the use of the gym is included in the church's Conditional Use Permit and that if the use became a problem, it would be addressed. DESIGN REVIEW COMMENTS November 6, 2007 ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Corky Nicholson Assistant Planning Director