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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014/05/06 - Agenda Packet - Action THE CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA t DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE L% J AGENDA C SONG , MAY 6, 2014 - 7:00 P.M. Rancho Cucamonga Civic Center Rains Room 10500 Civic Center Drive Rancho Cucamonga, California I. CALL TO ORDER I ACTION Roll Call 7:00 p.m. Regular Members: Richard Fletcher X Francisco Oaxaca X Candyce Burnett_ Donald Granger X Alternates: Ray Wimberly_ Frances Howdyshell_ Lou Munoz II. PROJECT REVIEW ITEMS The following items will be presented by the applicant and/or their representatives. Each presentation and resulting period of Committee comment is limited to 20 minutes. Following each presentation,the Committee will address major issues and make recommendations with respect to the project proposal. The Design Review Committee acts as an advisory Committee to the Planning Commission. Their recommendations will be forwarded to the Planning Commission as applicable. The following items do not legally require any public testimony,although the Committee may open the meeting for public input. A. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND DESIGN REVIEW A. Approved as DRC2013-00833-JERRY LIN FOR ALLSTATE RECYCLING-A request to presented. construct a 10,224 square foot concrete tilt-up office building and a 10,500 square foot concrete tilt-up warehouse building on a 2.44-acre site within the Heavy Industrial (HI) Development District, located on the south side of Whittram Avenue and east of Pecan Avenue at 13113 Whittram Avenue - APN: 0229-192-10. Related files: Conditional Use Permits DRC2011-00254 and DRC2013-00834. Staff has prepared a Mitigated Negative Declaration of environmental impacts for consideration. 1 oft tia, DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE AGENDA LweeJ MAY 6, 2014 RANCHO CUCAMONGA B. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND TENTATIVE TRACT MAP B. The applicant was SUBTT18936 - STORM WESTERN DEVELOPMENT INC - Site plan directed by the review of a 17-lot subdivision totaling 8.32 acres (16 lots for residential Committee to redesign purposes and 1 lot for existing church) currently located within the Very the project to address Low (VL) Development District with a request for a General Plan concerns of come ) P 9 residents and come Amendment (DRC2013-00961) and an Etiwanda Specific Plan back to DRC. Amendment (DRC2013-00962) to change the project site to Low (L) Residential(church site to remain Very Low Residential) for a site located on the south side of Carnesi Drive and east of Etiwanda Avenue - APN: 0227-061-03 and 82. Related files: General Plan Amendment DRC2013-00961 and Etiwanda Specific Plan Amendment DRC2013-00962. Staff has prepared a Mitigated Negative Declaration of the environmental impacts for consideration. III. PUBLIC COMMENTS I None. This is the time and place for the general public to address the Committee. State law prohibits the Committee from addressing any issue not previously included on the Agenda. The Committee may receive testimony and set the matter for a subsequent meeting. Comments are limited to five minutes per individual. IV. ADJOURNMENT 1 8:23 p.m. The Design Review Committee has adopted Administrative Regulations that set an 11:00 p.m. adjournment time. If items go beyond that time, they shall be heard only with the consent of the Committee. 2 of 2 DESIGN REVIEW COMMENTS 7:00 p.m. Tabe van der Zwaag May 6, 2014 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND DESIGN REVIEW DRC2013-00833 — JERRY LIN FOR ALLSTATE RECYCLING - A request to construct a 10,224 square foot concrete tilt-up office building and a 10,500 square foot concrete tilt-up warehouse building on a 2.44-acre site located within the Heavy Industrial (HI) Development District, located on the south side of Whittram Avenue and east of Pecan Avenue at 13113 Whittram Avenue - APN: 0229-192-10. Related Projects: Conditional Use Permits DRC2011-00254 and DRC2013-00834. Staff has prepared a Mitigated Negative Declaration of environmental impacts for consideration. Project Overview: Allstate Recycling proposes to expand their existing recycling facility by adding a 10,224 square foot office building and a 10,500 square foot warehouse on a 2.44-acre project site directly adjacent to their existing operation. The expansion will bring the majority of their operation onto adjacent parcels, greatly reducing truck traffic between the sites. The new facility will include both their household recycling operation, which currently takes place on Etiwanda Avenue, and their more intense ferrous metal recycling operation. All the parcels will be connected by a drive aisle running along the south property line and includes covered areas for the household recycling operation and bailing equipment. The new two-story office building will face Whitram Avenue with the majority of the parking areas located in front and along the sides of the building. The warehouse building will be located along the west property line. The recycling operation will be screened from public view by the office building and 8-foot high gates. The buildings have a contemporary appearance and include clear anodized metal panels to accent the main entrance. The metal panels are carried over to the front of the warehouse and each building also includes a decorative cornice. Staff Comments: The applicant has done an excellent job creating buildings with a strong visual presence that are well articulated and carry architectural features to each elevation. The buildings meet all Development Code requirements including setbacks, parking, landscaping, screening, and building design. The expansion and redesign of the overall site will eliminate the necessity for trucks to back up onto the site from Whittram Avenue and from traveling between the two existing business locations. Major Issues: None. Secondary Issues: None. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Committee forward the project to the Planning Commission for final approval as presented. Design Review Committee Action: The project was approved as presented. Members Present: Fletcher, Oaxaca, Granger Staff Planner: Tabe van der Zwaag DESIGN REVIEW COMMENTS • 7:00 p.m. Tabe van der Zwaag May 6, 2014 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND TENTATIVE TRACT MAP SUBTT18936 - STORM WESTERN DEVELOPMENT INC - Site plan review of a 17-lot subdivision totaling 8.32 acres (16 lots for residential purposes and 1 lot for existing church) currently located within the Very Low (VL) Development District with a request for a General Plan Amendment (DRC2013-00961) and an Etiwanda Specific Plan Amendment (DRC2013-00962) to change the project site to Low (L) Residential (church site to remain Very Low Residential) for a site located on the south side of Carnesi Drive and east of Etiwanda Avenue - APN: 0227-061-03 and 82. Related files: General Plan Amendment DRC2013-00961 and Etiwanda Specific Plan Amendment DRC2013-00962. Staff has prepared a Mitigated Negative Declaration of the environmental impacts for consideration. Project Overview: The applicant is requesting to subdivide an 8.32-acre site for the development of 16 single-family residences. A portion of the site is being purchased from the Cross and Crown Lutheran Church at the southeast corner of Etiwanda Avenue and Carnesi Drive, which will become Lot 17 of the tract map. The project site is currently zoned Very Low (VL) Residential and is within the Etiwanda Specific Plan. The narrowness of the site precludes developing a double loaded street that meets the required 200-foot lot depth. The applicant has requested to change the zoning designation to Low (L) residential, which requires 100-foot lot depths. The existing single-family residences to the east were developed prior to the incorporation of the City and are within the Low (L) zoning district. The lot sizes average 7,500 square feet, below the 15,000 average lot size required by the Etiwanda Specific Plan. The applicant feels that the zone change will allow for the creation of a new street that connects to the existing development to the east and provides a density transition from the smaller lots to the east and the larger lots to the north. The new lots would also be compatible to the existing residences to the west, along Etiwanda Avenue, which are on lots between 15,000 and 16,000 square feet. The applicant is also requesting a Variance to allow walls over the maximum permitted 6-foot height limit. The additional wall height is necessary for the lots to drain to the public street and to accommodate the waste water system. The applicant was unable to obtain an off-site drainage easement from the Mormon Church to the south. The church submitted a letter stating they would rather face a large retaining wall (12 feet high) than to disrupt their site to install the drainage facility. The applicant has also contacted homeowners to the east who will face up to 9-foot high walls along the eastern perimeter of the project. Neighborhood Meeting: The applicant held a neighborhood meeting on April 14, 2014. There were approximately 80 persons in attendance, including approximately 20 persons from the church in support of the project. The attendees brought up three main issues regarding the project: DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE ACTION AGENDA SUBTT18936 — STORM WESTERN DEVELOPMENT, INC. May 6, 2014 Page 2 1. Property owners were in opposition to the proposed street connection to Pinon Street to the east. It was felt that the opening up of Pinon Street, which currently dead ends into the project site, would greatly increase traffic from vehicles looking for a shorter route to Etiwanda Avenue. 2. The property owners to the north (along Carnesi Drive) were against the demolition of the wall along the north side of the project site (south side of Carnesi Drive) to develop a public street to the project. 3. The property owners to the north were also against the proposed change in land use designation from Very Low (25,000 square foot average lots) to Low (15,000 square foot lots). Property owners felt that it would increase traffic and decrease their home values. Property owners did not want smaller lot homes facing their larger lot homes to the north. The meeting concluded with the applicant informing the group that they would investigate developing the project with a cul-de-sac (with a connection for emergency vehicles only). Staff Comments: Staff supports the concept of the General Plan and Specific Plan Amendments and the Variance for the increased wall heights. Without the amendments, the required lot dimensions would negate plotting houses on the both sides of the new public street and require that an equestrian trail be plotted adjacent to the existing non-equestrian lots. The amendments allow for good street design, livability, and transition in density. The lots meet all other requirements of the Low (L) Development District including lot depth (100 feet), width (80 feet) and average lot size (15,000 square feet). The average lot size is 15,039 square feet, with the lots ranging in size from 10,014 square feet to 28,150 square feet. Staff, though, is concerned that the compatibility and access issues raised by the neighborhood will be difficult to completely resolve. The Design Review Committee (DRC) meeting was scheduled prior to the neighborhood meeting. The applicant has requested that the meeting not be cancelled and informed staff that they will provide alternative designs for the DRC to review. The applicant has been informed that they will be required to hold a second neighborhood meeting after a new layout has been finalized. Major Issues: Neighborhood concerns regarding traffic and compatibility. Secondary Issues: None. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Committee review the project and determine whether it can be moved forward to the Planning Commission or that additional modifications to the layout are necessary. Design Review Committee Action: The design of the subdivision was reviewed by the Design Review Committee (DRC) on Tuesday, May 6, 2014. In attendance were approximately 30 to 35 residents that reside in the Toll Brother's subdivision north of the project. Staff provided an overview of the project and answered questions related to the project from the two DRC members (Commissioners Rich Fletcher and Francisco Oaxaca). The DRC then turned the DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE ACTION AGENDA SUBTT18936 — STORM WESTERN DEVELOPMENT, INC. May 6, 2014 Page 3 meeting over to the applicant to provide their perspective on the project and to address the concerns raised at the neighborhood meeting. The applicant laid out the site constraints that led to the current site layout. This included the narrowness of the site, fire access concerns, and density transition from the existing developments to the east and north. The applicant stated that the proposed layout was the best compromise to address the site constraints and to provide a project that fits into the surrounding neighborhood. To address the concerns of the existing development to the east, they presented the DRC with an updated Site Plan that included a cul-de-sac with an emergency vehicle access gate instead of the direct connection to Pinon Street. At this time, the meeting was opened for comments from the residents in attendance who raised similar concerns to those raised at the neighborhood meeting. There was unanimous agreement among the residents from the Toll Brothers neighborhood that they did not want the current wall along Carnesi Drive to be demolished or for houses to be built on smaller lots. Residents emphasized that either of these changes would bring down their home values and increase traffic. Residents were in agreement that a street connection from Etiwanda Avenue through the church property was an acceptable alternative. This design change would create new constraints on any future expansion by the church. The idea of creating a gated community was also discussed, which received mixed comments from the neighbors, many of who did not want the wall to come down under any circumstance. The meeting concluded with the DRC recommending that the applicant redesign the project to address the concerns raised by the residents and to come back to the Design Review Committee for review of the changes and alternative layouts in response to the issues raised. The applicant stated that they would attempt to address the neighbors' concerns and work with staff on an updated layout. Staff informed the applicant that they would need to hold a second neighborhood meeting prior to returning to the DRC. The meeting concluded at approximately 8:30 p.m. Members Present: Fletcher, Oaxaca, Granger Staff Planner: Tabe van der Zwaag