HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014/05/06 - Agenda Packet THE CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA
k DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE
14.40_1 AGENDA
Cv oNGA MAY 6, 2014 - 7:00 P.M.
Rancho Cucamonga Civic Center
Rains Room
10500 Civic Center Drive
Rancho Cucamonga, California
I. CALL To ORDER
Roll Call
Regular Members: Richard Fletcher_ Francisco Oaxaca
Candyce Burnett _ Donald Granger
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
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
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.
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h ` i S DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE AGENDA
MAY 6, 2014
RANCHO
CUCAMONGA
B. 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.
III. PUBLIC COMMENTS
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
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.
I, Gail Elwood, Office Specialist II for the City of Rancho Cucamonga, hereby certify that a
true, accurate copy of the foregoing agenda was posted on April 24, 2014, at least
72 hours prior to the meeting per Government Code Section 54954.2 at 10500 Civic
Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga.
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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:
Staff Planner: Tabe van der Zwaag
Members Present:
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 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:
Staff Planner: Tabe van der Zwaag
Members Present: