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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015/07/08 - Workshop Minutes - PC-HPC THE CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA WORKSHOP MINUTES OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA THE PLANNING COMMISSION JULY 8, 2015 - 4:00 PM Rancho Cucamonga Civic Center ***TRI-COMMUNITIES ROOM*** 10500 Civic Center Drive Rancho Cucamonga, California I. CALL To ORDER Pledge of Allegiance 4:03 PM Roll Call ' Chairman Wimberly X Vice Chairman Oaxaca X Munoz X Howdyshell X Fletcher X Additional Staff Present: Candyce Burnett, Planning Director; Jeff Bloom, Deputy City Manager/Economic and Community Development; Tom Grahn, Associate Planner; Betty Miller, Associate Engineer;Mayuko Nakajima, Assistant Planner; Dominick Perez, Assistant Planner; Lois Schrader, Planning Commission Secretary; Mike Smith, Associate Planner; Mike Frasure, Building Inspections Supervisor;Jason Welday, Traffic Engineer;Rob Ball, Fire Marshall. II. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS This is the time and place for the general public to address the Historic Preservation Commission or the Planning Commission on any item listed or not listed on the agenda. State law prohibits the Historic Preservation Commission or the Planning Commission from addressing any issue not previously included on the Agenda. The Historic Preservation Commission or the Planning Commission may receive testimony and set the matter for a subsequent meeting. Comments are to be limited to five minutes per individual or less, as deemed necessary by the Chair, depending upon the number of individuals desiring to speak. All communications are to be addressed directly to the Historic Preservation Commission or Planning Commission, not to the members of the audience. This is a professional business meeting and courtesy and decorum are expected. Please refrain from any debate between audience and speaker, making loud noises,or engaging in any activity which might be disruptive to the decorum of the meeting. Mone PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP " MINUTES .4 l!,, RANCHO JULY 8, 2015 CLCAMONCA Page 2 11 III. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION A. PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP FOR DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENT DRC2015-00421 - CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA - A supplement to Development Code Update DRC2010-00571 amending Title 17 (Development Code) of the Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Code to provide development standards for the Mixed Use Development District, development and land use standards for the industrial districts, and to clarify definitions, administrative procedures, and correct prior errors and omissions. Presentations by staff members including a PowerPoint presentation (copy on file) were given by Mike Smith, Associate Planner, AAayuko Nakajima, Assistant Planner.Dominick Perez, Assistant Planner; and Tom Grahn, Associate Planner. A presentation by Neil Payton, FAIA, Principal of Torti Gallas and Partners. Inc. followed ' (copy on file). He noted that TOD/MOD development can take on many forms -there are principles but not stringent characteristics of high performing districts. He said higher density is not always the best for the developer and that what is typical in early forms of a TOD-market is not always in line with that. He said the developer has to make it pencil out and in the early stages a lower density may work better than a higher density. He said in later stages a higher density may be more successful. He said a goal is to create a culture of walking rather than driving and that is a long term process. Commissioner Fletcher noted a memo regarding the Metrolink Station. He asked to hear more about that topic. Candyce Burnett, Planning Director, pointed out that the agenda item today is to discuss development standards for Mixed Use Districts. and to clarify definitions. density, and to put standards in place to support this type of development. She said the memo is preliminary/embryonic and not for discussion at this meeting. She said it was just an informational memo regarding the PFQ and to see if there is interest/opportunity for a future buildout of the station. Commissioner Fletcher asked why the City wants to change open space to Mixed Use, Ms. Burnett said there is no suggestion to change the underlying zoning as it is already identified for these types of development in the General Plan. She said the City could consider sites along Foothill Boulevard and other areas but there are no proposals to ' change or amend zoning at this point-it is the development standards for those areas that is needed. Commissioner Fletcher said he believes all Mixed Use areas are appropriate to look at even around the Metrolink station. He said he is in support of building these PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP 1 .Y� MINUTES jlnucuo JULY 8, 2015 CUCAMONGA Page 3 neighborhoods but he wants high quality. He said the standards should be tough and staff should seek the very best. With respect to Density, Design, Diversity (DDD) he said he has a concern about building residential units. Fie said the City should be promoting jobs and commerce and asked that these areas not be converted to residential. He said the TODs work in Pasadena because of the jobs they provide. He commented that since we lost the RDA it seems we are not "selling RC". He said we need to keep up that effort and then make sure jobs are there, not just retail. AAs. Burnett clarified that the proposal is not to cut commercial development but it is to use properties in a better way. She said commerce will continue to change but underutilized areas need to change. She said we need to blend but also need to create the space. She said the 2nd phase of the Council Goal looks is to look at neighborhoods and to look at what character to create. Commissioner Fletcher said development standards will encourage developers to look at old strip centers. Chairman Wimberly asked if the amendment will create new overlays. AAs. Burnett said the creation of new overlays is part of the 2nd phase of the goal. Commissioner Howdyshell said she has looked for elements of these concepts in her new community. She said to incorporate these elements will be a key economic factor. She referenced Victoria Gardens'success in creating a walking, browsing, community feeling. She said we need focus on job creation but employees may also want to live where they work or nearby. She said she enjoyed the tour, it was a paradigm shift in housing. She said she would like to see a vibrant living environment and an exciting community. She said density should be smart. She said parking is a current struggle. She said with respect to conserving water, she was pleased with the suggested setbacks discussed. She said the information presented was brilliant and forward thinking. Vice Chairman Oaxaca thanked staff for the excellent presentation. He clarified the goal is to have a specific focus on transit or more mobility friendly development. He said the transit mode may take a long time before that could be in place. He said the standards should maximize mobility. He said it is still a small system and only a certain segment that uses it. He was unsure if it could create a real magnet. He said the identified parcels identified look disconnected geographically. He said he would like the new standards help them connect. He said if the City is interested in connecting them, then ' create a visual connection. He said there are differences in sites, some are out of date strip malls. He said we may miss opportunities if we do not connect also between the north and south as well as east to west. He said the timing of the Empire Lakes project could be used to test out some of these new standards. He wondered if the property owner (Lewis) would think these ideas are realistic. Fie agreed there are many great PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP MINUTES RANCHOJULY 8, 2015 GUCA+awcA Page 4 things at Victoria Gardens and suggested we reproduce some of the characteristics of what works. He said he had a hard time seeing how making the concept of higher intersection density would work. He said it was interesting to think how that could create a different behavior. Commissioner Munoz mentioned parking as a concern and that should be considered in the draft standards. He said to this point he believes we've been proactive. He agreed that density, setbacks and the standards presented would be good to consider. hle said the current projects may lay the groundwork for TODs with density and Mixed Use. He said he likes what he sees and is in support. Vice Chairman Oaxaca said he wants the proposed standards for Mixed Use at to be 2 or more uses. He said we should require even more uses for larger project sites. Commissioner Fletcher said for Mixed Use areas we should consider several uses not ' just 2. He asked for some data indicating the costs for the City with respect to the different types of development. He said we should encourage developers with examples of what we want. Ms. Burnett noted that staff photographed all the different project types and have put together a design book just for that purpose. She said with respect to the number of uses required in Mixed Use developments that we have to look at the lot sizes as that is a factor. Mike Smith, Associate Planner, said with respect to quality of design that the buildings are closer to the street and therefore more visible and with that is the demand for buildings of better design and materials. Vice Chairman Oaxaca said there is a sense of human scale with the structures;almost like a Disneyland sense of scale. Mr. Smith said the form and massing of the buildings must be varied. Chairman Wimberly said the presentations were enlightening. He asked how it is decided as to what target project is viable for a particular location. He said Victoria Gardens works and he recognizes the mobility component of that in that many walk to that location and there are Mixed Use opportunities there. Ms. Burnett stated that one lesson learned from Victoria Gardens is that you never stop creating something new there: case in point. the remodel/facelift of Monet. PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP MINUTES RANCrw JULY 8, 2015 CUCAMONGA Page 5 Commissioner Fletcher asked what the maximum population is envisioned for Rancho Cucamonga. He asked if it would be substantially higher with this new vision and is that what residents want. Ms. Burnett stated that the more recent forecasts contemplate 200-220 thousand based upon utilizing Mixed Use development and other opportunity sites. Commissioner Munoz noted a published resource by Chuck Marin called Strong Towns. He said he would get copy of the information for staff and the Commission. IV. ADJOURNMENT ' The Planning Commission adjourned at 5:40 PAA and reconvened following a dinner break at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers for their regular meetings. 1, Lois J. Schrader, Planning Commission Secretary of the City of Rancho Cucamonga, or my designee, hereby certify that a true, accurate copy of the foregoing agenda was posted on July 1, 2015, at least 72 hours prior to the meeting per Government Code Section 54964.2 at 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga. If you need special assistance or accommodations to participate in this meeting, please contact the Planning Department at (909) 477-2750. Notification of 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility. Listening devices are available for the hearing impaired. INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE PLANNING COMMISSION The Planning Commission encourages free expression of all points of view. To allow all persons to speak,given the length of the agenda, please keep your remarks brief. If others have already expressed your position, you may simply indicate that you agree with a previous speaker. If appropriate, a spokesperson may present the views of your entire group. To encourage all views and promote courtesy to others, the audience should refrain from clapping, booing or shouts of approval or disagreement from the audience. The public may address the Planning Commission on any agenda item. To address the Planning Commission, please come forward to the podium located at the center of the staff table. State your name for the record and speak into the microphone. After speaking, please sign in on the clipboard located next to the speaker's podium. It is important to list your name, address and the agenda item letter your comments refer to. Comments are generally limited to 5 minutes per individual. PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP MINUTES 1� CCnMONcA A � (,ccJULY 8 2015 ov Page 6 If you wish to speak concerning an item not on the agenda, you may do so under"Public Comments." . 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APPEALS Any interested party who disagrees with the City Planning Commission decision may appeal the Commission's ' decision to the City Council within 10 calendar days. Any appeal filed must be directed to the City Clerk's Office and must be accompanied by a fee of$2,486 for all decisions of the Commission. (Fees are established and governed by the City Council). Please turn off all cellular phones and pagers while the meeting is in session. Copies of the Planning Commission agendas, staff reports and minutes can be found at www.CitvofRC.us