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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016/06/22 - Workshop Minutes - PC-HPC '� THE CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA WORKSHOP MINUTES OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA THE PLANNING COMMISSION JUNE 22, 2016 - 4:00 PM Rancho Cucamonga Civic Center ***COUNCIL CHAMBERS*** 10500 Civic Center Drive Rancho Cucamonga, California I. CALL TO ORDER Pledge of Allegiance 4:05 PM Roll Call Chairman Wimberly X Vice Chairman Oaxaca X • Munoz X Macias X Fletcher X Additional Staff Present: Candyce Burnett, Planning Director; Jeff Bloom, Deputy City Manager/Economic and Community Development; Tom Grahn, Associate Planner. Donald Granger, Senior Planner. Brian Sandona, Associate Engineer:Jennifer Nakamura, Associate Planner, Flavio Nunez, Management Analyst Il; Dominick Perez, Associate Planner: Lois Schrader, Planning Commission Secretary:Jennifer Palacios, Office Specialist ll;Mike Smith. Senior Planner: Tabe van der Zwaag, Associate Planner; Dat Tran, Assistant Planner: Kimberly Rhoads, Assistant Planner, Francie Palmer, Communications Manager: Lori Sassoon, DCPd/Administrative Services: Bill Wittkopf, Public Works Services Director; Councilmember Williams: Tasha Hunter. Engineering Technician.Michael Toy. Info. Services Specialist 1, Carlo Cambare, Engineering Technician: Willie Valbuena, Assistant Engineer: Dan James. Senior Civil Engineer 11 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 1 PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP • MINUTES RANCHOJUNE 22, 2016 CUCAMONGA Page 2 which might be disruptive to the decorum of the meeting. None III. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION A. A TRAINING WORKSHOP REGARDING STRATEGIES USED TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUCCESSFUL MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT WITH RESPECT TO DESIGN, PARKING, TRAFFIC AND MARKET CONDITIONS. the workshop was opened by Candyce Burnett, Planning Director, with a brief summary of the recent Development Code revisions and future revisions under construction as the concepts and standards for Mixed Use Development are incorporated into the City's planning documents. Joseph Janczyk gave a PowerPoint presentation, (copy on file) re:supporting economic data that makes Mixed Use development an attainable and sustainable reality for Rancho Cucamonga and lends support to the idea that this type of development can • benefit the City by providing another vehicle towards economic sustainability for future generations. Commissioner Fletcher asked Mr. Janczyk how to correlate job growth vs housing demand. Mr. Janczyk said for every 100 new jobs, a demand for about 65 - 70 new homes whether it be single-family homes or apartments is generated. Neal Payton gave a PowerPoint presentation (copy on file) on how Mixed Use Development feels and the experience of it and why it matters. He talked about the characteristics of high performing "walkups"and what factors make these developments most successful. sociability, access and density. Commissioner Macias asked about the use of high density development. He said Rancho Cucamonga does not have the densities or critical mass to support this. He suggested we look at smart growth opportunities for communities that are less than a major urban core. He expressed concern that as we attempt urban communities we may end up with little "fortresses" everywhere. He asked how a city blends smart growth within the existing infrastructure so we don't get this pattern of nodes. He asked if transportation is the key. Mr. Payton said that question leaves much to address. He said a multiway boulevard might be applicable here because we already have arterials but how to connect to the arterials might be more subtle. He said it may be a way to front boulevard arterials that • • PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP MINUTES ASCI{U JUNE 22, 2016 UCAMONGA Page 3 is "humane". Mr. Payton agreed it is a good point. Commissioner Fletcher said it is a good point of 619 walkups existing in 30 of the largest communities of U.S. He thought they were only built in very dense areas. Mr. Payton disagreed and said one example is found in Claremont. He clarified that it does not mean they are in dense places. but they are in metropolitan areas. He said there are several in our area. He said Claremont is a good example of low density walkable urbanism. Commissioner Fletcher said he likes the concept but expressed concern about having little pockets everywhere because of how spread out our city is. Mr. Payton said we need to think of working for generations after you-development slowly fills in and should not worry us. He suggested we think of stones in a pond-the ripple spreads and grows and they eventually meet each other. He said every suburban jurisdiction has this challenge. If one developer is successful, other developers will see • that and then it takes off. Jeffrey Tumlin gave a PowerPoint presentation (copy on file). He said Commissioner Macias asked the right question. It is hard work for a community like ours, built for the automobile to transition to a hybrid place. He said that we know most of Rancho Cucamonga is not walkable and will not be changing. He said we should aim towards linking them. We have already made some progress noting that Terra Vista and then Victoria Gardens are i" and 2"' attempts-link the good places that you have. He said rethinking our approach to transportation can help take this place and respond to market preferences to build and respond to future needs while maintaining the economy. We have to manage for the current population and plan for the future. He said a major problem is the belief that adding another lane of highway will solve the congestion problem because it changes the land value further down the road and encourages sprawl and additional development down the road only to exacerbate the congestion. He said it is a problem of linear thinking vs system thinking. Commissioner Macias noted that after retiring from a career of being a transportation planner he said he has seen many presentations on the subject and this one of the best he has seen. Commissioner Fletcher said he was encouraged by the idea of the abundance of jobs in Rancho. He said he always believed that if we created more jobs in Rancho, people would be able to live in the city they work in that it would solve many of these transportation problems. He said he has heard we have to keep growing to be • sustainable (economically) but development fees will not help 40 years in future. He asked for comment regarding building to pay bills vs maximizing retail space and PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP • L MINUTES R_",�1 (Znurtto JUNE 22, 2016 UCAMO"n Page 4 increase revenue for the City of Rancho Cucamonga. Mr. Janczyk said considering the expected economic growth and the favorable sector of incomes of people as that growth continues, and their desire for minimal commutes, and without new development, the City will benefit as their incomes grow:they will purchase homes, remodel them or the City could choose to develop more. It is a choice of the City to bring in high quality. high profile firms with high paying jobs-but the City then has a basis to make those choices. Mr. Tumlin said there is a declining ratio of incoming tax dollars vs infrastructure costs. He said a big component is the high cost of streets. He suggested it can be solved by reducing infrastructure/streets with smart design i.e. right sizing: to increase the land value per unit of infrastructure may increase density or quality. He said there is an optimum range of density-once development is above 12 units per acre: walkable retail becomes possible and there is enough market there to support stores within walking distance and also may justify running transit that has reasonable frequency. He said higher density at 35 units-per acre is more magical with walkability with transit and still makes driving possible. He said higher than that creates a detriment if people are still • driving. About 12-50 units per acre with transit is great. He said to plan for that quality of development first in nodes at existing or future major transit stops then connect those nodes along major corridors. He said it creates a lasting economic value for single- family neighborhoods as well because homes are then located in a walkable area and also have access to transit (favorable to milllenials). Mr. Payton said along Foothill Boulevard there is about 105 acres of raw land- 1FAR is 4.5 million square feet of"stuff"(development). He said with a correct code there would be pockets of suburban/urbanism, but over 20 years, the older strip malls will see the favorable change in the value of the land and they will jump in. We have enough land that could have a big impact along that corridor. He said another big advantage for Rancho is that we have deep parcels as well. Commissioner Macias said we need to rethink the plan with different metrics from years before. Sacramento has sucked local communities dry of resources. He referred to his own grown children: although they are gone and out of the house, they may eventually return to Rancho. They value/want both lifestyles: urban and walkable vs driving- they enjoy walking and they like having the choice to drive. He said he is now in retirement and enjoys walking but walking to the market can be inconvenient because of street crossings and other factors discussed in the presentation. Mr. Payton said that if we can offer the choice it makes this a richer place and attracts a broader segment of the population. He said in San Bernardino County, the list of walkup places include Redlands, downtown San Bernardino. Monrovia. and downtown Pomona • -they all have in common a tighter grid, planned since World War il. which allows them PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP �Y MINUTES IjeNc�Cno 1 JUNE 22, 2016 Ct:(LkJ10NGA Page 5 to infill. He said our empty parcels are best hope. Commissioner Macias said there is a lot to be said about aesthetics. He said he personally chooses to dine at Claremont Village because it is aesthetically pleasing,it's a place to go-people gravitate there. Mr. Payton pointed out that the restaurants like to be there as well; it is mutually reinforcing-it is all about the experience. Mr. Tumlin said Victoria Gardens is trying to imitate this. The downside is that it is a walkable village surrounded by a moat of parking; most people have to drive to get there. He said the challenge is how to connect Victoria Gardens to Foothill Boulevard (transit) and other pieces that you are working on-realize that it is incremental change and it will change slowly. He said it is important to make sure as you contemplate new development to be sure it contributes positively to those already here. Trade a streamline approval process for development impact fees-require a baseline of beauty and contribution to future economics of the City and to better it. • Commissioner Macias said we need to do a better job teaching people that transportation costs money. Freeways are not free; transportation and parking are costly. Mr. Tumlin said we use the communist method-we all pay whether we use them or not. Those people not using the roads are paying for all the infrastructure and it encourages more motorists. He said providing unlimited mobility is creating our mobility problem- there is no free lunch; it is more efficient for the user to pay. Ms. Burnett said we are looking at next phase of Mixed Use development. She asked for next step goals suggestions for the City along Foothill Boulevard. Mr. Payton said we should look at the maximum block size; see that streets align; calculate on street intersection density to support walkability(about 150 per square mile) - with the grid all else is possible. Mr. Tumlin said do not start with regulations; start with vision and desired outcomes; describe the qualities of what you like in buildingal then the streets1then the feel of place and then consider your goals of health, levels of traffic then develop the regulations based on that. Develop the design and management regulations in order to achieve the desired outcome. He said do not not be afraid to throw out all of your old regulations- they were designed to solve a different set of problems a long time ago;but they are not what you need to solve current problems or to achieve our current aspirations. Focus • the regulations on the positive. Point developers and landowners toward what you want and not on your fears. PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP • t MINUTES L�1O RANCHOJUNE 22, 2016 CUCAMONGA Page 6 Commissioner Fletcher noted a prior comment re:protecting the existing communities and to not allow the new development to have an overflow effect on them-he said he believes we can do both (preserve the existing and have new mixed use development). PAr. Tumlin said we should ask our residents how development can be used to make our neighborhoods better. Enter into a compact with developers to get what you want. Mr. Payton noted that street trees are really important:home values with street trees get a premium. Mr. Tumlin said there is an increase in walking rates when shade is provided. IV. ADJOURNMENT The Commission adjourned at 6:30 PM • I, 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 June 16, 2016, 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. 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PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP }�ti"r,�Y'•� MINUTES JjA� nc�'„o J JUNE 16, 2016 C`'CANO`GA Page 7 Any handouts for the Planning Commission should be given to the Planning Commission Secretary for distribution to the Commissioners. A copy of any such materials should also be provided to the Secretary to be used for the official public record. All requests for items to be placed on a Planning Commission agenda must be in writing. Requests for scheduling agenda items will be at the discretion of the Commission and the Planning Director. AVAILABILITY OF STAFF REPORTS Copies of the staff reports or other documentation to each agenda item are on file in the offices of the Planning Department, City Hall, located at 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California 91730. These documents are available for public inspections during regular business hours, Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except for legal City holidays. 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