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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003/02/26 - Workshop Minutes - PC-HPC CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA ' PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Adjourned Meeting February 26, 2003 Vice Chairman Macias called the Adjourned Meeting of the City of Rancho Cucamonga Planning Commission to order at 7:55 p.m. The meeting was held in the Rains Room at Rancho Cucamonga Civic Center, 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California. ROLL CALL COMMISSIONERS: PRESENT: Rich Macias, Pam Stewart, Peter Tolstoy ABSENT: Larry McNiel STAFF PRESENT: Brad Buller, City Planner; Rick Fisher, Contract Planner, Nancy Fong, Senior Planner, Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer;Alan Warren,Associate Planner NEW BUSINESS A. PRE-APPLICATION REVIEW DRC2003-00098- LAACO LTD.-Review of conceptual plans for a public storage facility with a resident manager's apartment on the second floor of the rental office and one story self storage building in the Community Commercial zoning district of the Terra Vista Specific Plan, located on the south side of Towne Center Drive, east of Haven Avenue -APN: 1077422-62. Brad Buller, City Planner, introduced the item and gave an overview of the Pre-Application Review process. John Hathaway gave a presentation of the project. He mentioned that his company has opened a similar public storage facility at the corner of Milliken and Church Streets and it has been very successful. He said that Lewis Homes had tried to put a retail use on this site without much success. He stated this project would try and blend in with the existing architecture of the Terra Vista Towne Center. Mark Kennard, project architect, said he added a few design elements that are unique to this project and at the same time use materials that will blend with Terra Vista Towne Center. He stated they are looking for a simple design for the south elevation of Building C and that is why it does not have any tower elements or movement in the building footprint. He indicated the height of the buildings will vary between 13 and 18 feet,towers have been strategically placed to break up the monotonous look of the storage buildings, and the colors will be earth tone. Rick Fisher, Contract Planner, discussed the issues related to the proposal: • Eliminate the proposed driveway on Towne Center Drive and use the existing street to the west for access to the site. • More articulation was recommended for Buildings C and D. • Consider using tower elements that contain a hip or gable roof, similar to existing buildings in Terra Vista Towne Center. • As the north elevation of Building E is visible from Towne Center Drive,the facade should be consistent with the exterior of the other buildings. • All roll-up doors are should be screened from view. • Provide a 25-foot landscape setback on Towne Center Drive. • A Site Utilization map shall be submitted that shows building footprints of properties within a 600 foot radius. Vice Chairman Macias asked if this project would generate any sales tax for the city. Mr. Hathaway said it would not. Commissioner Stewart was concerned about having a public storage facility in this area but said she thought Lewis Homes has a better grasp of the market potential for uses in the area than she does. She said the architecture was fine but she supported the idea of eliminating the proposed driveway entrance and using the existing street as the entrance. She thought there could be stacking • problems with cars waiting at the security gate. She did not want to see any outdoor storage, RVs, boats, etc. Commissioner Tolstoy thought this is a good use for the site. He believed retail uses would not work here. He said there are lots of apartments nearby and the residents will need a place to store their belongings. He felt the architecture needs to reflect the architecture of the Terra Vista Towne Center. He emphasized the architecture must be 360 degree. He noted that lots of people use the drive aisle north of Target and will see the rear side of Building C; therefore, It must have an attractive facade. Vice Chairman Macias agreed that this is a good use for the site. He said the Terra Vista area needs this type of use. He agreed the architecture must be compatible with the Terra Vista Towne Center and it must be 360 degrees. He agreed people using the drive aisle north of Target will see the rear side of Building C. He felt RVs, boats, and other vehicles must be screened. Commissioner Tolstoy asked if retailers would use such a facility. Mr. Hathaway said retailers do use these types of facilities from time to time. Brad Buller summarized the discussion by saying that there is comprehensive agreement that the architecture must be compatible with the buildings in the Terra Vista Towne Center. B. PRE-APPLICATION REVIEW DRC2003-00092 - CUCAMONGA 220 LP- Review of conceptual plans for a retail shopping center that will include a 14,480 square foot drug store, 27,000 square foot market, two restaurants and four retail sites ranging in size from 7,000-14,000 square feet, located at the southeast comer of Base Line Road and the Day Creek Boulevard- APN: 0227-161-39 Brad Buller, City Planner described the procedure for the workshop and invited the applicant to describe the project for the Planning Commissioners. Chuck Buquet, representing the applicant provided a brief summary of the features of the project, noting the design was formulated to take advantage of the close proximity to the Regina Winery complex. PC Adjourned Minutes -2- February 26, 2002 Donald J. Howard, representing Marketplace Properties, listed special aspects of the plan and identified some of the potential tenant businesses that are interested in locating at the site. Also in attendance was Roberto Buenaver of Evergreen Devco, Inc. Alan Warren,A ssociate Planner, addressed design issues that included the following: • Reduce the number driveways onto the site, creating a shared driveway at the northeast comer. • Provide a central plaza area in front of the in-line stores to add interest and to cut down on the straight run of the main drive aisle. • Consider opening a view looking east from the Day Creek Boulevard/Baseline Road intersection to the winery site. • The closeness of a loading dock to the future single-family home near the southeast corner will create a noise/activity impact to the residents. • The site plan does not integrate well with the neighboring winery due to locating the backs of the in-line stores toward the winery, and not providing any attractive pedestrian connections. Commissioner Tolstoy commented that he thought the proposal significantly lacks the desired integration of shopping center features oractivities (walkways, plazas, special views)with potential winery activities. He stated that the site has no special features that would encourage visitor ' movement between the winery and the shopping center. He thought the type of specialty market being considered by the applicant would be a good match for the winery area. Commissioner Stewart expressed agreement with Commissioner Tolstoy's assessment and added that she believes that, due to its dose proximity to the winery, the shopping center should be a cut above centers that might be acceptable elsewhere in the community. She agreed with staffs recommendation for a single, centrally located driveway off Day Creek Boulevard. Vice Chairman Macias agreed with the other Commissioners and added that a simple, standard shopping center design would not be sufficient for this site. He felt the site and winery must complement each other. He added that the Planning staff should make themselves available to help in the mutual design process. City Planner Brad Buller summarized the comments of the Commissioners; stating that the intended uses and general character of the shopping center is acceptable but that the overall design needs to be improved to better integrate the centers activities with the adjoining winery site. In addition, he noted the design should be sensitive to the adjoining residential properties and the future potential expansion of winery activities. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments at this time. PC Adjourned Minutes -3- February 26, 2002 ADJOURNMENT The Planning Commission adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bra*-r V Se etary PC Adjourned Minutes -4- February 26, 2002