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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002/05/22 - Minutes - PC-HPC CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting May 22, 2002 Chairman McNiel called the Regular Meeting of the City of Rancho Cucamonga Planning Commission to order at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was held in the Council Chamber at Rancho Cucamonga Civic Center, 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California. Chairman McNiel then led in the pledge of allegiance. ROLL CALL COMMISSIONERS: PRESENT: Rich Macias, Larry McNiel, Pam Stewart, Peter Tolstoy ABSENT: John Mannerino STAFF PRESENT: Brad Buller, City Planner, Dan Coleman, Principal Planner, Ralph Crane, Fire Marshal; Kevin Ennis, Assistant City Attorney; Tom Grahn, Associate Planner; Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer, Brent Le Count, Associate Planner, Warren Morelion, Assistant Planner, Gail Sanchez, Planning Commission Secretary; Michael Smith, Planning Technician ANNOUNCEMENTS There were no announcements. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: Moved by Macias, seconded by Stewart, carried 3-0-1-1 (Mannerino absent, Tolstoy abstain), to approve the minutes of May 8, 2002. CONSENT CALENDAR A. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW DRC2001-00714-REGENT COMMUNITIES, LTD-The development of two industrial buildings totaling 45,721 square feet on 2.95 acres of land in the Industrial Park District(Subarea 7), located at the southeast corner of White Oak Avenue and Elm Avenue-APN: 208-352-42. Related Files: Preliminary Review DRC2001-00427 and Tentative Parcel Map SUBTPM15731. Staff has prepared a Negative Declaration of environmental impacts for consideration. Chairman McNiel indicated that Item A would be pulled and heard in conjunction with Item B. PUBLIC HEARINGS B. TENTATIVE PARCEL MAP SUBTPM15731 -REGENT COMMUNITIES,LTD-The subdivision of 2.95 acres of land into two parcels in the Industrial Park District(Subarea 7), located at the southeast corner of White Oak Avenue and Elm Avenue -APN: 208-352-42. Related Files: Preliminary Review DRC2001-00427 and Development Review DRC2001-00714. Warren Morelion, Assistant Planner, presented the staff report. Chairman McNiel opened the public hearing. Kwan Kim, RZK, Inc. 17772 East 17th Street, Suite 104, Tustin, stated he is the architect for the building. Commissioner Tolstoy asked if there is any spandrel. Mr. Kim indicated there is in some portions of the building where the is concrete behind. Hearing no further testimony, Chairman McNiel closed the public hearing. Motion: Moved by Tolstoy, seconded by Macias, to issue a Negative Declaration and adopt the resolutions approving Development Review DRC2001-00714 and Tentative Parcel Map SUBTPM15731. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: MACIAS, MCNIEL, STEWART, TOLSTOY NOES: NONE ABSENT: MANNERINO - carried C. STREET NAME CHANGE DRC2002-00300-CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA-A proposal to change the name of Miller Avenue to"Church Street"for that portion of Miller Avenue between the current eastemmost terminus of Church Street and the east boundary of the City of Rancho Cucamonga (intersection of Miller Avenue and East Avenue). This application has been filed pursuant to provision of Planning Commission Resolution No. 90-57 and in conformance with City Code Section 12.12.050. Brent Le Count, Associate Planner, presented the staff report and said the City received some correspondence from homeowners who live on Miller Avenue and are opposed to the name change because they feel it will be a burden to them. He said that Fire Marshal Ralph Crane was available to address fire safety issues. Chairman McNiel opened the public hearing. John Solberg, 13231 Miller Avenue, Rancho Cucamonga, stated he has lived on Miller Avenue for27 years. He said when he moved there it was only a one-lane street that extended from East Avenue to Etiwanda Avenue and had about 11 residents. He stated the residents found out in 1990 that the Planning Commission intended to change the name of the street because a new street sign was placed at the intersection with Etiwanda Avenue, changing the name to Church Street. He reported they contacted the City and everyone on the street signed a petition protesting the name change. He -said-when they-contacted the City,-they weretold-it was a mistake and-it would not happen again. He stated he recently had a meeting with Mr. Le Count and officials from the Fire and Police departments when he found out the name will be changed. He observed that the public safety people said they cannot save people's lives when two streets intersect and have different names. He indicated he questioned the public safety officials and found out most of the vehicles have ground positioning satellite (GPS)computer units in their vehicles so they use coordinates instead of street names and numbers to find out where they are going. He said they stated at the meeting that they do not need street names and numbers because they are using ground positioning satellite information to get to where they have to go. He noted that when the area was under the County, streets were north, south, east, and west with square comers but now the streets seem to meander all over. He stated the safety people said it is much safer to have square corners with north-south- east-west. He said that Church Street looks like a French curve that has gone crazy and Church Street did not originally line up with Miller Avenue. He stated he was bothered by the City saying the Planning Commission Minutes -2- May 22, 2002 name must be changed for safety when the streets don't have to be straight for safety. He said he sent in one of the letters before the Commissioners in which he raised issues about the Post Office and said the name change will upset and disturb their life because you can't predict who will send you a letter three years from now and it won't be delivered because there will be no Miller Avenue. He reported he talked with Bob Dutton, who said it is not necessary to run the streets together;they could be offset where they meet Etiwanda Avenue because no dirt has been moved as yet. Mr. Solberg said there is an opportunity to plan not to disrupt the lives of twelve resident families on Miller Avenue. He stated the City has had that opportunity for twelve years but has neglected it. He did not understand why the City has done nothing to prevent this from happening since the City knew 12 years ago that it would be disruptive to citizens of Rancho Cucamonga. Ralph Crane, Fire Marshal, Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District, stated the City is looking at a safety issue that is at odds with existing street names and feelings of residents. He said the Fire District believes long term planning dictates the logical response alignments anytime there is an opportunity. He observed that safety personnel can respond more intuitively, faster,'and easier if the streets are named consistently. He said that agencies from other entities are more prone to faster response when the street alignment, naming, and numbering are done in a logical manner. He stated the renaming is logical and benefits response planning. With regard to Mr. Solberg's comment that emergency personnel respond to GPS coordinates, Mr. Crane said that is definitely not the case. He explained they are dispatched to addresses and respond to addresses. He said they follow a numbering sequencing in the addresses. He noted they use the GPS when they are on location for taking an X-Y coordinate and calling that in for spotting things, particularly when air rescue is used. Commissioner Stewart thanked Mr. Crane for responding to the GPS comment because she knew that emergency personnel respond to addresses and streets, not to GPS coordinates. Mr. Crane said that is certainly true at this time, although it may happen in the future. Commissioner Tolstoy believed that people calling in would have to give the GPS coordinate if the emergency personnel were going to respond to a coordinate. Mr. Crane confirmed that was correct. Commissioner Tolstoy stated he has lived in the City for many years and knows his street and address, but does not know his coordinates. Mr. Crane stated the Fire District supports wholeheartedly supports GIS technology but people would have to call in the coordinates in order for them to be able to respond to coordinates. Chairman McNiel asked how long the alignment of Church Street with Miller Avenue has been planned. Mr. Le Count responded it has been in the plans since the City was formed, and it was in the original General Plan. Commissioner Tolstoy stated that when the first General Plan was written, an effort was made to connect fragmented streets and name them so that Police and Fire personnel would not be confused. Mr. Solberg observed that a comment was made that the City needs to coordinate with nearby responding agencies, such as Fontana, Upland, and Ontario. He stated that Miller Avenue is Miller Avenue in Fontana; therefore, it would be better to leave the name Miller Avenue. He said he may have misunderstood the comments made at the meeting regarding GPS, but he felt that the dispatcher would have the ability to let the emergency personnel know what the coordinates are. Planning Commission Minutes -3- May 22, 2002 Hearing no further testimony, Chairman McNiel closed the public hearing. Commissioner Tolstoy thought that the City notifies agencies in other cities when street names are changed. Mr. Le Count responded affirmatively. He reported that Fontana and the Post Office were both notified of tonight's meeting. He stated Fontana was also notified when the Commission approved the Resolution of Intent to change the name back in 1990 and there are responses in the file supporting the change. He said it is staffs understanding that it makes more sense to have a street name change at a City boundary than along a street within a given City. Brad Buller, City Planner, stated that a similar situation was encountered at the southern boundary of the City where Turner Avenue was changed to Hermosa Avenue. Commissioner Tolstoy observed that lomosa was also changed to Hermosa. Chairman McNiel stated that he worked for a company in Upland not far from where the street name changes from Moreno Avenue to 7th Street at Benson Avenue. He said they were constantly having people get lost trying to get there. Motion: Moved by Macias, seconded by Stewart, to adopt the resolution approving Street Name Change DRC2002-00300. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: MACIAS, MCNIEL, STEWART, TOLSTOY NOES: NONE ABSENT: MANNERINO - carried Chairman McNiel stated he did not know how soon the emergency service providers will be in a position to use GPS to identify an exact location where a problem occurs. Mr. Buller asked Mr. Le Count to indicate when the street name change will be effective and what type of notice would be given to the property owners. Mr. Le Count replied it would become effective when the streets actually connect,which is expected within 1 to 11/2 year. Mr. Le Count indicated it would be a minimum of 60 days. Mr. Buller stated that the City will give sufficient notice to the residents on Miller Avenue so they will have plenty of time to change their address. D. STREET NAME CHANGE DRC2002-00338 — CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA - The proposed renaming of Klusman Avenue to Tolstoy Ranch Road for that existing portion of Klusman Avenue at the westerly end of Whirlaway Street, located north of Hillside Road and west of Archibald Avenue. Commissioner Tolstoy indicated he would abstain from voting on the matter. Tom Grahn, Associate Planner, presented the staff report. Commissioner Stewart asked if staff had heard from the resident on the street. Mr. Grahn responded negatively. He said the developer to the south supports the name change. Motion: Moved by Macias, seconded by Stewart, to adopt the resolution approving Street Name Change DRC2002-00339. Motion carried by the following vote: Planning Commission Minutes -4- May 22, 2002 AYES: MACIAS, MCNIEL, STEWART NOES: NONE ABSENT: MANNERINO ABSTAIN TOLSTOY - carried DIRECTOR'S REPORTS E. DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENT - CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA — A request to initiate an amendment to delete Mission Park Drive between Buffalo Avenue and Charles Smith Avenue in the Industrial Park and General Industrial Districts(Subareas 12 and 13,respectively) -APN: 209-263-68. Related File: Development Review DRC2001-00718. Warren Morelion, Assistant Planner, presented the staff report. Commissioner Stewart asked for clarification of the Improvement Certificate referenced in Mr. Eagle's letter. Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer, stated that when the property subdivided at the time AutoNation was developed, no public improvements were initiated; however the street was shown on the General Plan and on the Development Code plan and concerns were raised by property owners in the area. He stated language was therefore added to the Improvement Certificate of the Parcel Map indicating the street was to be constructed as provided in the Development Code or any amendment with further development. He observed that the project applicant is therefore now asking to amend the Development Code to delete the street,which would mean they would be developing consistent with the Development Code but would not have to provide the street. Chairman McNiel invited public comment. Chuck Bouquet, Charles Joseph Associates, 10681 Foothill Boulevard, Suite 395, Rancho Cucamonga, stated he was involved at the time of the Improvement Certificate. He said he then represented property owners on Charles Smith Avenue. He stated that early circulation plans for the City provided for Charles Smith Avenue to go down to a cul-de-sac just north of 4th Street. He stated the property owners were not too concerned because of that plus there was also another street shown connecting through to Buffalo Avenue. He stated that when AutoNation came through the City was supportive of AutoNation and allowed the cul-de-sac farther north than originally intended and that concemed the property owners on Charles Smith Avenue leading to the addition of the Improvement Certificate. He said Cardlock bought their property as a result of the Improvement Certificate being placed on Parcel 3 because Cardlock's business is designed for trucks and other commercial vehicles to come in and fuel up. He said that Oltman's was also processing a project with two large buildings when Automation was processed. He stated he represented a client who was losing about 300 of street frontage. He said they met with the City Engineer and negotiated the Improvement Certificate, to require a street connection from Charles Smith Avenue through to Buffalo Avenue. He said his clients at the time believed that a street would be constructed when development occurred. He stated he appreciated staffs comment that the Code could be amended, but observed his clients were not engineers and believed they would be getting a street. He suggested that the street be moved south of the proposed building to tie into the Mission Park area across the way and still provide the promised connection to Charles Smith Avenue. He said the property owners on Charles Smith feel deletion of the street will leave them landlocked and the use of their property will be inhibited and restricted. Basil Johnson, Oltman's Construction Company, 20 East Pamela Road, Arcadia, stated that the properties will not be landlocked. He said it was his understanding that the City abandoned the idea of having Charles Smith Avenue tie into 4th Street because it is too close to the freeway and would Planning Commission Minutes -5- May 22, 2002 be dangerous. He stated they wanted the cul-de-sac to go south 900 feet but the Fire Marshal would only allow 600 feet. He said they improved Charles Smith Avenue and put in the storm drainage to feed into the CalTrans channel under the freeway and he said they will have to improve the balance of Charles Smith Avenue on the east side with development of the new building,whereas typically a property owner only improves to the centerline. He observed that Oltman's will be spending close to $500,000 for the storm drain system. He felt the people on the east side of the street should have split the cost with them but they haven't and Oltman's did not ask them to; therefore, he felt the other property owners are getting a free ride. He said they submitted plans to the City for initial planning review and were given only two items to take care of: 1) to provide a fly report and 2) conduct a traffic study to be sure there is no over usage of any intersections. He said when the full application was submitted, Engineering advised them they would have to amend the Code to delete the street and Engineering staff indicated there should not be any problem because it was a street extension that was drawn on the map many years ago and wasn't needed. He said they were so confident it would not be a problem, that they had the design team go ahead with working drawings and design work costing approximately $200,000 has already been done. He stated having a street along the south end of the property would not benefit his company at all and would probably cost at least $800,000 to construct. He noted it would also reduce the size of their proposed 450,000 square foot building by at least 90,000 square feet and would not meet the needs of to the adjacent tenants to the north. He said the tenants need the whole 450,000 square feet to combine with the other buildings to the north to centralize their operation. He did not feel the street is a necessity. Chairman McNiel asked the distance from San Marino Drive to their northern property line and the depth of their property. Mr. Johnson estimated the distance to their northern property line to be approximately 500 feet and the depth to be about 800—900 feet. Dawn Wilson, RBF Consulting, 5050 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad, stated they prepared the traffic analysis. She said their main point was that in 2020, San Marino Drive will be below capacity; therefore it was unlikely that additional roadway trips would be diverted to the Mission Park Road. She said the analysis also showed that all the intersections will operate at acceptable levels of service and an additional intersection would not benefit the City. There were no additional public comments. Chairman McNiel stated the distance from San Marino Drive to where the originally proposed street would be approximately 850 feet. He did not think there are many streets that close together in that area. He did not believe the deletion of this portion of Mission Park Drive would appreciably impact any existing or future developments on Charles Smith Drive because of the close proximity of San Marino Drive. He felt traffic would go up Buffalo Avenue from 4th Street to get there. Motion: Moved by Stewart, seconded by Macias, to direct staff to process an amendment to the Development Code upon submission of an application and fees by the project developer. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: MACIAS, MCNIEL, STEWART, TOLSTOY NOES: NONE ABSENT: MANNERINO - - — - carried F. CONSIDERATION OF SUBAREA 18 SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT — CHARLES JOSEPH ASSOCIATES—A request to initiate an amendment to allow senior housing as a permitted use within Planning Area VIII of the Empire Lakes project. Dan Coleman, Principal Planner, presented the staff report. Planning Commission Minutes -6- May 22, 2002 Chairman McNiel invited public comments. Chuck Bouquet, Charles Joseph Associates, 10681 Foothill Boulevard, Suite 395, Rancho Cucamonga, concurred with the staff report. He said the applicant is not proposing congregate care, but rather a project for active seniors. He indicated they want senior housing, not multi-family. He stated Tony Ferrero , Senior Vice President of Kisco was in the audience. There were no additional public comments. Commissioner Tolstoy stated he had originally been against having residential uses in the area next to the industrial area but he saw no reason not to allow this use since the area has been changed. Chairman McNiel felt that the development that has occurred in the area is nice. He thought that more housing will be needed for seniors as the population is aging and he therefore felt this makes sense because it is dose to shopping, activities, and the Metrolink. Motion: Moved by Stewart, seconded by Macias, to direct staff to process an amendment to Subarea 18 upon submission of an application and fees by the project developer. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: MACIAS, MCNIEL, STEWART, TOLSTOY NOES: NONE ABSENT: MANNERINO - carried PUBLIC COMMENTS John Solberg, 13231 Miller Avenue, Rancho Cucamonga, stated he was wondering if the Planning Commission had an opportunity to read any of the letters that were sent to them before the meeting and asked why there was a public meeting if the Commissioners had not had an opportunity to read the letters. Chairman McNiel responded that the Commissioners had read the letters. Mr. Solberg asked for confirmation that they were read before the meeting. Chairman McNiel confirmed they were. Mr. Solberg said he heard a comment in the introduction that the Commissioners had a copy of the letters in front of them. He didn't think they had been there long enough to be read. Chairman McNiel said they were included in the packet. He said the first response to Mr. Solberg's home in the event of an emergency will be from Rancho Cucamonga, not Fontana, and he felt the name change makes perfect sense in the interest of Mr. Solberg's safety as opposed to being in the interest of Mr. Solberg's convenience. Mr. Solberg said he noted in his letter that all public safety personnel get daily briefings and he was sure those daily briefings address any anomalies in how they go about their business. He thought the safety officials in this community have less need to know that the street is the same name than anybody else who uses it. He felt that the dispatchers tell them if a street changes names. Chairman McNiel noted that the Planning Commission's decision can be appealed to the City Council. Mr. Solberg responded that there would be an appeal. Planning Commission Minutes -7- May 22, 2002 Chairman McNiel stated that was fine and he was just letting Mr. Solberg there is due process. Mr. Solberg stated he felt the Commission's decision appeared to be a rubber stamp. Chairman McNiel said Mr. Solberg was aware that the name change would be coming for the last 12 years. Mr. Solberg said he thought it had been taken care of 12 years ago. Commissioner Tolstoy commented he was in on the first General Plan meetings and there was much public input. He stated he led one group and one of the main things they said was that they wanted name consistency for the streets. He thought the City dedicated itself to that end when the first General Plan was adopted. He observed that the Planning Commission also has to look out for public welfare and safety and he felt the name change honors that charge. Mr. Buller gave Mr. Solberg a copy of his staff report so he could see what was included. COMMISSION BUSINESS As a follow up to a question asked at the previous Planning Commission meeting, Brad Buller, City Planner, provided charts showing 5 years of City activity with regards to abating graffiti. Chairman McNiel felt the abatement numbers show the City is being effective in terms of abating graffiti, as the City is not as active as it once was. Mr. Buller confirmed that 2000-2001 was the highest year of activity and 1999-2000 was the second highest. He stated that Rancho Cucamonga takes a great deal of effort and devotes a lot of man- hours into keeping the problem under control. Chairman McNiel felt the problem is improving. He observed that he attended the City Yard open house and was told that the City used to have two full time crews, but it has been cut back to only one. Commissioner Macias asked the City's policy with respect to the colorful paper racks that are starting to show up at every corner of the City. Mr. Buller responded the racks are within the public right-of-way and rules and regulations have been adopted for dealing with them, but it is still necessary to adopt a system to handle the abatement. He said there is a question as to whether enforcement will fall to Engineering, Code Enforcement,or Public Works. He noted the Ordinance calls for a standardized news rack to go in the public right-of- way and a standardized news rack has not yet been developed. He observed a lot of the news racks are occurring along Foothill Boulevard and the Visual Improvement Program for Route 66 may call for the City to provide racks for those types of services. He said that staff believes that if they begin to immediately police the placement, the racks will just be moved onto private property right behind the right-of-way, which would then entail Code Enforcement activity through shopping centers that allow them. Commissioner Macias stated that generally the publications are not being taken. He observed there are six different colored ones in front of Mimi's restaurant. Commissioner Tolstoy agreed they are an eyesore. Planning Commission Minutes -8- May 22, 2002 Mr. Buller said he would forward the comments on to the other department heads,who will have to collectively address the concern. ' ADJOURNMENT Motion: Moved by Stewart, seconded by Macias, carried 4-0-1 (Mannerino absent),to adjourn. The Planning Commission adjourned at 8:06 p.m. Respectfully submitted, • uller Secretary I Planning Commission Minutes -9- May 22, 2002