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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000/02/23 - Workshop Minutes - PC-HPC CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES • Adjourned Meeting February 23, 2000 Chairman McNiel called the Adjourned Meeting of the City of Rancho Cucamonga Planning Commission to order at 7:35 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: John Mannerino, Larry McNiel, Pam Stewart ABSENT: Rich Macias, Peter Tolstoy STAFF PRESENT: Brad Buller, City Planner; Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer; Brent Le Count, Associate Planner NEW BUSINESS A. PRE-APPLICATION REVIEW 00-02 —CONCORDIA HOMES — Review of grading concepts for 21 lots within approved Tentative Tract 10035 on 15.7 acres of land in the Low Residential District (2-4 dwelling units per acre), located on Camino Predera south of Red Hill Country Club Drive — APN: 207-641-01 through 10 and 207-631-01 through 11. Related File: Pre-Application Review 99-04. Brad Buller, City Planner, reviewed the purpose and basic procedures of the pre-application review. John Snell, Vice President, Concordia Homes, introduced himself to the Commission and reviewed the project. He stated that Concordia is now in escrow on the property and needs to decide whether or not to purchase the property. He indicated the purpose of this second meeting was to ascertain whether the Commission would be willing to accept the grading and home design concepts. He explained the grading will include up to a 15 foot high retaining wall along the south property line, 15 foot high Loffelstein walls (which are similar to crib walls and allow some amount of landscaping on the wall surface), and one-to-one slopes in the southwest corner area. He said the one-to-one slopes will be stabilized with a synthetic material called geo-grid and they will work with the City's engineering staff to demonstrate structural viability of the slope stabilization method. He reported it will be used to remedy the slope failures at the Pacific golf course and said that is an example of how capable the method is. Mr. Snell recognized the City's concern for ensuring a high level of aesthetic appeal with substantial landscaping and high quality home design. He also recognized neighborhood issues, primarily view preservation and he thought the proposed design minimizes view blockage to the degree possible. He felt the homes will have tasteful design and reported they will step with the pads 2 to 5 feet. Brent Le Count, Associate Planner, reviewed staffs concerns. He indicated that he and Mr. Snell had visited a Concordia project now under construction in Monterey Park that utilizes the geo-grid slope stabilization method. He said that the one-to-one slopes appeared sparsely landscaped with few trees, and that this style of slope landscaping would not be consistent with the City's Hillside Ordinance. He also said that Mr. Snell has assured staff that so long as trees no larger than 15 gallon are used, Concordia can plant as many trees as are required (minimum 1 tree per 150 square feet of slope area). Mr. Le Count reviewed the other issues associated with the project: design; view blockage, high retaining walls, visual impacts to Foothill Boulevard traffic, and steep driveway slopes. Commissioner Stewart said that the developer still needs to satisfy staff and the Commission that the geo-grid system is viable. She expressed concerns about preserving views as much as possible • and recognized that neighbors may have concerns. She preferred the 15 foot high retaining wall be lowered as much as possible and said it should be designed to be as visually pleasing as possible. She felt the 20% driveway grade is acceptable because it allows several of the lots to have homes set far below street level which will preserve views. Commissioner Stewart liked the architectural design of the homes but felt a one story home plan should be included. Commissioner Mannerino stated he is open to the use of the geo-grid but that the developer would have to resolve viability issues. He acknowledged that the City does not have a view preservation ordinance but he felt the developer should preserve existing views as much as possible. He thought not having street treeskwould be acceptable to that end. He indicated he would like to see some sort of Route 66 mural or other historic feature included on the high retaining wall along the south property line. Commissioner Mannerino liked the home design and recognized that an avant-garde engineering solution is necessary for grading of the site (geo-grid). Chairman McNiel said that the high Loffelstein walls can be obscured with vine planting. He indicated he is in favor of the project. He agreed with Commissioner Mannerino that the developer should give due consideration to view preservation even though the City does not have a view preservation ordinance . He suggested clustering of street trees. He was not in favor of using the high retaining wall along the south property line for Route 66 features. He thought the project appears workable and he supported going forward with it. He concluded by stating that the overall quality of the project should reflect the eventual home prices the developer will be able to charge. Brad Buller, City Planner, summarized the Commission's concerns and comments that the project appears to be viable and the site constraints necessitate a unique style of grading and landscaping to make the lots developable. PUBLIC COMMENTS Chuck Buquet, neighbor on the north side of Camino Predera was present. He indicated that he • looks forward to implementation of the project, and thought it will rid the neighborhood of an attractive nuisance. He felt the project is an opportunity for a high quality development. ADJOURNMENT The Planning Commission adjourned at 8:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Ire Br. : : ler W Secretary t PC Adjourned Minutes -2- February 23, 2000