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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995/08/23 - Workshop Minutes - PC-HPCCITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Adjourned Meeting August 23, 1995 Chairman Barker called the Adjourned Meeting of the City of Rancho Cucamonga Planning Commission to order at 5:10 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: David Barker, Heinz Lumpp, Larry McNiel, John Melcher, Peter Tolstoy ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Laura Bonaccorsi, Landscape Designer; Brad Buller, City Planner; Nancy Fong, Senior Planner; Steve Hayes, Associate Planner; Larry Henderson, Principal Planner; Betty Miller, Associate Engineer; Alan Warren, Associate Planner APPLICANT/DEVELOPER: Greg Hoxworth and Robert McLendon - Lewis Development Co.; Mark. Schenouda - Greenberg Farrow Architects , , , , , ANNOUNCEMENTS There were no announcements. OLD BUSINESS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 95-11 - LEWIS DEVELOPMENT CO. - The proposed development of an integrated shopping center totaling 495,736 square feet on 47.33 acres of land with proposed phase one consisting of a 132,065 square foot Home Depot home improvement center in the Mixed Use (Commercial, Office, Residential) District of the Terra Vista Community Plan, located at the northwest corner of Foothill Boulevard and Rochester Avenue - APN: 227-151-18 and 24. Steve Hayes, Associate Planner, opened the meeting by explaining the purpose of the workshop and briefly highlighting the issues for Commission consideration at the workshop. Greg Hoxworth, Lewis Development Company, noted the modifications that had been made to the plans since the previous Planning Commission Workshop incorporating all requested modifications to the overall Master Plan, the circulation in front of the Home Depot, and the screening of the truck off-loading area and drive aisle behind the Home Depot. Mark Schenouda, Greenberg Farrow Architects, embellished further on the modifications made to the vehicular circulation in front of the Home Depot. Commissioner Tolstoy asked if the requested sight line study had been prepared for this meeting. Mr. Hoxworth responded that the exhibit will be prepared for the September 13 Planning Commission meeting. Commissioner Melcher noted that this was the only place where a commercial center would be located directly adjacent to residential development. Commissioner Tolstoy asked the other Commissioners if the radius curve in the drive aisle was enough to achieve its intent. Commissioner Melcher felt the curve will work fine as proposed. The rest of the Commissioners concurred. With regard to the vehicular intersection north of Pad C, Commissioner Melcher felt the revised design works better than what was previously proposed. Mr. McLendon hoped that Caltrans would allow for traffic to exit onto Foothill Boulevard, east of Pad C, making this a regular intersection. Mr. Hoxworth presented the revised plan of the Rochester Avenue entrance. Commissioner Tolstoy asked why four lanes of traffic could not extend into the Home Depot parking area beyond the intersection with the main driveway throat. Mr. Hoxworth responded that the development team felt this would be overkill in this situation. Commissioner McNiel felt the revisions to the Rochester Avenue vehicular entrance were acceptable. Commissioner Melcher noted that the stop for traffic turning right was preferred because it would make it easier for people to leave the site. Mr. Buller suggested that the right-turn lane could be rounded off from the south drive aisle to further demarcate the main vehicular exiting pattern to Rochester Avenue. The Commissioners felt it would be best to leave the proposal as is. Commissioner McNiel noted that any traffic painting should not be applied directly to the special paving surfaces and that a textured material should be used to denote directional markings. Commissioner Lumpp suggested that the stop sign be moved further south to allow people more room to make their decision on leaving the site. Mr. Hoxworth highlighted the revisions to the screening concept along Poplar Drive. He compared this project to Terra Vista Village where a low screen wall and landscaping were used to screen the truck loading area and driveway from view of the perimeter streets and residences in the vicinity . He also noted that the sidewalk along Poplar Drive was now proposed to be curb adjacent to allow for additional room to berm and landscape the area between the street and the loading area and driveway. PC Adjourned Minutes -2- August 23, 1995 Mr. Buller clarified that only walls were being used at Terra Vista Village because the landscaping has not matured as expected. He said the walls are required for screening because landscaping is not allowed to mature naturally. He posed the question of allowing curb adjacent sidewalk, which would be a departure from current Commission policy in this situation. Commissioner McNiel asked if it would be possible to meander and limit the areas of curb adjacent sidewalk to the worst case situations. He asked the developer if there would be a security problem without a wall in this area. Mr. Hoxworth responded that no security problems would be expected because Home Depot typically will not leave any goods out overnight in the loading area. He felt a continuous solid wall may cause more concerns with security because of the limited visibility. Commissioner McNiel noted his concern with a 14-foot high screen wall abruptly ending. He felt some element (berming, steps in the wall, etc.) should be incorporated into the design of this area. Commissioner Lumpp asked if a change to the Terra Vista Community Plan will be needed to include standards or sections for a'curb adjacent sidewalk. Mr. Hoxworth stated that the area will be set up to encourage pedestrians to use to trail on the north side of Poplar Drive and cross Poplar Drive at Rochester Avenue. Chairman Barker requested that it be clarified that no wall will be located on top of the berm along Poplar Drive. Mr. Hoxworth responded affirmatively. Commissioner Lumpp expressed his concern that eastbound traffic on Poplar Drive will be able to see into the loading/unloading zone. Commissioner McNiel suggested that a low wall to "feather" down from the high screen wall be provided in addition to the landscaping to aid in screening this area from view of Poplar Drive. Commissioner Melcher felt that the existing screening at Terra Vista Village was not satisfactory and that the landscaping provided should have been allowed to mature better to provide the screen that was originally intended for this area. Commissioner Tolstoy agreed with Commissioner Melcher that the screening should be upgraded as opposed to what was done at Terra Vista Village. Commissioner McNiel suggested that a 3-foot high wall could be incorporated to connect the screen wall to the transformer enclosure to give a more finished look to the wall. Chairman Barker expressed his concern with the atmosphere created by having a curb adjacent sidewalk along Poplar Drive. Mr. Buller suggested that the sidewalk could be pulled back away from the curb wherever possible along Poplar Drive. Commissioner Lumpp felt that the berm behind the sidewalk should be higher than 3 feet above the curb face to provide adequate screening to supplement the screen wall and landscaping. PC Adjourned Minutes -3- August 23, 1995 Commissioner McNiel suggested staggering the wall for a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. Commissioner Melcher felt that a curb adjacent sidewalk would be a mistake and that the problem of needing additional depth to solve the screening situation should not have to occur by using some of the public right-of-way as bermed area. He recommended that a 4-foot high wall with landscaping in front of the wall be used for screening along Poplar Drive. The consensus of the Planning Commission was to use curb adjacent sidewalk along Poplar Drive only where necessary in order to minimize the areas where it is to be used. Commissioner McNiel asked that the development team pay careful attention to using the same plant palette with the Phase One development of the Home Depot and the balance of the shopping center in the future. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments at this time. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Brad Buller Secretary PC Adjourned Minutes -4- August 23, 1995