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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995/06/28 - Minutes - PC-HPCCITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting June 28, 1995 Chairman Barker 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 Barker then led in the pledge of allegiance. ROLL CALT. COMMISSIONERS: PRESENT: David Barker, Heinz Lumpp, Larry McNiel, John Melcher ABSENT: Peter Tolstoy STAFF PRESENT: Dan Coleman, Principal Planner; Nancy Fong, Senior Planner; Ralph Hanson, Deputy City Attorney; Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer; Scott Murphy, Associate Planner; Gall Sanchez, Planning Commission Secretary ANNOUNCEMENTS Commissioner Melcher announced that, on behalf of Principal Planner Dan Coleman, he had accepted an award from the Inland Empire Section of the American Planning Association (APA) for journalism contributions to the organization's newsletter. He presented the plaque to Mr. Coleman. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: Moved by McNiel, seconded by Lumpp, carried 4-0-1 with Tolstoy absent, to approve the minutes of June 14, 1995. PUBLIC HRARINGS ENVIRONMRNT~I. ASSRSSMRNT AND CONDITIONAL USR P~RMIT 95-01 - FRNT - A request to construct an 8,166 square foot day care facility within an existing shopping center in the Neighborhood Commercial designation, located on the east side of Haven Avenue, north of Highland Avenue APN: 201-271-92. Scott Murphy, Associate Planner, presented the staff report. He commented that it was his understanding that the Design Review Committee's intention had been that the sidewalk should be under the trellis on the west elevation. He noted that the site plan shows post locations on the building side of the sidewalk, meaning that the trellis would not extend over the sidewalk. He suggested the Commission could add a condition that the trellis extend over the sidewalk to create a colonnade. Commissioner Melcher asked how wide the trellis would be if it only went to the back of the sidewalk. Mr. Murphy replied that it would be approximately 5 to 6 feet. Commissioner Melcher asked if it will be attached to the building. Mr. Murphy replied affirmatively. Commissioner Melcher noted the amount of space between the building and the sidewalk will vary because the sidewalk curves. He asked if the trellis will be straight. Mr. Murphy responded that the trellis is straight. He noted that the building wall itself pushes back at the center of the building but the fascia remains consistent all the way across the building. He estimated there would probably be approximately 12 to 13 feet of landscaping between the building and the sidewalk at that point. Chairman Barker opened the public hearing. Jim Kent, Kindercare Learning Centers, 23832 Rockfield Boulevard, Suite 225, Lake Forest, stated they matched elements to the balance of the shopping center. Commissioner Lumpp asked if the applicant was aware of Engineering Conditions No. 3 and 4 regarding installation of street improvements and payment of a non-refundable deposit for the estimated cost of operating the new street lights for a 6-month period. Mr. Kent said he had looked at the conditions, but he thought Haven was fully improved when the original center was built. Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer, stated the site had gone through Design Review in 1989 and a similar condition had been placed on that project. He said the applicant appealed to the City Council at that time regarding undergrounding utilities and that condition was modified slightly but upheld and the condition has stayed with the site. Mr. Kent said it was something he would have to take up with the developer. Mr. James said the developer is aware of the condition. He thought the same condition had been placed upon the McDonald's site. He noted the intersection was completed and the developer posted bonds for the remainder of the area. He said there had been complications with Caltrans' processing, but a bond was posted so that McDonald's could be granted occupancy. He said the same condition has been imposed with each development remaining on the site. Mr. Kent said he would work it out with the developer. Hearing no further testimony, Chairman Barker closed the public hearing. Commissioner Lumpp said he was not dissatisfied with the modification of the architectural design, but he was somewhat disappointed the applicant had to revise the drawings and delay the project to this extent. He felt the project as originally recommended by the Design Review Committee was a good project. He thought the applicant had done a remarkable job in trying to comply with the direction of the Planning Commission and had submitted a design which is almost identical to the existing center. He supported the project. Planning Commission Minutes -2- June 28, 1995 Commissioner McNiel agreed with Commissioner Lumpp. He noted the one significant remaining issue is the trellis and its relationship to the sidewalk and he suggested that the applicant and staff resolve that issue. Commissioner Melcher expressed appreciation foj the developer's affirmative response to the Commission's comments made at the April meeting. He thought this building is much more appropriate to the center. He questioned if there was a satisfactory resolution of the concerns previously raised regarding the mechanism of children arriving at and departing the school. Chairman Barker said it was his understanding that the school requires that an adult enter the building to sign each child in and out. He felt the safety factor has been addressed so long as that requirement is enforced. He said that if the City finds that requirement is being ignored, he would recommend that the Conditional Use Permit be modified to call for the permanent assignment of an outside proctor. Commissioner Melcher asked if it is a condition. Mr. Murphy replied that it was not a stated condition. Commissioner McNiel 'recalled it to be a stated policy of Kindercare. Chairman Barker suggested it be added to the resolution. Commissioner Melcher thought staff had probably considered his other two concerns but stated he would like to mention those concerns. He noted the site is immediately adjacent to future Route 30 and he thought it will be subject to an unusual amount of noise in the play area. He also asked if the air quality would be worse because the location will be immediately adjacent to the freeway. Mr. Murphy stated that a noise study had been conducted for the site and it identified a worst case scenario of noise contours of 65 CNEL (the maximum standard used for residential areas) away from the building. He noted that it was estimated that the play area would have a maximum of 60 CNEL. He said the Code requires that interior noise levels be below 45 CNEL through construction techniques and the acoustical engineer felt comfortable that could be met. He said his information indicates there will be a higher concentration of pollutants from McDonald's than from the freeway because of cars' idling at the drive-thru lane. He noted there will be pollutants from sheer volume and that information is not available at this time. Commissioner McNiel noted the freeway is proposed to be depressed with a sound wall atop the berm. Mr. Murphy interjected that when the noise study was prepared, the freeway profile was not known, and the figures he had cited were the worst case scenario of an elevated freeway. He stated that the impacts will be less if the freeway is depressed. Chairman Barker thanked the applicant for addressing the Commission's previous comments. He suggested that language be added to the Resolution to indicate that students shall be signed in and out by an adult with the understanding that if that does not take place and safety appears to be a factor, the Planning Commission would reconsider the Conditional Use Permit to address that issue. Motion: Moved by Melcher, seconded by McNiel, to issue a Negative Declaration and adopt the resolution approving Conditional Use Permit 95-01 with Planning Commission Minutes -3- June 28, 1995 modifications to include language indicating that the practice shall be that students must be signed in and out by an adult and that the trellis on the west side of the building be designed to extend over the sidewalk to the satisfaction of ?e City Planner. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: NOES: NONE ABSENT: TOLSTOY BARKER, LUMPP, MCNIEL, MELCHER - carried PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments at this time. COMMISSION BUSINESS Chairman Barker reported that he and Commissioner Lumpp attended a meeting with the consultant who is doing the Commercial Retail study and he had expressed concerns to the City Manager that there might be some possible overlapping with a study being done by the Redevelopment Agency (RDA) which has to do with the preparation of an Economic Development Analysis and Target Industries Study. He stated he would be reviewing the Scope of Work for the RDA study and he will be meeting with that consultant on July 6. He offered to share the Scope of Services with the Commissioners and asked that they advise him of any concerns they may have or any comments they would like him to share with the consultant. Commissioner Melcher expressed appreciation for Chairman Barker's efforts in allowing the Commission to review the Scope of Services. Commissioner Melcher stated that he would like the record to show that he was declining to meet with Wohl Investment Company because the City is involved in the Commercial Study and he did not want individual pressure placed on him for an early decision. Con~nissioner Melcher commented that when he accepted the APA award on behalf of Mr. Coleman, he took the opportunity to lament the condition of Planning throughout San Bernardino County by stating that he feels politicians in the various cities and at the county level are trashing planning as something that does not need to be done when money is tight. He said he greatly disagrees with that philosophy. He stated his fears were reinforced when he recently received a copy of a letter sent by the City Manager to the Plies Companies which appeared to assure approval of a proposed auto related use without properly looking at the possible planning ramifications. Chairman Barker said that while an "end run" attempt may have been made, that he had talked to the City Manager and it was his understanding that no deal had been cut on the potential project. Chairman Barker reported that he advised the City Manager that the Commission has interpreted statements made by Council Members at the Joint City Council/Planning Commission Workshops to be direction that the Commission should make its recommendations based on what the Commission believes Planning Commission Minutes -4- June 28, 1995 to be in the best interest of the City. He remarked that the City Manager has maintained open communications with him in the absence of the City Planner. Commissioner Melcher said he appreciated Chairman Barker's comments, but he thought the letter sounded as though it is a done deal. Chairman Barker said it was his understanding that it is not. He felt the Commission has been directed by the City Council to make its recommendations based on what it feels is best for the City and he hoped it continues to do just that. Chairman Barker and Commissioners McNiel and Lumpp indicated they were planning to attend the BHP Steel USA, Inc. tour on July 6. Mr. Coleman stated that Lewis Homes had indicated they expect to resubmit plans for Terra Vista Promenade and they would like to schedule a workshop. It was the consensus'of the Commission that the workshop be tentatively scheduled for July 26, 1995. Commissioner McNiel asked if the Fire Sprinkler Ordinance had been revised by City Council as yet. Mr. Coleman replied it had been discussed in concept, but had not yet been finalized. Commissioner McNiel suggested the Commission request a position paper on the matter. Mr. Coleman reported that the Council had already directed staff to prepare an ordinance modifying the regulations. Commissioner McNiel was not sure there would be a consensus on the Planning Commission to take an action, and stated that he would individually comment to the City Council. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Moved by Lumpp, seconded by McNiel, carried 4-0-1 with Tolstoy absent, to adjourn. 7:30 P.M. - The Planning Commission adjourned to 4:00 P.M. on July 6, 1995, for a tour of the BHP Steel USA, Inc. facility located at 11200 Arrow Route, Rancho Cucamonga. Respectfully submitted, Dan Coleman Acting Secretary Planning Commission Minutes -5- June 28, 1995