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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1955/05/31 - Workshop Minutes - PC-HPCCITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Adjourned Workshop May 31, 1995 Chairman Barker called the Adjourned Meeting of the City of Rancho Cucamonga Planning Commission to order at 4:30 p.m. The meeting was held in the Rains Room at the Rancho Cucamonga Civic Center, 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California. ROLL CAL~ COMMISSIONERS: PRESENT: Dave Barker, Heinz Lumpp, Larry McNiel, Peter Tolstoy ABSENT: John Melcher STAFF PRESENT: Brad Buller, City Planner; Dan Coleman, Principal Planner; Nancy Fong, Senior Planner; Steve Hayes, Associate Planner; Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer; Betty Miller, Associate Engineer APPLICANT/DEVELOPER: Gary Luque, Greg Hoxworth, and Robert McLendon - Lewis Development Company; Mike Lasley - Private Consultant for Lewis Homes; Miller Archuleta and Greg Mendoza - Feola, Carli & Archuleta Architects; Mark Schenouda and Vasanthi Ramahthan - Greenberg Farrow Architects; Mark Bertone - Madole & Associates; Jill Sweeney - Land Concern. OLD BUSINESS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 95-11 - WESTERN LAND PROPERTIES - The proposed development of an integrated shopping center totaling 491,324 square feet on 47.33 acres of land with proposed phase one development consisting of a 136,953 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. Related Files: Terra Vista Community Plan Amendment 95-01 and General Plan Amendment 95-01B. Brad Buller, City Planner, summarized the issues raised at the May 10, 1995, workshop and the purpose of today's workshop. Robert McLendon, Lewis Development Company, highlighted the revisions to the master site plan. Greg Mendoza, Feola, Carli & Archuleta Architects, explained the specific changes made to the architecture and site plan in response to the previous workshop. The specific issues highlighted were: 1) change in the truck access for Home Depot; 2) moving Staples northward; 3) the new north/south drive aisle west of the Home Depot parking area; 4) the addition of the service station; 5) lining up the handicapped parking with the main storefront entrances; 6) moving the curb cut north on Orchard; and 7) the moving of Major One south to give more curve to the main drive aisle. Commissioner McNiel asked if the setback along the rear property line was the same as the original proposal. Greg Mendoza, Feola, Carli & Archuleta Architects, responded that this setback had not changed. Commissioner McNiel inquired as to how many large trucks per day would be dropping off building materials. Mark Schenouda, Greenberg Farrow Architects, stated that five trucks per day could be expected. Mike Lasfey, Consultant, highlighted where the screen wall is pulled back from the street and extended in distance on the new site plan. He noted that the screen wall will give an appearance of being approximately 10 feet high from the perimeter streets. Commissioner Lumpp questioned if the screen wall would be long enough. Commissioner McNiel asked if Poplar Avenue would be signalized. Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer, replied that Rochester and Poplar Avenues will not be signalized. Commissioner Lumpp requested an explanation for the theory of screening the off- loading area from Poplar Avenue. Jill Sweeney, Land Concern, explained how the proposed hierarchy of trees and shrubs would screen this area. Mr. Buller pointed out to the commission that there may be a concern with the screening of the off-loading area west of the transformer. He felt that additional cross-sections should be provided to depict the proposed screening in this area. Mr. Lasley noted that a screen wall could be added on top of the proposed retaining wall and that additional landscaping could be used to provide better screening. Chairman Barker was concerned with the potential impact of the rear of the buildings on the future residential projects north of the commercial site. Commissioner McNiel agreed with Chairman Barker and added that the rear elevations should still be upgraded, as well as the landscape concept. Chairman Barker reiterated that he is especially sensitive to this concern in this area given the close proximity of the residential areas. Mr. Lasley noted that the screen wall will be 2 feet higher than the loading doors on the north side of the building. Commissioner McNiel added that the east elevation still may need some additional architectural enhancements. Ms. Sweeney explained the changes made since the first workshop on the Rochester trail system. PC Adjourned Minutes -2- May 31, 1995 Mr. Mendoza presented the changes made to the front of the Home Depot including a change in the columns to match the rest of the center, the addition of a wood trellis, and the upgraded design of the lumber pick-up area structure that matches the rest of the center. Mr. Buller asked how close the pop-out on the building comes to the curb. Mr. Mendoza responded 12 to 13 feet and highlighted for the Commission how the pedestrian walkway would work in this area. Chairman Barker asked the architect to look into modifying the pop-out on the front elevation to be less obtrusive to the pedestrian walkway system. Mr. Mendoza highlighted the modifications made to the pick-up canopy area. Chairman Barker reiterated his earlier concern of how, even with the changes made to the circulation around the pick-up canopy, motorists will disperse in the parking lot directly south of the Home Depot. Commissioner Lumpp liked the parking lot layout in this area and how it forces people to scatter as opposed to denoting drive aisles of major vehicular activity. He expressed the need for the applicant to hold a neighborhood meeting soon in case the neighborhood has different ideas about the project. He felt that the cornices were designed too close together, but that the building should not be raised as a potential solution. Chairman Barker expressed his dislike for the striping in front of the Home Depot and recommended that special paving be used as a potential solution to denote the loading area. Commissioner McNiel felt that a traffic control system should be devised to help internal circulation flow better. Commissioner Tolstoy asked if any flat cart storage is planned to be provided in the Home Depot parking area. This issue was discussed and it was determined that this may not be a good idea given the Home Depot's employee policy on cart returns and that human nature does not lend itself toward using the return areas. Commissioner Lumpp suggested that one large area for cart returns may be the best alternative. Commissioner McNiel referenced the situation at Target where the cart storage is concealed by architectural additions to the building. Commissioner Lumpp indicated his support now to be able to provide a better pedestrian connection between Home Depot and Staples. Mr. Buller asked the applicant to provide a plan that shows how the plaza area in front of Home Depot and Staples works. Mr. Lasley talked about the proposed sign program and specifically the signage size for Home Depot. PC Adjourned Minutes 3 May 31, 1995 Commissioner McNiel recommended that the sign size be reduced and that several alternatives be provided so that the sign is in proper proportion with the building facade. Two sign alternatives were presented to the Commission, one with 60-inch internally illuminated orange letters and the other with 72-inch letters. Commissioner McNiel asked the architect to make sure that the pick-up canopy treatment used on the exterior side of the element is carried around to the undersides of the element as well. He also felt that the pop-out area on the front side of the Home Depot was an afterthought and that it should be eliminated or moved to'a location that does not interfere with pedestrian circulation. He expressed his concerns with the length of the flat parapet and the minimal depth of the entry element. He noted that some columns should be used at logical termination points to enhance the appearance of the building. Chairman Barker asked for an explanation of the service station area. Mr. Mendoza explained the internal circulation patterns and the functions of the service station. Chairman Barker felt something should be done to provide better balance and symmetry at the main entrance. Mr. Lasley suggested that Pad E could be rotated to be on an angle to match the service station building and harmonize the theme through landscaping. Mr. Buller mentioned that the spacing and patterning of the Crape Myrtle trees could be tightened up on the project site and pavement patterns similar to those used across Foothill Boulevard could be used to integrate the activity center better with the Masi project on the opposite side of Foothill Boulevard. He noted that the special paving treatment should be extended to the first project driveway to match the Masi project. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned 6:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Brad Buller Secretary PC Adjourned Minutes -4- May 31, 1995