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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994/11/09 - Minutes - PC-HPCCITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting November 9, 1994 Chairman Barker called the Regular Meeting of the City of Rancho Cucamonga Planning Commission to order at 7:25 p.m. The meeting was held in the Council Chamber at Rancho Cucamonga Civic Center, 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California. ROT.T, C~T.T. COMMISSIONERS: PRESENT: David Barker, Peter Tolstoy, John Melcher, Heinz Lumpp ABSENT: Larry McNiel STAFF PRESENT: Brad Bullet, City Planner; Dan Coleman, Principal Planner; Nancy Fong, Senior Planner; Ralph Hanson, Deputy Attorney; Steve Hayes, Associate Planner; Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer; Gall Sanchez, Planning Commission Secretary , , , , , ~NNOUNC~M~NTS Brad Buller, City Planner, announced that the Founders Day Parade was scheduled for November 12. Mr. Bullet announced that conditional use permits were approved at the City Planner hearing on November 8 to allow establishment of Platt College and expansion of an existing church in Tetra Vista. , , , , APPROV~T. OF MINUTES Motion: Moved by Melcher, seconded by Tolstoy, carried 4-0-1 with McNiel absent, to adopt the minutes of October 12, 1994. , , , , CONSF. NT C~T.F. ND~R A. P~.SOv.UTION FOR PF. GION~T. COMPR~,HF. NSIV~. PT.AN Be D~SIGN R~VI~W FOR TRACT 13753 - T.mWIS - The design review of building elevations and detailed site plan for 91 lots within a previously recorded tract map consisting of 129 lots on 25.29 acres within the Victoria Planned Community in the Low-Medium Residential District (4-8 dwelling units per acre), located west of Kenyon Way, north of Ellena West, and south of the Southern Pacific Railroad - APN: 227-671-01 through 36 and 227-681-01 through 05 and 38 through 87. Commissioner Lumpp requested that Item A be pulled. Brad Buller, City Planner, commented that a proposal for a revised resolution was in front of each Commissioner, adding the wording that the Regional Comprehensive Plan was opposed in its current form. Chairman Barker did not feel the resolution reflected the strength of the Com~ission's feelings. Commissioner Lumpp suggested adding language that the current title mandates implementation of all provisions and chapters, which is inconsistent with the overall intent of the RCP, based on SCAG policy, and that some chapters are inconsistent with each other causing an unclear, subjective interpretation that is inconsistent with the overall intent of the report. He felt the resolution should state that the resolution should be sent to all members of SCAG Planning Co~nittee and all members of SCAG. He reported the SCAG Planning Committee had met and the idea of changing the wording from Comprehensive Plan to Comprehensive Report failed by a vote of 9 to 8. He said the next step is that the Plan goes to the Regional Council next month, at which time the City would have an opportunity to again lobby to make that change. Chairman Barker observed that during the presentation to the Commission at the October 26 meeting, BIA Representative Frank Willlame and Mayor Pro Tem Buquet made statements that, in their opinion, the plan would create a regional government which would have a major negative impact on local control and that people far from the problems, who have not been elected or even appointed by locally elected representatives, would become decision makers in this regional government. He said both had expressed concerns about this additional layer of non-representational government. He thought such strong statements were not reflected in the resolution. He questioned if the Commission could assign a committee to prepare the resolution and forward the resolution without the total Commission's reviewing the final language. Ralph Hanson, Deputy City Attorney, stated that would be acceptable. Commissioner Tolstoy felt the resolution must be forwarded quickly to the City Council and he suggested that Chairman Barker and Commissioner Lumpp form that committee. He agreed with the suggestions made this evening and he felt the Chairman should be authorized to sign and forward the resolution. Commissioner Melcher felt that because there would be two new Council Members, it would be an appropriate courtesy to delay the resolution until the new Council is seated. He said he was also unhappy that the Commission had not given the proponents of the Plan an opportunity to speak at the October 26 Planning Commission meeting. He felt the revised language suggested by staff was unclear and the resolution should be addressed to someone. Chairman Barker recalled that the intent was to address the resolution to the City Council as only they can take an action on behalf of the City. He said the intent was to indicate the concerns of the Commission. He did not feel the Planning Commission could set itself up to review the plan and invite SCAG to argue the merits of the plan to the Planning Commission. Commissioner Melcher agreed the concern is valid. Chairman Barker felt that the Planning Commission has not changed and those concerns were from the Commission. He did not feel the seating of a new City Council should affect the resolution. Planning Commission Minutes 2 Nove~d~er 9, 1994 Commissioner Tolstoy felt the resolution should be forwarded as soon as possible rather than putting it off until the new Council is seated. Mr. Buller commented that the Con~nunity Development Director had placed the ~tem on the City Council agenda for November 16. He said the Ccxmnission could reflect their views to the Council via resolution or memorandum. He recommended that staff be given an opportunity to work with a committee so that it could be forwarded to the City Council before their November 16 meeting. Chairman Barker stated he did not care if the format is a resolution or a memorandum, but he felt it is important to alert the City Council to the Commission's concerns. He hoped that would motivate the new City Council to study the issue. Co~wnissioner Lumpp cormnented that the Planning Commission is an advisory body to the City Council. He felt either a resolution or memorandum would be satisfactory. Commissioner Tolstoy agreed. Commissioner Melcher requested that he be afforded an opportunity to see the document before it is forwarded to the City Council. Chairman Barker said it could be faxed to Commissioner Melcher. He appointed Co~wnissioner Lumpp and himself as a committee to work with staff on the wording and format. , , , , B. D~SIGN ~VI~W FOR TRACT 13753 - T.~WIS Motion: Moved by Lumpp, seconded by Tolstoy, carried 4-0-1 with McNiel absent, to adopt the resolution approving Design Review for Tract 13753. , , , , PUBT.IC HF.~RINGS C. ~NVIRONM~.NT~v. A~S~SSM~NT AND V~.STING T~NTATIV~ TRACT 15477 - MATR~Y~K - A residential subdivision for condominium purposes and design review for the development of 153 detached condominium units on 20.15 acres of land in the Medium and Medium High Residential Districts (8-14 and 14-24 dwelling units per acre, respectively), located at the northeast corner of Base Line Road and Milliken Avenue - APN: 227-691-01. D. V~RI~NC~ 94-05 - MATB~Y~K HO~S - A request to reduce the required minimum building separation from 15 feet to 8 feet and to increase the distance for the closest visitor parking space from a dwelling unit from a maximum of 150 feet to 240 feet for a proposed 153-unit detached condominium project on 20.15 acres of land in the Medium and Medium High Residential DiStricts (8-14 and 14-24 dwelling units per acre, respectively), located at the northeast corner of Base Line Road and Milliken Avenue - APN: 227-691-01. Steve Hayes, Associate Planner, presented the staff report. Chairman Barker opened the public hearing. Planning Commission Minutes 3 November 9, 1994 Steve McCormick, project architect, 4611 Teller, Hewport Beach, gave a brief overview of the project. He said their intent is to emphasize pedestrian traffic and de-emphasize automobiles. He stated there is an area which appears to be open space as one enters the project from the main entry on Milliken Avenue and there is a perimeter road within the project which provides a buffer from the rest of the community and also provides a contiguous greenbelt system which allows pedestrians to walk throughout the project without crossing a street. He noted they are utilizing a zero-lot line concept which he felt is an advantage in terms of privacy and private usable yards. He agreed to the proposed conditions. Hearing no further testimony, Chairman Barker closed the public hearing. Commissioner Melcher observed that the staff report indicates the applicant is providing 43 visitor parking spaces over the required amount. He commented that if the same parking ratio were applied as was recently applied to the project in North Town, this project would require 4 more spaces than are proposed. He said that in the North Town project, great effort was made to design the covered parking spaces so they could only be used for that purpose. He noted that in this project, there is no such provision to ensure such use. He stated that he currently lives in a conmnunity with private streets and houses with essentially no driveways, which results in a serious shortage of parking because residents use the garages for other purposes and utilize the visitor parking for their own vehicles. He was concerned that the project will be underparked even though it meets the ordinance. He felt the perimeter road should be widened to allow parking along its entire length so that enough parking could be provided. He understood that such a change could reduce the number of units but felt it would make abettar project. He understood that the landscaping along Millikan Avenue meets the requirements of the Victoria Plan, but he was concerned that the amount of landscaping would be vastly different in appearance from further north on Milliken on the other side of the railroad tracks because of the different grading conditions. He felt the landscaping will appear very minimal. Commissioner Melcher thought the staff report did not cite sufficient findings in order to grant a variance and he did not feel there is sufficient justification to grant the variance. He commented that he had received a telephone call from another developer who had participated in the discussions when the multi-family development standards were revised several years ago, and the other developer expressed concern about the diminution of the 15-foot separation requirement because he felt the development community had acted in good faith at arriving at that requirement. Commissioner Lumpp agreed with the concept that perhaps the parking should be increased. He said the Design Review Co~nittee had explored providing additional parking along the perimeter streets, but he visualized seeing a massive number of cars along the perimeter of the project, which he felt would not be aesthetically pleasing. He also felt that would encourage residents to use their garages for reasons other than parking their vehicles. He thought the issue was aesthetic rather than a possible reduction in the number of units. He agreed the staff report did not list substantive answers as to why the findings for the variance were being made. However, he felt the main reasons are in the body of the staff report and the findings could be made to support the variance because the project is so different from what is intended under the multi-family zone. Commissioner Tolstoy felt a variance was appropriate because of the uniqueness of the project. He suggested the CC&Rs be written in such a way that the garages are to be used as garages. Planning Conmnission Minutes 4 November 9, 1994 Ralph Hanson, Deputy City Attorney, stated that CC&Rs typically state that resident vehicles shall be parked in the garages and not in the common parking areas. Commissioner Tolstoy said he would feel more comfortable if such a provision were incorporated in the CC&Rs. Mr. Hanson stated that could be done, but said it wouldbe difficult for the City to enforce the CC&Rs. He said the project could be so conditioned and his staff would be sure such a provision is included when reviewing the CC&Rs. He suggested that the Homeowners' Association could perhaps have a permitting process for homeowners' to park outside their garage. Commissioner Melcher stated the Association would have one set of goals in permitting vehicles to be parked outside the garages, but emergency vehicles could then be obstructed from using driveways by granting permits to park in driveways. Dan Coleman, Principal Planner, felt the loop road will be posted no parking. Commissioner Melcher noted that the streets will be private and parking regulations would likely not be enforced. He said the Fire Department will not even come out when called on parking violations on private streets. Mr. Hanson thought private streets on such a loop system would be designated a fire lane. Mr. Coleman said the Fire Department had worked with another project which had single family detached ho~es on private streets with no driveway parking and the streets were posted as fire lanes enpowering the Fire District to enforce the no parking. Co~nissioner Tolstoy did not feel vehicles should be parked along the perimeter of the project because he felt the absence of vehicles along the perimeter is part of the uniqueness of the project. Chairman Barker asked the other Cou~nissioners to address the issue of landscaping that Commissioner Melcher had discussed. Commissioner Tolstoy recalled that the grade north of the tracks is far different fr~n the grade adjacent to this project. He therefore thought there would be no ability to have the same type of landscaping. Me felt the proposed landscaping is appropriate. Commissioner Lumpp felt the design changes are physically different because of the grade changes. Me said the units on the north side of the tracks are just beyond the walls at the top of the slope. He noted that this project will have a curb, sidewalk, landscaping, wall, landscaping, and then a street, which gives a larger setback from the project on the north side of the tracks. He thought the landscaping depth is sufficient as proposed and staff could work on the density of landscaping. Me was comfortable that the project is consistent with the Victoria Plan and would be compatible with that which is north of the railroad tracks. Couwnissioner Tolstoy felt it will be more co~petible with what will go across the street in the park. Planning Co~nission Minutes 5 November 9, 1994 Brad Bullet, City Planner, stated the applicant had indicated an intention to maximize the landscaping along the street frontage. He said the project could be conditioned regarding landscaping quantity and size. Commissioner Melcher stated that Commissioner Lumpp's comments regarding treatment of the Milliken setback and landscaping were persuasive and said he was no longer concerned about that issue. Mr. Hayes remarked that the standard conditions call for a minimum of 45 trees per gross acre with 10 percent being 36-inch box size and 10 percent being 24-inch or larger. Commissioner Lumpp noted that the landscaping north of the project is already mature. He asked if there will be a Homeowners' Association for the project. Chairman Barker reopened the public hearing. Mr. McCormick indicated there will be one. Chairman Barker again closed the public hearing. Commissioner Lumpp recommended that an architectural design package be developed prior to construction of the homes to deal with patio covers and extension of walls. Motion: Moved by Tolstoy, seconded by Lumpp, to issue a negative declaration and approve the resolutions approving Vesting Tentative Tract 15477, the Design Review thereof, and Variance 94-05 with modifications to require the Homeowners' Association to submit standard fence plans for City approval and to require that the CC&Rs include provisions to encourage overnight parking of occupants' vehicles in garages rather than common parking areas. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES= COMMISSIONERS: NOES: MELCHER ABSENT: MCNIEL BARKER, LUMPP, TOLSTOY - carried Commissioner Melcher said the project is very nicely conceived, has lovely architecture, and a nice site plan because pedestrian and vehicular circulation can be separated. Me thought however it is substandard single family housing. He expressed concerns that appropriate findings had not been made to grant a variance. , , , , , W Or.n BUSINR. SS Ee MINOR Dw~FR.T~PM~.NT R~VIRW 94-11 - RRRTINO - An appeal of the City Planner's conditions of approval requiring a 25-foot setback on Eighth Street, dedication of right-of-way for the entry monument, relocation of' the driveway access, and undergrounding of utilities serving the site as related to a 770 square foot addition to an existing automotive repair shop in the General Industrial District (Subarea 1) of the Industrial Area Specific Plan, located on the northwest corner of Vineyard Avenue and Eighth Street - APN: 207-271-33. (Continued from October 12, 1994) Planning Commission Minutes November 9, 1994 Brad Buller, City Planner remarked that at the October 12 meeting, the Planning Co~nission had directed staff to work with the applicant. He believed the City and the applicant had reached consensus on the project which had been modified and there was now no apparent need for the Commission to act on the matter because of that consensus. He suggested that the Commission show by minute action that the agreement is acceptable and direct the City Planner to approve the application. Chairman Barker asked if the applicant was satisfied with the compromise. Charles Bertino, 11047 Furman Court, Rancho Cucamonga, stated he is. Commissioner Eumpp asked if there will be a requirement for landscaping along Vineyard Avenue. Mr. Bullet replied that Exhibit B in the staff report depicts the project and there is no requirement for landscaping along Vineyard Avenue. Motion: Moved by Lumpp, seconded by Melcher to direct the City Planner to approve the project. Motion carried by the following vote= AYES= COMMISSIONERS: NOES: NONE ABSENT: MCNIEL BARKER, LUMPP, MELCHER, TOLSTOY - carried , , , , PUBT.IC COMMENTS There were no public comments at this time. , , , , , , COMMISSION BUSINESS Commissioner Melcher suggested that the Planning Commission invite the new City Council to a get-acquainted meeting to introduce the Council to some of the Commission's concerns regarding planning. Chairman Barker thought that the City Manager and staff would be setting up meetings with the new members of the City Council to introduce them to the background on issues, etc. He agreed with Commissioner Melcher but felt the Commission should wait for a short period of time so that the Council Members would not feel overwhelmed. He suggested a tour of the City would be appropriate as well. Commissioner Malcher agreed that a tour would be an excellent idea. He observed that the momentum of what has gone on before in the City has carried the City forward to how development is now turning out, but he felt that City is not now planning for the future and he feared development is going tO start going downhill. Chairman Barker agreed. He suggested the tour would be a good place to start. Co~nissioner Tolstoy agreed that a tour is an extremely good idea but he felt the Commission should meet with the Council after the tour to discuss some things that had been seen. Planning Commission Minutes 7 November 9, 1994 Brad Bullet, City Planner, confirmed that the City Manager was in the process of scheduling an orientation for the new Council Member. He said the Planning Department has historically offered an orientation from the Planning perspective. He co~,nented he had already spoken with Mr. Curatalo to indicate that documents had been assembled for his use. He felt it was an excellent idea and suggested that the Chairman could speak to the Mayor or staff could approach the Council and suggest a joint workshop. Commissioner Tolstoy felt both a tour and a joint workshop would be valuable. , , , , , Brad Bullet, City Planner, commented that the Best Buy store would officially open on Friday, November 11 at noon. , , , , AnJOURNM~NT Motion: Moved by Melcher, seconded by Lumpp, carried 4-0-1 with McNiel absent, to adjourn. 8:29 p.m. - The Planning Co~nission adjourned to a workshop immediately following in the DeAnza Room regarding Modification to Conditional Use Permit 93-49 and Development Review 94-19. The workshop adjourned at 10:50 p.m. and the minutes appear separately. Respectfully submitted, Secretary Planning Coawaission Minutes 8 November 9, 1994