HomeMy WebLinkAbout19-61 - ResolutionRESOLUTION NO. 19-61
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING TIME EXTENSION
DRC2019-00428, A REQUEST TO ALLOW FOR A TWO (2) YEAR TIME
EXTENSION OF A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED MINOR EXCEPTION
(DRC2013-00941) RELATED TO A 13-UNIT CONDOMINIUM
DEVELOPMENT ON 2.17 ACRES OF LAND IN THE LOW MEDIUM (LM)
RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT (4 TO 8 DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE),
LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF ARCHIBALD AVENUE AND 150
FEET NORTH OF MONTE VISTA STREET; AND MAKING FINDINGS IN
SUPPORT THEREOF - APN: 0202-131-27. -61 AND -62.
A. Recitals
1. Golden Avenue Development, Inc. filed an application for a time extension to extend
the approval period of Minor Exception DRC2013-00941, as described in the title of this
Resolution. Hereinafter in this Resolution, the subject Minor Exception Time Extension request is
referred to as "the application."
2. On February 11, 2015, this Commission adopted Resolution No. 15-15, thereby
approving the application subject to specific conditions and time limits.
3. On October 23, 2019, the Planning Commission of the City of Rancho Cucamonga
conducted a noticed public hearing for the application and concluded said hearing on that date.
1. All legal prerequisites prior to the adoption of this Resolution have occurred.
B. Resolution
NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby found, determined, and resolved by the Planning
Commission of the City of Rancho Cucamonga as follows:
1. This Commission hereby specifically finds that all of the facts set forth in the Recitals,
Part A, of this Resolution are true and correct.
2. Based upon substantial evidence presented to this Commission during the above -
referenced public hearing on October 23, 2019, including written and oral staff reports, together
with public testimony, this Commission hereby specifically finds as follows:
a. The application applies to a 2.17-acre parcel of land located on the west side of
Archibald Avenue and 150 feet north of Monte Vista Street; and
b. The property is within the Low Medium (LM) Residential District (4 to 8 dwelling
units per acre). To the north and west is a mobile home park (Chaparral Heights) in the Low
Medium (LM) Residential District (4 to 8 dwelling units per acre); to the east is a single-family
development in the Low Medium (LM) Residential District (4 to 8 dwelling units per acre); and, to
the south is single-family development in the Medium (M) Residential District (8 to 14 dwelling
units per acre); and
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 19-61
TIME EXTENSION DRC2019-00428 (MINOR EXCEPTION DRC2013-00941)
GOLDEN AVENUE DEVELOPMENT, INC.
October 23, 2019
Page 2
C. Design Review DRC2013-00583 was approved on February 11, 2015, for the
design of the 13 detached units related to Tentative Tract Map SUBTT17444 and included a
related Minor Exception DRC2013-00941, to permit a wall above the height limit along Archibald
Avenue for noise attenuation purposes, Minor Exception DRC2014-00358, to permit walls above
the height limit due to onsite grades between lots, and Tree Removal Permit DRC2013-00942,
for the removal of up to 39 onsite trees; and
d. Time Extension DRC2019-00428 includes a request to extend the approval period
of Minor Exception DRC2013-00941 for two (2) additional years. The time extension is necessary
to allow time for the applicant to complete the final map process.
3. Based upon the substantial evidence presented to this Commission during the
above -referenced public hearing and upon the specific findings of facts set forth in Paragraphs
1 and 2 above, this Commission hereby finds and concludes as follows:
a. The Minor Exception remains consistent with the General Plan or any applicable
specific plan or Development Agreement. The proposed increase in wall height along the eastern
project boundary is necessary to comply with the General Plan Goal PS-13 to minimize the
impacts of excessive noise levels and General Plan Policy PS-1 3-3 to consider the use of noise
barriers or walls to reduce noise levels generated by ground transportation. The increased wall
height will reduce the onsite noise levels to be in compliance with City regulations.
b. The proposed development remains compatible with existing and proposed land
uses in the surrounding area. The proposed project is compatible with the surrounding land uses
in that the project site is within the Low Medium (LM) Residential District, which permits the
development of single and multi -family residences. Additionally, there is a residential development
to the north, south, and west of the project site and to the east across Archibald Avenue. Noise
attenuation walls over the permitted height limit occur throughout the City along major streets.
C. The proposed exception to the specific development standard(s) remains
necessary to allow creative design solutions compatible with the desires of the community and/or
to accommodate unique site conditions. The project is located along a major street which
increases the onsite noise levels in excess of City regulations. The increased wall height will
permit the project to comply with City noise attenuation requirements and provide a pleasing street
scene. The proposed wall will be constructed of decorative block and the area between the wall
and the public right-of-way will be landscaped to soften the appearance of the wall.
d. The granting of the Minor Exception will continue to not constitute a grant of
special privilege inconsistent with the limitations on other properties classified in the same district,
and will not be detrimental to public health, safety or welfare or materially injurious properties or
improvements in the vicinity. It is common practice to approve Minor Exceptions for wall height in
order to mitigate excessive noise levels for.projects adjacent to major streets. The increased wall
height will not negatively impact properties in the vicinity as the walls will be required to have a
decorative finish and landscaping will soften the appearance of the extra wall height.
4. Based upon the facts and information contained in the application, together with all
written and oral reports included for the environmental assessment for the application, the
Planning Commission finds that no subsequent or supplemental environmental document is
required pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in connection with the
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 19-61
TIME EXTENSION DRC2019-00428 (MINOR EXCEPTION DRC2013-00941)
GOLDEN AVENUE DEVELOPMENT, INC.
October 23, 2019
Page 3
review and approval of this application based upon the following findings and determinations
a. Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQK) and the City's
local CEQA Guidelines, the City adopted a Mitigated Negative Declaration on October 10, 2007,
in connection with the City's approval of Tentative Tract Map SUBTT17444. Pursuant to CEQA
Guidelines Section 15162, no subsequent or supplemental EIR or Negative Declaration is
required in connection with subsequent discretionary approvals of the same project unless: (i)
substantial changes are proposed to the project that would indicate new or more severe impacts
on the environment; (ii) substantial changes have occurred in the circumstances under which the
project was previously reviewed that indicate new or more severe environmental impacts; or (iii)
new important information shows the project will have new or more severe impacts than
previously considered; or (iv) additional mitigation measures are now feasible to reduce impacts
or different mitigation measures can be imposed to substantially reduce impacts.
b. The Planning Commission finds, in connection with Tentative Tract Map
SUBTT17444, that substantial changes to the project or the circumstances surrounding the
project have not occurred which would create new or more severe impacts than those evaluated
in the previous Mitigated Negative Declaration. A Biological Resources Surrey Report (Vincent
N. Scheidt; July 2019) was submitted as part of the time extension request. The report concludes
that no native habitat types occur onsite, and no federally listed species were observed or are
expected to occur on the project site due to lack of suitable native habitats, level of disturbance
that has occurred to the site, and development of surrounding lands. No direct or indirect impact
to federally listed species is anticipated from the project or the related Tentative Map Time
Extension. The report does find that the flood control channel that traverses the project site before
entering a City's storm drain system likely qualifies as waters of the United States.
The Biological Habitat Assessment Report (Eilar Associates; July 12, 2005) submitted as part of
the original environmental determination also concluded that the onsite drainage channel may be
classified as jurisdictional waters that would necessitate permits from Federal, State and regional
agencies. The original environmental determination did not include a mitigation measure requiring
consultation with the regulating agencies to determine whether the onsite drainage facility
qualifies as jurisdictional waters. To rectify this oversite, a condition of approval has been added
to Time Extension DRC2019-00428 requiring consultation with the regulating agencies to
determine whether permits are required prior to the approval of any earth -moving activities. This
new condition of approval is not the result of new environmental impacts or new information,
rather it is to address an impact that was known when the original environmental determination
was made.
The application is for a one (1) year time extension of a previously approved tentative tract map
and a two (2) year time extension of a previously approved design review and related files with
no proposed changes to the scope of the original approval. With the inclusion of the condition of
approval requiring consultation with the regulating agencies related to the onsite drainage
channel, staff finds that the project will not have one or more significant effects not discussed in
the previous Mitigated Negative Declaration, not have more severe effects than previously
analyzed, and that additional or different mitigation measures are not required to reduce the
impacts of the project to a level of less than significant. Therefore, pursuant to CEQA, staff
recommends that the Planning Commission concur with the staff determination that no additional
environmental review is required in connection with the City's consideration of Time Extension
DRC2019-00428.
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 19-61
TIME EXTENSION DRC2019-00428 (MINOR EXCEPTION DRC2013-00941)
GOLDEN AVENUE DEVELOPMENT, INC.
October 23, 2019
Page 4
C. Based on these findings and all evidence in the record, the Planning Commission
concurs with the staff determination that no additional environmental review is required pursuant
to CEQA in connection with the City's consideration of Tentative Tract Map SUBT717444.
5. Based upon the findings and conclusions set forth in Paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 above,
this Commission hereby grants a time extension. The new expiration date for Minor Exception
DRC2013-00941 is February 11, 2022.
6. All applicable Conditions of Approval in Resolution No. 15-15 and incorporated
Standard Conditions in Resolution 15-15 for Minor Exception DRC2013-00941 shall apply to Time
Extension DRC2019-00428, with the addition of the following Condition of Approval related to the
onsite drainage facility which may constitute jurisdictional waters:
Prior to approval of any earth -moving activities, the applicant shall consult with the California
Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the United States Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE) and the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) to determine whether
the onsite drainage facility constitutes jurisdictional waters. Any impact to CDFW, USACE
and RWQCB jurisdictional waters may require a 1600 Streambed Alteration Agreement from
the CDFW, a Section 404 permit authorization from the USACE, and a 401 State Water
Quality Certification from the RWQCB.
The Secretary to this Commission shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 23RD DAY OF October 2019.
PLAI
93
O CUCAMONGA
ATTEST: a�WZA_ 20YL,
Anne Mcln osh, Secretary
I, Anne McIntosh, Secretary of the Planning Commission of the City of Rancho Cucamonga, do
hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly introduced, passed, and
adopted by the Planning Commission of the City of Rancho Cucamonga, at a regular meeting of
the Planning Commission held on the 23rd day of October 2019, by the following vote -to -wit:
AYES: COMMISSIONERS: DOPP, GUGLIELMO, MUNOZ, OAXACA, WIMBERLY
NOES: COMMISSIONERS:
ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS:
ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: