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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005/06/08 - Minutes - Spec Jt/PC June 8, 2005 CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA JOINT CITY COUNCIL/PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Special Meetinq A special joint meeting of the Rancho Cucamonga City Council and the Planning Commission was held on Wednesday, June 8, 2005, in the Training Room of the Civic Center located at 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California. Mayor William J. Alexander called the meeting to order at 5:04 p.m. Present were Councilmembers: Rex Gutierrez, L. Dennis Michael, Sam Spagnolo, Diane Williams and Mayor William J. Alexander. Present were Planning Commissioners: Rich Fletcher, Larry McNiel, Ods McPhail, Pamela Stewart and Chairman Rich Macias. Also present were: Jack Lam, City Manager; Kevin Ennis, Planning Commission Attorney; Brad Buller, City Planner; Dan Coleman, Principal Planner, Mike Diaz, Senior Planner; Gall Sanchez, Planning Commission Secretary; and Debra J. Adams, City Clerk. [ B. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS : ] No communication was made from the public. [[ C. ITEM(S) OF DISCUSSION I Gl. DISCUSSION OF ITEMS OF MUTUAL INTEREST Chairman Macias thanked the City Council for allowing this opportunity to meet. He respectfully asked that the City Council do this twice per year so they know the pulse of what the City Council wants in order for them to do a good job. He stated the success of the Commission is because of the support of the City Council. He mentioned the Foothill Boulevard improvements, and fett it was a great contribution to the City. He stated Central Park is a great addition to the City. He hoped they can continue to grow the relationship. He felt they should discuss the demand of housing. He stated the Commission would like to hear the City Council's comments. Commissioner McNiel stated they appreciate the support of the City Council He felt what has been done by both the City Council and the Planning Commission is very good. He stated the only thing that bothers him is that people go through the process and already have the votes on a project from the City Council. He advised everyone to be cautious of the commitments made to people before it goes to a vote. He felt we have a fine City. He did not feel we could stop building houses. Joint City Council/Planning Commission Minutes June 8, 2005 Page 2 Commissioner Stewart felt there would be more design awards this year. She stated they are trying hard to get streetscape for the one-story houses. She stated the developers feel the Planning Commission is making it difficult for them because of this. She felt the mall is great, but felt Arbor Lane is very special. She felt 4th Street is developing very nicely and was glad to see this because of everything going in there. She stated Central Park is also a great place and has also heard that people want to get soccer fields going. She agreed with Chairman Macias about meeting twice each year. Commissioner McPhail stated she appreciates when there is an appeal, and the Council sends the project back to the Planning Commission to work on the issue. She felt this was supporting them when the City Council does this. She felt it was the Planning Commission's job to give their opinion to the City Council. She hoped the City Council would let them know if they are not doing their job. She appreciated the leadership of the City Council. Commissioner Fletcher stated he concurs with everything that has been said. He felt Rancho Cucamonga has finally arrived. He commented on all the facilities at Central Park. He felt everyone should be proud to live in Rancho Cucamonga. He stated kids are walking on sidewalks, which is a little thing that some cities don't have. He stated he did like the idea of joint meetings a couple times per year. He felt there would be pressure in the future to change some of the zoning, and that we would need to look at what we want to enhance, and what we want to protect. He mentioned affordability of single story homes and homes for first time homebuyers. He felt we should be looking at having about 20% single story homes. He felt the main thing is what we want to protect and what we want to enhance. He felt the City is a great place and will only get better. Mayor Alexander stated we will need to look at the affordable housing issue within the next few years. He stated he knows the decisions of the Planning Commission are hard. He agreed the mall has got lots of compliments and appreciates the hard work of everyone. He stated when there is an appeal he is not aware people are coming to the City Council first prior to it going to the Planning Commission. He asked when there is an appeal, is it appropriate to meet with two people of he Planning Commission first. Kevin Ennis, Planning Commission Attorney, stated the decision of the City Council should be based on the information presented to them. He stated if the Council does find out other information outside the hearing, they should bring that information into the record so that all Councilmembers have the same information. He stated he would talk to City Attorney Jim Markman to make surs he is comfortable with this opinion. Mayor Alexander felt this might allow the Council to get additional information. Kevin Ennis, Planning Commission Attorney, felt it would be a good idea to get the City Council receiving all the information at the same time, but that he would check into this. Brad Buller, City Planner, suggested that possibly the City Council might want to listen to the audiotape of the Planning Commission meeting. He felt if the Council wants to talk to the Planning Commission they might want meet in an open forum to do this. Councilmember Gutierrez stated he agreed the City Council and Planning Commission should meet at a minimum of every six months. He stated he talks to people out in the community and everybody wants a Trader Joes and a Nordstrom. He wished they were here right now, but the City is trying to get them. He hoped there would be mots staff added with the new budget and felt they really need that. He stated his big concern is that after a new project is completed, he gets complaints from people about the developer because they are not living up to their promises. He wished the residents most affected or a(~jacent to a project could give their approval of the project once it is almost completed. He mentioned the Carriage Estates and that some of the landscaping is not thers anymore. He felt staff should make sure all of the conditions have been met. He stated he wanted to make sure there are no lingering concerns when a project is close to being completed. He stated he hears people love the mall. He stated they mention the traffic and circulation and felt these things need to be worked on. He stated he has heard that people Joint City Council/Planning Commission Meeting June 8, 2005 Page 3 want more things at Central Park like a tot lot, etc. 'He stated he would hope there will be no more development above the second set of utility lines in the mountains. He wants to make sure there is open space preserved. He stated he was not aware of any commitments made to a developer prior to it coming to the City Council. He stated sometimes a developer will contact a Council person to get feed back about their project, and stated he would try not to go over that process. He felt there should be 40% rate of single story homes. He wished we could request there be larger lots. Mayor Alexander stated there could be an ordinance drafted to accommodate this. Councilmember Gutierrez felt the community will need a good inventory of single story homes. He asked if there was a view ordinance. Brad Buller, City Planner, stated there is no such ordinance. Councilmember Gutierrez stated his big concern is that there is public input about a project once it is near completion. Mayor Alexander stated he was not sure it would be a good idea for a committee of residents to do this and was afraid of this. Councilmember Williams felt a list of items could be noted and made part of the package for the developer to follow these standards. Brad Buller, City Planner, advised everyone about the process a developer goes through to get a project approved. He stated the Planning staff does try to document all concerns by residents about the project. Commissioner Stewart talked about a project that had five neighborhood meetings and all the information the Planning Commission got from these meetings. Commissioner McNiel stated there have been a couple areas in the City, ie., Dogpatch and Nor~htown that needed improvements made, and that has been done. Councilmember Williams felt there are some areas in the City that have been lost in the dust. She stated improvements are needed around Baker and Grove and that this needs to be addressed. She stated she does not feel like she did before that there are standards that are being traded. She felt the new homes are just wondedul. She stated just yesterday she talked to Randall Lewis about single story homes. He told about what they do with people to give them more house for the money by building two story. She felt before an ordinance is approved for requiring more single story that the city look at the market. She hoped the City will continue with planning landscaping that doesn't require much water. She stated traffic is a huge issue. She felt we need to look at every available parcel and make a plan for it based on everyone's knowledge and experience. She wanted us to get the very best. She did not feel the City Council should be working with a developer to design a project prior to it coming before the Planning Commission. Councilmember Michael complimented the Planning Commission and staff, and felt they were working very effectively. He stated it is not his intent to overturn a Planning Commission decision because he felt this would make them ineffective. He agreed they should meet again in November. He felt the City should stay with the General Plan and only make changes when necessary. He felt we should also protect the commemial/industrial area. He agreed that a project should go through the Planning Commission before the Council gives their input. He hoped we can continue with annexations and turn it into City territory. He thanked the Commission for all they do. Councilmember Spagnolo stated he agreed with a lot of what has been said. He stated communication is very important. He stated he cannot take any credit for Central Park and the mall. He said it was the people before him that should get the credit. He felt staff is great and are committed to the community. Joint City Council/Planning Commission Minutes June 8, 2005 Page 4 He felt Rancho Cucamonga is unique. He felt we should follow the general plan. He felt the City is doing a good job and that we learn from our mistakes. He stated the idea of developers coming to the Council to get their plans through is not a good idea and that he is not in favor of that. Commissioner McNiel stated when Central Park was designed it was supposed to be a passive park, not full of soccer fields. He also informed the Council the Commission has not had a raise since 1985 and felt they needed one. Councilmember Williams agreed and felt this should be done during] the next budget meeting. Councilmember McNiel stated everything that has been built has gone through staff, and that they make the Commission's job very easy. Commissioner McPhail said the Planning Commission does very little, that it is the Planning staff that put the projects together. She commended them for what they do. Councilmember Gutierrez felt the Planning Commission should get a raise. Councilmember Williams stated Central Park was always supposed to serve the people around it, but did not feel a couple picnic tables would hurt it. She felt it would still be a passive park. She felt a tot lot is very important to the some of the residents. She agreed this should not be full of soccer fields, but would go along with the tennis complex. Commissioner McPhail thanked Brad Buller, City Planner, for keeping track of them. Commissioner Fletcher stated it'is a very difficult position for the Council when developers come to them about projects. He stated Brad Bu[ler, City Planner, has always been a good coach for him to keep him out of any trouble. He felt all the staff is excellent. He did not feel economics should play a part in what the Planning Commission approves as it relates to single story homes. He felt this would depend on the aging of the community. Brad Buller, City Planner, stated he felt we have gone too far in home building to put an ordinance in effect to say we should have 30 or 40 percent of single story homes· Councilmember Williams felt we do need single story homes, but did not think it should have a number placed on it. She stated she does support the push for single story. Brad Buller, City Planner, complimented the Planning Commission for their hard work because of their commitment. D. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m. ,O~bra J. Ad~_~,r,r,r,r,r,r,r,~, CMC City Clerk/R~cords Manager Approved by Planning Commission: July 27, 2005 Approved by City Council: August 3, 2005