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.
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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