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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011/08/24 - Agenda Packet THE CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION • AGENDA RANCHO CUCAMONGA AUGUST 24, 2011 - 7:00 PM Rancho Cucamonga Civic Center Council Chambers 10500 Civic Center Drive Rancho Cucamonga, California I. CALL TO ORDER Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call Chairman Munoz_ Vice Chairman Howdyshell • Fletcher_ Wimberly_ Oaxaca _ II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES August 10, 2011 Regular Meeting Minutes III. PUBLIC COMMENTS This is the time and place for the general public to address the commission. Items to be discussed here are those that do not already appear on this agenda. IV. COMMISSION BUSINESS/COMMENTS I V. ADJOURNMENT • I, Lois J. Schrader, Planning Commission Secretary of the City of Rancho Cucamonga, or my designee, hereby certify that a true, accurate copy of the foregoing agenda was posted on August 18, 2011 at least 72 hours prior to the meeting per Government Code Section 54964.2 at 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga. • • / ' :4�...� HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION • Sespr AGENDA RANCHO • AUGUST 24, 2011 CUCAMONGA Page 2 Please turn off all cellular phones and pagers while the meeting is in session. Copies of the Planning Commission agendas and minutes can be found at http://www.ci.rancho-cucamonga.ca.us • • taIf you need special assistance or accommodations to participate in this meeting, • please contact the Planning Department at (909) 477-2750. Notification of 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility. Listening devices are available for the hearing impaired. CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA • HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting August 10, 2011 Chairman Munoz called the Regular Meeting of the City of Rancho •Cucamonga Historic Preservation Commission to order at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was held in the Council Chambers at Rancho Cucamonga Civic Center, 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California. Chairman Munoz then led in the pledge of allegiance. ROLL CALL COMMISSIONERS: PRESENT: Richard Fletcher, Frances Howdyshell, Francisco Oaxaca, Lou Munoz, Ray Wimberly. ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: James Troyer, Planning Director; Candyce Burnett, Senior Planner; Mayuko Nakajima, Assistant Planner; Dan James, Senior Engineer; Steven Flower, Assistant City Attorney; Valerie Victorino, Planning Department Secretary. * * * * * APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: Moved by Wimberly, second by Fletcher, carried 5-0, to approve the minutes of July 13, 2011. • * * * * * PUBLIC HEARINGS A. HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION DRC2010-00905 — CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA—A request to rescind Point of Interest DRC2006-00551 and designate the Hellman Avenue Street Trees as a Historic Landmark, located on the west side of Hellman Avenue, south of 19th Street to Base Line Road. The project is categorically exempt under Section 15308 as a Class 8 exemption of the guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act. This item will be forwarded to the City Council for final action and that meeting will be separately noticed. CONTINUED FROM JULY 13, 2011 AND JULY 27, 2011. Mayuko Nakajima, Assistant Planner, presented the Staff Report and power point presentation. Vice Chairman Howdyshell asked for clarification of Item C in the Staff Report on the arborist's report. Ms. Nakajima explained that the arborist checked all of the various items listed that have damaged the trees including their age, watering and conks. Vice Chairman Howdyshell then asked if there was any concrete or root damage. Ms. Nakajima reported that there is none that can be seen at the moment, but the individual tree would be required to be removed if there is any noticeable damage. Chairman Munoz clarified for the audience what mitigation means and that the trees would be • replaced in a like manner. Commissioner Fletcher stated that the street could be widened in the future, but they are not approving that right now and asked how the eucalyptus trees would be replaced. Ms. Nakajima stated that the trees would be replaced from the approved tree list that the Engineering Department maintains and that there are several species of eucalyptus trees on the approved list. • Dan James, Senior Engineer, stated that most street improvements happen when development takes place in the area. He further stated that the City has no current plans for improvements for that section of Hellman Avenue. Commissioner Fletcher asked Mr. James if the City has looked at the whole street and maybe even lowering the curbs. Mr. James confirmed that there are no plans right now for widening or improving that section of Hellman Avenue. Steven Flower, Assistant City Attorney stated that landmarking these trees only ensures that there will be mitigation, but does not guarantee that they will not come down sometime in the future. Commissioner Fletcher then inquired if the heritage trees need a permit to be removed. Mr. Flower stated that street trees are owned by the City and are exempt from required permits. Vice Chairman Howdyshell asked Mr. James if there has been a traffic study done at this location. Mr.James stated that this street is already designated as a"collector street"in the General Plan,so no traffic study has been needed. Chairman Munoz opened the public comment period. Luana Hernandez, President of the Historic Preservation Association of Rancho Cucamonga • (HPARC), stated that Hellman Avenue was always designated a "special street design" and 57 neighbors are here to show their support for retaining the curbs and trees. Melinda Ryan stated that she has lived here since 1958 and voiced her support to retain the trees and that she was disappointed with previous landowners taking down trees with appropriate authorization. Wendy Hickman expressed her wishes to preserve our history. Dallas Cooper said he has seen deterioration of the neighborhood and trees. He stated that he learned in school that the palm trees were a tribute to Mr. Hellman and that the eucalyptus trees were for help with farming. He supported the historic trees and windbreaks. Nadine Johnston stated that when they purchased their home 11 years ago that they paid to have sidewalks installed, though not all homeowners have had to do that. She stated that there is no easy route to ride their bikes without going on the street. She suggested putting the sidewalks on the inside of the trees. Tracy Bettencourt recently moved from this area but stated that she always had issues with traffic speeding on the street but would like the trees protected. Camillo Bahri stated that he is involved in the building industry in this area and that he has always known that the eucalyptus trees were grown to be made into railroad ties. He said he would like to have the trees retained and have the City re-look at the circulation element of the General Plan. • HPC Minutes -2- August 10, 2011 Dallas Cooper returned to the dais and explained that he canvassed the neighborhood and no traffic problems were expressed by the homeowners. He stated that there is sidewalk access on the east • side of the street, rather than taking down the trees. He also stated that he spoke to over 50 families who encouraged safety without the taking of heritage trees. He suggested an additional stop sign on Hellman to allow for easier crossing. Jeff Johnston stated that he loves the trees and rides his bike on the street daily. He would like to see at least a bike lane added and possibly a sidewalk and that they are needed immediately. Wendy Hickman returned to the dais and stated that there are pathways on the inside of the trees that can be used. They are not cement she said, but a safe alternative. Mr. Troyer stated in response to the comments that the City has no plans for any public improvements at all for the street at this time. Chairman Munoz agreed and stated for the public that at this time they were only considering the historic trees designation. He added that development will bring changes as it happens. Mr. Troyer added that many times this type of improvement would happen with RDA funds but with the State taking away the majority of those funds the City can't plan on the improvements. Chairman Munoz asked for comments from the Commissioners. Commissioner Fletcher asked Mr. James about any flooding issues along Hellman Avenue. Mr. James stated that they will always review the street for appropriate drainage. • Commissioner Fletcher went on to say that he assumed that the curbs are no longer an issue with parts of the city having river rock curbs being maintained. He further talked about the various health issues that eucalyptus trees can incur including disease and falling branches. Commissioner Wimberly asked about maintenance of the trees and if this section is in a Landscape Maintenance District (LMD). Mr. James answered that this area is not in an LMD and that ongoing maintenance is a homeowner responsibility. Commissioner Wimberly stated that the landscape designation will help the various departments plan for the future including Engineering, public safety and Planning. Commissioner Oaxaca asked if the trees are in the public right-of-way or on an easement. Mr. James stated that they are in the street right-of-way. Commissioner Oaxaca went on to thank the public for attending and expressing their passionate feelings. It was clear to him that the street is half as wide as it should be but this landmarking will help give a high level of protection to these trees as they have a definite lifespan. Vice Chairman Howdyshell stated that she is passionate on preservation and that Hellman Avenue is a unique historic street with a lot of scenic beauty. She stated that many other streets can serve as north/south arteries. • Chairman Munoz stated that he would not repeat all of the same comments but also believed that this is a historic street with historic curbs to be preserved without compromising safety. HPC Minutes -3- August 10, 2011 Mr. Flower reminded the Commissioners that this recommendation would be forwarded to the City Council for final action. Motion: Moved by Howdyshell, seconded by Wimberly, motion carried 5-0 by the following vote to • recommend the designation be sent to the City Council for final action: AYES: FLETCHER, HOWDYSHELL, MUNOZ, OAXACA, WIMBERLY NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE - carried PUBLIC COMMENTS Jeff Johnston returned to the dais and asked that sidewalks be installed on Hellman Avenue. Luana Hernandez stated that she appreciated all of the time taken this evening to listen to the homeowners. and that we have a unique community. Ed Dietl of HPARC stated that anything we can landmark within the City is a plus. He went on to show pictures from the car show several weeks ago. He stated that it was a fundraising event for • HPARC and that it was very successful with 400 to 500 people attending. Next year he hopes to have an even bigger show celebrating the 85th anniversary of Route 66. Dallas Cooper stated that the car show, Harvest Festival and other great events could possibly be combined with the City coordinating one large event. COMMISSION BUSINESS AND COMMENTS Vice Chairman Howdyshell thanked Mr. Dietl for his time and efforts on the successful car show. • Commissioner Wimberly also complimented Mr. Dietl on his car show. Commissioner Fletcher again complimented Mr. Dietl and stated that he took pictures of the cars the day of the car show. He commented further on the Hellman Avenue trees. Chairman Munoz commented on how hard City staff works to help preserve our City heritage. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Moved by Oaxaca, seconded by Wimberly, carried 5-0, to adjourn. The Historic Preservation Commission adjourned at 8:26 p.m. Respectfully submitted, James R. Troyer, AICP Secretary • Approved: • PC Minutes -4- August 10, 2011