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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012/07/11 - Workshop Minutes - PC-HPC CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES ' Adjourned Meeting July 11, 2012 Chairman Munoz called the Adjourned Meeting of the City of Rancho Cucamonga Planning Commission to order at 8:45 p.m. The meeting was held in the Rains Room at Rancho Cucamonga Civic Center, 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California. ROLL CALL COMMISSIONERS: PRESENT: Richard Fletcher, Frances Howdyshell, Lou Munoz, Francisco Oaxaca; Ray Wimberly ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer; Lois Schrader, Planning Commission Secretary; Mike Smith, Associate Planner; Jeff Bloom, Interim Planning Director NEW BUSINESS A. PRE-APPLICATION REVIEW DRC2012-00680 - LENNAR HOMES OF CALIFORNIA- A request for a Planning Commission Workshop review of a proposed gated, single-family residential.project comprised of 310-350 detached homes on lots of 4,000, 4,800, and 2,500 square feet on a vacant parcel of 80.8 acres in the Low Medium(LM)Residential District within the Etiwanda Specific Plan(South Overlay), located about 525 east of Etiwanda Avenue at the north side of Arrow Route; APN: 0229-041-09. Mike Smith,Associate Planner, presented the staff report and gave a brief overview of the project. He said the applicants' concept includes 3 planning areas each having different lot sizes and product type;Areas 1 &2 are fairly conventional,Area 3 would use an auto plaza/common driveway. He said the applicants are asking for various requirements to be loosened such as setbacks, common open space. He said 8 amendments would be needed to be made to Planning documents in order to approve the application. He said the width of the streets needs to be wide enough for visitor parking and emergency vehicle access. Commissioner Wimberly arrived at 8:55 p.m. He said it has been stressed to the applicants that quality of architecture may be requested to enhance and to mitigate for the loss of other requirements. He said staff does not support a City park as depicted on the south side of the site. The General Plan Update had this park removed. He said this may help address the issue of the combined open space requirement. Jeff Clemens of Lennar Homes said they want to create gated enclave better than what surrounds it. He said they would like to use optional standards to create a unique destination. He said the garages are split and each has space to park in front of the garage. The auto plaza is meant to be private space and to be played in and is not a major drive aisle or alley. He said the entrance drive offers the feel of destination by focusing on the pool/clubhouse. He said no homes are fronting the plaza product. The plan incorporates a buffer around entire project and they plan to access the trails. He said the traditional homes provide back yards. He said it also respects the City's desire to not have a garage dominated street scene by using set back garages. In response to Commissioner Fletcher, Mr. Clemens said the two-story home product size ranges from 1700 to 2500 square feet on 2500 square foot lots. Commissioner Fletcher voiced concern about so many changes/amendments that are needed (a total of 8). He said it is a problem location,with lots of dust from the industrial area. He said it does not seem to fit in. Commissioner Oaxaca said he shares some concern with all the change. He said he would like to see how utilizing the park space could affect the proposal. He also had concerns with the density of area 3; parking and traffic flow. He expressed the need for walkability and how could green spaces be arranged in that they now seem peripheral rather than integrated within the community; i.e. break up the blocks of green space. He asked them to consider the demographics of our community;we need single-story stock. He said a traffic study may be needed to see if a signal is needed at Arrow. Vice Chairman Howdyshell expressed concern about density; it is more than what she wants to see and she wants single-story. She said the Planning Area 3 layout specific to parking is a challenge as HOA's may not allow kids to play on the auto court. She said she wants more walkability and more green space towards the center of the project. Commissioner Wimberly expressed concern about the number of amendments to the Etiwanda Specific Plan that would be needed. He said he would like to see what could be produced with the plan remaining in place. Chairman Munoz said ditto to all. He said staff will push the applicant towards design. He said his concerns include changes to the overlay that result in losing other things; walkability, single-story homes; give seniors the option to live where they want; driveways-we've learned short, 5 footers are problematic; design-punch it up. He said the layout is going to limit the plotting etc. He suggested they reorganize the open space using the unwanted park space. Mr. Clemens said to meet the design standards you end up with an attached community and that would be difficult for financing. He said they may go back and look at doing it under the Basic Standards. Vice Chairman Howdyshell likened the project to The Preserve in Chino. Commissioner Oaxaca said they should create opportunities for residents to interact with each other. Jeff Bloom, Interim Planning Director asked what the fall is over the whole site. Dan Guerra responded 1.5% Mr. Bloom commented that the paseos take up all the grade. He said the walkability is all disjointed in that a person must go a long distance to go in one direction and then to the next. He said they also need to find ways to open it out for connectivity. Mr. Clemens said it is similar to College Park in Chino. He asked if they could relax the 10-foot separation requirement. Chairman Munoz said that would be tough as it is already spitting distance. • Commissioner Oaxaca said he is not totally opposed to it, but .there needs to be practical considerations such as parking/trash cans/etc. PC Adjourned Minutes -2- July 11, 2011 Mr. Bloom suggested they look at goals beyond the numbers. He recommended the recreation center be moved towards the center of the project site. PUBLIC COMMENTS None f k f f + COMMISSION BUSINESS AND COMMENTS None ADJOURNMENT The Planning Commission adjourned at 9:53 p.m. Approved: July 25, 2012 4t#C PC Adjourned Minutes -3- July 11, 2011