HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011/07/13 - Minutes - PC-HPC CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
Regular Meeting
July 13, 2011
Chairman Munoz called the Regular Meeting of the City of Rancho Cucamonga Planning
Commission to order at 7:15 p.m. The meeting was held in the Council Chambers 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: Candyce Burnett, Senior Planner; Steven Flower, Assistant City Attorney;
Donald Granger, Senior Planner; Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer;
Mayuko Nakajima,Assistant Planner; Lois Schrader, Planning Commission
Secretary; James Troyer, Planning Director
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion: Moved by Wimberly, seconded by Fletcher, carried 5-0, to approve the minutes of
June 22, 2011.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. HILLSIDE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW DRC2011-00013-MITSOS RESIDENCE-A request to
construct a 6,776 square foot residence with a 1,175 square foot attached garage on 1.02
acres in the Very Low(VL) Residential District in the Deer Creek Housing Tract at 10897 Deer
Canyon Drive -APN: 1074-471-30. This project is categorically exempt per section 15303 (a)
(new construction) of the California Environmental Quality Act and the City CEQA guidelines.
Donald Granger, Senior Planner presented the staff report. He noted that several corrected pages
have been placed before the Commissioners on the dais. The corrections included: 1) Page 3 was
missing from the resolution, 2)There was a numbering issue in the Standard Conditions on page 5,
and 3)The Standard Conditions, Grading and Fire Conditions were attached to the report for Item B
in error. He summarized the design of the project as well as lot coverage and grading. Because of
the amount of cut and fill, the project was required to be brought to the Planning Commission for
approval. He reported that one letter was received from a neighbor in support of the project. He
said the project is exempt from CEQA as it is a single home being built.
Commissioner Fletcher said he has no problems with the application but wanted to know if the
project could be approved without a variance.
Mr. Granger said the entitlement before the Commission is only for a Development/Design Review
and there is no variance or associated cases. He said the project is compliant with our Code.
Steven Flower, Assistant City Attorney noted that the only reason the project is here is because of
amount of the amount of cut and fill.
Mr. Granger clarified and said that if a project stays below the threshold, then the review could be
administrative however, if it exceeds the threshold, it cannot be approved without further review.
Commissioner Oaxaca asked that if it is on a single lot, what would cut and fill above the threshold
possibly cause or what problems could occur.
Mr. Granger said from the Engineering perspective,there is no real safety issue but from the design
perspective, more earthwork and earth movement would occur in a lot one-half the size. He said it
is a more reasonable request when the structural design is spread out over a larger lot, or in this
case, two lots combined.
Gary Gula, of Dave J. Gula Design summarized the project design and noted it covers 23.5%of the
lot. He said he worked hard with staff to achieve a compatible appearance with the surrounding
neighborhood.
Chairman Munoz opened the public hearing.
Denis Dreher, 10854 Boulder Canyon Road said this lot abuts his back yard. He expressed concern
because open lots are filled with squirrels and rats. He asked for rodent abatement before they
begin construction.
Mr. Flower suggested the Chairman allow the applicant to rebut and/or address the issue of the
rodents.
Mr. Gula said they would do what they could to mitigate the problem.
Chairman Munoz closed the public hearing.
Chairman Munoz asked how this would normally be handled.
Mr. Granger reported that he has been in our Planning Department for 13 years and never had a
condition for rodent abatement. He assented that it is common to have this problem.
Mr. Flower said that such a condition would seem reasonable and proportionate if the Commission
desired to impose such a condition.
Chairman Munoz asked the Commissioners for their comments.
Commissioner Fletcher said he did not think there was much of a difference between 5 and 6 feet of
cut and fill and did not believe it would make much of a difference in this size of a house located in
this particular area. He said the rodent problem has also occurred with other developments. He
suggested a lot of cats for abatement purposes.
Commissioner Wimberly said he worked with the applicant at DRC and the project is very beautiful
and will enhance the neighborhood. He said he also had previous problems with rodents and
Planning Commission Minutes -2- July 13, 2011
squirrels. He said some species are protected and we may not be allowed to capture them. He
suggested they contact the Department of Fish and Game for advice.
Commissioner Oaxaca echoed the previous comments. He said he appreciated the applicant for
working with the lot size and configuring the design to achieve a single-story home.
Vice Chairman Howdyshell commented that the floor plan is phenomenal with a lovely layout and
flow. She said this is a major accomplishment. She said she sees rodents on Banyan Street and
Wilson Avenue often.
Chairman Munoz said it is a good design and he offered kudos to the applicant. He said there were
few issues to deal with, that it was substantially acceptable before it came to the Committee. He
said using two lots helped mitigate the moving of dirt. He commented that property owners may
trade off a bit of civilization if they choose to live that close to the wildlands.
Mr. Flower said he and Mr. Granger are crafting potential language for a condition regarding the
rodents. He said that they could require the applicant to hire a professional exterminator as they
would have the knowledge and expertise in this regard.
Chairman Munoz asked the Commission if there was a consensus for this.
Commissioner Fletcher said he has no concern, that it is a single in-fill home and that it would be
unfair to impose this condition on the applicant.
Commissioner Wimberly said they are not talking about endangered species;the real issue is about
keeping them off the property. He said he would be in favor of a condition.
Commissioner Oaxaca said he is concerned about setting a precedent with a condition for this. He
said it would also be difficult to come up with an enforceable condition here and now. He said he
did not want to delay the applicant. He said he is not in favor of a condition.
Vice Chairman Howdyshell said she did not want to delay the applicant. She said grading the site
may cause movement of the rodents. She said she is not in favor of a rigid guideline.
Chairman Munoz said he also did not support the requirement. He said it is a tradeoff for living that
far north. He remarked that every neighborhood also has coyotes and these animals are native to
the area and may be impossible to eradicate. He reopened the public hearing.
Mr. Dreher said he did not want a condition placed on the applicant either. He said the applicant
said they would do what they can and that is good enough for him.
Dave Gula of Dave J. Gula Design said he is the owner of the construction company performing the
work. He said he never had this come up before and if the Commission conditioned this now,what
would the stopping point be.
Chairman Munoz again closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Oaxaca said we will depend on the applicant's good faith effort to take care of the
problem.
Motion: Moved by Fletcher, seconded by Howdyshell, to adopt the Resolution of Approval for
Hillside Development Review DRC2011-00013. Motion carried by the following vote:
Planning Commission Minutes -3- July 13, 2011
AYES: FLETCHER, HOWDYSHELL, MUNOZ, OAXACA, WIMBERLY
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE - carried
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B. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND TENTATIVE TRACT MAP SUBTT18122-CHAFFEY
JOINT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT:A proposal to subdivide five(5)vacant parcels with
a combined area of about 53 acres into 76 lots in the Very Low (VL) Residential District,
Etiwanda Specific Plan, located at the east side of East Avenue, about 150 feet north of the
Foothill Freeway (SR-210); APNs: 0225-191-03, -04, -13, -15, and -20. Related files:
Preliminary Review DRC2006-00793, Variance 2009-00020, and Tree Removal Permit
DRC2009-00224. Staff has prepared a Mitigated Negative Declaration of environmental
impacts for consideration. CONTINUED FROM MAY 25. CONTINUANCE TO AN
UNSPECIFIED DATE REQUESTED.
Chairman Munoz noted that a continuance has been requested for an unspecified date and that no
one in the audience expressed a desire to comment. He confirmed that the item would be re-
advertised when a new hearing date was determined.
Motion: Moved by Wimberly, seconded by Oaxaca, to continue the public hearing for Tentative
Tract Map SUBTT18122 to an unspecified date. Motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: FLETCHER, HOWDYSHELL, MUNOZ, OAXACA, WIMBERLY
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE - carried
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
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COMMISSION BUSINESS AND COMMENTS
Vice Chairman Howdyshell said she had the opportunity to tour the new Brighton Developemnt by
Richmond American. She said it is very nice and she has received positive feedback in that
community members are pleased this site is being developed.
Chairman Munoz offered kudos to staff and the developer for the successful end result.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: Moved by Oaxaca, seconded by Fletcher, carried 5-0, to adjourn. The Planning
Commission adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
Planning Commission Minutes -4- July 13, 2011
Respectfully submitted,
James R. Troyer, AICP
Secretary
Approved: August 10, 2011
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Planning Commission Minutes -5- July 13, 2011