HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011/01/26 - Minutes - PC-HPC • CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
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Regular Meeting
January 26, 2011
Chairman Munoz called the Regular Meeting of the City of Rancho Cucamonga Planning
Commission to order at 8:05 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,
Ray Wimberly
ABSENT: Francisco Oaxaca
STAFF PRESENT: Steven Flower, Assistant City Attorney; Donald Granger, Senior Planner;
Jennifer Nakamura,Associate Planner; Lois Schrader, Planning Commission
Secretary; James Troyer, Planning Director
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion: Moved by Fletcher, seconded by Howdyshell, carried 4-0-1 (Oaxaca absent), to approve
the minutes of January 12, 2011.
Motion: Moved by Howdyshell, seconded by Fletcher, carried 4-0-1, (Oaxaca absent)to approve
the adjourned meeting minutes of January 12, 2011.
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PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. MODIFICATION TO NON-CONSTRUCTION CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT DRC2010-00078M
- CANDELAS CONTEMPORARY CUISINE - ALBERTO MESTRE - A request to allow
entertainment in an existing 6,088 square foot full service restaurant and bar within the Victoria
Gardens Lifestyle Center in the Mixed Use District of the Victoria Community Plan at 7881
Monet Avenue-APN: 227-464-08. This project is categorically exempt from the requirements
of the California Environmental Quality Act(CEQA)pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section
15301 (Class 1 Exemption - Existing Facilities). Related file: Entertainment Permit DRC2010-
00079.
B. ENTERTAINMENT PERMIT DRC2010-00079 - CANDELAS CONTEMPORARY CUISINE -
ALBERTO MESTRE - A request to include entertainment in conjunction with a 6,088 square
foot full service restaurant and bar within the Victoria Gardens Lifestyle Center in the Mixed Use
District of the Victoria Community Plan at 7881 Monet Avenue -APN: 0227-464-08. Related
file: DRC2010-00078M.
Jennifer Nakamura, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Commissioner Wimberly asked for a picture of inside of the facility.
Ms. Nakamura displayed the floor plan of the space on the overhead and noted the small DJ booth
and stated that dancing is prohibited.
Vice Chairman Howdyshell asked how often the premises will be checked and she asked how the
entertainment will be monitored.
Ms. Nakamura said Entertainment Permits have an annual renewal process. She said Code
Enforcement staff keeps tabs on the advertising; and staff generally will keep an eye on it. She said
it is addressed if things are brought to staffs attention or if the Police make us aware of any
problems.
Vice Chairman Howdyshell asked what they currently have for music.
Ms. Nakamura said there is nothing but ambient music in the dining area. She added that the
applicant could explain further.
Chairman Munoz invited the applicant to come forward.
Alberto Mestre stated he represents the business. He said their request is for a DJ and they are
emulating what is happening in Europe right now. He said they are using DJ's to create atmosphere
and the music is not for dancing. He said the music is set for the right volume and they try to find
the right music for the moment.
Chairman Munoz opened the public hearing.
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Ed Dietl said the City has had problems with Entertainment Permits in the past. He said he would
like an explanation of what a disc jockey is and who is permitted to have one and who is not.
Ms. Nakamura explained that in past years, a DJ would host and control the music and give
introductions to songs. She noted it has changed over the past 20 years, that now the DJ
manipulates the music based on the feel of the crowd. She said an Entertainment Permit is required
for all requests for DJ's.
Chairman Munoz closed the Public Hearing.
Vice Chairman Howdyshell said she is glad staff gave a definition. She said the restaurant wants to
expand by offering entertainment. She said it appears now the definition is changing and is better
for the purposes of creating an atmosphere for dining. She said it now makes more sense.
Commissioner Wimberly thanked Ms. Nakamura for the definition. He said he has friends that are
DJ's. He said the facility is very nice but he is concerned about potential abuse. He said there is a
bar area and dining area that could become a dancing area. He said they have been given specific
conditions and the team is out there reviewing the facility.
Ms. Nakamura read from Resolution 11-04 and noted that the approval is for DJ music only in the
bar area. She said there is a difference between the music of"Musak" and a DJ. She said there
Planning Commission Minutes -2- January 26, 2011
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could be some" bleed over" into the dining area. She offered that staff could review it and come
back. She pointed out that the bar area is small, and the entire facility is about 6,000 square feet.
Commissioner Wimberly asked about the hours for entertainment. He asked what music is being
played before 9:00 p.m.
Mr. Mestre said it is house music/ambient music or no music before 9:00 p.m. He said this special
music offered by the DJ is for lounging and dining and is only about 90-100 beats per minute.
Chairman Munoz clarified and asked if there is music in the lounge and will it also be piped into the
restaurant.
Mr. Mestre said that is correct.
Commissioner Fletcher said he has no big concerns and he said the application; it has support by
staff and the Police. He said it sounds like it would be a complement to the business and there is no
request for dancing or a dance floor. He said this should enhance the business and Victoria
Gardens was designed for this.
Chairman Munoz agreed and wished them the best. He noted that it is not the most intense use of
entertainment in that area and that this is where we want this kind of use.
Motion: Moved by Fletcher, seconded by Howdyshell, to adopt the Resolutions of Approval for
DRC2010-00078M and Entertainment PermitDRC2010-00079 as presented by staff 4-0-1 (Oaxaca
absent). Motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: FLETCHER, HOWDYSHELL, MUNOZ, WIMBERLY
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: OAXACA - carried
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DIRECTOR'S REPORTS
C. TANDEM PARKING AND PARKING RATIOS DRC2010-00899 - CITY OF RANCHO
CUCAMONGA - A report on tandem parking, required parking ratios and additional parking
requirements beyond the minimum parking requirements for multi-family projects. The report
qualifies under State CEQA Guideline Section 15061(b)(3) because the report is for
informational purposes and will not result in an intensification of environmental impacts.
Donald Granger, Senior Planner, presented the staff report and gave a PowerPoint presentation
(copy on file). He said this information was presented to the DRC and they agreed with staffs
recommendation, however, the DRC felt it would be important to receive comment from the full
Commission.
Commissioner Fletcher asked what the issue is with tandem parking. He said he has seen some
single-family developments that have tandem parking and the inside space makes a nice workshop.
Mr. Granger said it is a challenge to get folks to keep 2 spaces free and clear for parking and with
tandem parking, vehicles are parked nose to end. He said in multi-family developments, this could
create an overflow of vehicles parked in the guest parking stalls. He said that in single-family
developments, the 3`d car tandem space is very popular and developers love it and people love it
and that is not an issue. He said with two car tandem arrangements in multi-family units, there can
be a challenge because there is not always the benefit of both stalls being available for use. He
said the Santa Barbara project is the first to be allowed to do this and only surplus spaces are
Planning Commission Minutes -3- January 26, 2011
tandem. He pointed out that they met the Code requirement without figuring in the tandem parking
into their parking numbers.
Vice Chairman Howdyshell said she does not like tandem parking in multi-family or single-family
developments. She said it is difficult for families with more than two cars and with homes that have
5-6 bedrooms, many cars end upon the streets. She said she respects Lewis for how they manage
their developments that if a resident has a party, it could become a parking problem. She said
Mr. Granger did a great job on the presentation and the analysis presented is right on. She said the
City could improve the parking with this data and analysis with single-family developments as well.
Mr. Granger asked if Vice Chairman Howdyshell believes the traditional 3-car garage is best.
Vice Chairman Howdyshell said it depends on the lot and the footprint as it impacts the width of the
driveway. She said there is often stuff in the garage, and cars on the streets.
Chairman Munoz noted that the Commission only needs to give direction; the DRC did agree with
staffs recommendation. He noted some Commissioners had strong feelings. He said staff would
like to do further work on this within the scope of the upcoming Development Code Update. He said
he believes the City is doing pretty well and he did not believe the revisions would hamper the City in
the future. He said he would support the recommendation. He offered congratulations to
Mr. Granger for the excellent report.
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Commissioner Fletcher asked if the City adopts a higher standard, how would it affect projects like
Santa Barbara and if it would it reduce the number of units overall.
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Mr. Granger said potentially it could cost some units unless the space is made up by going vertical
or going underground. He did not think it would affect them too much.
Commissioner Fletcher noted that tandem parking in single-family developments is often filled with
motorcycles and ATVs.
James Troyer, Planning Director noted that in looking at Pasadena, they would not get that many
units if tandem parking was not allowed.
Commissioner Wimberly said that even in the review of the Santa Barbara project, the DRC had
issues with the proposed tandem parking but they met the requirement without the tandem spaces.
Chairman Munoz said we discourage tandem parking but it is much easier to support there position
if there is an ordinance to support this direction. He said that in this case, the developer met the
requirement even without the tandem parking. He said he recommended staff study this and he
said staff came up with good alternatives.
Vice Chairman Howdyshell said Table 1 gives a great cross section of cities; she offered her
complements.
Motion: Moved by Munoz, seconded by Howdyshell, (4-0-1) to support Staffs recommendation
incorporate the revisions of the current standards within the scope of the Development Code
Update. Motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: FLETCHER, HOWDYSHELL, MUNOZ, OAXACA, WIMBERLY
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: OAXACA - carried
The secretary received and filed the report.
Planning Commission Minutes -4- January 26, 2011