HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010/09/08 - Workshop Minutes - PC-HPC CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
Adjourned Meeting
September 8, 2010
Chairman Munoz called the Adjourned Meeting of the City of Rancho Cucamonga Planning
Commission to order at 8:35 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, Lou Munoz, Francisco Oaxaca; Ray
Wimberly
ABSENT: Frances Howdyshell
STAFF PRESENT: Candyce Burnett, Senior Planner; Jennifer Nakamura, Associate Planner;
Lois Schrader, Planning Commission Secretary
• ANNOUNCEMENTS
•
None
NEW BUSINESS
A. PRE-APPLICATION REVIEW DRC2010-00509-TESORO/SHELL-A review of a proposal to
construct a self-service carwash building of 720 square feet at an existing convenience
market/gas station in the Office Park(OPK) District,Terra Vista Planned Community, located at
11289 Base Line Road; APN: 1077-372-38. Related file: Conditional Use Permit CUP96-27.
Jennifer Nakamura, Associate Planner, gave a brief summary of the application. She said there
would be an encroachment of a 45-foot landscape setback and 5 findings would have to be satisfied
in order to allow a Variance. She said that is a significant issue. She said there are sensitive uses
such as a child care facility and noted it is also surrounded by residential uses. She said when the
gas station was previously proposed, over 100 residents registered their opposition for reasons of
noise, traffic, circulation, hours of operation, lighting, etc. She said staff anticipates a similar
response this time. She said staff also has concern about the proposed dual driveways as well as
the removal of the outdoor eating area.
Chairman Munoz looked at the property and said that he did not believe there was anyway to
squeeze in another driveway.
Ahmad Ghaderi stated he represents the applicant and said this gas station has a vacant fast food
space and said they have about 15 sites with this similar situation. He said this site does have an
interested tenant for the fast food space. He said the car wash does fit in and the dual driveways
would not intermingle. He said both would fit and there would be plenty of stacking room and dual
driveways could be controlled. He said he has already informed his client about the neighborhood
concerns. He said if they cannot get a revised layout, this project would go on hold. He invited the
Commissioners to comment.
Chairman Munoz acknowledged that the carwash would fit but he expressed concern that the
carwash and the fast food tenant both would fit.
Mr. Ghaderi explained that the fast food tenant is not a national chain and it would fit and there is
plenty of room for stacking cars for the carwash. He said he did not anticipate a high usage of the
carwash.
Commissioner Fletcher asked what the plan would be if there was no fast food tenant.
Mr. Ghaderi said they would just to move the lane over 15 feet and the second lane would not
happen. He then suggested an alternative plan of moving the carwash to the southern portion of the
site.
Commissioner Oaxaca asked about the parking.
Ms. Nakamura said we have a standard parking calculation for the parking that would be applied.
Mr. Ghaderi said the parking would actually be less but in any event there is plenty of parking.
Ms. Nakamura said it would require analysis if they moved the facility to a different location on the
site apart from what is proposed.
Mr. Ghaderi said there are ways to address the noise concerns; the carwash doors can be closed,
•
and the walls can mitigate the noise away from the homes.
Commissioner Wimberly confirmed that there are offices there. He said with the double stacking
proposal there is a big problem on the Milliken side with the landscape setback, more so than on the
Base Line side of the project site.
Ms. Nakamura indicated that on either side they would be encroaching about the same distance of
about 15 feet. She noted that the other uses basically wrap around this site.
Commissioner Fletcher said we have a fully developed property and it looks like they are trying to
cram an additional tenant in there. He suggested the applicant should make a choice between the
carwash and the fast food use. He said he does not like the dual driveway or the childcare facility in
close proximity of the proposed carwash. He said they would not approve this under a new
development review now so why should they consider that now.
Commissioner Oaxaca said his concern is the magnitude of the Variance needed which equates to
1/3 of the actual 45 foot setback requirement(15 feet) and it is a significant, visible high-traffic area
and it sets a precedent.
Commissioner Wimberly asked if there is an alternative plan prepared to present to the
Commission.
Ms. Nakamura indicated that the idea of moving the carwash to the south side of the site is a new
discussion as of today.
Chairman Munoz said he believed the concerns have been pointed out such as setbacks,
neighborhood opposition, noise, and the surrounding uses. He said science does advance
regarding noise abatement, but that may not help the applicant when the notices circulate in the 660
foot radius. He said the applicant is welcome to submit a different plan at another time.
PC Adjourned Minutes -2- September 8, 2010
Candyce Burnett, Senior Planner, commented that she was concerned that there was enough room
for them to have the back-up space and drive aisle in the parking lot.
! 4 R *
I B. PRE-APPLICATION REVIEW DRC2010-00516-TESORO/SHELL-A review of a proposal to
construct a self-service carwash building of 756 square feet at an existing convenience
market/gas station in the Mixed Use Financial (MFC) District, Terra Vista Planned Community,
located at 11108 Foothill Boulevard;APN: 1077-432-35. Related file: Conditional Use Permit
CUP96-21.
Jennifer Nakamura, Associate Planner, summarized the project proposal. She noted that at this
site, the fast food use has been abandoned and the gas station is now a complete mini-mart. She
said the drive-thru aisle is still there. She said the carwash would be located where the pick-up
window is. She said this is better sited and there are no significant issues. She said it has been
noted that the applicant should be mindful of noise mitigation and meeting the design criteria.
Ahmad Ghaderi stated he represents the applicant. He said the drive-thru and menu boards would
be removed and no fast food tenant would be considered. He said they would submit an acoustical
report per City requirements and a trellis as previously mentioned.
Commissioner Wimberly asked how close the exit from the carwash is to the roll up trash unit.
Chairman Munoz suggested it is further than 80 feet away. He confirmed that the carwash would go
right where the covered portal to the drive-thru is located now.
Ms. Nakamura said there is a decent separation for noise, but we want to be sure they are mindful
of that.
Commissioner Oaxaca asked if we have noise standards for car washes.
Ms. Nakamura said we have general noise standards for the City;there are no specific standards for
carwashes.
Commissioner Fletcher said this is a much better plan. He said they need to work with staff on the
sound attenuation and design. He said this site has fewer problems.
Commissioner Oaxaca asked if this is currently a 24-hour operation.
Ms. Nakamura said the hours of operation would be reviewed as part of the CUP.
Chairman Munoz confirmed that there are apartments about '.4-block away to the north and a
hospital and senior apartments even further away.
Commissioner Oaxaca said he is more comfortable with this proposal.
Chairman Munoz said he is generally more favorable towards this application proposal.
Mr. Ghaderi thanked staff and the Commission for their comments.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
PC Adjourned Minutes -3- September 8, 2010
COMMISSION BUSINESS
None '
ADJOURNMENT
•
The Planning Commission adjourned at 9:02 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Orvm-44--,
James R. Troyer, AICP
Secretary
Approved: September 22, 2010
PC Adjourned Minutes -4- September 8, 2010