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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010/06/09 - Minutes - PC-HPC CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting June 9, 2010 Chairman Fletcher called the Regular Meeting of the City of Rancho Cucamonga Planning Commission to order at 7:10 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, Francisco Oaxaca, Ray Wimberly ABSENT: Lou Munoz STAFF PRESENT: Adam Collier, Planning Technician; Steven Flower, Assistant City Attorney; Betty Miller,Associate Engineer;Jennifer Nakamura,Associate Planner; Lois Schrader, Planning Commission Secretary;James Troyer, Planning Director « « « « « ANNOUNCEMENTS None APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: Moved by Wimberly, seconded by Oaxaca, carried 4-0-1 (Munoz absent), to approve the minutes of May 26, 2010. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT DRC2006-00397 - NORWALK BOULEVARD BAPTIST CHURCH - A request to operate a 7,442 square foot church on 1.04-acres of land in the Medium Residential District(8-14 dwelling units per acre)of the Etiwanda Specific Plan, located on the west side of East Avenue, south of the 1-15 Freeway at 7384 East Avenue-APN: 1100- 051-03. Related File: DRC2006-00397. This action is categorically exempt per the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15332, In-Fill Development Project. B. DEVELOPMENT REVIEW DRC2006-00397D-NORWALK BOULEVARD BAPTIST CHURCH -The design review of building elevations and detailed site plan for the development of a 7,442 square foot church on 1.04-acres of land in two phases (Phase I: 4,977 square feet; Phase II: 2,472 square feet) in the Medium Residential District (8-14 dwelling units per acre) of the Etiwanda Specific plan, located on the west side of East Avenue, south of the 1-15 Freeway at 7384 East Avenue - APN: 1100-051-03. Related File: DRC2006-00397. This action is categorically exempt per the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15332, In-Fill Development Project. Adam Collier, Planning Technician, presented the staff report. Myung C. Chung, 9040 Telestar Avenue, Suite 105, El Monte, said he represents the applicant and that he appreciated the time and work on the project by staff. He said they have read and understand all the conditions. He said he believes the church will be a great addition to the community and a significant improvement to the site. • Commissioner Howdyshell said she reviewed the project plans and was impressed with how they fit the design on such an unusual lot. She said the DRC did a great job and it is a good project. Commissioner Wimberly concurred. He said he worked with the applicants at DRC and they were very cooperative. He said they are ready to move forward and he too was impressed that they could fit the church on that lot. He said it took cooperation from everyone to make that happen. Commissioner Oaxaca said he appreciates the applicants' cooperation and also noted the odd lot. He said it is an example of a project that with cooperation they can make it work. Chairman Fletcher remarked that it is a good project and that he was pleased that the applicants were able to work out all the issues with staff. He agreed this project is good for the site. Motion: Moved by Howdyshell, seconded by Wimberly, to adopt the Resolutions of Approval for CUP DRC2006-00397 and Development Review DRC2006-00397D. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: FLETCHER, HOWDYSHELL, OAXACA, WIMBERLY NOES: NONE ABSENT: MUNOZ - carried 1r « • 1 C. REVIEW OF NON-CONSTRUCTION CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT CUP99-43R-THE BEER MUG - A review of the business operation to ensure that it is being operated in a manner consistent with the conditions of approval or in a manner which is not detrimental to the public health, safety, or welfare or materially injurious to properties in the vicinity. The Planning Commission will consider revocation or modification of the approved Conditional Use Permit. Located within the Regional Related Commercial District, Subarea 4 of the Foothill Boulevard Specific Plan, in the Foothill Marketplace at 12809 Foothill Boulevard, Suite C1-C4 - APN: 0229-031-33. CONTINUED FROM MAY 26, 2010. CONTINUANCE REQUESTED TO JUNE 23, 2010. Chairman Fletcher noted the continuance request by staff. He reported that the public hearing has remained open from the May 26, 2010 meeting. He then asked the public if anyone wished to speak on the item tonight that could not be present on June 23, 2010. There was no response. He then called for a motion to continue the item. Motion: Moved by Wimberly, seconded by Oaxaca,to continue the Review of Non-Construction Conditional Use Permit CUP99-43R to the June 23, 2010 meeting as requested by staff. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: FLETCHER, HOWDYSHELL, OAXACA, WIMBERLY NOES: NONE ABSENT: MUNOZ - carried Planning Commission Minutes -2- June 9, 2010 DIRECTOR'S REPORTS D. GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING Jennifer Nakamura, Associate Planner, presented a PowerPoint presentation regarding the concepts of sustainable landscaping and the current codes regarding landscaping. She mentioned there are more homeowners that have a desire for more "native" landscapes. She also presented alternative landscaping examples and then asked for feedback from the Commission. Following the presentation the Commission had general comments. They favored landscapes that offered dimension and texture with some hardscape blended in. The said they should consider policies of the spacing of plants and that there should be a sense of balance. Chairman Fletcher confirmed that the City is not going to tell homeowners how to landscape their yards and the amendment would affect existing homeowners. Ms. Nakamura said the purpose of the amendment is to determine how much to require and to work towards policies about the spacing of plants. She said it is not going to affect existing homeowners except for those who choose to implement this type of landscape. • James Troyer, Planning Director, noted that there have been some complaints and some Code Enforcement cases where residents tried to put in a sustainable landscape and took out their entire lawn. He said one example is an entire front yard of red pebbles. He said there are different levels of working towards sustainability in that some are using fountains and drought tolerant plants and others are not. He said they would like to get something on the books that is a uniform minimum that they can apply as a standard for all. Commissioner Howdyshell said they need balance and that to simply allow your grass to die is not acceptable either. She said if they have grass it should be maintained and if they want something more sustainable, then there should be a certain standard for that. Chairman Fletcher agreed that minimum standards are needed for some control but he expressed • concern about seniors that may not have the means to bring their property up to the minimum standard. He cited a recent example of an elderly gentleman that was unable to keep up his property. Ms. Nakamura said there would have to be a level of sensitivity about that. Commissioner Oaxaca asked if under the current code any review or approval is required if a homeowner rips out his lawn. He suggested we provide guidelines along with the definitions to help guide them so they do not create a problem. He wondered how we would deal with those types of situations. Ms. Nakamura said the City does not want to create an approval process for existing landscapes. She noted that If we do that, any landscape area over 2,500 square feet would be subject to the new Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance,which would make compliance more difficult for homeowners. She said they are working with the CVWD, Landscape Alliance, and IEUA so that staff can provide plans, materials and plant lists to homeowners that want to do it themselves. • Commissioner Howdyshell commented that these are great partnerships and mentioned the programs already in place at the Frontier Project (CVWD). She said by getting ideas from them, everyone wins. Planning Commission Minutes -3- June 9, 2010 Ms. Nakamura concurred and said that the information used for their Saturday classes will eventually be presented to staff and that staff will be trained so that staff can answer questions and it is not the aim of staff to reinvent the wheel. Chairman Fletcher asked if about 40% plant material is currently required. Ms. Nakamura responded that the current code does not have a minimum percentage. Commissioner Howdyshell supported balance in the code of live and non-living materials. She mentioned the challenge of dropped leaves and debris onto a rockscape. Chairman Fletcher noted that he prefers more dense landscaping that may be hard to water at times, but everyone has their own idea as to what is acceptable. He generally supported a minimum standard. Commissioner Oaxaca supported a balance with the rockscape and living materials including texture, elevation of plants, etc. Ms. Nakamura said staff is seeking the best way to give the residents good guidelines. Chairman Fletcher noted that because of economic pressures, more residents will try to figure out ways to save water and that with the tiered water rates, more residents will put in plants that use less water. He asked if there is a way to give a tax incentive for using synthetic turf. He thought that CVWD offered some type of reimbursement for this. He asked if the City could enact a tax break similar to the Mills Act. Ms. Nakamura said because of budget constraints, most incentive programs are being phased out. She mentioned that the retailers are getting on board with providing more plants that require less water. Steven Flower, Assistant City attorney said that would not be too feasible for residential properties. Ms. Nakamura mentioned a recent assembly bill that creates a district where residents can take out a loan from their property taxes to fund their landscaping projects and then repay the loan through their property taxes. She said this program is still out there on the horizon. She said the water agencies are looking for a funding source for this. Chairman Fletcher suggested a strong public outreach program similar to Healthy RC that employs minimum requirements. He mentioned the dramatic water savings reported resulting from the repair of the pipelines on a voluntary basis. He suggested a little control over the homes that go to pot and those that never get done. The Commissioners generally concurred that a full yard of lava rock would not be acceptable. Commissioner Oaxaca conflated that they need to stay away from an emotional subjective reaction and that essentially they are trying to create a usable code. He said there is the use of "native" • plants but they need to combine that with the drought tolerant nature of the plants and a balance of how they are used and that this should be looked at when homeowners go down this path of sustainable landscaping. Ms. Nakamura said this is a fair assessment and they need to look at whether they want to continue using the term sustainable landscaping. She mentioned some terms are interchangeable such as sustainable, California friendly landscape, native landscaping and drought tolerant landscaping. Planning Commission Minutes -4- June 9, 2010 Commissioner Oaxaca said the problem with the term sustainable is that it refers to something that keeps on living and that only occurs if it is taken care of. He felt the term "California Friendly"was more accurate than "sustainable". He said the native plants tend to grow in a more scattered fashion in nature and perhaps that should be looked at and some guidelines should be created. Commissioner Howdyshell commented that some will know that but not all and we should use terms that everyone will understand. Commissioner Oaxaca commented that there is the traditional landscape versus a "California" landscape and then there are the hard surfaces versus native plants. He said traditional landscapes typically call for a great deal of green material. • Ms. Nakamura said that staff is trying to be objective about something that is subjective and that not every homeowner will have the resources for professional landscaping. Commissioner Howdyshell asked if drought tolerant plants are available in the stores. Ms. Nakamura said a trend has started in that direction and that the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden is a good resource and plants can be purchased there. She mentioned the smaller nurseries are carrying more of these plants and it is supply and demand. . Commissioner Howdyshell supported the idea of partnering the garden experts at the stores with the folks from the Frontier Project. Ms. Nakamura asserted this is a great idea and she would mention it at her next meeting. She said they are already working with the various agencies and with several landscape architects. Commissioner Wimberly said there should be an outreach to make the public aware, so they will know that if they transition to this type of landscape that there is a minimum standard, someone will be looking at it, and that there potentially could be penalties if the minimum standard is not adhered to. Commissioner Howdyshell said water conservation is a big issue and noted the water bond that will be voted upon next fall. Commissioner Oaxaca asked if the concerns about invasive plants, root systems, leaves and debris and if this will be looked at as staff is developing the guideline language. Ms. Nakamura said staff could suggest plant lists that are more sensitive to those issues. She said staff would like to avoid placing homeowners in a situation that would create future problems. Chairman Fletcher said he supports the idea of a minimum landscape requirement and he said it should be generic enough and that the definition should include a mixture of plants. Mr. Troyer noted that most city codes define landscaping (particularly for front yards) using a percentage of lawn, a percentage of landscape and hardscape materials, etc. He said they might require 50% living plants/turf and another percentage of hardscape. He said it should be simple enough for Code Enforcement to"eyeball" it. He said we may want to prohibit some things but they want it simple and easy to apply and flexible for residents. Commissioner Oaxaca asked if they could be supplied with examples of text from other municipalities to review from desert communities that have been actively dealing with alternative landscapes. Planning Commission Minutes -5- June 9, 2010 Ms. Nakamura said that would be worth looking at. Chairman Fletcher remarked that he does not want a homeowners'association type requirements or what they may have in Orange County. Ms. Nakamura said the focus is to help homeowners be successful and to educate them in California friendly landscapes and that we have enough in place. She said we will host a future joint meeting with the City Council and the Planning Commission for further discussion. Chairman Fletcher noted that all of their discussion has revolved around residential development. He asked if there will be discussion about commercial and industrial properties. He mentioned that when he toured"The Preserve"they noted that there were downspouts from buildings that emptied into a bio-swale to retain the runoff. Ms. Nakamura said we will see more of that in new construction and we would encourage it for existing development. Commissioner Howdyshell mentioned a new development by KB Homes in the high desert that sports all desert style landscaping. Chairman Fletcher noted that the church approved earlier this evening originally proposed a block and turf driveway entry. He asked why that proposal was not accepted by the Fire Department. Ms. Nakamura speculated that the proposed material would not support the weight of a fire truck and therefore was not allowed. The Commissioners concurred that it was a great presentation. Ms. Nakamura said staff will come back to the Commission at a future meeting for more direction. The secretary received and filed a copy of the PowerPoint presentation. ? k k k PUBLIC COMMENTS Ed Dietl said these landscapes are eclectic and that they can be either wonderful or a nightmare. He said he knows of some that are beautiful two months of the year and for the rest of the year they look like a fire hazard. He commented on the trash and debris on the Route 66 sidewalk easement that fronts the historic gas station. He asked what it takes to get the City to clean up its own mess. He said neither the property owner nor the City are doing anything about it. COMMISSION BUSINESS • James Troyer, Planning Director, responded and said that staff will look into his concern and that staff would determine if it is a Code Enforcement issue. Commissioner Howdyshell exclaimed how impressed she is with how the San Sevaine Villas project looks. She said it is workforce housing and it looks really sharp. She said she would like a tour. She also mentioned that she attended the soft grand opening of the new Sonic drive-in restaurant that the Commission approved last year. She said it was great and many people were there. Planning Commission Minutes -6- June 9, 2010 Chairman Fletcher noted that Omaha Jack's has great clam chowder on Fridays. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Moved by Howdyshell, seconded by Wimberly, carried 4-0-1 (Munoz absent),to adjourn. The Planning Commission adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ,/�"U " �• �f mes R. Troyer, AICP Secretary Approved: June 23, 2010 Planning Commission Minutes -7- June 9, 2010