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Home My WebLink About2009/03/11 - Minutes - PC-HPC CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting March 11, 2009 Chairman Fletcher called the Regular Meeting of the City of Rancho Cucamonga Planning Commission to order at 7:31 p.m. The meeting was held in the Council Chambers at Rancho Cucamonga Civic Center, 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, Califomia. ROLL CALL COMMISSIONERS: PRESENT: Richard Fletcher, Frances Howdyshell, Lou Munoz, Pam Stewart, Ray Wimberly ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Candyce Burnett, Senior Planner; Steven Flower, Assistant City Attorney; James Troyer, Planning Director; Mayuko Nakajima, Assistant Planner; Denise Sink, Office Specialist II ANNOUNCEMENTS None t r ' APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: Moved by Munoz, seconded by Howdyshell, carried 5-0,to approve the minutes of February 25, 2009. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND CONSIDERATION OF DRC2008-00116 — VOLUNTARY/INCENTIVE BASED GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM ORDINANCE(CITYWIDE)— The proposed Voluntary/Incentive Based Green Building Program Ordinance will not have any potential significant impacts on the environment and is therefore, not subject to further review pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Section 15061(b)(3). Staff has prepared a Notice of Exemption for consideration. This item will be forwarded to the City Council for final action. CONTINUANCE TO AN UNSPECIFIED DATE REQUESTED James Troyer, Planning Director, presented the staff report. Motion: The Commissioners agreed for continuance to an unspecified date. NEW BUSINESS B. THE PRESENTATION, REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF THE DRAFT GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE GENERAL PLAN UPDATE Mr. Troyer presented a power point presentation, and asked the Commission if they had any over all impressions. Vice Chairman Munoz commented that he felt the Guiding Principles were very well thought out. He said it is a good document and stands very well as it is, although, one element seemed invisible as a result of the surveys taken from the public, and that is that the public transit systems should have been more clearly addressed according to the surveys taken. In supporting the environmental plan with public transportation this would affect the future residents and workers of the City. He stated that the surveys clearly stated a concern for the traffic and the traffic in the future. He commented that the Guiding Principals should effectively address the traffic issues, and that mass transit is imperative to the future development and the environmental goals that are set forth in the Principles. Commissioner Stewart commented that she has sat on the GPAC Committee and felt that the comments made by Commissioner Munoz were very accurate and should be addressed,but perhaps under the "Spirit of Tomorrow,"which is another Guiding Principal. Chairman Fletcher thanked Staff for all their hard work presenting the Roadshow and taking it out to the public speaking about Healthy RC and representing our heritage. He stated all these items are important, and when the Planning Director talks about Stake Holders he is referring to everyone in our City, including all the students in the audience, bringing in new people and new ideas. He extended an invitation to attend the Joint City Council Commission workshop. Commissioner Stewart extended an invitation to attend another meeting, which would be the Land Use Open House, Saturday, May 16th at Central Park from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon. She commented that all this information can be found on the intemet and that you can locate a lot of valuable information there. Commissioner Howdyshell extended the invitation to the faculty, i.e. teachers present at the meeting, expressing the importance of passing on valuable information to the students and that the students are the future. Commissioner Wimberly also extended the invitation to attend the Joint Meeting to be held Thursday March 12, 2009, located at the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center at 6:30 p.m. * 4 i k t C. A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDING THE CITY COUNCIL INITIATE A TEMPORARY MODIFICATION OF THE TEMPORARY SIGN ORDINANCE James Troyer, Planning Director, presented the staff report. Commissioner Howdyshell stated that she is in agreement with Staffs recommendation and would like to have a report bought back to the Commission in 45 to 60 days. Commissioner Wimberly concurred and stated that the Commission had explored many possible extensive solutions, especially with the real estate agencies. Chairman Fletcher commented that he did not view the real estate industry as having a problem with the signage because they were given a little more leeway with the Sign Ordinance. He commented on the severe economical struggles and that the small businesses are just hanging on with what they Planning Commission Minutes -2- March 11, 2009 have. He commented that our economy should take precedence over some visual Gutter. He stated that in no way does he want to eliminate the Standards or the existing Sign Ordinance that we currently have, but would like to see a solution so that if the small business need to hang a sign out t or hang banners to bring in revenue, that we shouldn't regulate the small complaints at this time, such as too much verbiage on a sign or having a banner hang a little longer than it was permitted for. He stated that once the economy improves that we can go back to the original Standards. Commissioner Howdyshell commented that just recently she had observed a small business having a sale and had approximately 5 to 6 signs in front of the business on a small strip of grass. She stated that although we want to help the small business in these times of economical struggle that there should be some type of conformity. She stated that if the Commission relaxes on the Standards that the business will abuse the Ordinance and plaster the signs all over to where they would be out of control. Commissioner Stewart stated that the Commission has worked very hard to get where we are now with regulating the Sign Ordinance. She stated, although she has compassion for the economy,she doesn't feel additional signs or one more banner will drive that much more business to that location. She stated that education will go a long way and agreed with Staff. Vice Chairman Munoz stated that he supports Staffs' idea by allowing extensions, education and possible workshops to assist the small businesses. He stated he would like to a report of the progress and to bring it back to the Commission. Mr. Troyer stated that the Planning Department could take pictures of existing business and talk with the business owners out in the field, work with Code Enforcement and come back with a report in 45 to 60 days. Chairman Fletcher commented that there are many small businesses tucked away from the streets and would like to have some type of signs located in the front where the public would have a better view. He commented that he thought the gesture of being relaxed during the economical struggle would be a small gesture and requested to pass it on to the City Council for direction. Mr. Troyer stated that in order to forward it to City Council the adoption of the Resolution would be in order. He stated that would not be his recommendation at this time, but to come back to the Planning Commission with a status report 45 to 60 days. He said that if the Commission wanted to adopt the Ordinance or Resolution after presenting the report to the Commission, the Commission could do so at that time. Commissioner Howdyshell stated she is in favor of the education from staff to the businesses and to hold off on forwarding the item to City Council at this time. Commissioner Stewart concurred with Commissioner Howdyshell and was in agreement that there is a lot of work we can do at the Planning and Commission level before anything is forwarded to City Council. Chairman Fletcher requested that a memo be sent to City Council about what has been discussed. Mr. Troyer stated that a memo would be sent to City Council. Motion: Moved by Munoz, seconded by Howdyshell, carried 5-0, to take no action on the Resolution at this time. The Commission directed staff to send Council a memorandum and to bring back a istatus report in 60 days. Planning Commission Minutes -3- March 11, 2009 PUBLIC COMMENTS None COMMISSION BUSINESS Commissioner Howdyshell announced that the local library will be holding a telethon March 3rd through March 5th and it will be televised. Commissioner Wimberly commented on the three libraries available to everyone. He invited everyone to come out and make a donation or to call in and make a donation. He reminded everyone to attend the Joint Meeting March 12th at the Cultural Center in the Celebration Hall. Vice Chairman Munoz stated that the Commission will be involved in a trivia challenge during the telethon, and welcomed everyone to come and support the Planning Commission. He also commented on the color scheme of the new Fresh and Easy store and how bright the new green is. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Moved by Stewart, seconded by Howdyshell, carried 5-0, to adjourn. The Planning Commission adjourned at 8:10 p.m. 1 Respectfully submitted, �J/ • Ja s R. TroyerAICP�` Se rotary Approved: April 8, 2009 • 1 Planning Commission Minutes -4- March 11, 2009