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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009/01/14 - Minutes - PC-HPC CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA PLANNING COMMISSION,MINUTES Regular Meeting January 14, 2009 • Chairman Fletcher called the Regular Meeting of the City of Rancho Cucamonga Planning Commission to order at 7:40 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, Pam Stewart; Ray Wimberly ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Daniel Correa, Assistant Planner; Steven Flower, Assistant City Attorney; Steve Fowler,Assistant Planner; Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer; Mayuko Nakajima,Assistant Planner; Corkran Nicholson,Assistant Planning Director; Lois Schrader, Planning Commission Secretary; Denise Sink, Office Specialist II; James Troyer, Planning Director; Tabe Van der Zwaag, Associate Planner ANNOUNCEMENTS • None APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: Moved by Wimberly, seconded by Stewart, carried 5-0, to approve the minutes of December 10, 2008 as amended by Stewart, page 4. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT - DRC2008-00512 - TAMCO STEEL - JACK BURDETTE - A request to demolish and replace two industrial buildings: First a 6,500 square foot bag house air filtering system will be demolished and replaced with a 16,781 square foot bag house air filtering system. Second an 11,778 square foot electrical substation building will be demolished to allow for the construction of a 21,840 square foot electrical substation building. This will allow for an increase of production at the existing TAMCO Steel Plant on approximately 80 acres of land in Sub area 15 of the Industrial Specific Plan in the Heavy Industrial(HI) Development District, located at 12459-B Arrow Route APN: 0229-121-35. Staff has prepared a Mitigated Negative Declaration of environmental impacts for consideration. Steve Fowler, Assistant Planner, presented the staff report. Chairman Fletcher opened the public hearing. Jack Burdette, project manager for Tamco Steel, introduced himself and said he is available for questions. Chairman Fletcher asked if with greater efficiency and with increased production, would there also be more employees in the future. Mr. Burdette said that some additional employees would be added but not proportionate to the added tonnage of steel production. Seeing and hearing no further comment, Chairman Fletcher closed the public hearing. Commissioner Howdyshell complimented staff on the detailed report. She said it included a great amount of technical information and she did not see anything negative about the request. Commissioner Wimberly remarked that the technology they are using is remarkable and he sees no problem with it. Commissioner Stewart remarked that the technology is significant and that some of this is so they can comply with State and Federal regulations and it is a straightforward project. Vice Chairman Munoz said this is a good thing in that it will improve the air quality and increase production and the number of jobs. He expressed support. Chairman Fletcher said he agrees with staffs recommendation and commended the applicant for expanding their capacity and efficiency in this economy; it will be a benefit in the future. Motion: Moved by Munoz, seconded by Stewart, to adopt the resolution approving Conditional Use Permit DRC2008-00512 and to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration of environmental impacts. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: FLETCHER, HOWDYSHELL, MUNOZ, STEWART, WIMBERLY NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE - carried B. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND TERRA VISTA COMMUNITY PLAN AMENDMENT DRC2008-00761 - LEWIS OPERATING CORP. -A request to reduce the front-to-front building separation from 30 feet to 16 feet and the side-to-side building separation requirement from 15 feet to 8 feet for two story buildings within the Medium-High Residential Development District (14-24 d/u per acre) of the Terra Vista Community Plan. Staff has prepared a Mitigated Negative Declaration of environmental impacts for consideration. C. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND TENTATIVE TRACT MAP SUBTT18710 - LEWIS OPERATING CORP. - A request to subdivide a partially developed lot of 20.69 acres into two lots for condominium purposes within the Medium-High (MH) Development District(14-24 d/u per acre) of the Terra Vista Community Plan on the north side of Church Street and east of Milliken Avenue -APN 0227-532-16. Staff has prepared a Mitigated Negative Declaration of environmental impacts for consideration. D. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN REVIEW DRC2008- 00306 - LEWIS OPERATING CORP. - A request to construct a multi-family housing development consisting of 241 units on 15.69 acres of land within the Medium-High (MH) (14- Planning Commission Minutes -2- January 14, 2009 24 d/u per acre) Development District of the Terra Vista Community Plan on the north side of Church Street and east of Milliken Avenue — APN: 0227-532-16. Staff has prepared a Mitigated Negative Declaration of environmental impacts for consideration. E. VARIANCE-DRC2008-00762-LEWIS OPERATING CORP. -A request to construct walls with a calculated height of up to 10 feet high related to the development of 241 unit condominiums (DRC2008-00306) located within the Medium-High (MH) Development District (14-24 d/u per acre)of the Terra Vista Community Plan on the north side of Church Street and east of Milliken Avenue -APN 0227-532-16. Tabe van der Zwaag,Associate Planner, presented the staff report and a power point presentation on the proposed project. Commissioner Howdyshell complimented staff on the great presentation. She asked how many units would be single-story. Mr. van der Zwaag estimated one per block. Vice Chairman Munoz concurred that it was a great report. Chairman Fletcher opened the public hearing. John Young of Lewis Operating Corp. estimated 18 single story units on the site. He gave a powerpoint presentation highlighting the amenities, building design and architecture (created a Spanish enclave), the paired product concept, the generous square footage of the units, a self managed parking program, and special landscape features. Commissioner Howdyshell asked for a description of the wind and rain gardens. ' • Rick Polhamus of Sightscapes stated the rain garden is to inspire and it is not just a water basin;the rain trickles in and then perks into the water pathways from decorative heads and there will be signage about water re-use. He said the wind garden has long ornamental grasses that rustle in the wind like a wheat field. He reported that it also features kinetic art that spins and moves in the wind, demonstrating how wind can generate energy and it includes large boulders and pathways. Chairman Fletcher confirmed there would not be a huge windchime. He also asked about the depth of the water. He asked about their rental percentages and the lowering of rents. Mr. Polhamus assured him that was not the case, no huge chimes will be installed. He said the water would be about 4 inches deep. He reported that they have a goal to be about 95% filled and they have reduced their rents over the last six months. He said this is a very desirable City to live in and their apartments are fairly high-end. He said they are already renovating their older properties to make sure the assets they own are kept in good condition. Commissioner Howdyshell complimented Bob Karatz, Director of Broker Relations, of their organization, because he always promotes their rental properties and gets the word out to all the various real estate organizations. Commissioner Wimberly asked if they perform price comparisons and if they would consider roll backs. Mr. Young said they are considering a program similar to the airlines whereby the rental price is re- set everyday. He said they are getting away from the other incentives and it will be based upon demand. Planning Commission Minutes -3- January 14, 2009 Chairman Fletcher asked about his experience with tenant utilization of all those amenities. Mr. Young said at Homecoming it is pretty strong, some are more used than others such as the pool and fitness center. He said they are evaluating some facilities and programs. He said they use security cameras to evaluate the use of their fitness center and they may consider expanding the current area for that to accommodate the new added units. Chairman Fletcher closed the public hearing. • Commissioner Howdyshell said she had visited the community several times and that it is a first class development. Commissioner Wimberly said he looks forward to the next phase being completed and agreed that it is a first class job. Commissioner Stewart said they went to DRC and it came out great. She liked the addition of the wind and rain gardens. Vice Chairman Munoz agreed and he gave the applicant compliments for taking care of the issues. Chairman Fletcher said it is a nice project. He confirmed that the applicant has read and agrees with all the conditions of approval. Mr. Young indicated that they do agree. Motion: Moved by Munoz, seconded by Stewart, to adopt the resolution recommending approval of Terra Vista Community Plan Amendment to be forwarded to the City Council for final action and to adopt the resolutions approving Tentative Tract Map SUBTT18710, Development and Design Review DRC2008-00306 and Variance DRC2008-00762 and to adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental impacts as presented by staff. Carried by the following vote: AYES: FLETCHER, HOWDYSHELL, MUNOZ, STEWART, WIMBERLY NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE - carried F. CONSIDERATION OF APPEAL OF A PLANNING DIRECTOR DECISION TO DENY CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT DRC2008-00616-MILLIKEN MARKET(NIDAL SAMAAN) -An appeal of a Planning Director decision to deny an application for a convenience market store with sales of distilled spirits, located on the northeast corner of Milliken Avenue and 4th Street, within the Industrial Park District, Subarea 12, at 9635 Milliken Avenue. CONTINUED FROM DECEMBER 10, 2008. Chairman Fletcher noted that this is a continued hearing. Daniel Correa, Assistant Planner gave the staff report. Mike Rue stated he is here on behalf of the applicant. He said they are in agreement of all the conditions of approval. Chairman Fletcher closed the public hearing. Planning Commission Minutes -4- January 14, 2009 Motion: Moved by Munoz, seconded by Wimberly, to adopt the resolution of approval as presented by staff for Conditional Use Permit DRC2008-00616. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: FLETCHER, HOWDYSHELL, MUNOZ, STEWART, WIMBERLY NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE - carried PUBLIC COMMENTS None COMMISSION BUSINESS AND COMMENT Vice Chairman Munoz complimented staff on their work on the historic projects and also thanked the Director for adding staff towards this effort. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Moved by Munoz, seconded by Stewart. Carried 5-0, to adjourn. The Planning Commission adjourned at 8:30 p.m. to a workshop to be held in the Rains Room. The workshop adjourned at 9:40 p.m. and those minutes appear separately. Respectfully submitted, J es R. Troyer, AICF 0 kS cretary Approved: January 28, 2009 Planning Commission Minutes -5- January 14, 2009