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Home My WebLink About2005/02/23 - Minutes - PC-HPC CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting February 23, 2005 Chairman Macias called the Regular Meeting of the City of Rancho Cucamonga Planning Commission to order at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was held in the Rains Room at Rancho Cucamonga Civic Center, 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California. Chairman Macias then led in the pledge of allegiance. ROLL CALL COMMISSIONERS: PRESENT: Richard Fletcher, Rich Macias, Larry McNiel,Cristine McPhail, Pam Stewart ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Brad Buller, City Planner, Dan Coleman, Principal Planner, Kevin Ennis, Assistant City Attorney; Douglas Fenn, Associate Planner, Donald Granger, Associate Planner, Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer, Louis LeBlanc, Assistant Planner, Gail Sanchez, Planning Commission Secretary; Rozalynne Thompson, Contract Planner ANNOUNCEMENTS Brad Buller, City Planner, asked that Item A be pulled from the Consent Calendar to be heard with Item B. Dan Coleman, Principal Planner, introduced Assistant Planner Louis LeBlanc and Contract Planner Rozalynne Thompson. CONSENT CALENDAR A. DEVELOPMENT REVIEW DRC2004-00714 - CENTEX HOMES - A review of site plan and elevations for 66 single-family homes on 19.8 acres of land in the Low-Medium Residential District (4-8 dwelling units per acre) of the Etiwanda Specific Plan, located on the west side of Etiwanda Avenue, approximately 1,000 feet south of Base Line Road-APN: 0227-171-05 thru 07. Related Files: Tentative Tract Maps SUBTT16301 andSUBTT16445,Variances DRC2003- 01012 and DRC2004-00991, and Conditional Use Permit DCR2003-00682. Mitigated Negative Declarations were adopted by the Planning Commission for Tentative Tract Maps SUBTT16301 and SUBTT16445 on December 10, 2003, and January 14, 2004, respectively. The California Environmental Quality Act provides that no further environmental review or Negative Declaration is required for subsequent projects or minor revisions to projects within the scope of a previous Negative Declaration. PUBLIC HEARINGS B. VARIANCE DRC2004-00991 -CENTEX HOMES-A request to allow a greater than 8-foot high combination wall along the south property line for certain parcels in a residential zone where the Development Code allows a maximum height of 6 feet in the Low-Medium Residential District (4-8 dwelling units per acre)of the Etiwanda Specific Plan, located on the west side of Etiwanda Avenue approximately 1,000 feet south of Base Line Road - APN: 0227-171-05 thru 07. • Related Files: Tentative Tract Maps SUBTT16301 and SUBTT16445, Development Review DRC2004-00714, Variance DRC2003-01012, and Conditional Use Permit DRC2003-00682. Douglas Fenn, Associate Planner, presented the staff report. Commissioner McNiel asked if the wall would be consistent with the existing wall. Mr. Fenn replied affirmatively. Commissioner Fletcher asked where the highest point would be. • Chairman Macias opened the public hearing. • James Vogel, Project Manager, Centex Homes, 2280 Wardlow Circle, Suite 150, Corona, indicated the wall would be highest (up to 11.3 feet) on Lots 17 and 16, a total distance of approximately 80 feet. • Commissioner McNiel asked if the adjacent property owner was in agreement. Mr. Vogel stated he has a letter from the adjacent property owner that they are in agreement. Hearing no further testimony, Chairman Macias closed the public hearing. Commissioner McNiel felt it is a good resolution to avoid potential problems between adjacent property owners. Motion: Moved by McNiel, seconded by Fletcher, to adopt the resolutions approving Development Review DRC2004-00714 and Variance DRC2004-00991. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: FLE T CHER, MACIAS, McNIEL, McPHAIL, STEWART NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE - carried NEW BUSINESS C. PRELIMINARY REVIEW DRC2005-00097 - ETIWANDA SCHOOL DISTRICT - A request to • review the site acquisition and proposed construction of an elementary school for approximately 600 students on 10 gross acres of land in the Very Low Residential District (.1 to 2 dwelling units per acre)to be located on the north side of Banyan Street, approximately 2,500 feet east of East Avenue -APN: 0225-131-11. Dan Coleman, Principal Planner, presented the staff report. Commissioner McNiel stated the general area has a lot of watershed areas and percolating beds. He asked if there could be any threat to students given the type of rains that occurred in the past month. Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer, responded that the school is required to prepare a drainage report and construct local and Master Plan System 6 drainage facilities. He said they must also obtain approval from San Bemardino County Flood Control District. He noted there is currently an earthen ditch and some other developers have gotten clearance form the Flood Control District and FEMA for Planning Commission Minutes -2- February 23, 2005 development. He observed they might have to construct some drainage facilities north of the school property." .. . . . -• Commissioner McNiel stated he would hate to see a tragedy occur and he urged the School District to be very cautious. Chairman Macias invited public comments. Doug Claflin, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, Etiwanda School District, 6061 East Avenue, Etiwanda, stated he was available to answer questions. He boriimerited there are few schools in the School District left to be built in the Rancho Cucamonga area. He stated the School District completed many of the environmental studies and looks forward to'building in the future. He observed that Pulte Homes is to make improvements to the drainage north of Wilson Avenue. Commissioner'McNiel asked the probability of building the site. • ' Mr. Claflin replied it depends upon the viability following the drainage studies and their ability to meet the requirements. He stated the school will be needed to relieve overcrowding and to handle students from the Pulte Home development and the homes to be built in the annexation areas of Etiwanda Creek,'Henderson Creek, Richland Pinehurst; and Tracey. •'.v - Commissioner McNiel stated the School District is tribe commended for having a good reputation for schools. There were no additional public comments. . ' Commissioner Stewart believed the staff report was very complete. She concurred with staffs comments and also agreed with Commissioner's McNiel's comments regarding the potential flooding issue. She emphasized that school construction should not be completed prior to having a safe route to school. Commissioner Fletcher concurred. He asked if there are equestrian trails adjacent to or contiguous to the site. Mr. Coleman replied a trail is planned along Banyan Street. • Brad Buller, City Planner, commented that Etiwanda Creek Park extends along the eastern boundary of the school site and there may be an equestrian trail running along the Flood Control channel, but there would not necessarily be a trail that would interrupt or be a part of the school site development. He stated that if there is a trail,•it would most likely be in the right of way of the channel. He observed an equestrian project was originally identified as being at the back end of the Etiwanda Creek Park, but the equestrian center was moved to land along the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power right of way in conjunction with the recent annexations. Commissioner McPhail stated the City has always been very wise in planning for joint use withparks and school sites and she felt this would be a good location so long as the issues are addressed. • Motion:, Moved by McNiel, seconded by Fletcher, to find that the school construction conforms to the General Plan. Motion carried by the following vote: • AYES: • FLETCHER_ , MACIAS, McNIEL, McPHAIL, STEWART NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE • - carried - Planning Commission Minutes -3- February 23, 2005 PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments at this time. COMMISSION BUSINESS Brad Buller, City Planner, observed there was correspondence in front of the Commissioners from Steve and Joan Knecht in relationship to the dog kennel issue. He stated it had recently been discussed at a City Council meeting and the Knechts have now submitted a request for an extension of the time period in which they would have to reduce their number of dogs to the maximum of three on the site. He said it is a matter before the City Council. He said the City Council originally took action in June 2004 and gave them six months to comply but it was brought back in January and enforcement was deferred another six weeks, which will be ending soon. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Moved by McNiel, seconded by Stewart,carried 5-0,to adjoum. The Planning Commission adjourned at 7:25 p.m. Res! - - ully submitted, :rad Buller Secretary Approved: March 9, 2005 1 Planning Commission Minutes -4- February 23, 2005