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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001/10/24 - Minutes - PC-HPC CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting October 24, 2001 Chairman McNiel 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 Council Chamber at Rancho Cucamonga Civic Center, 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California. Chairman McNiel then led in the pledge of allegiance. ROLL CALL COMMISSIONERS: PRESENT: Rich Macias, John Mannerino, Larry McNiel, Pam Stewart, Peter Tolstoy ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Brad Buller, City Planner; Dan Coleman, Principal Planner, Linda Daniels, Redevelopment Agency Director; Kevin Ennis, Assistant City Attorney; Douglas Fenn, Associate Planner; Nancy Fong, Senior Planner; Gail Sanchez, Planning Commission Secretary; Joe Stofa, Associate Engineer ANNOUNCEMENTS Brad Buller, City Planner, indicated staff would like to check work schedules for the Commissioners for late November and late December. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: Moved by Tolstoy, seconded by Macias, carried 5-0, to approve the minutes of October 10, 2001. CONSENT CALENDAR A. RANCHO REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 3 — RANCHO CUCAMONGA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY-Consideration of a resolution recommending to the Rancho Cucamonga Redevelopment Agency that the proposed Redevelopment Plan for Amendment No. 3 to the Rancho Redevelopment Project be approved and making its report and recommendation as to the conformity of the Redevelopment Plan with the General Plan. B. DISPOSITION OF CITY-OWNED PROPERTY ADJACENT TO GARCIA DRIVE(REFERENCE: TRACT 15711-2)—FORECAST HOMES—A request to find the quitclaiming of Lot"A"of Tract 15711-2 in conformance with the General Plan—APN: 1100-141-84. Related file: Tract 16181. Motion: Moved by Mannerino, seconded by Stewart, carried 5-0, to adopt the Consent Calendar. NEW BUSINESS C. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW DRC2001-00393-HOGLE- IRELAND, INC. -A request to develop a 111,042 square foot, two-story office building on 12.2 acres of land in the Industrial Park District (Subarea 7), located at the southwest corner of Foothill Boulevard and Elm Avenue -APN: 208-352-64 and portions of 62 and 70. Commissioner Mannerino reported that he has represented the seller of the property. He noted the seller is not the applicant but indicated he was recusing himself from hearing the item,as the escrow on the property had not closed. Douglas Fenn, Associate Planner, presented the staff report. Commissioner Tolstoy asked if the entire building is for one company. Mr. Fenn confirmed that it is. Commissioner McNiel observed that there had been discussions at the Design Review Committee meeting regarding the property at the west end. He asked if there had been any resolution regarding whether parking is needed on the adjacent restaurant pad. Mr. Fenn stated the portion on the west end is not part of this project and this project is over-parked. Chairman McNiel asked if there will be any treatment of the property. Mr. Fenn replied that when the current project is built out, there will be a dead spot. Chairman McNiel asked if it would be possible to get landscaping or xeriscaping. Brad Buller, City Planner, asked if the center was originally conditioned to hydroseed that portion. Mr. Fenn responded negatively. Mr. Buller noted the pad at the other end needs to be hydroseeded and he felt it would be possible to have the west pad hydroseeded as well. Chairman McNiel invited public comment. Pam Steele, Hogle-Ireland, Inc., 4200 Latham Street, Suite B, Riverside, stated she represented Mercury Insurance. She indicated they had originally hoped to use the small portion at the west end, but the owner decided not to sell it to them. She said they do not have control of the property and Mimi's Cafe leases the property where they are located. Greg Peterson, 11611 San Vicente, Los Angeles, stated he represented the owner, Foothill Properties. He indicated they will probably lay asphalt on the pad and use it for additional parking for Mimi's Cafe. Chairman McNiel stated he was looking for erosion and dust control if they do not asphalt that portion. He did not think it could be used for anything other than parking for Mimi's Cafe and he felt something must be done to avoid a dead spot. He wanted some assurance there would be erosion and dust control. Mr. Buller indicated the applicant was being conditioned to hydroseed the pad to the east and he would encourage the property owner to apply for a Minor Development Review to finish the area to the west as a parking lot and finish the work at the same time or at least hydroseed the pad. Planning Commission Minutes -2- October 24, 2001 Commissioner Tolstoy agreed that the area needs to be hydroseeded at the very least. Ms. Steele indicated they had questioned Engineering Condition 2c and City Traffic Engineer Jon Gillespie subsequently recommended approval of the site plan as shown. Mr. Fenn provided a memorandum from Mr. Gillespie stating that the existing driveway is in substantial compliance and recommending approval as shown. Ms. Steele stated their corporate realty consultant, architect, and engineer were available to answer questions. She introduced John Sutton from Mercury Insurance. 'John Sutton, Assistant to Chief Executive Officer, Mercury Insurance Group, Los Angeles, gave a brief history of the company. He said they are currently headquartered in Brea with 1,700 people and felt they should expand their operations in San Bernardino County. He noted they anticipate they will initially rent out some of the office space. He reported they will not sell insurance or settle claims from this office but plan to utilize part of the space as a company-wide training facility. Commissioner Macias felt the architecture is outstanding. He asked what attracted them to Rancho Cucamonga. Mr. Sutton responded that he had looked at a number of other communities. He said when he first came to Rancho Cucamonga; he met with the City Manager, City Planner and other staff members and got the impression that City staff would be willing to work with them. Rob Bowman, General Manager, Mimi's Cafe, stated they were looking forward to having Mercury Insurance next to them. There were no further public comments. Commissioner Tolstoy felt the project would be a welcome addition to the City. He hoped Mimi's Cafe and the hotel would benefit from the addition. Commissioner Macias felt the project looks great. Commissioner Stewart agreed. She noted it would bring jobs to the City. She commented that there had been discussions regarding directional signs at the Design Review Committee and asked if that had been addressed. Mr. Fenn responded the signs would be handled when the applicant submits a sign program for approval. Motion: Moved by Tolstoy, seconded by Macias, to issue a Negative Declaration and adopt the resolution approving Development Review DRC2001-00393. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: MACIAS, MCNIEL, STEWART, TOLSTOY NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE ABSTAIN: MANNERINO - carried D. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW DRC2001-00497-HOGLE- IRELAND - A request to construct a 405,940 square foot industrial building on 19.24 acres of land in the General Industrial District(Subarea 5), located west of Hermosa Avenue and north of 6th Street - APN: 209-211-30 and 31. Related files: General Plan Amendment 00-04, Development Code Amendment 00-05, and Development Review DRCDR 00-65 Staff prepared Planning Commission Minutes -3- October 24, 2001 a Negative Declaration of environmental impacts for consideration in conjunction with General Plan Amendment 00-04 and Development Code Amendment 00-05. A Mitigated Negative Declaration was issued on June 27, 2001, for this site. Douglas Fenn, Associate Planner, presented the staff report. Chairman McNiel invited public comments. Pam Steele, Hogle-Ireland, Inc., 4200 Latham Street, Suite B, Riverside, stated the architect and property developer were available to answer questions. She concurred with the conditions. There were no additional public comments. Commissioner Macias felt it was a straightforward application. Chairman McNiel felt it is a good looking building which will be a nice addition to the community. Motion: Moved by Macias, seconded by Mannerino, to adopt the resolution approving Development Review DRC2001-00497. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: MACIAS, MANNERINO, MCNIEL, STEWART, TOLSTOY NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE - carried DIRECTOR'S REPORTS E. FOOTHILL BOULEVARD/ROUTE 66 VISUAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN—A review of the design concepts for the Foothill Boulevard/Route 66 Visual Improvement Plan. Nancy Fong, Senior Planner introduced the design consultants, who showed a power point presentation. Mark Brodeur and Bob Klekner, Urban Design Studies, 14725 Alton Parkway, Irvine,talked about the history of Route 66. They hoped the businesses along Route 66 would rally around the theme of the program. They also provided exhibits of the locations of the entry statements and activity centers, monument and activity center design concepts, and streetscape furniture palette, Commissioner Mannerino asked if the artwork was conceptual. Mr. Brodeur confirmed that it is. Commissioner Mannerino felt the Sycamore Inn is one of the most significant buildings along Route 66. He asked if they contemplate integrating that building and identifying its significance. Ms. Fong indicated the Visual Improvement Plan is mostly regarding streetscape. She said theywill be looking at how to expand the document. Mr. Brodeur indicated a historic plaque or mural may be used for the Sycamore Inn. Chairman McNiel stated that another local community in the area taking advantage of the Route 66 identity and he did not want to have Rancho Cucamonga miss the opportunity to do the same. Commissioner Macias asked how the program will be implemented. Planning Commission Minutes -4- October 24, 2001 Brad Buller, City Planner, stated the plan will be a guide for developers. He felt some capital improvement funds or RDA funds may be used and stated City Council will make the decisions regarding budgeting funds. He thought there may be future grants, community activities for art, and budgeted funds for street improvements. He felt the boulevard will always be in transition. Commissioner Tolstoy believed the City is going after Caltrans'relinquishment of Foothill Boulevard and he asked if this project would have to wait for that to occur. Mr. Buller indicated that some elements can be implemented without opposition from Caltrans. He confirmed that Rancho Cucamonga and Fontana are pursuing relinquishment by Caltrans. Commissioner Mannerino stated that the Route 66 Rendezvous is a big moneymaker for San Bemardino and he thought it would be wonderful to show off Rancho Cucamonga's downtown area by bringing that attraction to our City. Mr. Buller stated City and Redevelopment Agency staff would be working with the Chamber of Commerce to promote the benefits to businesses of taking advantage of the Route 66 identity. Motion: Moved by Mannerino, seconded by Tolstoy, to recommend approval of the Foothill Boulevard/Route 66 Visual Improvement Plan and to direct staff to initiate necessary amendments. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: MACIAS, MANNERINO, MCNIEL, STEWART, TOLSTOY NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE - carried PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments. COMMISSION BUSINESS Brad Buller, City Planner, stated that a memorandum had been given to each of the Commissioners regarding the Design Review program. He asked that they review the memorandum and advise staff of their comments. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Moved by Mannerino, seconded by Macias, carried 5-0, to adjourn. The Planning Commission adjoumed at 7:59 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ■ „_i!/ Bra, :..�l=r - Se etary Planning Commission Minutes -5- October 24, 2001