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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000/04/12 - Minutes - PC-HPC CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting April 12, 2000 Chairman McNiel called the Regular Meeting of the City of Rancho Cucamonga Planning Commission to order at 7:03 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; Kevin Ennis, Assistant City Attorney; Nancy Fong, Senior Planner, Rick Gomez; Community Development Director, Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer; Brent Count, Associate Planner; Debra Meier, Contract Planner; Lois Schrader, Planning Secretary; Rudy Zeledon, Assistant Planner ANNOUNCEMENTS Brad Buller, City Planner, announced that Consent Items A and B have companion Items shown as Public Hearing Items C and D and that the Consent items would be presented by staff in conjunction with their related public hearing applications. Mr. Buller added that Items E, F and G would also be heard together. Mr. Buller announced that there would be an oral report in regard to the Central Park presented by Mr. Rick Gomez, Community Development Director following the General Plan Update report. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: Moved by Mannerino, seconded by Stewart, carried 4-0-1 (Macias abstained), to approve the minutes of March 22, 2000. Motion: Moved by Mannerino, seconded by Stewart, carried 4-0-1 (Macias abstained), to approve the minutes of the Adjourned Meeting March 22, 2000. CONSENT CALENDAR A. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW 99-72— RYLAND HOMES —The design review of building elevations and detailed site plan for 78 homes within Tentative Tracts 15911 and 15912 in the Low-Medium Residential District (4-8 dwelling units per acre) of the Etiwanda Specific Plan, located on the southwest and northeast corners of East Avenue Planning Commission Minutes -1- April 12, 2000 and the Southern Pacific Railroad right-of-way - APN: 227-131-05 and 227-141-11 and 12. Related File: Variance 99-11. B. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW 00-07 — FORECAST HOMES —The design review of building elevations and detailed site plan for recorded Tract 13759 consisting of 56 single-family lots on 14 acres of land in the Low Residential District (2-4 dwelling units per acre), located on the west side of Haven Avenue, east side of Center Avenue, and north of the Southern Pacific Railroad right-of-way - APN: 1076-301-20 through 75. Related files: Variance 00-01 and Tree Removal Permit 00-07. PUBLIC HEARINGS C. VARIANCE 99-11 - RYLAND HOMES - A request to construct perimeter tract walls up to approximately 17 feet high where a maximum height of 6 feet is permitted for freeway noise mitigation purposes for Tracts 15911 and 15912 in the Low-Medium Residential District (4-8 dwelling units per acre) of the Etiwanda Specific Plan, located on the southwest and northeast corners of East Avenue and the Southern Pacific right-of-way - APN: 227-131-05 and 227-141-11 and 012, Related File: Development Review 99-72. Brent Le Count, Associate Planner, presented the staff report. Chairman McNiel asked if some of the proposed wall runs along the Rails to Trail connection. Mr. Le Count responded affirmatively and explained that the maximum wall height at that point would be 11 feet. Chairman McNiel asked for a description of the treatment that would be used for the wall. Mr. Le Count explained that to mitigate the appearance of the wall, certain materials would be required such as split faced/fluted block, a two-tone color scheme to break up the visual height of the wall and vine pockets. Chairman McNiel asked if the vine pockets would be sufficient for graffiti coverage. Commissioner Stewart concurred that she definitely wanted vine pockets. Mr. Le Count stated it would be enough if the little bunnies don't eat them all. Commissioner Tolstoy suggested that Mr. Le Count call RBF Associates and let them know that the freeway should be referred to as State Highway 15, not 31. Chairman McNiel opened the public hearing. John Melcher, P.O. Box 1085, Rancho Cucamonga, representing Ryland Homes, stated that they had worked closely with staff and had read all the conditions and are requesting approval from the Planning Commission. Chairman McNiel hearing no further comments, closed the public hearing. Planning Commission Minutes -2- April 12, 2000 Commissioner Tolstoy commented that as a rule, he hates high walls and he hates to see people walled in, but that since it is required for the comfort of the people living there, he has no problem with it. Chairman McNiel commented that the problem in this case is that in order to have enough berm height that would reduce the height of the wall, valuable land would be consumed which is intended for a linear park. He noted that they had to take the approach of the lesser of two evils by providing the wall height, but to disguise it in the best way possible. Commissioner Tolstoy noted that in 1977, Rancho Cucamonga was known as the "walled city." Motion: Moved by Mannerino, seconded by Macias to issue the Negative Declaration and adopt the Resolutions and Conditions approving Development Review 99-72 and Variance 99-11. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: MACIAS, MANNERINO, MCNIEL, STEWART, TOLSTOY NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE - carried D. VARIANCE 00-01- FORECAST HOMES-A request to increase the wall height to 12 feet along the southern boundary of recorded Tract 13759 where the Development Code allows a maximum wall height of 6 feet for Development Review 00-07 located on the west side of Haven Avenue, east side of Center Avenue and north of the Southern Pacific Railroad right-of-way- APN: 1076-301-20 through 75. Related files: Development Review 00-07 and Tree Removal Permit 00-07. Rudy Zeledon, Assistant Planner, presented the staff report. Mr. Zeledon reported that several telephone calls had been received from residents on the north side of the proposed project with complaints that their walls had been damaged by the rough grading taking place on the site. Mr. Zeledon further explained that the applicant has been working with the residents on a case by case basis to repair or replace the damaged walls. Chairman McNiel asked if there were any questions. Commissioner Tolstoy asked if most of the water runoff from the project would drain to Haven Avenue. Mr. Zeledon stated that the lots will drain to a catch Basin. Chairman McNiel opened the public hearing. Jimmy Previty from Forecast Homes, 10670 Civic Center Drive in Rancho Cucamonga, stated they are anxious to do business in Rancho Cucamonga. Commissioner Stewart asked how the negotiations with the residents are progressing in relation to the damaged walls. Mr. Previty stated it is going fairly well and that they had already replaced one homeowner's wall and making repairs to another. He continued by noting that they were in an unusual situation because the map was 10 years old and previous agreements had been made with the homeowners in regard to the common wall. He commented that some of the homeowners were dissatisfied with the original agreement, others wanted a new wall and some others did not. He added that from their marketing standpoint, they would prefer to replace the entire wall, but some of the homeowners were Planning Commission Minutes -3- April 12, 2000 not in favor of that, therefore, they would deal with each case individually. Chairman McNiel asked for clarification as to what the applicant planned to do with respect to the wall. Mr. Previty said that it would be handled on a case by case basis. He noted that they were resistant to the idea that the developer would have "deep pockets" and that the residents could get all that they could from them. He noted to the contrary that they would be good corporate citizens and repair any damage and that they would go above the expected level to have good relations in the neighborhood. Chairman McNiel asked that if it was a free-standing, isolated project, would an entirely new wall be built around the entire project. Mr. Previty confirmed that would occur . Chairman McNiel strongly stated that he did not want to hear any"flap" about dissatisfied or unhappy adjacent homeowners residing adjacent to his project because the integrity of their wall has been compromised and replacement or repair is needed. Mr. Previty noted that so far, if a homeowner has had a problem with their wall, they are repairing or replacing it. Chairman McNiel opened the public hearing. Chairman McNiel heard no comments and therefore closed the public hearing. Chairman McNiel asked what was being done to mitigate the visual impact of the high wall. Mr. Zeledon stated that the conditions of approval include the use of two-toned color scheme, split faced/fluted block and vine pockets. He noted that on Haven Avenue it would include split faced block with pilasters and precision block in a two-tone color. He added that the walls would be decorative and consistent with the neighborhood. Chairman McNiel thanked Mr. Previty for his willingness to go through the design review process, in spite of a few moments of disagreement. He added that he felt that he has at the conclusion of the process a fine product that will be a good addition to the neighborhood. Motion: Moved by Tolstoy, seconded by Mannerino to issue the Negative Declaration and adopt the Resolutions of Approval with Conditions for Development Review 00-07 and Variance 00-01. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: MACIAS, MANNERINO, MCNIEL, STEWART, TOLSTOY NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE - carried E. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND PARCEL MAP 15453- LEWIS OPERATING CORP. - The request for a parcel map to create three parcels totaling 62.71 acres within the northeast quadrant of the Terra Vista Community Plan. The parcel map is intended for financing and conveyance purposes only between Lewis Operating Corp. and Kaufman and Broad - APN: 227-151-22, 32, and 34. Staff has prepared a Negative Declaration of environmental impacts for consideration Planning Commission Minutes -4- April 12, 2000 F. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND PARCEL MAP 15454- LEWIS OPERATING CORP. - The request for a parcel map to create four parcels totaling 102.13 acres within the southeast quadrant of the Terra Vista Community Plan. The parcel map is intended for financing and conveyance purposes only between Lewis Operating Corp. and Kaufman and Broad - APN: 227-151-26, 30, and 52. Staff has prepared a Negative Declaration of environmental impacts for consideration. G. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND PARCEL MAP 15455- LEWIS OPERATING CORP. - The request for a parcel map to create three parcels totaling 43.27 acres within the southeast quadrant of the Terra Vista Community Plan. The parcel map is intended for financing and conveyance purposes only between Lewis Operating Corp. and Kaufman and Broad - APN: 227-151-51 and 53. Staff has prepared a Negative Declaration of environmental impacts for consideration. Debra Meier, Contract Planner, presented the staff report. Chairman McNiel asked if they would be hearing Variance requests in the future because of the oddly shaped, and poorly configured lots. Ms. Meier noted that all of the parcels are vacant and are adjacent to previously developed areas of the Terra Vista Community Plan and that they are consistent with what is in the plan and that they were agreed upon with the applicant. She continued and said they are consistent with the land uses in the Terra Vista Community Plan. She added that they believe they have resolved any issues that they are developable as they are shown and that they are not expecting Variance requests. Chairman McNiel asked if she believed then that there would be no need for any Variances. Ms. Meier stated that requests for Variances was not the intent. Brad Buller, City Planner, noted that the point was well taken because this issue arose in a previous project with Lewis Homes. He added that during the process, the applicant committed to staff that these lines would be workable and that they did not foresee the need for a future Variance request. Mr. Buller noted that the applicant is well aware of the concem about this issue. Chairman McNiel asserted that he wanted to make it clear that neither he nor anyone else on the Planning Commission is anticipating any Variances because of the way the lots have been divided. Chairman McNiel opened the public hearing. Mr. Jai)/Cockroft of Kaufman and Broad, 801 Corporate Center Drive, Pomona, confirmed that it is not their intention to introduce a Variance request and that they are conditioned to do the Master Planning and that they do not anticipate the need for a Variance. Chairman McNiel asked if he anticipated being the representative that would work with staff to the completion of the projects. Mr. Cockroft stated that he hoped to be with them through their completion as far as the Kaufman and Broad projects are concemed specifically the single family development. He added that Lewis Homes would be developing the multi-family portions. Commissioner Tolstoy noted that because of the large size of the pieces of property, he felt the developer should be able to adjust and there should be no need for any Variances. Chairman McNiel closed the public hearing. Planning Commission Minutes -5- April 12, 2000 Motion: Moved by Stewart, seconded by Tolstoy, to issue the Negative Declaration and adopt the Resolutions of Approval for Parcel Maps 15453, 15454 and 15455. AYES: MACIAS, MANNERINO, MCNIEL, STEWART, TOLSTOY NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE - carried DIRECTORS REPORTS H. PRELIMINARY REVIEW 00-04—CUCAMONGA SCHOOL DISTRICT-A courtesy review of the proposed site acquisition of approximately 10 acres of land for an elementary school, located at the southeast corner of Sixth Street and Hellman Avenue -APN: 210-061-05 and 06. Mr. Dan Coleman, Principal Planner gave the report noting the issues to be considered such as decorative fencing as opposed to chain link, a courtesy review of the building elevations, the inclusion of design elements used by the Hawthorne development and access issues and the flood plain issue. Chairman McNiel asked what portion of the property is located in the flood plain. Mr. Coleman replied that about one third of the property is in the flood plain. Chairman McNiel asked if that area was buildable. Mr. Coleman stated that with the flood protection walls, it is buildable. Chairman McNiel asked if the school would be using the park. Mr. Coleman responded negatively and noted the street separation and the related safety issue to students. Chairman McNiel asked if there would be a bridge across so that students could use the park. Mr. Coleman stated that a bridge was not going to be constructed. Brad Buller, City Planner, noted that in the past, the City has allowed schools and parks to share acreage and that a park and a smaller school site together could meet the needs of the neighborhood and that one of the goals of the General Plan is to get schools and parks close together so that they can be shared. He continued by saying that they now believe it is best to require both the school and park to provide their own required acreage with the understanding that on occasion the parking at the school may be used by the park and the school may use the park facilities. He noted the school district has been very open to reciprocal use and access, and staff is encouraged that there will be a good working relationship there. Chairman McNiel asked about the "sliver" of land along the channel and if it was ever acquired by the adjacent housing development. Mr. Coleman stated that they did not acquire that land but that the tract map does show a stub-street access that could allow for future development of that land that is currently fallow. Mr. Buller noted that the school district is aware of that street and that if they do open access there they will have to address the flood issue. Planning Commission Minutes -6- April 12, 2000 Chairman McNiel asked if they would ever acquire that land. Mr. Coleman replied that he had doubts about that because it is unusual for a school district to develop a site larger than 10 acres for an elementary school. Commissioner Tolstoy expressed concern that the school district should be fully aware of the flood issues there. Chairman McNiel indicated that he thought they would be aware of the flooding at this point. He then asked what action, if any should be taken by the Planning Commission on this issue. Mr. Coleman replied that the comments of the Commission would be forwarded in writing to the school district. Chairman McNiel asked if any plans for the buildings were available for review or if the discussion was limited to the acquisition of the property. Mr. Buller replied that there are no elevations to review at this point and that this was a preliminary review. Kevin Ennis, Deputy City Attorney, suggested the Planning Commission could make a motion to approve the staff recommendations. Motion: Moved by Mannerino, seconded by Stewart, to forward staffs written recommendations to the school district. AYES: MACIAS, MANNERINO, MCNIEL, STEWART, TOLSTOY ABSENT: NONE ABSENT: NONE - carried I. A STAFF REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION TO INITIATE AN AMENDMENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT CODE TO ADD A MIXED USE ZONING DISTRICT Brad Buller, City Planner, presented the report. Chairman McNiel asked if there would be a "worse case scenario." Mr. Buller emphasized that this would be a "win-win" situation. He cited the patterns of the current development indicating that this would close the final point of a quadrant of an area that has been revitalized as a senior enclave with people walking and shopping in the area which includes a new 99 Cent Store, Dairy Queen, and other shops. He added that this is an opportunity to have a new senior project close to an elementary school, abutting a Rails-to-Trails corridor that encourages alternative modes of movement such as walking and biking. Commissioner Mannerino commented that it was important to him that the City did not allow"Mixed Use" as a general rule instead of a well thought out plan. He clarified that although it does not apply in this case, but, as he had stated to the General Plan Task Force, it should not be viewed as a "short term, quick fix." Chairman McNiel, and Commissioners Macias, Stewart, and Tolstoy voiced their agreement with Commissioner Mannerino. Planning Commission Minutes -7- April 12, 2000 Motion: Moved by Stewart, seconded by Mannerino to approve the staff recommendation to initiate the amendment to the Development Code to add a Mixed Use zoning district. AYES: MACIAS, MANNERINO, MCNIEL, STEWART, TOLSTOY NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE - carried PUBLIC COMMENTS No public comments were received • COMMISSION BUSINESS J. GENERAL PLAN UPDATE PROGRESS — Oral report. Brad Buller, City Planner, gave the progress report offering good news from Sanbag in regard to the traffic issues, noting that they are moving forward with the traffic numbers. He also reported that documents for tentative review are beginning to arrive and that the tentative date for review is in June. He explained that the documents will be presented in a "Super Element" format, which should allow for an easier review. CENTRAL PARK UPDATE—Oral report Brad Buller, City Planner, prefaced the report by noting the Planning Commissioners would be attending a special meeting with the Parks and Recreation Commission on April 20, 2000, to hear a presentation on the historical background of the design elements of the park and the current physical design. The report was presented by Rick Gomez, Community Development Director. Mr. Gomez offered to answer questions noting that the previous week they had viewed a video on the park which gave a history and process of the Central park concept and gave an overview of the involvement of the previous task forces that oversaw the Citywide survey and the packages that have been sent out to the citizens for the $129 yearly fee. He noted the fee includes lakes, an aquatic center, tennis complex, open space areas and the off-leash dog area. He reported that there is a group supporting Measure "J" (Central Park on the ballot) headed up by Eric Vail of Covington and Crowe, who are gathering support for the measure. Mr. Gomez added that the role of the City is to provide the ballot information, the fee structure, and the components of the park. Chairman McNiel asked what other methods are being used to communicate the park concept. Mr. Gomez replied that numerous showings of the video are on RCN-Channel 3. He also indicated they are speaking before service club groups and other groups that invite them to come. He stated that they are to be an advocacy group, but they present the information so the public understands the issues. Chairman McNiel commented that regardless as to how people vote, it is crucial that people understand what they are voting on and that they understand how long this issue has been around. Planning Commission Minutes -8- April 12, 2000 • Mr. Gomez mentioned that nothing is being imposed on the voters and that the City is giving the community the opportunity to decide. Chairman McNiel stated that he hopes for approval for the park because he feels it would be a huge asset to the community. Mr. Brad Buller, City Planner noted that the flyer includes a phone number for Rick Gomez as well as an e-mail address for the community members to use for questions or comments. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Moved by Mannerino, seconded by Stewart. The Planning Commission adjoumed at 7:50 p.m. to a Workshop to discuss Pre-Application Review 00-06. The workshop adjourned at 9:45 p.m. and those minutes appear separately. Respectfully submitted, ri ,u ii Br.117 ler S-cretary Planning Commission Minutes -9- April 12, 2000