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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000/08/23 - Minutes - PC-HPC CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting August 23, 2000 Chairman McNiel called the Regular Meeting of the City of Rancho Cucamonga Planning Commission to order at 7:15 p.m. The meeting was held in the Council Chamber at Rancho Cucamonga Civic Center, 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California. ROLL CALL COMMISSIONERS: PRESENT: Rich Macias, John Mannerino, Larry McNiel, Pam Stewart ABSENT: Peter Tolstoy STAFF PRESENT: Brad Buller, City Planner; Dan Coleman, Principal Planner, Kevin Ennis, Assistant City Attorney; Douglas Fenn,Associate Planner; Larry Henderson, Principal Planner; Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer; Gail Sanchez, Planning Commission Secretary; Mike Smith, Planning Technician ANNOUNCEMENTS There were no announcements. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: Moved by Macias, seconded by Mannerino, carried 4-0-1 (Tolstoy absent), to approve the minutes of June 14, 2000. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. VARIANCE 00-07—PACIFIC BELL WIRELESS—A request to allow a freestanding 60-foot high "monopalm"wireless communication facility and two cabinets housing transceiver equipment on approximately 500 square feet of leased area on a 5.64 acre parcel of land within 500 feet of a residential zone or residence in the Neighborhood Commercial District within the Sunrize Center, located at 8647 Base Line Road —APN: 207-022-14. Related file: Conditional Use Permit 00-11. B. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 00-11 — PACIFIC BELL WIRELESS — The development of a wireless communication facility consisting of a 60-foot stealth co-location"monopalm"and two cabinets housing transceiver equipment on approximately 500 square feet of leased area on a 5.64 acre parcel of land in the Sunrize Center in the Neighborhood Commercial District within the Sunrize Center, located at 8647 Base Line Road — APN: 207-022-14. Related file: Variance 00-07. (Continued from July 26, 2000) Mike Smith, Planning Technician, presented the staff report. Commissioner Macias questioned where the existing palm tree would be moved. Mr. Smith pointed out that it would go across the driveway. Commissioner Macias asked if there is a provision requiring replacement if the relocated tree should die. Dan Coleman indicated that the resolution calls for the four existing live Palm trees to be preserved and maintained. Commissioner Stewart asked for confirmation that the cabinets will be screened behind a block wall. Mr. Smith confirmed that was correct and stated there will also be landscaping to screen the cabinets. Chairman McNiel asked if the wall would be the same material as the exiting wall. Mr. Smith responded that it will. Chairman McNiel opened the public hearing. John Ramirez, 18500 Von Karman Avenue,#870, Irvine, stated he represented Pacific Bell Wireless. He felt staff did an excellent job and said they agree with the conditions of approval. He commented they are aware of the sensitivity of the project because of its proximity to residences. Chairman McNiel asked about the trimming of the exiting palm trees. Mr. Ramirez responded that they will be trimmed to match the monopole. Mr. Buller noted the conditions call for the trees to continually be maintained. Commissioner Mannerino asked if other carriers would be able to utilize the monopalm. Mr. Ramirez replied they would be willing to share if the other system could be accommodated on the monopalm. Dan Coleman, Principal Planner, noted that any modification would require review by the Planning Commission. Hearing no further testimony, Chairman McNiel closed the public hearing. Commissioner Mannerino observed that cell sites are necessary. Commissioner Stewart agreed they are necessary facilities and noted that the City is concemed where they are located. She felt this location would work well. Motion: Moved by Mannerino, seconded by Stewart, to adopt the resolutions approving Variance 00-07 and Conditional Use Permit 00-11. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: MACIAS, MANNERINO, MCNIEL, STEWART NOES: NONE ABSENT: TOLSTOY - carried Planning Commission Minutes -2- August 23, 2000 C. GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 00-03A — CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA—A request to change the General Plan land use designation from Flood Control/Utility Corridor to Low Residential (2-4 dwelling units per acre) for approximately 64 acres of land (abandoned Southern California Edison corridor), generally located north of SR 30 on the east side of the northerly prolongation of Day Creek Boulevard approximately 300 feet wide by 8,000 feet in length- APN: 225-161-64, 225-101-41, 225-071-61, and 225-082-03. The County of San Bernardino Board of Supervisors previously certified an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in 1991 and a Supplemental EIR(SEIR)on October26, 1999. The City of Rancho Cucamonga, in conjunction with this project, has prepared an addendum to the SEIR. The proposed amendment is intended to create consistency between the City of Rancho Cucamonga General Plan and the County approved University Planned Development. Related files: Development Agreement 00-02, Annexation 00-01, and Etiwanda North Specific Plan Amendment 00-01. D. ETIWANDA NORTH SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT 00-01 — CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA.—A request to change the Etiwanda North Specific Plan zoning designation from Utility Corridor to Low Residential(2-4 dwelling units per acre)for approximately 64 acres of land (abandoned Southern California Edison corridor), generally located north of SR 30 on the east side of the northerly prolongation of Day Creek Boulevard approximately 300 feet wide by 8,000 feet in length-APN: 225-161-64, 225-101-41, 225-071-61, and 225-082-03. The County of San Bernardino Board of Supervisors previously certified an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in 1991 and a Supplemental EIR(SEIR)on October 26, 1999. The City of Rancho Cucamonga, in conjunction with this project, has prepared an addendum to the SEIR. The proposed amendment is intended to create consistency between the City of Rancho Cucamonga General Plan and the County approved University Planned Development. Related files: Development Agreement 00-02, Annexation 00-01, General Plan Amendment 00-03A. Larry Henderson, Principal Planner, presented the staff report. Chairman McNiel commented that he understood there is a proposed development for the site. Mr. Henderson confirmed that was correct and stated the County approved a project which the City is now in the process of annexing into the City. Chairman McNiel asked if 5 acres would be viable for a commercial development. Mr. Henderson replied that the Development Agreement asks that the applicant look at expanding the area. Chairman McNiel asked if the project will go through the Design Review process. Mr. Henderson confirmed that it will. Chairman McNiel opened the public hearing. Ben Anderson, U.C.P. Incorporated, 5109 East La Palma, Suite D, Anaheim, stated the Development Agreement had been approved by the City Council on August 16. He said they agree with the staff report and indicated he was available to answer questions. Hearing no further testimony, Chairman McNiel closed the public hearing. He felt it was good that the project is being processed in the City because it will be under the control of the City where the project will have the greatest impact. He thought the project will be good because of the cooperation between the developer and the City. Planning Commission Minutes -3- August 23, 2000 Motion: Moved by Mannerino, seconded by Macias, to adopt the resolutions recommending approval of General Plan Amendment 00-03A and Etiwanda North Specific Plan Amendment 00-01. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: MACIAS, MANNERINO, MCNIEL, STEWART NOES: NONE ABSENT: TOLSTOY - carried E. ADDENDUM TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW 00-31- JPI - The development of 521 apartments on 20.46 acres of land in the Mixed Use Planning Area IX (Subarea 18) of the Industrial Area Specific Plan, located on the northwest comer of Sixth Street and Milliken Avenue. An Environmental Impact Report was previously certified in June 1994. An addendum to the EIR is being prepared to allow multiple-family residential uses as an additional permitted use in Planning Area IX. The addendum is being prepared in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) -APN: 209-272-17. Douglas Fenn,Associate Planner, presented the staff report and indicated some proposed changes to the resolution were in front of the Commissioners as well as 11 letters of support from various businesses. Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer, indicated staff was supportive of deleting Engineering Condition 7 which required curvilinear sidewalks on Sixth Street and Milliken Avenue because the urban street scheme for the project will work better with a linear sidewalk. He noted the applicant is proposing Palm trees and they will add another tree planting species into the area behind the Palm trees in order to be compatible with the remainder of the street trees. He also suggested that Engineering Condition 3b be deleted, as Seventh Street will be designed as an exit only. Commissioner Stewart asked the percentage of open space in the project. Mr. Fenn replied it is approximately 31 percent. Commissioner Stewart asked how many covered parking spaces would be included. Mr. Fenn observed the code calls for 563. Brad Buller, City Planner, stated the applicant had indicated they will meet code even though the applicant had not shown where the additional spaces will be located. Commissioner Stewart asked if the applicant had met the amenities requirement. Mr. Buller said staff concurs with the revised submission. Commissioner Mannerino asked if the applicant had agreed to all the conditions. Mr. Buller felt the applicant will comply with the conditions. He said that staff supported the changes regarding the sidewalk. Commissioner Macias asked what would happen if the applicant and City staff could not agree. Mr. Buller stated that if he makes a decision that the applicant does not like, the applicant has the right to appeal to the Planning Commission. Planning Commission Minutes -4- August 23, 2000 Chairman McNiel asked if the conditions only bring the project up to minimum standards. Mr. Buller explained that because the master plan for Milliken had not considered residential uses, there are no residential standards for that area. He said staff informed the applicant they should use the standards of any other multiple-family project in the City as a baseline for development. He noted the applicant has now exceeded those minimums in a number of areas, such as the amenity package and open space requirement. He said they are at the minimums for amount of covered parking and storage space. Commissioner Stewart noted the EIR had discussed the need for noise barriers. She questioned what the noise barriers on the spa and apartment complex will look like. Mr. Coleman said the units along Milliken would require barriers for the balconies. He indicated staff has not seen what is being proposed to meet the requirements of the noise study. Chairman McNiel thought lexan might be appropriate and said he did not wish to see a 5-foot high solid wall on third story patios. He opened the public hearing. Chuck Buquet, Charles Joseph Associates, 10681 Foothill Boulevard, #395, Rancho Cucamonga, distributed a handout with some artist renderings of the exterior, the conceptual landscape plan, elevations, and floor plans. Jeff Kudlac, General Dynamics, 3270 Inland Empire Boulevard, #440, Ontario, gave a brief background of the Empire Lakes project. He noted that the Development Agreement allows the developer to work with staff instead of going through the normal development review process. He said they started discussing residential uses in the area over two years ago. He felt that a key marketing component is housing and said they feel it will help businesses in their recruitment. He requested approval. Mr. Buquet stated that General Dynamics has reviewed and approved everything submitted by JPI and was very discriminating in selecting JPI as the developer. He gave a power point presentation regarding JPI and the type of project. He said JPI envisions being approximately 25 percent above other apartment rental rates in the area. He noted that some of the Commissioners previously visited a JPI project and had expressed disappointment. He showed pictures of that JPI complex and felt the pictures showed that the project looked better now because the landscaping has started to mature. He stated that there have been changes since the Commission last looked at the project. Heidi Mather,JPI Westcoast Development, 8910 University Center Lane, #150, San Diego, showed photographs of some of the projects developed by JPI within California. She noted that one of their projects received an award last year for the best new project in San Diego County. She provided a letter indicating they concur with the staff report and would work with the City Planner to satisfy all design issues set forth on pages 3 and 4 of the staff report and provided a revised recreation area/facilities list. Mr. Buquet stated that previous Planning Commission comments had been heard. He discussed the proposed amenities. He said they have also added quality features,which are normally only included in single family homes. He reviewed previous comments and indicated how they had been addressed. Jack Selman, 1802 Holly Tree, Orange, discussed architectural enhancements. He said there will be variegated roofing and natural stone elements have been added. He stated he was available to answer questions. Planning Commission Minutes -5- August 23, 2000 Mr. Buquet stated that an error had been made by the architect with regard to the number of covered parking spaces necessary and when they realized the error had been made,they immediately started working to rectify it. He said they will be meeting with staff to work out everything. He thanked staff for its input and thanked the Commissioners for feedback. He requested approval. Commissioner Mannerino asked if the number of enclosed parking spaces could exceed the number required by Code rather than just meeting the minimum. He said it was important to him and also to Commissioner Tolstoy. Mr. Buquet said there will be an effort to exceed the required number. Hearing no further testimony, Chairman McNiel closed the public hearing. Commissioner Mannerino said his primary objection to the project had nothing to do with JPI. He felt there may have been better uses for this particular parcel in light of the development across the street. He regretted the Commission was not involved earlier in the process. He noted that a previous item on the agenda involved a Development Agreement but it still allowed for review by the Design Review Committee and the Planning Commission. He felt it unfortunate that this process is circumvented by this Development Agreement. He said he was glad the matter would be forwarded to the Commission if agreement is not reached. He indicated he would not stand in the way of the project. Commissioner Macias echoed Commissioner Mannerino's comments. He noted that when the staff report was issued, there were still many unresolved issues and some of those issues seemed to have been addressed during the past week. He was disappointed they hadn't been addressed earlier. He agreed this may not be the best location for residential development but said he had confidence in staff and was willing to support the project. Commissioner Stewart felt the project had come a long way since it was first presented. She was glad to see the start of a transit village concept and felt it has potential. She thought the stone veneer adds a great deal to the project and she encouraged 360 degree architecture. She urged that the noise bafflers be attractive and felt that the entrances to the project should be grandiose. She was confident that staff could work it out. She was encouraged by the open space, improved covered parking, and amenities now being offered and supported the project. Chairman McNiel stated he had spoken with Commissioner Tolstoy who could not be present this evening. He reported Commissioner Tolstoy had not seen the new presentation and had indicated he did not support the project as it was presented in the packet. Chairman McNiel said he had spoken with Mr. Buquet a week ago and had informed him that he was disappointed that after two preliminary review meetings, there seemed to be little attempt to address the concems raised by the Commission. He said he had told Mr. Buquet he could not support the project as it was presented and he felt bad faith was being exhibited by the developer. He said the applicant had indicated they were luxury apartments, but the project as it was presented at the time did not approach luxury. He felt the location is good because it is close to the golf course, rail station, and shopping. He felt frustrated that the concems of the Commission were not being addressed and a burden was being placed on staff. He noted that the applicant has indicated they plan to ask for 25 percent more rent than other apartments in the City and felt that having to fight to bring the project up to minimum standards did not make sense. He thought the project could be good but was uncomfortable with placing a burden on staff. He requested that the City Planner bring the matter back to the Planning Commission if there are any problems. Planning Commission Minutes -6- August 23, 2000 Motion: Moved by Mannerino, seconded by Stewart to adopt the resolution approving an addendum to Environmental Impact Report and Development Review 00-31. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: MACIAS, MANNERINO, MCNIEL, STEWART NOES: NONE ABSENT: TOLSTOY - carried Chairman McNiel stated he supported the project and expected the applicant to do it right. He asked that Mr. Buquet promise to stick with the project and make it a good one. He asked that the record reflect that Mr. Buquet nodded in agreement. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments at this time. COMMISSION BUSINESS F. GENERAL PLAN UPDATE PROGRESS Brad Buller, City Planner, reported that Mr. Henderson and he were reviewing components of the super elements regarding the library, park and recreation, and fire. He said staff hopes to have a task force meeting in late September or October. Commissioner Macias stated he had received a Federal Express package regarding an amendment to the Lauren project. He questioned what it was about. Mr. Buller responded that the developer has filed an application to allow a modification to amend the channel design and he had approved the request on Tuesday,August 22. He said that the item had not yet been appealed, but it may be. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Moved by Mannerino, seconded by Stewart, to adjourn. The Planning Commission adjourned at 8:55 p.m. to a workshop. The workshop adjourned at 9:38 p.m. and those minutes appear separately. Respectfully submitted, 4. S- retary Planning Commission Minutes -7- August 23, 2000