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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000/11/21- Minutes - PC-HPC CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Adjourned Meeting November 21, 2000 Chairman McNiel called the Adjourned 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; Bill Curly, Deputy City Attorney; Douglas Fenn, Associate Planner; Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer; Betty Miller, Associate Engineer; Duane Morita, Contract Planner; Warren Morelion, Assistant Planner; Gail Sanchez, Planning Commission Secretary;Alan Warren, Associate Planner; Rudy Zeledon,Assistant Planner ANNOUNCEMENTS Brad Buller, City Planner, announced staff was requesting a second item be added to the workshop review scheduled for immediately following tonight's Planning Commission regular meeting. He reported that staff received a request from Concordia (American Pacific Homes) asking that the Planning Commission review the question of whether or not a gated entryway would be supported in a proposed single family development located south of Victoria Street and west of the 1-15 Freeway. He said the development proponent was forecasting anticipated project revisions and scheduling and expressed concern about the coming City holidays and requires Planning Commission input prior to the next Planning Commission meeting so as to proceed in a timely manner. He stated the deadline was not clearly understood until well after the agenda for tonight's meeting was posted and staff believed the proposed project merited the Commission's consideration at this time. Motion: Moved by Tolstoy, seconded by Stewart, carried 5-0, to add the second item to the workshop agenda. PRESENTATIONS • A. PACIFIC ELECTRIC INLAND EMPIRE TRAIL MASTER PLAN Dan Coleman, Principal Planner, reported that SANBAG funded preparation of a Master Plan for a • 21-mile all purpose trail from Claremont to Rialto. He introduced Brad Lewis and Steve Frieson from Boyle Engineering Corporation, the company that prepared the Master Plan. Brad Lewis, Boyle Engineering Corporation, 7807 Convoy Court, Suite 200, San Diego, indicated six cities from Montclair to Rialto participated with Rancho Cucamonga, acting as the lead agency. He stated that staff will be asking the City Council to adopt the Master Plan on December 6, 2000. He • gave a power point presentation regarding the trail, including a Master Plan overview, goals and objectives, and site constraints. Commissioner Tolstoy asked if the trail may be extended into Los Angeles County. Mr. Lewis responded that the trail runs into San Dimas but a portion within Claremont is on City streets. He said interest has also been expressed by Colton, Riverside, and San Bernardino. Commissioner Tolstoy felt that Rancho Cucamonga would probably be the only equestrian City and he asked what would happen where the trail exits the City. He asked if there would be a horse trail head at the two ends. Mr. Lewis responded that the plan calls for hitching posts and a staging area at Vineyard Avenue. He indicated there will be rest stops for equestrian users. Chairman McNiel asked the proposed timeline. Mr. Lewis replied that optimistically it could be 5 to 6 years. He indicated TEA-21 grants recently went through a funding cycle. He reported that Upland and Fontana both put in requests for funding using the Master Plan. He said there would be 6 to 9 months of design time following by construction after the funding. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: Moved by Mannerino, seconded by Macias, carried 3-0-2 (Stewart, Tolstoy abstain), to approve the minutes of the Adjourned Meeting of October 25, 2000. CONSENT CALENDAR B. VACATION OF NORTHTOWN AREA ALLEY (V-172 — NORTHTOWN HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORP. —A request to vacate a 20-foot wide north-south bound alley located west of Center Avenue between 24th Street and Humboldt Avenue—APN: 209-112-10, 16, 20, 29, and 30. Related file: Development Review 00-60. Motion: Moved by Mannerino, seconded by Stewart, carried 5-0, to adopt the Consent Calendar. PUBLIC HEARINGS C. TENTATIVE PARCEL MAP 15529- NELSON-A request to subdivide .65 acre into two parcels in the Low Residential District(2-4 dwelling units per acre)and one remnant lot to be part of the Beryl-Hellman Channel, located at the southern terminus of Pilgrims Court—APN: 202-981-23. Alan Warren, Associate Planner, presented the staff report. Chairman McNiel opened the public hearing. There was no testimony and he closed the hearing. Motion: Moved by Tolstoy, seconded by Mannerino, to adopt the resolution approving Parcel Map 15529. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: MACIAS, MANNERINO, MCNIEL, STEWART, TOLSTOY NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE - carried PC Adjoumed Minutes -2- November 21, 2000 • D. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND TENTATIVE TRACT 16128 (SAN CARMELA) — D. R. HORTON — A request to subdivide an approximate 23-acre site into 97 single family residential lots, and two lettered lots for slopes fronting Base Line Road, in the Low-Medium Residential District (4-8 dwelling units per acre) of the Victoria Community Plan, located along the north side of Base Line Road, approximately 1,000 feet west of Victoria Park Lane—APN: 227-091-14 and 15 and 227-111-12 and 13. Related file: Development Review 00-38. A Negative Declaration of environmental impacts was issued for General Plan Amendment 00-01 B and Victoria Community Plan Amendment 00-01 on June 21, 2000, and no further environmental review is necessary. E. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW 00-38(SAN CARMELA)— D. R. HORTON—The review of building elevations and conceptual site plan for 97 single family residential lots, and two lettered lots for slopes fronting Base Line Road, on an approximate 23-acre site in the Low-Medium Residential District(4-8 dwelling units per acre) of the Victoria Community Plan, located along the north side of Base Line Road, approximately 1,000 feet west of Victoria Park Lane — APN: 227-091-14 and 15 and 227-111-12 and 13. Related file: Tentative Tract 16128. A Negative Declaration of environmental impacts was issued for General Plan Amendment 00-01 B and Victoria Community Plan Amendment 00-01 on June 21, 2000, and no further environmental review is necessary. Duane Morita, Contract Planner, presented the staff report and suggested changes to the resolution requiring that driveway finished slopes be subject to City Planner approval rather than limiting them to 5 percent maximum. Brad Buller, City Planner, indicated that it had been brought to staffs attention that limiting the driveway slopes to 5 percent or less caused grading conflicts with the plan. He suggested that staff be given the opportunity to work with the applicant through the plan check process to address the slope grades. Chairman McNiel opened the public hearing. Dan Boyd, D. R. Horton, 119 North Maple Street, Suite A, Corona, stated he was representing the holding company and they were concemed about the driveway issue. Regarding Planning Condition 10, which requested second story balconies, he said they looked at balconies in the acoustical analysis and only 5 of the 11 lots facing Base Line Road could have balconies and they would require a 6 foot barrier and the balconies would need to be fully enclosed. He felt that would be detrimental to the rear elevations. He noted the setback requirement is 50 feet from the curb and 15 feet from the wall. He requested that the requirement for balconies be deleted. He noted the project had previously been approved as an apartment complex. Dean Phillips, AEI Case, project engineer, 937 South Via Lata, Suite 500, Colton, stated the project would be destroyed if they have to adhere to the 5 percent maximum driveway slope. He said the project would have to be redesigned and the houses would have to be moved to the rear of the lots and would no longer meet the rear yard setbacks. He said it would also eliminate the staggering of streetscapes. He said they also would not be able to drain the lots properly. Chairman McNiel noted the existing lot size was created for maximum yield on the lot with large houses on the lot. He said there are multiple alternatives in order to achieve proper drainage and asked the proposed grades. Mr. Phillips said the average is 6 to 8.5 percent slope with the worse case being 11.2 percent. PC Adjourned Minutes -3- November 21, 2000 Chairman McNiel asked if any of the lots are at 5 percent. Mr. Phillips responded there are a couple, but 90 percent of the lots are over 5 percent. He said they are willing to work with staff, but they could not comply with the 5 percent. He stated they had not been told of the 5 percent maximum until eight months after starting the project. He said they are in compliance with all City codes and standards. Chuck Buquet, Charles Joseph Associates, 10681 Foothill Boulevard, Rancho Cucamonga, stated he had been working with the applicant and had previously worked with the former applicant, Mark Taylor, who had an apartment project approved. Regarding Engineering Condition 12 calling for processing a lot line adjustment to transfer the easterly portion of vacated San Carmela Court to the property owner to the east, he said there had originally been a concem regarding access to the commercial property to the east. He indicated the applicant has provided for reasonable commercial access and they don't own the property because it is dedicated to the City. He said the property falls within the cul-de-sac right-of-way dedication. He understood that the City does not want to landscape or maintain the area. He said they would be happy to work with the City to vacate the property and give it to the property owner to the east or would be willing to landscape it as shown on the plan. Regarding the driveway slope, Chairman McNiel stated there is a safety issue of cars rolling down a driveway into the street. Mr. Buquet replied the driveways are a normal design. Commissioner Tolstoy asked the length of the driveways. Mr. Buller replied they are a minimum of 20 feet. Hearing no further testimony, Chairman McNiel closed the public hearing. Chairman McNiel asked if the 5 percent is in the Code. Mr. Buller responded it is in the Code as a guideline. He stated the matter had been brought up by the Grading Committee and the condition has always been in the Code, which is available at the public counter for review or purchase. He said the matter is not normally put in as a condition, and he understood the applicant's desire to have more leeway. He indicated staff did not object to slopes going from 5 percent up to 11 percent, but he would like staff to be able to look at it with the applicant's engineer. He said staff has previously worked with the engineering firm. Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer, stated the cul-de-sac has been dedicated but the new street design creates an excess right of way. He suggested rewording the condition to have the applicant make a good faith effort to process a lot line adjustment; and if that failed, to have the final map show as a letter lot in fee simple to the City, and the City would then quitclaim the property for development at the time the property to the east is developed. Chairman McNiel asked if the change proposed by Mr. James would alter the landscaping requirements. Mr. James responded it would be vacant, barren property and not be landscaped. Mr. Buller said that would be consistent with the adjacent vacant land. Chairman McNiel asked what type of landscaping would be wanted with the street improvements. PC Adjoumed Minutes -4- November 21, 2000 Mr. Buller replied it would not normally be landscaped. Mr. James indicated the west side will be landscaped but the east side will not be until the adjacent property is developed. Mr. Buller noted it is a commercial site. He said the would provide a means of ingress and egress to the property from Base Line Road. He noted there is a sidewalk. He said the lots on the east side will each have their own front yard landscaping. He said this would be a small area if it was to be landscaped and maintained by the City. Mr. Boyd said they would landscape and irrigate the area and put it in a Landscape Maintenance District. Hearing no further testimony, Chairman McNiel closed the public hearing. Chairman McNiel noted the request for balconies was to soften the appearance and create interest along Base Line Road. He said the treatment of the houses should be special and enhanced to the satisfaction of the City Planner. Commissioner Mannerino asked if Chairman McNiel was willing to delete the requirement for balconies. Chairman McNiel agreed he was willing. Commissioner Tolstoy asked if the sound would have to be attenuated if there were balconies. Mr. Buller replied that it would because it would be considered living space. Commissioner Tolstoy asked if having side-on garages would help the grading of the driveways. Chairman McNiel reopened the public hearing to allow the applicant to respond. Mr. Boyd responded it would not. Chairman McNiel again closed the public hearing. Commissioner Tolstoy felt an 11 percent driveway is too steep. He said Highland Avenue has some steep driveways and there have been two instances in the last few years where cars have rolled into the street. He felt it presents safety problems. Commissioner Mannerino felt a car parked in a driveway with only a 6 percent grade could also roll into the street. Motion: Moved by Macias, seconded by Mannerino, to issue a Negative Declaration and adopt the resolutions approving Tentative Tract 16128 and Development Review 00-38 with modifications to provide for City Planner approval of finished slopes on driveways and to permit the applicant to dedicate the excess San Carmela Court right of way to the City after making a good faith effort to process a lot line adjustment with the property to the east. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: MACIAS, MANNERINO, MCNIEL, STEWART, TOLSTOY NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE - carried Commissioner Tolstoy indicated he reluctantly voted yes. PC Adjourned Minutes -5- November 21, 2000 F. AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT 00-01 - NORTHTOWN HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORP. -A request to reduce the minimum front yard building setback to 21 feet by amending Development Agreement 00-01 for a previously approved Senior Housing Overlay District in the Mixed Use District, located on the east side of Amethyst Avenue,between La Grande Street and Lomita Drive — APN: 202-151-12. Related files: General Plan Amendment 00-01A, Development Code Amendment 00-01, Development District Amendment 00-01, and Development Review 00-60. G. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW 00-60 — NORTHTOWN HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORP. — The review of detailed site plan and elevations for 96 senior apartments on 3.2 acres of land in the Mixed Use District,with a Senior Housing Overlay District, located on the east side of Amethyst Avenue, between La Grande Street and Lomita Drive—APN: 202-151-12. Related files: General Plan Amendment 00-01A, Development Code Amendment 00-01, Development District Amendment 00-01, and Development Agreement 00-01. Douglas Fenn, Associate Planner, presented the staff report. Commissioner Stewart asked if provisions had been made to designate the site as historic. Commissioner Tolstoy felt the site should be designated as historic because Alta Loma above Base Line Road was essentially a citrus area and there were four packing houses. He thought a commemorative plaque would be appropriate. Commissioner Stewart agreed that would be good and felt it could be accommodated. Chairman McNiel opened the public hearing. Pete Pitassi, 8439 White Oak Avenue, Suite 105, Rancho Cucamonga, stated he represented Northtown Housing Development Corporation. He said that Nacho Gracia was also present. He reported that there is parkway landscaping and a sidewalk along Amethyst Avenue and asked that Standard Condition G.11 calling for a meandering sidewalk be deleted. He said they have completed the landscaping plan and they intend to landscape as shown on the plan. He stated they had been interested in the presentation regarding the Pacific Electric Trail because they plan to have access available behind their building. He noted that the Master Plan currently calls for an equestrian trail on their side and he asked that there be some accommodation to allow pedestrian access to the south side of the right of way. Brad Buller, City Planner, stated the City would consider the request. He noted that a commuter line train is not likely in the near future. He also noted that a rail system would be fenced off. Mr. Pitassi said they will provide a gated access which will be locked until the trail is available. He acknowledged the assistance of Brad Buller, Dan Coleman, and Douglas Fenn with processing the project. He stated they had come to the City with some very demanding requests based on timing of the project for tax credits and staff went above and beyond the call of duty in working with them. He said they are willing to install a plaque and thought that was an excellent suggestion. Commissioner Tolstoy noted that the International House of Pancakes installed a gate to the adjacent housing project, which is a senior project. He asked that the applicant see if their residents could take advantage of walking through the existing project to access the shopping center. Mr. Pitassi agreed they would try. He noted they would have to cross over SANBAG right of way. PC Adjoumed Minutes -6- November 21, 2000 Commissioner Tolstoy stated he brought it up because Amethyst does not present any options for shopping. Chairman McNiel closed the public hearing. Commissioner Tolstoy felt it was a great idea. Motion: Moved by Mannerino, seconded by Tolstoy, issue a Negative Declaration and adopt the resolutions recommending approval of Development Agreement 00-01 and approving Development Review 00-60, with modification to provide for historic identification of the previous site history, subject to City Planner approval. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: MACIAS, MANNERINO, MCNIEL, STEWART, TOLSTOY NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE - carried H. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND TENTATIVE TRACT 16081 — TRIMARK PACIFIC HOMES—A residential subdivision for 101 single family lots on 20.7 acres of land in the Low- Medium Residential District(4-8 dwelling units per acre)of the Victoria Community Plan, located at the southwest corner of Day Creek Boulevard and Victoria Park Lane-APN: 227-091-09,26, and 50. Related file: Development Review 00-12. I. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW 00-12—TRIMARK PACIFIC HOMES—The review of detailed site plan and elevations for 101 single family lots on 20.7 acres of land in the Low-Medium Residential District (4-8 dwelling units per acre) of the Victoria Community Plan, located at the southwest corner of Day Creek Boulevard and Victoria Park Lane—APN: 227-091-09, 26, and 50. Related file: Tentative Tract 16081. Douglas Fenn, Associate Planner, presented the staff report. Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer, suggested adding a condition to require that Victoria Park Lane improvements, including parkway landscaping, be completed west of the tract boundary to join existing improvements near Day Creek Channel and to provide for reimbursement from adjacent property owners as development occurs. Chairman McNiel asked if the strip between the property and Day Creek Boulevard, which the applicant was in negotiations to purchase, was master planned. Mr. Fenn replied affirmatively. Chairman McNiel opened the public hearing. Richard Nickum, Trimark Pacific Homes, 85 Argonaut, Suite 205, Aliso Viejo, agreed with the conditions. He agreed with the additional condition proposed by Mr. James if the right of way had been granted. He did not believe the right of way had been granted and did not feel it would be fair to burden his project if Southern California Edison refuses to grant the right of way. He indicated that Southem California Edison had informed him they were working with a developer to build a recreational vehicle storage park under the transmission lines. Mr.James was not sure if the right of way exists. He said the developer would have to make a good faith effort and, if unsuccessful, the City would have to make a determination if it wanted to condemn the property to obtain the improvements. He said that decision would be up to the City Council. Mr. Nickum stated that when the William Lyon Company developed Victoria Park Lane, they had to build a retaining wall in order to build the street. He said they may also have to build a retaining wall PC Adjoumed Minutes -7- November 21, 2000 on the Southern California Edison property. He felt that all the costs, including dirt exporting, the retaining wall, and landscaping could be very expensive. Chairman McNiel agreed it could be expensive but said that was one of the risks of building in the community. Mr. Nickum asked if the costs would be eligible for reimbursement. Mr. James replied the cost for permanent improvements would be eligible but those improvements would be considered temporary if they were not utilized by the future development. Commissioner Tolstoy felt that when the City requires landscaping, that includes anything required in order to install the landscaping. Brad Buller, City Planner, stated there is currently a retaining wall because when the developer wanted to build, they were not given permission to enter the adjoining property to grade; therefore,a wall had to be constructed to retain the improvements. He observed that if Southern California Edison will not allow the developer to enter their property to grade beyond the right of way, a retaining wall would be needed and it would be subject to reimbursement only if the adjacent developer subsequently uses it. Mr. Nickum stated they were not the property owner at the time the William Lyon Company built the retaining wall. He said the Lyons strip and the entire project has been master planned and they have assurances that they will acquire the Lyons strip. He indicated they hope to close escrow within 30 days and then would process a map to encompass those lots. Hearing no further testimony, Chairman McNiel closed the public hearing. Motion: Moved by Mannerino, seconded by Stewart, to issue a Negative Declaration and adopt the resolutions approving Tentative Tract 16081 and Development Review 00-12 with modification to require Victoria Park Lane improvements west of the project to join the existing improvements near Day Creek Channel. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: MACIAS, MANNERINO, MCNIEL, STEWART, TOLSTOY NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE - carried NEW BUSINESS J. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW 00-53 - NORTHTOWN HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION -The review of detailed site plan and elevations single family residences on 11 in-fill lots in the Low Residential District (2-4 dwelling units per acre) within the Northtown area along Center Avenue, 24th Street, and 25th Street, east of Hermosa Avenue - APN: 209-101-18, 209-101-24, 209-103-06, 209-104-06, 209-104-34, 209-104-35, 209-112-17, and 209-121-22. Related files: Tree Removal Permit 00-42, Development Review 95-03 and 97-35. Rudy Zeledon, Assistant Planner, presented the staff report. Chairman McNiel invited public comments. PC Adjourned Minutes -8- November 21, 2000 Pete Pitassi, 8439 White Oak Avenue, Suite 105, Rancho Cucamonga, stated he represented Northtown Housing Development Corporation. He agreed to all the conditions and looked forward to continuing the program. There were no additional public comments regarding this item. Chairman McNiel stated that so far the program of building in-fill single family homes has been absolutely terrific. Motion: Moved by Stewart, seconded by Macias, to issue a Negative Declaration and adopt the resolution approving Development Review 00-53. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: MACIAS, MANNERINO, MCNIEL, STEWART, TOLSTOY NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE - carried PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments at this time. COMMISSION BUSINESS There was no additional Commission business. ADJOURNMENT Moved by Mannerino, seconded by Stewart, carried 5-0, to adjourn. The Planning Commission adjoumed at 8:56 p.m. to a workshop regarding Conditional Use Permit 00-34 (Costco Wholesale) and Pre-Application Review 00-10 (American Pacific Homes). The workshop adjoumed at 10:25 p.m. and those minutes appear separately. Respectfully submitted, Bra,r'er V Se retary PC Adjourned Minutes -9- November 21, 2000