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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999/06/23 - Minutes - PC-HPC CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting June 23, 1999 Chairman McNiel called the Regular Meeting of the City of Rancho Cucamonga Planning Commission to order at 7:02 p.m. The meeting was held in the Council Chamber at Rancho Cucamenga 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 Bullet, City Planner; Dan Coleman, Principal Planner; Michael Estrada, Deputy City Attorney; Nancy Fong, Senior Planner; Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer; Brent Le Count, Associate Planner; Gall Sanchez, Planning Commission Secretary ANNOUNCEMENTS There were no announcements. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: Moved by Mannedno, seconded by Macias, carried 5-0, to approve the minutes of June 9, 1999. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. DEVELOPMENT REVIEW 99-17 - STEVEN WALKER HOMES - The design review of detailed site plan and elevations for previously recorded Tract 14509, an 18-1et subdivision on 3.84 acres of land in the Low Residential district (2 to 4 dwelling units per acre), located on the east side of Hermosa Avenue between Wilson Avenue and Banyan Street - APN: 201- 183-01. Brent Le Count, Associate Planner, presented the staff report. Chairman McNiel invited public comment. Charles Frase, Steven Walker Homes, 7161 Indiana Avenue, Riverside, indicated he was present. Debra Flores, 10121 Kernwood Court, Rancho Cucamonga, indicated she lives directly to the north of the project. She stated they had been notified of the neighborhood meeting that was held the previous week by an illegal notice which was placed in her mailbox. She observed that the previous approval included some single story homes but they had now all been changed to two- story. She thought the new homes will be approximately 20 percent larger than other houses in the area. She said that current houses average 2,200 square feet and the new houses average 2,700 square feet. She remarked that when she had appeared before the Planning Commission in the past, she had been told that it is customary to have single story houses on comer lots. She felt the notice regarding the neighborhood meeting had been deceptive because it did not indicate the house plans had changed. She said she went to the neighborhood meeting expecting to hear when they would start grading and the developer started grading the following day without permits. She stated the developer had not watered the area and it was very dusty. She said the developer later staged the water truck immediately behind her house. She thought the developer has put a tremendous amount of money into grading the property without permits. She asked if the City has now given permits. She commented that the previous plans allowed view corridors between the homes because the homes were not as large and there were some single stor7 homes, but she thought there will no longer be any view corridors because the houses are too large. Brian McNair, 10111 Kernwood Court, Rancho Cucamonga, stated he had recentIy moved to the area. He indicated that when he questioned the real estate agent as to what would be built south of their house, he was told it would be a single story house. He thought the neighbors were not given proper notice and the notice regarding the neighborhood meeting was deceptive. He felt his view is worth a lot and stated that original homeowners had paid a $10,000 premium for view lots. He thought plans call for a retaining wall with wrought iron on top to the south of his property and asked that the wall be brick with no wrought iron to blend in with the majority of the walls in the area. He feared he will be staring at trees in 5 years instead of a view. James Fean, 10131 Kernwood Court, Rancho Cucamonga, stated he had been sent plans about 10 months ago and he has since built a back porch. He indicated he will be looking right into his neighbor's master bedroom. He said he had not received notice of a neighborhood meeting and asked to get plans from the City. Staci Lee, 10111 Kernwood Court, Rancho Cucamonga, stated she lives on a cul-de-sac. She indicated she originally had a single story home plotted behind hers. She said she paid $15,000 for a view lot 10 years ago. She felt the currently proposed houses will appear too large as people drive up Hermosa Avenue and will look out of place because they will be larger than existing ones. Mr. Frase asserted they complied with postal regulations and placed the flyers on mailboxes and on front doors. He said the flyers explained there would be exciting new changes to the previously approved project. He stated they have not changed anything other than the floor plans. He commented they tried to plot large yards between the houses. He explained they now have the water tank immediately behind the existing homes while they grade the other side of the project and they will move the water tank to the other side when that is possible. He pointed out that the wrought iron fence is a condition of approval Brad Buller, City Planner, clarified that Standard Condition C.6 calls for 6-foot decorative block walls along the project perimeter and asks the developer to make a good faith effort to work with adjoining property owners to avoid having a double wall. He did note that there is a large grade differential between the lots. Planning Commission Minutes -2- June 23, 1999 Mr. Le Count observed that there is a 15-16 foot grade difference between the proposed project and the existing homes to the north. He stated that the roof line lines up with the second floor of the existing homes. He reported that the City requires slope planting of vegetation for erosion purposes. He indicated that the new homeowners have the right to plant what they wish on their own property and acknowledged that trees may block views. Chairman McNiel remarked that real estate developers sell view properties as an advantage but there are no laws to protect existing views. He stated that some wasteland will never be developed but otherwise, those people who want to preserve a view have the option of purchasing the property that may obstruct their view when developed. Mr. Bullet pointed out that a Development Review of the plans does not require a public hearing. He said the City encourages developers to hold a neighborhood meeting to discuss the plans but it is not a legal requirement. Commissioner Mannerino commented that he and Commissioner Stewart served on the Design Review Committee when it reviewed the plans. He said the Commission had requested some changes and the developer responded by changing the plans. He stated he had seen a copy of the notice the developer provided regarding the neighborhood meeting and he did not feel it was deceptive. He saw no legal reason to deny the project. Commissioner Stewart did not feel there was that great of a difference in the sizes of the proposed houses as compared to existing houses. She also did not see a legal reason to deny the project. Commissioner Macias indicated the matter had been discussed several months ago dudng a hearing for the time extension request. He felt the arguments had not changed and he saw no significant changes to require reopening the CEQA process. He thought the City has to continue to tell people that when they buy a view lot they can't expect the view to remain indefinitely. He thought the developer had gone forward in an attempt to meet with the neighbors. Commissioner Tolstoy found nothing deceptive in the notice regarding the neighborhood meeting. He commented that no view is guaranteed. He observed that there is a large grade differential between the existing homes and the new tract and he felt the existing homes will still have a view. Chairman McNiel stated he would like to ensure that dust control measures are in place to contain the dust. Mr. Bullet remarked that at the neighborhood meeting, the developer had given Mrs. Flores the name and telephone number of each person to contact if there are problems. He suggested that the developer make those numbers available to all neighbors. Mr. Frase indicated he would be happy to provide the neighbors with a typed listing of contacts. Motion: Moved by Mannerino, seconded by Macias, to adopt the resolution approving. Development Review 99-17. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: MACIAS, MANNERINO, MCNIEL, STEWART, TOLSTOY NOES: NQNE ABSENT: NONE - carried Planning Commission Minutes -3- June 23, 1999 B. SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 99-01 - CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA - An amendment to add provisions restricting the filing of the same or a similar application within a one-year period and to require an 8-inch minimum letter height for sign copy on monument signs. Brent Le Count, Associate Planner, presented the staff report. Chairman McNiel opened the public headng. Headng no testimony, he closed it. Motion: Moved by Mannedno, seconded by Stewart, to adopt the resolution recommending approval of Sign Ordinance Amendment 99-01. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: MACIAS, MANNERINO, MCNIEL, STEWART, TOLSTOY NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE - carried NEW BUSINESS C. DEVELOPMENT REVIEW 99-21 - MASl COMMERCE CENTER PARTNERS - The design review of the detailed site plan and elevations for three buildings totaling 69,354 square feet within the Masi Plaza, a previously approved, mixed use development master plan, in the Industrial Park District, Subarea 7, of the Industrial Area Specific Plan, located at the northeast comer of Masi Drive and Sebastian Way - APN: 229-011-45, 46, 50 and 61. Commissioner Mannedno recused himself because of a business relationship with the Masi family. Nancy Fong, Senior Planner, presented the staff report and provided a revised resolution deleting some conditions which had already been met or designed into the plans. Chairman McNiel asked why the conditions were being changed. Ms, Fong replied that the applicant had not submitted plans in time for them to be reviewed prior to distribution of the staff report but that staff had now had an opportunity to review them and is pleased with the plans. Chairman McNiel invited public comment. Jack Masi, Masi Commerce Partners, 11871 Foothill Boulevard, Rancho Cucamonga, requested approval, He said they had met with staff and resolved all the concerns. Commissioner Tolstoy stated he had been at the Design Review Committee meeting when the plans were to be approved and the plans had not been available for review prior to the meeting. He felt it is important for each developer to turn in their plans to staff ahead of time so that staff and the Commission can review the plans in advance. He stated that if that should happen again when he is on the Design Review Committee, he would not look at the plans at the meeting and would request the matter be continued to a future Committee meeting because it is extremely difficult to first review the plans at the meeting. Planning Commission Minutes -4- June 23, 1999 Chairman McNiel stated he did not disagree with Commissioner Tolstoy. He felt it should be policy. Steve Orme, Senior Real Estate Asset Manager, 7918 Anbusto Court, Cadsbad, stated he was speaking on behalf of 24-Hour Fitness. He said the facility is intended to be one of their premier clubs. He described the proposed programs. There were no further public comments. Motion: Moved by Tolstoy, seconded by Stewart, to adopt the resolution approving Development Review 99-21 as modified by staff. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: MACIAS, MCNIEL, STEWART, TOLSTOY NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE ABSTAIN: MANNERINO - carried PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments at this time. COMMISSION BUSINESS D. TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS Chairman McNiel commented that his term had expired and he could no longer attend the meetings because of scheduling conflicts. Commissioner Stewart volunteered to serve. Chairman McNiel appointed Commissioner Stewart to the Traits Advisory Committee. Brad Buller, City Planner, suggested the Planning Commission may wish to discuss the field tdp held just pdor to tonight's Planning Commission meeting to visit various areas of the City. He indicated there will be more pad buildings coming in along Foothill Boulevard. Commissioner Tolstoy felt that would not be a problem so long as the pad buildings conform to the architecture of the center. Mr. Bullet requested that the Commissioners inform staff if they observed anything going in they do not like. He commented the Commission had also viewed some residential tracts and it became apparent that more attention needs to be paid to Etiwanda Specific Plan architecture guidelines. Commissioner Tolstoy asked if one of the projects will have curb-adjacent sidewalks. Planning Commission Minutes -5- June 23, 1999 Dan Coleman, Principal Ptanner, stated that Tract 15711 was approved with parkway sidewalks, but it is now in plan check with curb-adjacent sidewalks and staff would be bringing the request to the Commission. Commissioner Tolstoy did not see a need to have curb-adjacent sidewalks in that type of a neighborhood. Commissioner Mannedno felt that some of the areas with more affordable housing stock that is 8 to 10 years old are beginning to look shabby. He thought it important to look at matedal durability. Chairman McNiel agreed with Commissioner Tolstoy's eadier comments regarding plans being first presented to staff and the Commissioners at Design Review Committee meetings. Chairman McNiel felt the plans should be available in time for staff to review and critique them. He thought developers sometimes take advantage and the policy should be that projects would be automatically continued if plans are not submitted in time to allow review. Commissioner Mannedno felt that members of the Design Review Committee could make an exception if they feel it is warranted. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Moved by Mannerino, seconded by Macias, carried 5-0, to adjourn. The Planning Commission adjourned at 8:01 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Secretary Planning Commission Minutes -6- June 23, 1999