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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997/04/23 - Minutes - PC-HPC CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting April 23, 1997 Chairman Barker 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 Barker then led in the pledge of allegiance. .ROLL CALL COMMISSIONERS: PRESENT: David Barker, William Bethel, Rich Macias (arrived at 7:02 p.m.), Larry McNiel ABSENT: Peter Tolstoy STAFF PRESENT: Brad Buller, City Planner; Dan Coleman, Principal Planner; Ralph Hanson, Deputy City Attorney; Steve Hayes, Associate Planner; Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer; Gall Sanchez, Planning Commission Secretary ANNOUNCEMENTS There were no announcements. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: Moved by McNiel, seconded by Bethel, carried 2-0-2-1 (Macias and Tolstoy absent, Barker abstain), to approve the minutes of March 26, 1997. Motion: Moved by McNiel, seconded by Bethel, carried 2-0-2-1 (Macias and Tolstoy absent, Barker abstain), to approve the minutes of the Adjourned meeting of March 26, 1997. Motion: Moved by Bethel, seconded by McNiel, carried 3-0-2 (Macias and Tolstoy absent), to approve the minutes of April 9, 1997. CONSENT CALENDAR A. VACATION OF STORM DRAIN EASEMENT- WILLIAM LYON CO. - A request to vacate a 20- foot wide storm drain easement as shown on Parcel 1 of Tract 13279, associated with Tentative Tract 14534 - APN: 227-091-31. Motion: Moved by McNiel, seconded by Bethel, carded 3-0-2 (Macias and Tolstoy absent), to adopt the Consent Calendar. Commissioner Macias arrived. PUBLIC HEARINGS B. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 95-25 - RODRIGUE? - A request to construct a 2,900 square foot drive-thru facility and a 5,548 square foot restaurant on 3.7 acres of land in the Community Commercial designation of the Foothill Boulevard Specific Plan, located at the southwest corner of Foothill Boulevard and Vineyard Avenue - APN: 207-211-12 and 13. Related file: Pre-Application Review 95-04. Chairman Barker announced that the applicant had submitted a request that the item be continued to May 14, 1997, because he could not be present tonight. He observed that the public hearing remained open from March 26, 1997, and asked if anyone in the audience would like to address the Commission. There were no public comments. Motion: Moved by McNiel, seconded by Bethel, to continue Conditional Use Permit 95-25 to May 14, 1997. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: BARKER, BETHEL, MACIAS, MCNIEL, TOLSTOY NOES: NC)NE ABSENT: NONE - carried C. AMENDMENT TO DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT 89-03 - SHEFFIELD HOMER - A request to reduce the minimum and minimum average front yard building setback requirements in City adopted Development Agreement 89-03, for a previgusly approved County subdivision annexed into the City (Tract 13835), which consists of 78 lots on approximately 20 acres of land in the Low Residential Distdct (2-4 dwelling units per acre), located at the nodheast corner of Highland and Rochester Avenues - APN: 225-501-01 through 78. Steve Hayes, Associate Planner, presented the staff report. Chairman Barker opened the public hearing. Dave Shaffer, Vice President of Development, Sheffield Homes, 3400 Central Ave., #325, Riverside, observed that 50 percent of the units had to incorporate a side-on garage and they had a combination of various types of garages. He said they had made a great effort to pull the houses back from the street and he thought the streetscape offers good separation. Hearing no further testimony, the public hearing was closed. Commissioner McNiel stated he had been on the Design Review Committee when the project was reviewed. He observed that the applicant is dealing with a marketing problem and was reducing the front yards to produce larger, more usable back yards. He said that the Design Review Committee had not recommended approval because it felt another alternative should be explored as moving the houses forward crowds the street. He thought the developer should have foreseen that the back yards would be too small and he did not think the City should assume the burden when the developer created the problem. Commissioner Bethel felt the side-on garages with a minimum driveway depth of 18 feet was the best the City could get and said he reluctantly suppoded staffs recommendation to support the amendment. Planning Commission Minutes -2- April 23, 1997 Commissioner McNiel stated that the City established minimum standards and developers shoot for those minimums. He said that when there is a problem, the City too frequently bites the bullet and allows exceptions. He acknowledged that it is a good tract but said he still did not support the proposed amendment. Motion: Moved by Bethel, seconded by Macias, to adopt the resolution recommending approval to Development Agreement 89-03. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: BARKER, BETHEL, MAClAS NOES: MCNIEL ABSENT: TOLSTOY - carried OLD BUSINESS D. DESIGN REVIEW FOR VESTING TENTATIVE TRACT 15766 - MARK TAYLOR - The design review of 264 apartments on 22.2 acres of land in the Medium Residential (8-14 dwelling units per acre) zone in the Victoria Planned Community, located on the north side of Base Line Road, approximately 800 feet west of Victoda Park Lane. APN: 227-091-14, 15, and 227-111-12 and 13. Dan Coleman, Principal Planner, presented the staff report. Chairman Barker invited the applicant to make a presentation. Chuck Buquet, Charles Joseph Associates, 10681. Foothill Boulevard, Suite 205, Rancho Cucamonga, stated they had met with staff and m;~de changes which they felt addressed the concerns raised by the City Council. He introduced the architect. Bob Singer, architect, 14815 North 28th Place, Phoenix, stated they documented the existing architecture and landscaping in the area. He indicated they changed the roof tile to a grey, proposed beige color walls with white tdm around the windows, removed the palm trees, and revised the plant materials to be consistent with the plant palette for Base Line Road. He discussed the proposed trees and suggested boulder elements and river rock be added to the landscaping. He presented a sample of the roof tile. Commissioner McNiel asked if Victorian architecture had been considered. Mr. Singer replied they have added some of the Victorian elements such as window surrounds and shadow box windows. He felt they have a majority of Victorian details. There were no additional public comments. Brad Bullet, City Planner, stated that even though the item was not an advertised public hearing, staff had contacted a few key individuals who had indicated they were spokespersons for the neighborhood. He reported that staff had not received any response. Commissioner Bethel stated he still objects to the project. He believed the matter before the Commission tonight was not the project, but rather the design review thereof. He agreed with the changes that were made. Commissioner McNiel stated he had suppoded the project. He observed it had been originally presented as a very upscale, high-end project. He said he expected certain things including punctuated architecture. He noted there have been a few color changes and not much else. He felt Planning Commission Minutes -3- April 23, 1997 the changes make the project appear mundane. He believed the odginal project was more attractive but acknowledged it had not been acceptable to the City Council. He felt the project should have more punch. Commissioner Bethel asked what would happen if the Commission did not accept the proposed architecture. Mr. Bullet replied that if the Commission did not accept the design, the applicant could be asked if he wished to address the Commission's objections or request an action. He noted that the majority of the Commissioners had supported the design of the project as originally proposed. He observed that the applicant felt the changes were in the spirit and intent of the direction received from City Council and staff concurred with the applicant. He did not feel the change in color or roof material would make the project inferior. He pointed out that the residents had objected to the original proposal as having a "Palm Springs" look. Chairman Barker agreed with Commissioner McNiel in that he felt the first proposal was classier with lines, contrast, and vertical breaks which were now not as evident. He recalled a former developer in the City who told the City not to worry about architecture because landscaping in front of the buildings would hide the architecture. He agreed the buildings lack excitement, He questioned the specific directions given by the City Council. Mr. Buller replied that the City Council had approved the project but asked that the design return to the Planning Commission to fit as closely as possible into the neighborhood and specifically referenced the Etiwanda Specific Plan even though the project is not located within the Etiwanda Specific Plan area. He felt the type of tile roof and architecture currently proposed is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood as opposed to the previous "Palm Springs" look of the original illustrations. Commissioner McNiel felt the red tile roofs also fit into the neighborhood. Mr. Buller observed the Commission would have the option of accepting the design as originally proposed, but said staff feels the changes meet the intent and direction given by the City Council. Commissioner McNiel felt the City is losing an opportunity to make the project into something special. Commissioner Macias felt the original project was good and aesthetically pleasing. He thought the current design is appropriate and the developer had made a good faith effort to follow the nebulous direction given by City Council. He supported the project as ordinally designed but supported staff's recommendation to approve the revised design because he felt it will be a quality project with either design. Commissioner Bethel stated he suppoded staff's recommendation to approve the changes. Chairman Barker felt the changes lessen the project but acknowledged that the applicant had done what they thought they were told to do. Dan Coleman, Principal Planner asked if the Commissioners were referring to architecture or landscaping. Commissioner McNiel felt the original architecture was better. Chairman Barker invited the applicant to comment. Planning Commission Minutes -4- April 23, 1997 Mr. Buquet stated he regretted the challenging situation the Commission had been placed in. He felt the first plan was beautiful. He did not feel the architecture has been compromised or changed. He stated the Council's specific direction had been to change the roof and use eadh tones. He said he had preferred the first design but he feared approval of the first design would be appealed back up to the City Council. He asked for approval of the design changes. Motion: Moved by Macias, seconded by Bethel, to adopt the resolution approving Design Review for Vesting Tentative Tract 15766. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: BARKER, BETHEL, MACIA~S NOES: MCNIEL ABSENT: TOLSTOY - carried DIRECTOR'S REPORTS E. USE DETERMINATION 97-01 - WALGREENS - A request to determine that a drive-thru pharmacy is similar to a drive-thru bank and is a permitted use within the Neighborhood Commercial District in the Terra Vista Community Plan. Brad Bullet, City Planner, presented the staff report. Chairman Barker invited public comment. Hardy Strozier, The Planning Associates, 3151 Airway Avenue, Suite R-l, Costa Mesa, observed that if the use were permitted, the application would.still have to go through the design review process, thereby allowing the City to address site planni'ng issues. He felt the concerns raised were site planning issues rather than use issues. He reported they have approximately 20 drive-thru facilities in Colorado and said they are a very benign use. He stated that parking and traffic demands are Iow in comparison to fast food uses. He commented that in most cases, the proposed Walgreens site exceeds the minimum site line criteria. Chairman Barker asked why the applicant was opposed to a conditional use permit process. Mr. Strozier responded they feel that would be excessive review for such a benign use and a permitted use would involve less red tape. Mr. Buller stated that staff feels a conditional use permit process is appropriate. He noted that most master plans identify areas ddve-thrus can work. He stated that the conditional use permit process allows the City to place certain restrictions and to manage and monitor the use. He noted that if Walgreens should vacate the building, it would be easier for the City to control a subsequent user. Commissioner McNiel felt a drive-thru pharmacy is a great idea but he feared that prescriptions would not be ready when patrons reach the drive-thru line and asked if procedures would be in place to address that problem. Laura Straub, Evergreen Devco, Inc. 2505 Canada Boulevard, Suite lA, Glendale, stated that they will have procedures in place but they will also have adequate parking and an interior waiting area. Commissioner Bethel noted that the drive-thru use is negated if the prescriptions are not ready. Ms. Straub replied that they are generally ready. Planning Commission Minutes -5- April 23, 1997 Mr. Buller remarked that staff had asked similar questions when the existing drive-thru pharmacy was opened. He noted that the existing pharmacy said that when prescriptions are called in, patrons are asked if they will be using the drive-thru. Mr. Strozier said their experience shows there would be Iow queuing. Chairrnan Barker said he supports the use but he agreed it would be better to have control if other users were to subsequently want to use the building. He supported the conditional use permit process. Motion: Moved by Bethel, seconded by Macias, to adopt the resolution for Use Determination 97-01 finding that drive-thru pharmacies is a conditionally permitted use within the Neighborhood Commercial District in the Terra Vista Community Plan. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: BARKER, BETHEL, MACIAS, MCNIEL NOES: NONE ABSENT: TOLSTOY - carried PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments at this time. COMMISSION BUSINESS F. TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS Commissioner Bethel indicated he and Commissioner Tolstoy had interviewed five candidates for the Trails Advisory Committee and applicant Sue Rabone seemed to be the most active in equestrian activities. He said she appeared to have good knowledge and energy. Chairman Barker felt she was a good choice. It was the consensus of the Commission to appoint Sue Rabone to the Trails Advisory Committee as an equestrian member at large. G. SIGNS/MULTI-FAMILY TASK FORCE UPDATE Brad Buller, City Planner, observed that Chairman Barker had attended the meeting held earlier today. He indicated a resident from Victoda had also attended. He stated the Task Force had given a brief presentation on what had been done. He observed the next meeting is scheduled for May 28. He stated staff had presented analysis of several vacant sites designated as multi-family. He said the City has several areas it may wish to further review. He noted that no formal action had been taken and the Task Force had indicated it may be advantageous to encourage more public participation at future meetings. Chairman Barker commented that the color renderings provided by staff were very informative. He asked that they be provided to the other Commissioners. He complimented staff on a job well done. Mr. Buller repoded that the Task Force had not had time to discuss signage. Planning Commission Minutes -6~ April 23, 1997 H. FOOTHILL BOULEVARD/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE UPDATE Brad Bullet, City Planner, indicated that a field trip was scheduled for May 7. He indicated that Brad Ubansky, a real estate broker active on Foothill Boulevard, was invited to padicipate to provide insight. Chairman Barker commented he had received complaints that Denny's is too close to the street. He said he understood it was built so close to the street because that is what is called for in the Foothill Boulevard Specific Plan. He asked that the Planning Commission revisit the plan. He thought that the north side of Foothill Boulevard has a grand, classy look but having Denny's so close to the corner cheapens the corner. Commissioner McNiel felt that Denny's looks just like it did on its plans. Brad Buller, City Planner, remarked that Chairman Barker had requested that photos be taken of the newer buildings along the south side of Foothill Boulevard such as Hollywood Video, and the Shell station. He observed that the Foothill Boulevard Specific Plan calls for buildings to be pulled out to the corners at key intersections. He suggested that the matter be placed on a future agenda for further discussion, at which time staff would have the photographs available. Commissioner Bethel felt it should be placed on an agenda as soon as possible. Chairman Barker asked for a report by the next agend.a. Mr. Buller indicated it would be brought back for the May 14 agenda. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Moved by Bethel, seconded by Macias, carried 4-0-1 (Tolstoy absent) to adjourn. 8:18 p.m. - The Planning Commission adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Brad Buller Secretary Planning Commission Minutes -7- April 23, 1997