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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997/04/09 - Minutes - PC-HPC CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting April 9, 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, Larry McNiel (arrived 7:01 p.m.), Peter Tolstoy ABSENT: Rich Macias STAFF PRESENT: Jeff Barnes, Parks & Landscape Maintenance Superintendent; Brad Buller, City Planner; Dan Coleman, Principal Planner; Ralph Hanson, Deputy City Attorney; Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer; Brent Le Count, Associate Planner; Gall Sanchez, Planning Commission Secretary ANNOUNCEMENTS There were r~o announcements. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: Moved by Bethel, seconded by Barker, carried 2-0-2-1 (Macias and McNiel - absent, Tolstoy - abstain), to approve the minutes of March 11, 1997. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 97-05 - HOGLE- IRELAND/SEARING INDUSTRIES - A request to construct a 102,380 square foot warehouse/manufacturing building on 4.31 acres of land in Subarea 2 (General Industrial) of the Industrial Area Specific Plan, located at the northeast corner of Vineyard Avenue and 9th Street - APN: 209-012-17. Related file: Preliminary Review 96-14. Brent Le Count, Associate Planner, presented the staff report. Chairman Barker opened the public hearing. Lee Seadng, Searing Industries, 8901 Arrow Route, Rancho Cucamonga, gave a brief overview of their products and distributed a brochure. Commissioner Bethel asked how much of the materials currently stored outside would be moved inside the new building. Mr. Searing responded about 80 percent. Commissioner Bethel asked if the remainder will be screened. Mr. Searing replied it will be moved closer to the existing building. Pamela Steele, Hogle-lreland, Inc., 3600 Lime Street, Suite 311, Riverside, commended staff for its assistance in processing the project. She presented pictures of the existing overhead utility lines along Vineyard Avenue as well as computer generated mock ups showing the removal of the lower lines. She indicated that Searing agreed to all of the recommended conditions except for Engineering Condition 1 requiring the undergrounding of existing overhead utilities on Vineyard Avenue with the exception of the 66ky lines. She said Searing has built up its business and improved the building which they currently lease. She stated that the cost to underground the utilities will be over $500 thousand. She commented that Searing understands and agrees to the need to underground the utilities along 9th Street because all the poles would be removed on that street. She requested exemption from undergrounding the utilifies along Vineyard Avenue because the poles would remain for the higher 66ky wires. She noted that the Edison Company would also incur additional costs if the wires are undergrounded. Commissioner Bethel asked how much of the $500 thousand would be for Vineyard Avenue. Ms. Steele replied that the cost estimates had not been broken out by street. Commissioner Tolstoy asked how Ms. Steele had arrived at the $500 thousand figure. Ms. Steele responded that the City quoted the figure. She acknowledged they had also received estimates from a private contractor of $357 thousand. Hearing no further testimony, Chairman Barker closed the public hearing. Chairman Barker stated it was his understanding that the policy does not allow for the exemption requested by the applicant. Brad Bullet, City Planner, stated that was correct. Chairman Barker asked for confirmation that the only way an exemption could be granted would be for the City to change the policy. Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer, confirmed that was correct. Commissioner McNiel observed that when the policy was first instituted, the Commission wanted to underground all utilities but the cost to underground 66ky lines was prohibitive. He explained the Commission therefore softened its stance and only required undergrounding of lower lines. He stated the Commission has consistenfiy applied the policy and he saw no reason to change the policy. He felt the building looks nice and complimented Searing Industries on the work they have done on the existing building. Commissioner Tolstoy stated he was delighted that Searing is going to expand. He remarked that on the way to tonight's meeting he had driven south along Carnelian Street and Vineyard Avenue and observed the areas where the lower lines have been removed. He felt the removal of the lower lines had improved the appearance. He supported the project but felt the condition should remain. Commissioner Bethel observed that the applicant had been cooperative and he complimented staff for its work in processing the project. He felt that if the Commission allowed the lower lines to remain, the policy would become meaningless. Commissioner Tolstoy did not recall the Commission ever having granted an exception to the policy. Planning Commission Minutes -2- April 9, 1997 Mr. Buller indicated that the policy was not enforced in the case of a lot split into two single family lots when the lines were located across the street. He observed that Searing had contacted staff early in the Planning process and had hired a good team. He acknowledged that Searing has improved an old, previously vacant building. He noted that Mr. Searing had indicated he would request relief from the undergrounding requirement and said that staff had advised the applicant that the policy has been upheld by the City Council in the past. He noted that the project across the street had deposited about $20,000 toward undergrounding that could go to Searing. He suggested the Commission might consider phasing the undergrounding. He felt the project will make a great contribution to the City. Chairman Barker asked if the policy allows phasing. Mr. Buller believed that it does. Mr. James stated that the undergreunding is considered a public improvement and typically all public improvements have to be accepted by the City prior to granting of occupancy. He said it would require an agreement. Chairman Barker suggested modifying the condition to allow for phasing. He said he wants Searing to grow. Mr. Bullet suggested adding verbiage that undergrounding could be phased subject to review and approval of the City Engineer and City Planner. Chairman Barker concurred with that language. Commissioner McNiel asked what the timing would be. Mr. Buller stated that Searing had indicated it would take about a year to build and at least another to get the facility fully running. He suggested that the undergrounding along Vineyard be phased within three to five years. Mr. James noted that delaying the undergrounding may affect the parkway and street trees installation. He noted that future undergrounding may disturb those improvements. Commissioner McNiel agreed that whenever it occurs, it will disrupt what is there. Chairman Barker said he would like to give staff the opportunity to work with the applicant. Commissioners Tolstoy and Bethel agreed. Commissioner McNiel observed that the conditions allow the applicant to request reimbursement for one-half the cost from future development on the opposite side of the street. He noted that two costs had been mentioned and asked what the reimbursement would be based upon. Mr. James replied that it would be based on the lower of the City adopted fee or the actual installation cost. Motion: Moved by McNiel, seconded by Bethel, to issue a Negative Declaration and adopt the resolution approving Conditional Use Permit 97-05 with modification to permit review and approval of a phasing plan for undergrounding the utility lines. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: BARKER, BETHEL, MCNIEL, TOLSTOY NOES: NONE ABSENT: MACIAS - carried Planning Commission Minutes -3- April 9, 1997 B. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND TENTATIVE PARCEL MAP NO. 15012 AND THF VACATION OF A PORTION OF CHARLES SMITH AVENUE - OLTMANS INVESTMENT COMPANY - A subdivision of 56.4 acres of land into four parcels in the General Industrial Distdct (Subareas 12 and 13) of the Industrial Area Specific Plan, located on the north side of Fourth Street between Buffalo Avenue and the 1-15 Freeway - APN: 229-263-14 through 21 and 35. Related file: Conditional Use Permit 96-32. Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer, presented the staff report. Chairman Barker opened the public headng. Russell Mullins, R. J. Mullins & Associates, Inc., 2150 North Arrowhead Avenue, San Bemardino, stated he was speaking on behalf of Oltmans Investment Company. He thanked staff for its assistance. He reported that the parcel map was being processed to accommodate Auto Nation and many of the conditions address improvements which will be installed by Auto Nation. He stated that the right turn lane will be 250 feet instead of the normal 300 feet. Mr. Mullins reported they had prepared a drainage study and they will be dedicating drainage easements but the improvements will be tied to other projects. Chairman Barker asked if staff was in agreement with the applicant. Mr. James responded affirmatively. Hearing no further testimony, Chairman Barker closed the public hearing. Commissioner McNiel requested a brief overview of how the drainage will be handled. Mr. James gave a brief synopsis of existing conditions and what will be changed. Commissioner McNiel asked if there will be sheet flow in the worst case. Mr. James replied that was correct and Auto Nation is designing a parking lot to be depressed in that area to handle the overflow. Motion: Moved by Tolstoy, seconded by McNiel, to issue a Negative Declaration and adopt the resolution approving Parcel Map 15012 and the vacation of a portion of Charles Smith Avenue. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: BARKER, BETHEL, MCNIEL, TOLSTOY NOES: NONE ABSENT: MACIAS - carried DIRECTOR'S REPORTS C. REVIEW OF CURRENT PRACTICES FOR TREE SELECTION, PLANTING, AND WATERING AND THEIR RELATION TO TREE LOSS DURING WIND STORMS Jeff Barnes, Parks & Landscape Maintenance Superintendent, presented the staff report. Chairman Barker commended Mr. Barnes for the report. Planning Commission Minutes -4- April 9, 1997 Brad Buller, City Planner, observed that the Planning Commission reviews a lot of projects including the trees and landscaping. He said the Commission wants to be assured that the required landscaping can be sustained. He asked if those landscaping choices are causing problems and if the landscape maintenance staff had any suggested alternates. Mr. Barnes stated he has the opportunity to review public improvement plans and Engineering and Planning Divisions have implemented his suggestions. He thanked City staff for listening to the field personnel. He indicated the main tree that has caused problems is the eucalyptus. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments at this time. COMMISSION ~USINESS D. DESIGN AWARDS NOMINATIONS Chairman Barker stated he felt several projects were deserving of awards. He requested that each Commissioner advise staff which projects they felt are deserving and asked that staff report back with a short list. E. SIGNS/MULTI-FAMILY TASK FORCE UPDATE Brad Bullet, City Planner, stated that the next meeting will be on April 23. F. FOOTHILL BOULEVARD/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE UPDATE Brad Buller, City Planner, indicated that the April 2 field trip had been canceled and would be rescheduled. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Moved by Bethel, seconded by McNiel, carried 4-0-1 (Tolstoy absent), to adjourn. 8:16 p.m. - The Planning Commission adjourned to a workshop immediately following in the De Anza Room. The workshop adjourned at 9:30 p.m. and those minutes appear separately. Respectfully sul~mitted, Secretary Planning Commission Minutes -5- April 9, 1997