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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995/11/29 - Workshop Minutes - PC-HPCCITY OF RA/NCHO CUCAMONGA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Adjourned Meeting November 29, 1995 Chairman Barker called the Adjourned Meeting of the City of Rancho Cucamonga Planning Commission to order at 9:25 p.m. The meeting was held in the Rains Room at the Rancho Cucamonga Civic Center, 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga California. ROLL CALL COMMISSIONERS: PRESENT: David Barker, Heinz Lumpp, Larry McNiel, Peter Tolstoy ABSENT: John Melcher STAFF PRESENT: Brad Buller, City Planner; Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer; Scott Murphy, Associate Planner ANNOUNCEMENTS There were no announcements , · , , , NEW BUSINESS CONDITIONAT. USE PERMIT 95-16 - SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH - A request to construct a church facility and school consisting of a 31,017 square foot church, a 28,480 square foot community center, a 16,460 square foot education center, a 10,898 square foot parish center office, a 9,400 rectory, a 10,110 adult education and youth center, a 5,180 square foot chapel, and a 9,387 square foot adult center on a 20.14 acre site in the Very Low Residential designation (1-2 dwelling units per acre) of the Etiwanda Specific Plan, located on the west side of Etiwanda Avenue, between Summit and Highland Avenues - APN: 225-171-12, 20, 22, and 23. Brad Buller, City Planner, gave a brief overview of the project status. Scott Murphy, AICP, Associate Planner, identified the issues/concerns raised by the Design Review Committee. Father Fred Gaglia, Pastor of Scared Heart Church, presented an overview of the Church's design process and the changes that have been made to the plans. He presented building elevations to show the progression of the changes. He acknowledged the Design Review Committee's concerns and presented revised plans to address those concerns. Father Gaglia noted that the building elevations have been modified to reduce the overall height of the church building 12 feet. He noted the changes that have been incorporated into the building design including, but not limited to, the replacement of the arched windows with dormer style windows. Commissioner Tolstoy questioned the grade differential between the church site and the property to the south. Mr. Murphy indicated that the property to the south would be 8 feet lower than the church at the property line. Commissioner Tolstoy was concerned about the grade differential. He feared the grade separation will create a '~basement" feeling for the property to the south because the southerly property owner will be looking at slope rather than the sky, the mountains, or the landscaping. Father Gaglia stated that any project will require slopes because of the fall of the land. Commissioner Tolstoy stated he did not appreciate Father Gaglia's comments about the Planning Commission not wanting churches in Etiwanda. Chairman Barker stated that the City did not create a church area or zone in order to allow dispersement of the churches throughout the community. Father Gaglia presented the revisions to the other elevations of the church building. Chairman Barker asked what roof material was proposed. Father Gaglia indicated his concern about roof tile safety because of the children at the school and said he would prefer to use a metal material. He asked if the Commission would allow use of a metal roof that looks like tile. Father Gaglia referenced the roof material around the Upland Hills golf course and stated that material comes in sheets and has a wind resistance factor of 200 miles per hour. Mr. Buller asked the Commission if the revisions provided by the applicant address the Design Review Committee's comments and any concerns of the Planning Commission. Chairman Barker appreciated the applicant's effort in providing the overlay revisions. Commissioner Tolstoy thanked the applicant for the height reduction. He felt the height reduction provides a better building design. He was still concerned about the grade differential to the south. He believed the architecture to be headed in the right direction. He said the design is a large church but it is sited on a large lot. Commissioner McNiel stated that the Planning Commission has gone to great lengths to work with churches. He said there were several things that he did not understand about the design. He felt the church is the predominant building yet it will not be seen because of the large setback and landscaping. He asked why the majority of the parking is in the rear of the site. He was also concerned about the vehicles going by the school buildings and the potential conflicts with pedestrians. Father Gaglia indicated that the school operates at different hours than the church so there would be no conflict. He stated that the large amount of parking at the rear of the site was intentional to encourage parishioners to exit the church through the courtyard and to encourage some social interaction. He said many of the design considerations they are working with are dictated by the diocese. PC Adjourned Minutes (CUP 95-16) -2- November 29, 1995 Commissioner McNiel felt that the parking was located too close to the south and north property lines and that the church should be pushed to the west to provide a greater setback. He noted that the trees along the property lines will be removed with the grading of the site and new trees will be planted. He liked the architecture proposed with the revisions. He asked if the drive aisle at the south end of the project could be relocated south of the school building. Mr. Murphy indicated that the drive aisle was necessary at the south end of the adult center building in order to allow Fire Department equipment within 150 feet of all sides of the building. Commissioner Tolstoy asked if there was a second means of access to serve the parking area in the rear. Father Gaglia identified the emergency access at the north end of the site that provides access to Summit Avenue and noted a future street is planned for the south side of the lot that will connect to Etiwanda Avenue. Commissioner Lumpp asked if the church is open during the day. Father Gaglia responded that because of the amount of theft, the church is locked during the day. Commissioner Lumpp stated that he had spent part of his life in Europe with churches bigger than this. He appreciated the design revisions provided by the applicant. He was, however, disappointed in the Design Review Committee and staff direction to reduce the building mass. He was disappointed that the tower is facing the courtyard rather than Etiwanda Avenue. He said the residential area adjoining the site will be one-half acre lots, 200 feet deep. He observed that if the site were not proposed for a church, a residential development would be required to provide a perimeter wall that would impact the view more than the slope and open fencing proposed by the applicant. He thought houses built on the adjoining property will probably be set back further than the 20 feet required. He was satisfied with the building location proposed by the applicant. He did have concern with the use of metal roof material and felt the roof material should be concrete tile. Commissioner Tolstoy asked how the chapel area will be treated since it will be constructed with a later phase. Father Gaglia indicated that the areaWill be landscaped in the interim. Chairman Barker stated that the building mass was not a concern of his during the Design Review Committee meeting. He was concerned about the design of the buildings as they related to the Etiwanda Specific Plan. He felt the applicant had made great strides with the revisions. He stated that the Etiwanda area is a wind tunnel and that would create serious problems for a metal roof. In addition, he felt the roof material will have a tremendous impact on the design of the facility. He said he would hate to see the design come so far only to lessen its impact with a metal roof. He felt that now is the time to build the church before any housing is developed in the area. Mr. Buller stated that given the acceptance of the revisions, staff would schedule the application for Design Review Committee in December to review the final details with the application scheduled for Planning Commission in January. He asked the Commissioners if they were comfortable with the setback from the adjoining residential properties. PC Adjourned Minutes (CUP 95-16) -3- November 29, 1995 Commissioner Lumpp stated he was satisfied. Chairman Barker agreed with Commissioner Lumpp. Mr. Buller indicated that staff will continue to work with the applicant on refinements to the grading plan to minimize the grade differential impacts. Commissioner McNiel stated his concern about parking stalls being too close to the church building. He felt this would create traffic and pedestrian conflicts. Commissioner Tolstoy found the site plan acceptable with refinements to the grading. Commissioner McNiel stated that two years ago the City initiated the Pre-Application Review process. He said the process is intended to address the revision sequence experienced by the Church over the past years. Commissioner Lumpp asked about the seating of the church. Father Gaglia stated that the church will seat 1,400 people. PUBLIC COMMRNTS There were no public comments COMMISSION BUSINESS The Commission agreed to a workshop on December 19, 1995, with Lewis Homes to discuss Town Center Square revisions. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 11:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Brad Buller Secretary PC Adjourned Minutes (CUP 95-16) -4- November 29, 1995