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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995/08/09 - Workshop Minutes - PC-HPCCITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Adjourned Meeting August 9, 1995 Chairman Barker called the Adjourned Meeting of the City of Rancho Cucamonga Planning Commission to order at 5:00 p.m. The meeting was held in the Rains Room at the 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, Heinz Lumpp, Larry McNiel, John Melcher, Peter Tolstoy ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Brad Buller, City Planner; Nancy Fong, Senior Planner; Steve Hayes, Associate Planner; Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer; Betty Miller, Associate Engineer APPLICANT/DEVELOPER: Gary Luque, Greg Hoxworth, Robert McLendon, Lewis Development Company; Mike Lasley, Private Consultant for Lewis Development Company; Andy Feola and Greg Mendoza, Feola, Carli, and Archuleta Architects; Mark Schenouda and Vasanthi Ramahtlan, Greenberg Farrow Architects; Greg George, Home Depot OLD BUSINESS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 95-11 - WESTERN LAND PROPERTIES - The proposed development of an integrated shopping center totaling 495,736 square feet on 47.33 acres of land with proposed phase one development consisting of a 136,953 square foot Home Depot home improvement center in the Mixed Use (Commercial, Office, Residential) District of the Terra Vista Community Plan, located at the northwest corner of Foothill Boulevard and Rochester Avenue - APN: 227-151-18 and 24. Related Files: Terra Vista Community Plan Amendment 95-01 and General Plan Amendment 95-01B. Brad Buller, City Planner, explained the purpose of the workshop, attempting to focus on issues related to development of the Home Depot to allow the applicant to proceed with starting to prepare working drawings for construction. Steve Hayes, Associate Planner, highlighted the first item of discussion for the Commission, the parking lot layout south of Home Depot. Robert McLendon, Lewis Development Company, explained why the development team felt the parking lot as proposed works as the best layout for the site. Mark Schenouda, Greenberg Farrow Architects, embellished further on the circulation patterns and how it works best for Home Depot. Commissioner Melcher felt that the number of site constraints on vacant land is very limited, thereby a better circulation pattern could be designed by the development team. Mr. Schenouda explained that the driveway location on Rochester Avenue is fixed by the driveway policies of the Engineering Division. Commissioner Melcher indicated that he would like to see further refinements to the parking situation in the Home Depot parking area. He noted that, in his opinion, the parking situation at Wal-Mart is only saved by having a few fixed points of entrance to the parking area. He felt a sweeping radius left curve with an entrance on the right for the Home Depot field of parking would be preferable. Mike Lasley, consultant for Lewis Development, questioned where the drive aisle could start to curve. Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer, stated that the curve could start anywhere behind the property line. Mr. Lasley explained that the entrance off Rochester Avenue would only be used for people shopping at Home Depot. Commissioner Tolstoy disagreed with Mr. Lasley, in that he felt that many residents who live north of Base Line Road will use Rochester Avenue because it is the fastest north/south route in the City to the site. He asked whether the driveway on Rochester Avenue could be moved south, closer to Foothill Boulevard. Betty Miller, Associate Engineer, noted that additional traffic conflicts could occur if the driveway is located too close to Foothill Boulevard or does not line up with Chervil Street. Gary Luque, Lewis Development Company, stated that the development team would attempt to address Commissioner Melcher's comments. Andy Feola, Feola, Carli, and Archuleta Architects, acknowledged the concerns of the Planning Commission relative to the parking situation, but stated he felt it would be more dangerous to design a three-way intersection on a curve. Mr. Luque also noted that directory signage will be used extensively throughout the project. Chairman Barker asked the development team to find a solution to the Commission's concerns. Commissioner Lumpp suggested that where the driveway currently ends at the landscape planter, that it be repeated to the westerly drive aisle as shown on the Phase One Site Plan. Mr. Lasley presented the Commission with a sketch of how the parking issue could potentially be resolved. Commissioner Melcher asked if the entrance is wide enough to accommodate two lanes of traffic in each direction. Mr. Feola responded affirmatively. All of the Commissioners agreed that the development team could pursue this option, but two of the Commissioners expressed that it would still not adequately address their concerns. PC Adjourned Minutes (CUP 95-11) -2- August 9, 1995 Commissioner Tolstoy reiterated that people living above Foothill Boulevard will use the Rochester Avenue entrance to the site. He suggested a more sweeping curve be designed at the west end of the Home Depot parking area with a "Y" intersection to direct people away from the Home Depot parking area if they are not frequenting that establishment. Commissioner Lumpp disagreed with that idea. All of the Commissioners felt that the landscaping in front of Home Depot is sufficient, given the use and the incorporation of other design elements into the building. Mr. Hayes presented the issue of screening the lumber off-loading area. Mr. Lasley presented the proposed solution which includes a curb adjacent sidewalk. Commissioner Melcher requested that a retaining wall be added to raise the berming in order to provide a more sufficient screen of the drive aisle leading to the unloading area. Mr. McLendon stated that the developer preferred a non-retaining screen wall to alleviate the Commission's concerns. Commissioner Tolstoy felt that a shrub hedge cannot in and of itself provide a sufficient screen for a parking area or drive aisle. 'Commissioner McNiel recommended that the screen wall be carried westward from its currently proposed location. He asked how many trucks could be stacked in the drive aisle area behind the lumber off-loading area. Mr. Schenouda stated that two trucks could be stacked in this area, but indicated that usually only two trucks per day come to the site with materials. Commissioner Lumpp felt the screening problem in this area is magnified because where Poplar Drive curves, the view for eastbound traffic is directly into the off-loading area. He suggested that landscaping and walls be located in such a way as to be sensitive to this specific situation. Commissioner Melcher expressed his continued concern with the land use transition between the shopping center and the future residential project directly north and west of the shopping center. All of the Commissioners concurred that additional screening of the drive aisle leading to the lumber off-loading area is needed. Greg Mendoza, Feola, Carli, and Archuleta Architects, asked if a solution could be derived where walls, landscaping, and berming were used intermittently to provide a more interesting screen. Mr. Buller thought that such a solution would be possible. Chairman Barker felt that sections of flat wall usually appear cheap and that a solution with more variety would be preferable. Vasanthi Ramahtlan, Greenberg Farrow Architects, presented the modifications to the architecture, on which the Planning Commission concurred and accepted. PC Adjourned Minutes (CUP 95-11) -3- August 9, 1995 Mr. Schenouda presented sight lines and a roof plan for Home Depot. Mr. McLendon stated that the developer is agreeable to paint out all roof-mounted mechanical equipment to match the building and roof of the Home Depot. Commissioner Melcher questioned whether the roof parapets would completely screen all roof-mounted equipment and if there were any west facing windows on the hotel. Mr. Buller responded that the approval for the hotel project on the east side of . Rochester Avenue has expired. The Commissioners concurred that the roof screening would be sufficient if the parapet walls are tall enough to completely screen the equipment and the equipment is painted to match the building and roof. Mr. Schenouda described their proposal to treat the loading zone in front of Home Depot with colored concrete and white striping and wording. He also described the signage proposed for the south elevation, the lumber canopy, and the garden center. The Commission concurred that a 5-foot high sign would be acceptable on the south face of the building and it would be acceptable for the nursery sign to have 2-foot tall letters and the lumber entrance sign 3-foot tall individual channel letters. Ms. Ramahtlan presented a potential modification to the Home Depot building, with additional area on the west side of the building and a modified house plant enclosure and nursery area. Mr. Buller asked the Planning Commission if the City Planner could consider a change if no decision is made by Home Depot prior to the September 13 hearing date. Commissioner Tolstoy questioned whether the size of the trellis in front of the house plant enclosure would be modified with this revision. Mr. Lasley responded that the size and the location of the trellis would not be affected by the proposed modification. The consensus of the Commission was that the City Planner could consider the change without future review by the Commission. Mr. Schenouda posed the question of outdoor displays to the Planning Commission. Mr. Buller explained the provisions of the Municipal Code, and noted that the type of outdoor displays typically associated with a Home Depot are not covered in the Code. He recommended that a condition be placed on the Conditional Use Permit limiting the areas where outdoor displays could occur. Commissioner Melcher noted how he now felt that the standing seam metal roof proposed for the promenade roofing material was not an acceptable application because of the precedent set with other shopping centers in the vicinity on the north side of Foothill Boulevard. He also stated that the proposed drive-thru pads may not comply with the drive-thru development standards that are currently being developed by the Planning Commission Sub-Committee. PC Adjourned Minutes (CUP 95-11) -4- August 9, 1995 Commissioner Tolstoy felt that the area of the drive-thru pads is too small to address the issues typically associated with fast-food facilities. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments at this time. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned 6:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Brad Buller Secretary PC Adjourned Minutes (CUP. 95-11) -5- August 9, 1995