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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993/11/23 - Workshop Minutes - PC-HPCCITY OF RA/qCHO CUCAMONGA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Adjourned Meeting November 23, 1993 Chairman McNiel called the Adjourned Meeting of the City of Rancho Cucamonga Planning Commission to order at 5:03 p.m. The meeting was held in the Council Chamber at Rancho Cucamonga Civic Center, 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California. Chairman McNiel then led in the pledge of allegiance. ROLL CALL COMMISSIONERS: PRESENT: Suzanne Chitlea, Larry McNiel, John Melcher, Wendy Vallette ABSENT: Peter Tolstoy STAFF PRESENT: Laura Bonaccorsi, Landscape Designer; Brad Bullet, City Planner; Nancy Fong, Senior Planner; Rick Gomez, Community Development Director; Ralph Hanson, Deputy City Attorney; Dan James, Senior Civil Engineer; Beverly Luttrell, Associate Planner; Betty Miller, Associate Scott Murphy, Associate Planner; Gall Sanchez, Planning Commission Secretary , , · , ANNOUNCEMENTS Chairman McNiel thanked departing Commissioners Suzanne Chitiea and Wendy Vallette for their valuable service to the community and presented them with Resolutions of Commendation. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: Moved by Melcher, seconded by Chitlea, carried 4-0-1 with Tolstoy absent, to adopt the minutes of November 10, 1993, as amended. CONSENT CALENDAR Ae RESOLUTION OF DENIAL FOR MODIFICATION TO ENTERTAINMENT PERMIT 91-02 - SAM'S PLACE - A request to modify the entertainment permit by allowing entertainment on Sunday and adding entertainment consisting of live bands with 5 or more members, disc jockey, and karaoke, in conjunction with a restaurant and bar located at 6620 Carnelian Avenue in the Neighborhood Commercial District - APN: 208-811-56 through 60. Be ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT REVIEW 93-17 - SUPRACOTE - A request to construct a 26,007 square foot warehouse addition and a 1,047 square foot office addition for an existing industrial building in the General Industrial designation (Subarea 8) of the Industrial Area Specific Plan, located at 11200 Arrow Route - APN: 208-961-19. Staff recommends issuance of a Negative Declaration. Commissioner Melcher requested that Item A be pulled from the Consent Calendar. Motion: Moved by Chitlea, seconded by Melcher, to adopt Item B of the Consent Calendar. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: COMMISSIONERS: COMMISSIONERS: CHITIEA, MCNIEL, MELCHER, VALLETTE NONE TOLSTOY -carried Commissioner Melcher stated he had requested that the item be pulled because he planned to vote no. Motion: Moved by Chitlea, seconded by Vallette, to adopt Item A of the Consent Calendar. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: NOES: COMMISSIONERS: ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: CHITIEA, MCNIEL, VALLETTE MELCHER TOLSTOY -carried , , , , , PUBLIC HEARINGS Ce MODIFICATION TO CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 89-18 - LEWIS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY - A request to construct approximately 46,000 square feet of commercial, retail, and automobile service space within a previously approved shopping center in the Neighborhood Commercial designation of the Tetra Vista Planned Community, located at the southeast corner of Base Line Road and Milliken Avenue - APN: 227-181-04, 06, and 08. Scott Murphy, Associate Planner, presented the staff report. Chairman McNiel opened the public hearing. Richard Mager, Lewis Development Company, 1156 North Mountain Avenue, Upland, stated that during the last five years he had been associated with the community and he agreed with Chairman McNiel's comments regarding the contributions made by Commissioners Chitlea and Vallette. He said he was available to answer questions. Hearing no further testimony, Chairman McNiel closed the public hearing. Commissioner Chitiea thanked Mr. Mager for his remarks and stated his comment had not influenced her opinion on the project. She expressed support for the project and indicated she felt it is a nice project. Planning Commission Minutes -2- November 23, 1993 Motion: Moved by Chitiea, seconded by Vallette, to adopt the resolution approving Modification to Conditional Use Permit 89-18. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: COMMISSIONERS: COMMISSIONERS: CHITIEA, MCNIEL, MELCHER, VALLETTE NONE TOLSTOY -carried · , , , , ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 93-13 - E & R RANCHO PACIFIC, INC. - A request to construct a ± 61,500 square foot public storage facility on 3 acres of land in the General Industrial designation (Subarea 5) of the Industrial Area Specific Plan, located south of 8th Street on the east side of Hermosa Avenue - APN: 229-211-19. Staff recommends issuance of a Negative Declaration. ScOtt Murphy, Associate Planner, presented the staff report and stated that the hydrology study had been determined to be adequate. Chairman McNiel opened the public hearing. Bill Angel, E & R Rancho Pacific, 9852 Crescent Center Drive, #801, Rancho Cucamonga, stated he agreed with the staff report. Chairman McNiel asked if the reconfiguration of the parking lot caused problems. Mr. Angel replied that it did not. Hearing no further testimony, Chairman McNiel closed the public hearing. Commissioner Melcher remarked that the applicant had worked hard to deal with the Planning Commission's concerns. He stated that when the project was in the design review phase, he had suggested that the applicant process a variance before proceeding. He was pleased with the results but he expressed concern that the vine pockets be properly irrigated and the vines be maintained in a healthy condition. He thought minute action would be adequate to address his concerns. Hearing no further testimony, Chairman McNiel closed the public hearing. He commented that he had also served on the Design Review Committee. He asked if the City Planner could address Commissioner Melcher's concerns during review of the landscaping plans. Brad Buller, City Planner, confirmed that would be done. Motion: Moved by Vallette, seconded by Chitiea, to issue a Negative Declaration and adopt the resolution approving Conditional Use Permit 93-13. Motion carried by the following vote: Planning Commission Minutes -3- November 23, 1993 AYES: NOES: ABSENT: , , , , COMMISSIONERS: COMMISSIONERS: COMMISSIONERS: CHITIEA, MCNIEL, MELCHER, VALLETTE NONE TOLSTOY -carried ENTERTAINMENT PERMIT 93-04 - MANDARIN GARDENS - A request to provide live entertainment, dancing, karaoke, and big screen TV in conjunction with a restaurant use, located at 8034 Haven Avenue - APN: 1077-661-02· Beverly Luttrell, Associate Planner, presented the staff report. Chairman McNiel asked if a shared access agreement exists for use of the courtyard. Brad Buller, City Planner, stated it was his understanding that use of the courtyard is governed by the center's management company and is not monitored by City staff. Chairman McNiel opened the public hearing. A gentleman stated he would translate for Amy Chou, one of the owners. She indicated they want an entertainment permit to provide dancing for their patrons after dinner. Chairman McNiel questioned where they plan to place the big screen TV. Ms. Chou indicated it will be inside in one corner of the bar. Commissioner Melcher asked if the applicant understood that approval would not include the placement of a TV in the outdoor patio. Ms. Chou responded that was understood. Hearing no further testimony, Chairman McNiel closed the public hearing. Commissioner Vallette asked if staff would support a TV inside. Mr. Buller stated staff would have no objections to an inside TV and that would not require an entertainment permit. Motion: Moved by Melcher, seconded by Chitlea, to adopt the resolution approving Entertainment Permit 93-04. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: , , , , COMMISSIONERS: COMMISSIONERS: COMMISSIONERS: CHITIEA, MCNIEL, MELCHER, VALLETTE NONE TOLSTOY -carried DIRECTOR'S REPORTS Planning Commission Minutes -4- November 23, 1993 F. REVIEW OF THE ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS, SURFACE TREATMENTS. AND LANDSCAPING CONCEPT FOR THE METROLINK STATION AT MILLIKEN AVENUE AND THE SANTA FE RAILROAD TRACKS Rick Gomez, Community Development Director, introduced project architect Dale Lang. Dale Lang, Wolff/Lang Christopher, 6465 Jasper Street, Rancho Cucamonga, discussed the architecture. He stated the pavilions are similar to the sports stadium. He noted that the supports for the structure will include bench seating. Chairman McNiel questioned if the covered areas on the platform would be adequate for the number of people anticipated. Mr. Lang replied that typically commuters arrive and depart within 10 minutes, therefore, there did not appear to be a need to totally cover the platform. Chairman McNiel asked if the roof will be metal. Mr. Lang responded affirmatively. Commissioner Chitlea asked if the center of the roof on the main structure is plexiglas. Mr. Lang responded they were proposing a fiberglas sunroof to allow more light to enter the structure. Commissioner Melcher asked if drainage from the roof had been addressed. Mr. Lang replied they were still working on a solution. Chairman McNiel asked how the structures would stop the wind. Mr. Lang stated the structures will be designed to withstand 100 mph winds. He said they had eliminated many of the middle columns on the main structure and now proposed columns around the edge with sheltered areas. He stated the whole back edge is shielded on the smaller structures. Chairman McNiel asked if the structures would be designed so that they could be enclosed if it is found that a wind tunnel effect is created with the train station. Mr. Lang stated he had designed the baggage claim at Ontario airport and it is open. He did not feel the tunneling effect would be that severe but indicated they would do wind tunnel studies. Laura Bonaccorsi, Landscape Designer, discussed the landscaping plan. She said the plan incorporated drought resistant, self-maintaining types of plants. Planning Commission Minutes -5- November 23, 1993 Larry Ryan, RJM Design Group, 27285 Las Ramblas, Suite 250, Mission Viejo, presented a photo board of fixtures to be used. He also showed a sample of the light fixture. He discussed the furniture and the paving material. He thought perhaps some tiles of children's drawings could be used. Commissioner Chitiea questioned the color of the light standards, furniture, and roof. Mr. Ryan recommended white light standards and furniture and a green roof to match the colors of the sports complex. Chairman McNiel asked if rock-salt finish concrete would be used. Mr. Ryan stated a retardant or light washed finish would be used on the concrete. He did not recommend rock salt. He stated it will be more cost effective and would result in a a cleaner look to put in large blocks of concrete and then saw cut the lines for the grid pattern. He felt the pattern will be broken up by the bands. Chairman McNiel invited public comment, but there was none. Commissioner Melcher felt that considering the constraints of the site, the site plan is well done. He was satisfied with the strong grid pattern for the whole site development, particularly in the high pedestrian areas. However, he felt the architecture could be improved. He thought the architecture of the buildings should be more aligned with the track, rather than being derived from the geometry of the paving patterns. He understood that many of the initially proposed columns for the main structure would be moved out to the edges to make the space more usable but he wasn't sure it would visually work well and thought it may create visual confusion. He felt that Chairman McNiel had raised some good questions regarding functionality and did not favor approving the architectural elements. Chairman McNiel questioned the roof line adjacent to the track. Mr. Gomez stated that a shade structure would connect the four jutting points of the roof, mimicking the track. Commissioner Melcher felt that adding what amounts to a patio cover was evidence that the design does not work well. He questioned the design of the smaller structure north of the track. Mr. Gomez stated that the structure on the north side of the track will mimic the larger structure, as shown on Page F-4 rather than as depicted on F-6. Mr. Lang stated the design team felt the most positive about the presently proposed architectural concept. They thought it embraces the plaza concept better. He said they originally started out with a traditional train station but decided that this concept works better for a commuter station. Commissioner Vallette liked the design. Planning Commission Minutes -6- November 23, 1993 Commissioner Chitlea felt the site plan was exciting and creative in the way patterns have been utilized. She thought is is a nice touch to utilize elements from the stadium. She understood Commissioner Melcher's concerns regarding the former forest of columns inside the structure. She suggested the supporting structure may be fine tuned so that it doesn't appear to be floating on the columns. Chairman McNiel asked for clarification on the design of the shade overhang. Mr. Gomez stated they were proposing an open trellis. Commissioner Melcher asked if the smaller structures will be as configured on Page F-4. Mr. Gomez responded affirmatively. Commissioner Chitlea expressed concerns about wind, particularly on the north side of the track. She felt the trains will create wind. She thought the "train track" trellis was interesting but feared it might look too "cute" and increase the problem of rain dropping off the slats. Chairman McNiel felt the entire package is exciting. He said he was concerned about Santa Ana winds as well as winds from trains passing through. He suggested the structures be designed so they could be easily retrofitted to be enclosed. He supported the design even though he felt it is not particularly representative of Rancho Cucamonga. Motion: Moved by Chitiea, seconded by Vallette, that the concept presented be forwarded to the City Council with the Planning Commission's support and that the Council consider the comments addressed in the minutes with a recommendation that the wind factors be considered. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: COMMISSIONERS: COMMISSIONERS: CHITIEA, MCNIEL, MELCHER, VALLETTE NONE TOLSTOY -carried , , , , PUBLIC COMMENTS Gordon Scott, 8341 8th Street, Rancho Cucamonga, introduced Luis and Hattie Messina and said they own a non-conforming residence within Subarea 3 of the Industrial Area Specific Plan. He commented that if non-conforming structures are more than 50 percent destroyed by fire, they cannot be rebuilt. He requested that the Code be amended so that non-conforming homes within Subarea 3 could be rebuilt. Chairman McNiel suggested that Mr. Scott meet with the Planning Division to process a plan amendment. Planning Commission Minutes -7- November 23, 1993 Brad Buller, City Planner, stated that Mr. Scott had spoken with staff. He observed that the issue is not uncommon and has surfaced when people attempt to refinance their properties. He affirmed that the Development Code does not allow rebuilding of non-conforming structures when more than 50 percent of the structure has been destroyed. He suggested that the applicant write out his concerns and indicate what action they would like taken and stated staff would then bring that to the Planning Commission. He stated that the Planning Commission or City Council must initiate all amendments to the Development Code and, if initiated, the applicant would pay the required fees to process the amendment. Commissioner Melcher asked if it would be possible to consider the impact on the entire subarea as a City initiated amendment. Mr. Buller confirmed that could be done but noted that the provision exists throughout the entire City affecting residential and commercial structures, not just this subarea of the Industrial Area Specific Plan. He requested that staff have 30 days to prepare a report to indicate the issues involved. Chairman McNiel agreed that would be wise. He understood the applicant's difficulty with refinancing but observed that the City is zoned for what will develop in the future. Mr. Scott observed that the applicant's three children live in the other units on the property. He suggested that the Code could be re-enacted when the structures are sold and asked that the Code be amended to allow current residents to rebuild to 100 percent. He stated they would like action within two weeks so that his clients could refinance as quickly as possible. Chairman McNiel agreed that the City would consider the matter as soon as possible, but stated that two weeks was an unrealistic time frame. Commissioner Melcher suggested trying another lender. Mr. Buller stated that staff could bring the matter back to the Planning Commission to see if the Commission would support such an amendment. He stated that it would take at least three to four months to process the matter because of required advertising, and the necessary first and second readings of proposed changes to codes. Mr. Scott replied that would be satisfactory if that is what is required. Mr. Buller stated staff would do a brief analysis and bring the matter back to the Planning Commission. He said the Commission would also have to decide if the City should initiate the amendment at City cost or if the applicant should bear the cost. , , , , COMMISSION BUSINESS Planning Commission Minutes -8- November 23, 1993 Commissioner Chitlea thanked staff members and fellow Commissioners she had worked with over the years for their support and said she appreciated the opportunity to serve on the Commission. Commissioner Vallette expressed appreciation for the great staff and the time they had put in. Chairman McNiel felt Commissioners Chitlea and Vallette had been two of the strongest, most dedicated Commissioners he had worked with and felt they had made a great contribution to the City. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Moved by McNiel, seconded by Vallette, to adjourn. 6:30 p.m. - The Planning Commission adjourned to a farewell reception for Commissioners Chitlea and Vallette in the Tri-Communities Room. Respectfully submitted, Secretary Planning Commission Minutes -9- November 23, 1993