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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007/02/12 - Minutes February 12, 2007 • CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES SPECIAL JOINT MEETING A. CALL TO ORDER D1 A special joint meeting of the Rancho Cucamonga City Council and Planning Commission was held on Monday, February 12, 2007, in the Tri Communities Room at City Hall located at 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California. Mayor Donald J. Kurth, M.D. called the meeting to order at 6:08 p.m. Present were Councilmembers: Rex Gutierrez, L. Dennis Michael, Sam Spagnolo, Mayor Pro Tem Diane Williams, and Mayor Donald J. Kurth, M.D.. Present were Planning Commissioners: Rich Macias, Cristine McPhail, Lou Munoz, Vice Chairman Rich Fletcher, and Chairman Pamela Stewart. Also present were: Jack Lam, City Manager; Pamela Easter, Assistant City Manager; James Markman, City Attorney; Marcia Godwin, Assistant to the City Manager; Kimberly Thomas, Management Analyst III; Fabian Villenas, Management Analyst III; Linda D. Daniels, Redevelopment Director; Flavio Nunez, RDA Analyst Il; Mandi Aluzri, Deputy City Manager/Community Development;James Troyer, Planning Director; Larry Henderson, Principal Planner; Candyce Burnett, Associate Planner; Trang Huynh, Building and Safety Official; Chief Peter Bryan, Deputy Chief Mike Bell, Fire Marshall Rob Ball, Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District ; and Debra J. Adams, City Clerk. B. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS -J B1. Melanie Ingram stated she is interested in the General Plan update. She stated she had previously given the Council some reports and wanted to submit them again for the record (on file in the City Clerk's office). They were entitled: "Losing Ground,"`Alluvial Amnesia,"and"California Floodplain Management Task Force Final Recommendations Report." She hoped the Council will not approve anything for the Colonies project. C. ITEMS) OF BUSINESS Jack Lam, City Manager stated the City Council wanted to meet with the Planning Commission to talk about topics of mutual interest. C1. Rancho Cucamonga General Plan Update and Vision A staff report and power point presentation was given by James Troyer, Planning Director. Councilmember Michael stated he would like for us to look at high end zoning for offices. Mayor Kurth felt there should be more open space in the City. Special Joint City Council/Planning Commission Meeting Minutes February 12, 2007 Page 2 Councilmember Gutierrez stated he is still looking at densities and didn't see why it has to be heavy . densities. He felt we should expect the best for the land left to be developed. He stated he hates to see the constant amendment to the General Plan, but is in favor of this update. He felt we should protect the hillsides as much as we can. He felt we should expect quality projects with little impact to the environment. Mayor Pro Tem Williams stated she agreed with Councilmember Michael. She stated she would like to see a mid-rise building. She felt our policies should be looked at for six and seven story buildings. Councilmember Spagnolo stated he is concerned about our infill. Mayor Kurth stated he is interested in what the Planning Commission has to say also. Councilmember Michael felt it is good to hear all sides before the Council makes a decision. Vice Chairman Fletcher stated the west end development is always a concern and should be given consideration. He felt high rise is important and developers should be encouraged to go more vertical. He felt traffic circulation should be looked at to accommodate building. Chairman Stewart stated she is glad to hear comments made about historic preservation. She felt public safety issues are important when considering development. C2. Development Strategy for West Rancho Cucamonga A staff report and power point presentation was given by James Troyer, Planning Director. Mayor Pro Tem Williams felt the Foothill Specific Plan is probably overdue to be looked at again. She felt • a lot of it has most likely already been done. Councilmember Spagnolo mentioned the Richfield Station building talked about in Mr. Troyer's presentation. He felt this land was very valuable and that it might be good to look at this site. Councilmember Michael suggested changing the zoning in a particular area in order to make it more vibrant. Councilmember Gutierrez stated developers should really look at the Route 66 theme in their projects. He felt the west side has been sidestepped with all growth on the east side of the City. He felt the west side should be revitalized. He felt there were residential areas that need to have more attention also. Mayor Kurth felt some of the old buildings, like the Richfield Station, should be moved to another location. He felt some cities have done a lot with some of their old areas, i.e., Pasadena and Monterey. Commissioner Munoz felt the review of the General Plan is a good way to get the public involved. C3. Hillside Development A staff report and power point presentation was given by Candyce Burnett, Associate Planner. Councilmember Michael asked if our Hillside Ordinance is still viable as we move forward. Candyce Burnett, Associate Planner, stated yes it is. Councilmember Michael asked if the County uses our Hillside Ordinance. Candyce Burnett, Associate Planner, stated they are currently incorporating our Ordinance into their General Plan. Special Joint City Council/Planning Commission Meeting Minutes February 12, 2007 Page 3 is Mayor Kurth asked if our Ordinance is the same as what other cities have. James Markman, City Attorney, stated it is very typical of what other cities have. Mayor Kurth asked if a developer comes in with a hillside project, should we be approving any deviation of the Hillside Ordinance. James Markman, City Attorney, stated he knows of no lawsuit that a developer won because the City would not deviate from its Hillside Ordinance. Commissioner Munoz stated if the Council wants the Planning Commission to approve a project that might come to them in the future that would require deviating from the Hillside Ordinance, that the Planning Commission needs to know this. Mayor Pro Tem Williams stated she agreed with Commission Munoz's comments. Commissioner McPhail felt what we have is good and that we should stick to it and not allow anyone to come in and say they can do it a different way. James Markman, City Attorney, stated if a developer comes in and wants a deviation from the Hillside Ordinance, they should provide a Statement of Overriding Consideration if that is how they feel. Councilmember Michael felt we should be sure that developers are aware of our standards before they get to the approval process. Chairman Stewart stated this Ordinance has been enforced over and over again. She felt we should • stand behind it and continue enforcing it. She stated any developer can meet with the Planning Commission and staff to show their plans and get the Commission's input about their project. Mayor Pro Tem Williams felt the precedent is set, but that we should be ready for requests to follow. She did not think the hillside should be lined with solid homes. Councilmember Gutierrez felt we need to think about this and see if we should keep these standards or not. Mayor Pro Tem Williams stated she would like for everyone to have a print out of our current housing stock and what we are supposed to have in order to comply with state law. Commissioner Munoz stated there are consequences if we don't meet our housing quotas. C4. Fire District Standards Regulating High Rise Development A staff report was given by Chief Peter Bryan, Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District (see hand out). He stated they are already looking at the mid-rise/high-rise requirements for buildings in the City. Trang Huynh, Building and Safety Official, talked about the new building codes adopted that will go into affect in July. Commissioner McPhail mentioned a project coming to DRC and Fire District staff also talking to them about landscaping requirements. Special Joint City Council/Planning Commission Meeting Minutes February 12, 2007 Page 4 C5. Workforce Housing Zoning • An update was presented by Linda D. Daniels, Redevelopment Director, who stated they will be working with the City Attorney's office to include workforce housing in all residential development. She stated the Council Subcommittee will be discussing this at a future meeting and then coming back to the Council for consideration. She stated they are trying to meet the needs of the workforce in the City that want to live here and be able to afford it. Vice Chairman Fletcher asked how many workforce housing units we are still short. Linda D. Daniels, Redevelopment Agency Director, stated about 2,200. D. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Munoz thanked the Council, City Attorney and City Manager for meeting with the Planning Commission. Mayor Pro Tem Williams felt this was one of the better joint meetings they have had. She felt the Planning Commission does a great job. Councilmember Michael echoed Mayor Pro Tem Williams' comments. Mayor Kurth stated he is grateful to everyone and thanked them for their work. He stated he knows they will uphold the standards. • MOTION: Moved by Williams, seconded by Michael to adjourn the Planning Commission, and to adjourn the City Council to closed session for conference with property negotiators per Government Code Section 54956.8 for property generally located north of Foothill Boulevard, west of 1-15 Freeway, Forest City Development CA, Inc., and Lewis Investment Co., LLC; Linda D. Daniels, RDA Director, negotiating party, regarding terms of agreement. Motion carried unanimously 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. No action was taken in closed session. Res ectfully s fitted, Debra J. Ada , CMC City Clerk Approved by Planning Commission: March 28, 2007 Approved by City Council: April 4, 2007