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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-08-28 - Minutes - PC-HPC AUGUST 28, 2019 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION AND PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA MINUTES RANCHO CUCAMONGA CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBERS 10500 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA Page 1 of 10 A. 7:00 P.M. – CALL TO ORDER 7:00pm Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call: Chairman Guglielmo __x____ Vice Chairman Wimberly __x____ Commissioner Dopp __x____ Commissioner Munoz __x____ Commissioner Oaxaca __x____ Additional Staff Present: Nick Ghirelli, Assistant City Attorney; Matt Burris, Deputy City Manager; Anne McIntosh, Planning Director; Elisa Cox, Deputy City Manager; Brian Sandona, Senior Civil Engineer; Jennifer Camacho-Curtis, Communications Manager; Nicole Dalton, Communications Coordinator; David Eoff, Senior Planner; Rob Ball, Fire Marshall; Jason Welday, Engineering Director; Valerie Victorino, Executive Assistant; Elizabeth Thornhill, Executive Assistant; Jennifer Nakamura, Management Analyst II. B. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS This is the time and place for the general public to address the Historic Preservation Commission or Planning Commission on any item listed or not listed on the agenda. State law prohibits the Commission from addressing any issue not previously included on the Agenda. The Commission may receive testimony and set the matter for a subsequent meeting. Comments are to be limited to five minutes per individual or less, as deemed necessary by the Chair, depending upon the number of individual members of the audience. This is a professional business meeting and courtesy and decorum are expected. Please refrain from any debate between audience and speaker, making loud noises or engaging in any activity which might be disruptive to the decorum of the meeting. Chairman Guglielmo opened the public communications. Seeing none, closed. AUGUST 28, 2019 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION AND PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA MINUTES RANCHO CUCAMONGA CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBERS 10500 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA Page 2 of 10 C. CONSENT CALENDAR/HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION AND PLANNING COMMISSION The following Consent Calendar items are expected to be routine and non-controversial. They will be acted upon by the Commission at one time without discussion. Any item may be removed for discussion. C1. C2. Consideration to adopt the Regular Meeting Minutes of August 14, 2019. Consideration to adopt Adjourned Meeting (Workshop) Minutes of August 14, 2019 Moved by Wimberly, second by Dopp; carried 4-0-1, Oaxaca abstain. D. PUBLIC HEARINGS/PLANNING COMMISSION The following items have been advertised and/or posted as public hearings as required by law. The Chairman will open the public hearing to receive testimony. All such opinions shall be limited to 5 minutes per individual or less as determined by the Chairman. Please sign in after speaking. D1. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT AND GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT DRC2015- 00749, ETIWANDA NORTH SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT DRC2015-00750, ZONING MAP AMENDMENT DRC2015-00752, ETIWANDA HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD AND CONSERVATION PLAN (EHNCP) SPECIFIC PLAN DRC2015-00751, ANNEXATION DRC2015-00732, AND DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENT DRC2019-00459 – CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA. CONTINUED FROM JULY 24, 2019. Matt Burris, Deputy City Manager, gave the Staff Report and Power Point presentation (copy on file). Commissioner Dopp asked staff to elaborate on the changes to the TDR program. Mr. Burris explained that the TDR credit ratio was increased to encourage master developers to engage with property owners within the rural conservation area to move development units AUGUST 28, 2019 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION AND PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA MINUTES RANCHO CUCAMONGA CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBERS 10500 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA Page 3 of 10 to the neighborhood area from the rural conservation area. Property owners within the rural conservation area will ultimately have the choice to sell their development rights or develop privately on their own. Commissioner Dopp asked for clarification on the flooding issues in Deer Creek and Day Creek. Tony Locacciato, Meridian Consulting, stated that the CEQA analysis evaluated the flood, performance and maintenance data of those basins provided by the County and determined that they are quite adequate to handle flood debris. Chairman Guglielmo asked about the expansion of the retail uses in the commercial area, specifically medical uses in the upstairs units only. Mr. Burris explained that to maintain fiscal neutrality, it was important to permit retail uses which provide sales tax support while allowing other service-based uses without compromising the ability to maintain and support retail uses. Mr. Burris further explained that second story uses could be elevator served. Nick Ghirelli stated that all projects would be required to meet ADA accessibility standards. Chairman Guglielmo stated that he would prefer not to see vacant space. Chairman Guglielmo asked if these uses could be permitted on the ground floor with a CUP. Commissioner Dopp asked about the types of retail uses in the plan. Mr. Burris explained the types of retail and service uses within the City. Commissioner Dopp asked about the translocation of plants. Mr. Locacciato explained how plant species can be relocated. Tony Maricic stated he owns property up in the conservation area. Expressed concern that the City has not engaged the owners of the properties within the conservation area, the lack of a circulation plan for the conservation area, and the 200 acre kangaroo rat habitat. Stated AUGUST 28, 2019 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION AND PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA MINUTES RANCHO CUCAMONGA CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBERS 10500 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA Page 4 of 10 that the City and County have prevented property owners from getting to their property for maintenance. Judy Brennan stated opposition to the project. Risking loss of trust in the City. Any home north of Banyan was supposed to be half acre. Does not believe the plan will be followed. Concerned that trails will not be constructed and does not have accurate trail connections from east to west. Trails are needed for equestrian uses as well as evacuation. Don Horvatich expressed his concern that the community plan doesn’t match the surrounding area, and the desire for no retail in the area. Sami Muller asked how strongly is the conservation area designated and for how long? Is the housing proposed going to look like what is in the plan? William Gibson is concerned about the number of cars and the traffic impacts between Day Creek and Milliken. Asked about the impacts to schools. Mark Gibboney is opposed to the plan because the idea of open space was not evaluated. The community was not part of the 2017 plan. Stated Federal agencies recommend conservation of the land. Does not like the small lot development. Community asked for large lots only. The plan is a done deal – public wasn’t asked. Alexander Cunningham expressed he represents the area east of preserve to Fontana City limits – 400 acres. Planning Department met with us to address compatibility. Confused with the transfer of development rights. Likes rural life and don’t understand why they need to be brought into the City. They don’t fit. Mary Linden Keith mentioned she is opposed to the plan because this is the Deer Creek Wash. 80 foot gorilla above the wash. Homes already there should not be there. Should not add more homes. Concerned about flood impacts of Deer Creek. Chairman Guglielmo closed public communications and asked staff to respond to comments Mr. Burris available for questions: Responses from Staff - AUGUST 28, 2019 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION AND PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA MINUTES RANCHO CUCAMONGA CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBERS 10500 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA Page 5 of 10 Outreach – One of the most extensive the City has every embarked upon. Multiple workshops in multiple parts of the city, social media, electronic and in person. The City tried to bring a broad and wide balanced perspective to the Commission for consideration. The City reached out to land owners in the rural area, as well. Fiscal responsibility – Focus is on the financial burden on the City. For example; fire, police and public services. Low property tax city, retail needed to supplement funds needed to support civic services. Conservation land – How long? Designed to be set up forever, provides for an endowment for lands to be managed in perpetuity. Architectural styles - Craftsman, Spanish, Mid Century and Ranch, similar to surrounding areas. Traffic - Thoroughly detailed in the EIR, found that adding another east-west road north of the 210 will help alleviate pressure on Banyan. Plan anticipates another new K-8 school on Wilson to divert traffic from Banyan. Plan should have been open space. Considered this in great detail. Cost was estimated at over $100 million. There is no revenue stream available to fund. Balance community vision, property rights and fiscal responsibility. Water supply assessment was provided by CVWD and found adequate water supplies, conservation is mandated by the State. Commissioner Oaxaca commented on Flood Control and is hoping to see in the documents in response to comments. Reference to documents from various regulatory agencies related to flood control – gap for him – unable to square historical documents with justifications in the final EIR. What is the relevance of the historical documents? Are they wrong? Out of date? Improvements made over the year changed factors? Would have liked a side-by-side comparison of historical documents and FEIR conclusions. Similar concerns with fire danger. If historical documents are relevant, how are they being addressed? AUGUST 28, 2019 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION AND PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA MINUTES RANCHO CUCAMONGA CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBERS 10500 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA Page 6 of 10 Mr. Burris responded to help in navigating documents – 2003 Grand Prix Fire – able to take bad fire and water storm and test the flood control facilities. Basins are not dams, not intended to hold water. Intended to contain debris and to keep it out of channels. Help to understand that the levy has been certified by FEMA. Is a diversion mechanism to help direct flows into the channel. Systems has been tested many times over. Staff visited the site many times during and after significant rain storm to understand how the infrastructure worked during and after a rain storm. Water virtually not on the site because everything is working as it should. Flood District did an amazing job and spent millions of dollars to protect our downstream neighborhoods. Mr. Locacciato explained some of the changes made to the areas by the Army Corps of Engineers and Flood Control Channel. Commissioner Oaxaca asked about the role of the property owners in the LAFCO decision making process. Mr. Ghirelli and Mr. Burris provided a brief explanation of the LAFCO process and after LAFCO approved an annexation, with an ability for protest vote. Commissioner Wimberly asked about outreach with property owners within the conservation area and if enough outreach has been done. Mr. Burris explained that we have reached out to many property owners and residents, with some response. We continue to initiate conversations throughout the process. Commissioner Dopp asked if outreach is still available to interested parties and could changes be made necessary before City Council. Mr. Burris said yes, conversations can and will be ongoing throughout the process. Chairman Guglielmo offered each commissioner time to comment. Commissioner Dopp stated that the City has done a lot of outreach and provided data to support it. Feels that annexation allows for local control that was supported by outreach data. While some may not agree with all parts of the project, it is important that people feel heard. Preserving as much of the conservation area as important for the long term. Properties AUGUST 28, 2019 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION AND PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA MINUTES RANCHO CUCAMONGA CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBERS 10500 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA Page 7 of 10 change and development desires change over time. This plan is the best opportunity to allow for some development and preserve out open space. Commissioner Dopp further stated he understands the concern about traffic. Agrees that adding another east-west access may help alleviate traffic along Banyan and Vintage. Is happy to see buffers with the adjacent residential community. Wonders if the TDR option will work. Understands the need for commercial uses. Recognizes that while half acre homes are nice, we must think of the long term and the cost and availability of housing for the next generations. The City has done their best to make a plan that is the most palatable to most residents. Commissioner Oaxaca thanked staff and the team for the efforts to date to develop the plan and reach out to the community and listen to that input. Notes two points from public: 1. Apply local control; 2. Maximize the area that can be conserved. Conservation takes resources to prevent the area from deteriorating. This plan allows us to create the resources to make the conservation happen. Commissioner Oaxaca recognized the traffic concerns brought up by the public. Feels that the completion of Wilson Avenue will help. The goal is to bring the best possible plan to meet the most needs of those who have a current and future stake in Rancho Cucamonga. Commissioner Wimberly thanked staff for their work and believes that this is the best plan for the future of the City. Concurs with Commissioners Dopp and Oaxaca. Wants to make sure that the TDR ratios support conservation. Commissioner Munoz thanked public for coming out to participate in the process. Understands that not all may agree with the plan, but it is the Commissions job to look at the long term. Plan is comprehensive, thorough and allows for local control, addresses conservation of the open space and connected the plan to the General Plan while maintaining fiscal responsibility. Glad to see the addition of roadway segments that will alleviate stress during school pick up and drop off times. Pleased with the expansion of the trails network, architectural styles and development standards. Supports the plan. Chairman Guglielmo thanked the public for their participation. Goal is to look at the overall view of the City and decide what is best for the City as a whole. Believes in private property rights and empathetic to those that may not agree. We have an unbelievable city and we have an opportunity to make it even better. The plan creates additional trails and parks which we AUGUST 28, 2019 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION AND PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA MINUTES RANCHO CUCAMONGA CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBERS 10500 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA Page 8 of 10 have been wanting for a long time. Concessions have been made by the City which resulted in reduced development and increased conservation land. Agrees with many of the points made by fellow commissioners. Moved by Munoz, seconded by Wimberly; carried 5 -0 -0. G. COMMISSION BUSINESS/HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND PLANNING COMMISSION INTER-AGENCY UPDATES: Commissioner Wimberly announced that requests for proposals are available for the PC Academy COMMISSION ANNOUNCEMENTS: Commissioner Dopp welcomed new Planning Director Anne McIntosh H. ADJOURNMENT Adjourned at 9:33 I, Elizabeth Thornhill, Executive Assistant of the City of Rancho Cucamonga, or my designee, hereby certify that a true, accurate copy of the foregoing agenda was posted on August 22, 2019, seventy-two (72) hours prior to the meeting per Government Code 54954.2 at 10500 Civic Center Drive. AUGUST 28, 2019 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION AND PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA MINUTES RANCHO CUCAMONGA CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBERS 10500 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA Page 9 of 10 If you need special assistance or accommodations to participate in this meeting, please contact the Planning Department at (909) 477-2750. Notification of 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility. Listening devices are available for the hearing impaired. INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE PLANNING COMMISSION The Planning Commission encourages free expression of all points of view. To allow all persons to speak, given the length of the agenda, please keep your remarks brief. If others have already expressed your position, you may simply indicate that you agree with a previous speaker. If appropriate, a spokesperson may present the views of your entire group. To encourage all views and promote courtesy to others, the audience should refrain from clapping, booing or shouts of approval or disagreement from the audience. The public may address the Planning Commission on any agenda item. To address the Planning Commission, please come forward to the podium located at the center of the staff table. State your name for the record and speak into the microphone. After speaking, please sign in on the clipboard located next to the speaker’s podium. It is important to list your name, address and the agenda item letter your comments refer to. Comments are generally limited to 5 minutes per individual. If you wish to speak concerning an item not on the agenda, you may do so under “Public Comments.” There is opportunity to speak under this section prior to the end of the agenda. Any handouts for the Planning Commission should be given to the Planning Commission Secretary for distribution to the Commissioners. A copy of any such materials should also be provided to the Secretary to be used for the official public record. All requests for items to be placed on a Planning Commission agenda must be in writing. Requests for scheduling agenda items will be at the discretion of the Commission and the Planning Director. AVAILABILITY OF STAFF REPORTS Copies of the staff reports or other documentation to each agenda item are on file in the offices of the Planning Department, City Hall, located at 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California 91730. These documents are available for public inspections during regular business hours, Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except for legal City holidays. AUGUST 28, 2019 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION AND PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA MINUTES RANCHO CUCAMONGA CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBERS 10500 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA Page 10 of 10 APPEALS Any interested party who disagrees with the City Planning Commission decision may appeal the Commission’s decision to the City Council within 10 calendar days. Any appeal filed must be directed to the City Clerk’s Office and must be accompanied by a fee of $3,114 for all decisions of the Commission. (Fees are established and governed by the City Council). Please turn off all cellular phones and pagers while the meeting is in session. Copies of the Planning Commission agendas, staff reports and minutes can be found at www.CityofRC.us.