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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20-39 Resolution . RESOLUTION NO. 20-39 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING TREE REMOVAL PERMIT DRC2020-00209, A REQUEST TO REMOVE 8 HERITAGE TREES RELATED TO A PROPOSED NEW PRIVATE ACADEMIC SCHOOL ON A SITE TOTALING 2.88 ACRES OF LAND IN THE LOW (L) RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT, LOCATED AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF 19T" STREET AND BERYL STREET; AND MAKING FINDINGS IN SUPPORT THEREOF —APN: 0202-461-62 —63, 0202-461-65. A. Recitals. 1. WLC Architects filed an application for the approval of Tree Removal Permit DRC2020- 00209, as described in the title of this Resolution. Hereinafter in this Resolution, the subject Tree Removal Permit request is referred to as "the application." 2. On the 22"d day of July 2020, the Planning Commission of the City of Rancho Cucamonga conducted a duly noticed public hearing on the application and concluded said hearing on that date. 3. All legal prerequisites prior to the adoption of this Resolution have occurred. B. Resolution. NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby found, determined, and resolved by the Planning Commission of the City of Rancho Cucamonga as follows: 1. This Commission hereby specifically finds that all of the facts set forth in the Recitals, Part A, of this Resolution are true and correct. 2. Based upon the substantial evidence presented to this Commission during the above-referenced public hearings of July 22, 2020, including written and oral staff reports, together with public testimony, this Commission hereby specifically finds as follows: a. The application applies to a project site comprising three parcels located at the southwest corner of the intersection of 19th and Beryl Streets. These parcels are identified as APN# 0202-461-62, 0202-461-63 (addressed 9021 19'h Street), and 0202-461-65 (addressed 6710 Beryl Street). The General Plan Land Use designation of the project site is Low Residential. The Development Code zoning designation of the project site is Low (L) Residential; and b. The project site is improved with the "Charles Stoebe House," a city-designated historic landmark, addressed 6710 Beryl Street. The property is also improved with an existing abandoned single-family residence addressed 9021 1911 Street. Aside from the two existing structures, a trash enclosure and a parking area to the south of the Stoebe House, the project site generally consists of native and nonnative groundcover, shrubs and trees; and C. The existing Land Use, General Plan and Zoning Designations for the project site and adjacent properties are as follows: Land Use General Plan Zoning Vacant land and Low Residential Site two single-family (LR) Low (L) Residential District residences North Church and Medium Medium M and Medium High MH PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 20-39 TRP DRC2020-00209 July 22, 2020 Page 2 Multiple-Family Residential (MR) Residential District Residences Single-Family Low Residential South Residences LR Low (L) Residential District East Church Low Residential Low (L) Residential District West Vacant Land Low Residential Low (L) Residential District a. The applicant, WLC Architects, is proposing to construct an 18,500 square foot private academic school at the southwest corner of Beryl and 191 Streets. The east (front) elevation of the school will face Beryl Street and the north (street side) elevation will face 191h Street. A basketball court, lunch area, play field and playground will be located adjacent to the west and south property lines. Access to the project will be from a single driveway off Beryl Street leading to a parking lot which provides a looped drive aisle to accommodate a pick-up and drop-off area for students in proximity to the primary school entrance. The existing residence at 9021 191h Street will be demolished. The historic Stoebe House will remain and be incorporated into the project to be used as school office space. b. The project requires the removal of 32 trees, 8 of which are Heritage Trees. Development Code Section 17.16.080 requires the approval of a Tree Removal Permit to provide a review process for the removal of heritage trees. c. The applicant has applied for Tree Removal Permit DRC2020-00209 to remove 8 Heritage Trees, which include 4 eucalyptus trees, 2 coast live oak trees, 1 Canary Island pine tree, and 1 Atlas cedar. An Arborist Report prepared by the applicant's arborist, Jim Borer (Certified Arborist #496), has determined that the 4 eucalyptus trees are in poor health due to severe drought stress and that the remaining 4 heritage trees are proposed for removal and replacement due to grading requirements for the project. d. The Arborist Report indicates that the two coast live oak trees represent reasonable candidates for conservation and/or transplantation within the site, and that the Canary Island Pine and Atlas cedar trees possess good disposition for convservation in place; and e. The applicant proposes to remove these heritage trees from the site in order to accommodate the proposd building footprint, play fields, parking lots, drive aisles and other improvements associated with the project in order to allow the economic enjoyment of the property, pursuant to Development Code Section 17.16.080.1.2.ii. 3. Based upon the substantial evidence presented to this Commission during the above-referenced public hearing and upon the specific findings of facts set forth in Paragraphs 1 and 2 above, this Commission hereby finds and concludes as follows: a. The proposed Tree Removal Permit is consistent with the objectives of the General Plan. The related private academic school development (Design Review DRC2019-00864) is consistent with the General Plan land use designation. The removal of the subject trees is necessary to develop the related private academic school development; and b. The proposed Tree Removal Permit will be accord with the objectives of the Municipal Code and the purposes of the district in which permits the removal of heritage trees when associated PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 20-39 TRP DRC2020-00209 July 22, 2020 Page 3 with the development of the project site. In this case, removal of the trees is necessary to construct a related private academic school. Additionally, staff has determined that the heritage trees proposed to be removed cannot remain in place or be transplanted within the project site either due to poor health or conflicts with the site plan and necessary improvements related to the function of the proposed private academic school; and C. The proposed Tree Removal Permit will be compliance with each of the applicable provisions of the Development Code including replacement of the removed trees with trees of a species and quantity commensurate with the aesthetic value of the trees to be removed; and d. The proposed Tree Removal Permit, together with the conditions applicable thereto, will not be detrimental to the public health, safety, or welfare or materially injurious to properties or improvements in the vicinity as the 8 heritage trees to be removed will be replaced with new trees as part of the overall landscape theme. 4. Based upon the facts and information contained in the application, together with all written and oral reports included for the environmental assessment for the application, the Planning Commission finds that no subsequent or supplemental environmental document is required pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in connection with the review and approval of this application based upon the following findings and determinations: a. Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the City's local CEQA Guidelines, the Planning Commission has determined that the project is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the City's CEQA Guidelines. The project qualifies as a Class 32 exemption under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15332 — In-Fill Development Projects, as the project is a proposed development occurring within city limits on a project site less than five acres in size and substantially surrounded by urban uses. The project is a 18,500 square foot private academic school building located on 2.88 acres of land within the Low (L) Residential District. The private academic school use is consistent with the intent of the Low Residential designation in the General Plan and the project meets all applicable development standards and zoning regulations of the Development Code. The school building is similar in scale and is consistent with other buildings in the nearby vicinity. The site can be adequately served all required utilities and police and fire services. A number of environmental studies were prepared to assess any potential impacts that the project might have on the environment. A Biological Resources Technical Report (Cadre Environmental, May 2020) found that the project site's habitat consisted of non-native plant species and did not support native coastal sage scrubs. The Report also determined that there were no riparian or wetland habitats that would support sensitive, threatened or endangered species, including the endangered Delhi Sands Flower Loving Fly. An Air Quality & Greenhouse Gas Technical Memorandum (Placeworks, May 4, 2020), conducted found that the project would not exceed the applicable Southern California Air Quality Management District's threshold for air quality and greenhouse gas emissions during construction or operational activity. A Traffic Impact Analysis (Environment Planning Development Solutions, Inc., June 2020) found that the project will not result in any significant impacts related to Level of Service (LOS) or Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT). The Traffic Impact Analysis also included a Queueing Analysis which found that the project provides sufficient queueing length on-site for the proposed use. A Noise and Vibration technical Memorandum (Placeworks, May 8, 2020) concluded that the project's noise contribution to adjacent roadways and properties would be less than significant for both construction and operational activities. A Conceptual Water Quality Management Plan was submitted and reviewed by the City's grading engineer. The City's grading engineer approved the conceptual design and will review the final design when PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 20-39 TRIP DRC2020-00209 July 22, 2020 Page 4 grading plans are submitted. A Cultural Resources Assessment (David Brunzell, May 27, 2020), was conducted and found that no archaeological or paleontological resources are known to be located within the project area. The Cultural Resources Assessment also found that the abandoned residence at 9021 19N Street was not eligible for the historic register and that the proposed re-use of the historic Stoebe House as a school office will not cause any significant impacts to that historic resource. Therefore, staff finds that there is no substantial evidence that the project will have a significant effect on the environment. 5. Based upon the findings and conclusions set forth in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, and 4 above, this Commission hereby approves the application subject to each and every condition set forth in the Standard Conditions, attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference. The Secretary to this Commission shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution. APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 22"d DAY OF JULY 2020, PLANNING CO SIGN O T IT NCHO CUCAMONGA BY: Tony Guglielmo, Chairman ATTEST: `' A`^` A" C�7 Anne McIntosh, AICP, Secretary,_ 1, Anne McIntosh, AICP, Secretary of the Planning Commission of the City of Rancho Cucamonga, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly introduced, passed, and adopted by the Planning Commission of the City of Rancho Cucamonga, at a regular meeting of the Planning Commission held on the 24th day of June 2020, by the following vote-to-wit: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: GUGLIELMO, OAXACA, DOPP, MORALES, WILLIAMS NOES: COMMISSIONERS: ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: