Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout5-12-92Planning Commission proceedings are tape recorded and on file in the office of the Planning Dept. MINUTES ARCADIA CITY PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Tuesday, May 12, 1992 The Planning Commission of the City of Arcadia met in regular session on Tuesday, May 12, 1992, at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Arcadia City Hall, 240 West Huntington Drive, with Chairman Tom Clark presiding. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Commissioners Amato, Daggett, Hedlund, Huang, Clark ABSENT: None MINUTES MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Amato, seconded by Commissioner Daggett to approve the Minutes of April 13, 1992 as published. The motion passed by voice vote with none dissenting. OTHERS ATTENDING: Assistant Planning Director Donna Butler Senior Planner Corkran Nicholson Assistant Planner William Stokes Secretary Silva Vergel PUBLIC HEARING TM 50794 756 Arcadia Ave. Patrick Dunn Consideration of a tentative map for a proposed 8 -unit condominium project. The staff report was presented and the public hearing was opened. Jim O'Malley, 500 Harrington St., Corona, said that they are in agreement with all of the conditions in the staff report. No one else spoke in favor of or in opposition to this item. MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Amato, seconded by Commissioner Daggett to close the public hearing. The motion passed by voice vote with none dissenting. Chairman Clark stated that this would be a good improvement. MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Hedlund, seconded by Commissioner Amato to approve TM 50794 subject to the conditions in the staff report. ROLL CALL: AYES: NOES: Commissioners Amato, Daggett, Hedlund, Huang, Clark None Chairman Clark stated that there is a ten day appeal period. PUBLIC HEARING TM 51282 2433, 2501 and 2505 S. Santa Anita Ave. Citrus State Development Corp. Consideration of a tentative map to develop an 8 -lot single - family subdivision. The staff report was presented. Staff indicated that setbacks for the future homes are not a requirement during the tentative map procedure. The public hearing was opened. Gene Bishop, Citrus State Development Corp, 100 N. Barranca, W. Covina, said that they are in agreement with all of the conditions in the staff report. He felt that this development would be a great asset to the community. He indicated that Don Crenshaw and Mur -Sol, Inc., would work on the project . No one else spoke in favor of or in opposition to this item. MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Amato, seconded by Commissioner Huang to close the public hearing. The motion passed by voice vote with none dissenting. Chairman Clark indicated that the lots comply with Code. Commissioner Amato remarked that they will only be able to make right hand turns into and out of the cul- de -sac and wondered how this might affect the traffic on Santa Anita? Commissioner Daggett agreed and asked how this cul -de -sac would affect Rodell Pl. and Woodruff Ave. which are in close proximity? Commissioner Hedlund concurred. Staff explained that Public Works reviewed the possibility of traffic increase and had no comments on it. Staff stated that there is no standard distance set between cul -de -sacs or streets but felt that the distance to any of the other streets is adequate. With regard to increase in traffic, staff said that there are four existing houses and the addition of four more should not have a significant affect. The proposed development would be an appropriate development of the site. In response to Commissioner Huang's questions, staff explained what a reverse corner lot is and said that if the Commission would like, lot 1 could be added to condition 5 in the staff report with regard to design of the homes on those lots. Staff remarked that Mur -Sol doesn't usually build homes with turrets and their homes are generally two -story conventionally designed homes. Chairman Clark was in favor of the project. Arcadia City Planning Commission 5/12/92 Page 2 MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Hedlund, seconded by Commissioner Daggett to approve TM 51282 subject to the conditions with the addition of lot 1 to condition 5 in the staff report. ROLL CALL: AYES: NOES: Commissioners Amato, Daggett, Hedlund, Huang, Clark None Chairman Clark stated that there is a ten day appeal period. Commissioner Amato abstained from this item because he was the Chairman at the Modification Committee. PUBLIC HEARING MC 92 -020 170 Diamond St. Lily Ping Wang -Vu The staff report was presented. In response to a question from Commission, Staff stated that the proposal is the same as what was presented to the Modification Committee. Consideration of an appeal of the Modification Committee's denial to convert a second -story balcony area into a bath- room and closet addition with modifications. The public hearing was opened. Lily Ping Wang -Vu, 170 Diamond St., said that the house is much too small for her family. They do not have adequate closet space and would like to build a new bathroom. It is very inconvenient situation for them and asked for the Commission to approve the appeal. Michael Margerum, 925 S. Idaho St., #166, La Habra, the architect of the project, said that while in escrow, Mrs. Wang -Vu approached him and asked if he could draw up plans including additional closet space, bathroom and overall improvements to the property. He explained that the requested modification is to accommodate additional closet space which is needed badly. In response to a question from the Commission, he stated that they would be willing to have some window and architectural treatments to break up the flat facade and would provide nice landscaping. The proposal would provide for a better floor plan. He indicated that Mrs. Wang -Vu went to each neighbor who might be affected and explained the proposal to them and all of them have been in favor of the request. No one else spoke in favor of or in opposition to this item. MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Hedlund, seconded by Commissioner Daggett to close the public hearing. The motion passed by voice vote with none dissenting. Commissioner Huang stated that a 100 sq. ft. addition is not major but he was concerned with the blank wall and felt that it would not be aesthetically pleasing. He suggested windows as an architectural treatment and thought that landscaping might help. Staff indicated that the Modification Committee did not discuss window treatments and denied the request because a 5' setback is not allowed. Arcadia City Planning Commission 5/12/92 Page 3 MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Huang, seconded by Commissioner Daggett, to re -open the public hearing. The motion passed by voice vote with none dissenting. In response to Commissioner Huang's questions, Mr. Margerum said that if the Commission would like architectural treatment, they would be willing to provide some windows to break up the flat facade. He indicated that they would like to accommodate the Commission and asked for approval. MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Huang, seconded by Commissioner Daggett to close the public hearing. The motion passed by voice vote with none dissenting. Staff said that a modification for the property was approved approximately 15 years ago and at that time the 5' setback was typical in the neighborhood. She stated that a lot could be done to break up the facade of the building and said that if the Commission would like to see a different design, the hearing should be continued to allow the applicant time to design a new facade. Chairman Clark felt strongly about approving the request and said that they worked long and hard to establish the setback requirements for second -story homes and approving this would be a step in the opposite direction. Even though the setback requirements were intended mainly for new construction, he did not want to set a precedent in approving 5' setback modifications. Commissioner Hedlund agreed and said that the he also did not want to set a precedent. He said that even though this is only a small addition, 130 sq. ft., it is a nonconforming use and to grant a modification for the enclosure of the balcony would mean that this would be nonconforming for many years. Commissioner Huang remarked that some landscaping might help the westerly facade of the building. Staff commented that it would be difficult to break up the flat facade of the building if the entire balcony was enclosed. MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Hedlund, seconded by Commissioner Daggett to deny MC 92 -020 and find that based on the evidence presented, the requested modification will not secure an appropriate improvement, nor prevent an unreasonable hardship, nor promote uniformity of development. ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Daggett, Hedlund, Huang, Clark NOES: None ABSTAIN: Commissioner Amato Chairman Clark stated that there is a five working day appeal period. PUBLIC HEARING TA 92 -004 The staff report was presented. Consideration of a text amendment to the Arcadia Municipal Code requiring a conditional use permit and establishing criteria for Indoor Swap Meets. Arcadia City Planning Commission 5/12/92 Page 4 Staff indicated that most of the cities surveyed did not have regulations and the ones that did address the issue required a CUP. The most in depth regulations were from the City of Los Angeles which has an ordinance on swap meets. They are in the process of revising their ordinance to make the parking requirements stricter. Staff noted that the parking regulations in the City of Los Angeles are being amended by requiring parking for the number of vendors and the square footage for each vendor. In response to questions from the Commission, Ms. Butler indicated that the food court at the corner of Golden West and Duarte Rd. required a CUP and had a high parking ratio requirement. Ms. Butler explained that the Fire Department requires fire sprinkler systems in buildings that are 5,000 sq. ft. or larger and through the CUP process additional conditions can be imposed prior to approval of use. Commissioner Amato thought that swap meets would probably require more parking space. Commissioner Daggett remarked that this seems to be a preventive move and Commissioner Huang agreed. Ms. Butler explained that a store such as Hinshaws, leases out space within the store to different vendors. If less than 75% of the floor was rented by Hinshaws and there were separate vendors, by the City's definition it would be considered as an indoor swap meet. This is a preventive measure and the City is trying to avoid a situation where tiny spaces (100 -200 sq. ft.) from being leased by separate vendors, since there are some buildings in the city that could be utilized that way. Ms. Butler said that the jewelry mart on Huntington Dr. would fall under this regulation and could be considered an indoor swap meet. Staff indicated that based on the survey, in some cities, many of the vendors did not even bother to pull a business license and it became difficult to police. Commissioner Huang wondered if the problem could be addressed by the number of parking spaces required by each vendor and Commissioner Amato recommended that a minimum square footage and parking spaces be required for each vendor. Ms. Butler replied by saying that that might cause a problem with trying to apply that to department stores such as The Broadway, Robinsons and Hinshaws. It was noted that that is not the intent of the Code and the proposal before the Commission was derived by a combination of the survey that was conducted and trying to apply those standards to the City. Ms. Butler stated that the CUP process would be the best controlling tool and did not think that a limitation on size is required. Through the CUP process, both the Commission and staff can review each use and approve with conditions. Commissioner Hedlund remarked that the buildings that could be susceptible don't have enough parking spaces. Commissioner Daggett thought that this would be a good change. MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Hedlund, seconded by Commissioner Amato to close the public hearing. The motion passed by voice vote with none dissenting. MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Hedlund, seconded by Commissioner Amato to recommend approval of TA 92-004 to the City Council. ROLL CALL: AYES: NOES: Commissioners Amato, Daggett, Hedlund, Huang, Clark None Arcadia City Planning Commission 5/12/92 Page 5 AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION None MATTERS FROM COUNCIL None MATTERS FROM COMMISSION Commissioner Hedlund asked if there were any regulations regarding the parking of RVs on paved surface? Ms. Butler replied there is nothing in the Code prohibiting a recreational vehicle from being parked on paved surface. Commissioner Amato suggested discussing this matter at the upcoming joint meeting with Council. The Commission felt that since there is no meeting until June 23rd, the Commission can use this opportunity to meet at a regular scheduled meeting to discuss topics and issues of concern prior to the joint study session meeting with City Council. The Commission agreed upon meeting on June 9th for this purpose. Staff noted that the Commission should submit items for discussion to staff by June 1st. MATTERS FROM STAFF None ADJOURNMENT 8:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on June 9th Secretary, Arcadia Planning Commission Arcadia City Planning Commission 5/12/92 Page 6