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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-8-11MINUTES ARCADIA PLANNING COMMISSION Tuesday, November 8, 2011, 7:00 P.M. Arcadia City Council Chambers The Planning Commission of the City of Arcadia met in regular session on Tuesday, November 8, 2011, at 7:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers of the City of Arcadia, at 240 W. Huntington Drive with Chairman Baerg presiding. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chairman Baerg led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Commissioners Baderian, Beranek, Chiao, Parrille, and Baerg ABSENT: None OTHERS ATTENDING Deputy Development Services Director /City Engineer, Phil Wray Community Development Administrator, Jim Kasama Associate Planner, Tom Li Assistant Planner, Tim Schwehr Senior Administrative Assistant, Billie Tone SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM STAFF REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS Each Commissioner was given two photographs relating to Item 1, a letter of opposition to Item 2 and a revised version of the minutes of the October 25, 2011 meeting. TIME RESERVED FOR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON NON - PUBLIC HEARING MATTERS — Five - minute time limit per person There were none. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. CUP 11 -14 400 N. Rolyn Place Mr. Thomas P. Clarke of Gernon Holdings, LLC The applicant is requesting a Conditional Use Permit for a trade school /education center (dba: The Clarke Center) with a maximum of 80 students and five (5) employees in an existing 15,050 square -foot commercial building in the C -M, Commercial Manufacturing Zone. RECOMMENDATION: Conditional Approval Mr. Li presented the staff report. Commissioner Beranek asked if the one handicapped parking space was included in the total count of parking spaces. Mr. Li said that as policy, the applicant is not penalized for lacking one space when it is lost due to a handicapped space. The Public Hearing was opened. Chairman Baerg asked if anyone would like to speak in favor of this project. Mr. Thomas Clarke, applicant and President of Arroyo Pacific Academy, said that they wished to expand their current program by offering education in the arts and physical fitness training but their present facility is not large enough to accommodate this. He said that he feels the proposed site will easily accommodate the additional programs and that ample parking is available in the lot adjacent to the building. Commissioner Baderian asked Mr. Clarke if he read the conditions of approval and is in agreement with them. Mr. Clarke confirmed that he understood and would comply with all conditions. Commissioner Baderian pointed out that staff is recommending an 8:30 a.m. start time for the school and Mr. Clarke agreed that would be satisfactory. Commissioner Baderian noted that the permit hours extend to 9:00 p.m. and he asked if classes would be conducted up to that time. Mr. Clarke explained that most activities will be over by 7:00 p.m. but practice for special events may be scheduled in the evenings. Even so, Mr. Clarke said they could easily close by 9:00 p.m. Chairman Baerg asked if anyone wanted to speak in opposition to this project. Mr. Danny Williams said that he is the owner of the property at 414 and 420 Rolyn Place which is just north of the proposed site. Mr. Williams said that he admires the ideals expressed by the applicant but has concerns about the safety of the students. He said that Rolyn Place is a narrow cul- de-sac serving a number of industrial type businesses which generate heavy truck traffic and therefore, he feels it is not an ideal location for a school. Mr. Williams said that the pictures he provided to the Commissioners clearly show that the street is very busy and there were no vacant on- street parking spaces. Commissioner Baderian asked what time of day the pictures were taken and Mr. Williams said it was approximately 1:30 to 2:00 in the aftemoon. Ms. Dianne Perry said that her contracting business has been on Rolyn Place for 56 years and although they have safe drivers for all their trucks and equipment, she too is concerned for the safety of the students. She also stressed that the cul -de -sac is narrow. Chairman Baerg asked what the license classifications are for her construction business and if she had an equipment yard. Ms. Perry said her license classifications are C53 (swimming pools) and B (general contracting) and confirmed that they have a yard. Chairman Baerg asked if the applicant would like to rebut. Mr. Clarke said that he understands the concems of the neighbors on Rolyn Place but he assured the Commissioners that he personally surveyed the area and is confident that safety issues can be satisfactorily addressed. He explained that students will either walk or be dropped off at the current facility so he doesn't anticipate much need for street parking. He said that he feels certain that the students can be kept safe and that his business will not interfere in any way with those businesses already established on Rolyn Place. PC MINUTES 11 -8 -11 Page 2 Mr. Scott Philips of 414 Rolyn Place said he is concerned about parking as the street is usually full already. He said he doesn't see how the parking lot can accommodate all the cars from the students and staff of the school especially since the proposed school hours are the busiest time for the trucks. Mr. Jim Manin said that he also owns property on Rolyn Place and he supports the school but has concerns about traffic and safety. He suggested that he could support the project if the procedures for parking and drop off of students would be studied in more detail. Chairman Baerg asked the applicant if he would like to rebut. Mr. Clarke assured the Commissioners that he is very aware of the concerns of the business owners on Rolyn Place and that he understands the extent of the traffic there. He said he feels that the school can operate within the limits of the conditional use permit. MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Parrille, seconded by Commissioner Baderian to close the Public Hearing. Without objection the motion was approved. Commissioner Beranek asked if the City Engineer, Mr. Wray, would offer comments on the traffic situation on Rolyn Place. Mr. Wray said that he appreciates the concerns expressed and agreed that Rolyn Place is a busy street, however, he noted that it is a public street that is to be shared by all users and that the street is designed to move traffic through, not for use as a loading zone. He also pointed out that the narrowness of the street causes the traffic to slow and the drivers to be more cautious. Mr. Wray said he would not recommend parking restrictions and added that in most cases the school traffic would not conflict with the business traffic. Commissioner Baderian pointed out that the area is designated as commercial in the General Plan and said that he is uncomfortable with a school in a commercial area because of the potential for accidents. Chairman Baerg said there are 23 parking spaces on the site and that the tenant or owner would be entitled to use them. He said that a conflict would exist with a school or any other type of business because of the oversized equipment using the street. MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Beranek, seconded by Commissioner Parrille to approve Conditional Use Permit No. CUP 11 -14 subject to the conditions in the staff report. ROLL CALL AYES: Commissioners Beranek, Chiao, Parrille NOES: Commissioners Baderian and Baerg A Resolution reflecting the decision of the Planning Commission will be presented for adoption at the next Commission meeting. There will be a five working -day appeal period after the adoption of the Resolution. PC MINUTES 11 -8-11 Page 3 2. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. CUP 11 -16 1430 S. Baldwin Avenue Fresh Ink Tattoo The applicant is requesting a Conditional Use Permit to allow a 725 square -foot personal service use (tattoo parlor). RECOMMENDATION: Conditional Approval Assistant Planner, Tim Schwehr, presented the staff report. Commissioner Beranek said that the drawing in the staff report shows no parking lot belonging to the Church next to the proposed site but that Coco's Restaurant has a parking lot and he asked if the church and Coco's had some type of parking agreement. Mr. Schwehr said he was not aware of any agreement. Commissioner Parrille asked if Coco's management had been contacted about overflow parking and Mr. Schwehr said they had not, because there is a parking surplus at Coco's. He also noted that there had been no objection from Coco's. Chairman Baerg asked if piercing and tattooing services would be visible from the street. Mr. Schwehr said that except for one area, these services would be visible from the street. Chairman Baerg asked if the applicant had considered other locations for his business. Mr. Schwehr he was not aware if they had but that there are currently two other tattoo parlors on Baldwin Avenue. The Public Hearing was opened. Chairman Baerg asked if anyone would like to speak in favor of this project. Mr. Kim Vong, a partner in the business, said that they are proposing a low profile studio which will not generate a lot of traffic. They will design a trendy and modem interior and provide services by appointment only. He added that they are planning to cover the front windows with blinds. Chairman Baerg asked Mr. Vong if he had considered altemate locations. Mr. Vong said they had but since there are two other tattoo parlors on Baldwin Avenue they thought this would be a good location. Commissioner Parrille asked if the other tattoo parlors are open on Sunday and Mr. Vong explained that most of them are open every day until 9. Mr. Vong said that the customers will be required to make an appointment and will park behind the building and enter from the rear. Commissioner Beranek asked Mr. Vong if he had read the conditions of approval and would agree to comply with all of them. Mr. Vong said he would. Chairman Baerg asked if anyone wanted to speak in opposition to this project. There were none. PC MINUTES 11 -8 -11 Page 4 MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Baderian, seconded by Commissioner Beranek to close the Public Hearing. Without objection the motion was approved. Commissioner Parrille said that this is a legitimate use of the property but he was concemed about the Sunday night business next to a residential area. Chairman Baerg said he shared Commissioner Parrille's concerns and added that conditions should be added to block the piercing and tattooing from public view. Chairman Baerg suggested adding the following phrase to Condition No. 3: "No tattooing or piercing shall be visible from outside of the business ". MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Baderian, seconded by Commissioner Beranek to approve Conditional Use Permit No. CUP 11 -16 subject to the conditions in the staff report as amended. ROLL CALL AYES: Commissioners Baderian, Beranek, and Baerg NOES: Commissioners Chiao and Parrille A Resolution reflecting the decision of the Planning Commission will be presented for adoption at the next Commission meeting. There will be a five working -day appeal period after the adoption of the Resolution. CONSENT ITEM 3. MINUTES OF OCTOBER 25, 2011 RECOMMENDATION: Approve MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Beranek, seconded by Commissioner Baderian, to approve the minutes of October 25, 2011, as amended. ROLL CALL AYES: Commissioners Baderian, Beranek, Chaio, Parrille and Baerg NOES: None MATTERS FROM CITY COUNCIL & PLANNING COMMISSION There were none. MODIFICATION COMMITTEE AGENDA Chairman Baerg reported that the Modification Committee was cancelled. PC MINUTES 11 -8-11 Page 5 MATTERS FROM STAFF & UPCOMING AGENDA ITEMS Mr. Kasama reported that the permit for removal of a healthy oak tree that was denied by the Planning Commission was appealed by Mayor Pro Tem Harbicht and would be reviewed at the November 15 City Council meeting. He said that the General Plan Amendment and Zone Change recommended for approval by the Commission were approved by the Council and the Resolution was adopted approving the General Plan Change. The Zone Change Ordinance was introduced and has been scheduled for adoption at the next meeting. Mr. Kasama said the Resolution for the Homeowners Associations will be reviewed by the Council at the December 6 meeting. Other upcoming items include a Conditional Use Permit for a pre- school on East Live Oak, an art school on Baldwin Avenue, and Westfield's request for a revision to their Design Review allowing expansion of restaurant space in the Promenade section of the mall. ADJOURNED ATTEST: Secretary, P(a ning Commission Chairman, Planning Commission 7:55 p.m. PC MINUTES 11 -8-11 Page 6