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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOCTOBER 27,1971 CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS ARE TAPE RECORDED AND ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK 19: 794.4 MINUTES CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 27, 1971 I PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL The City Council of the City of Arcadia met in adjourned regular session on Wednesday, October 27, 1971 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber of the Arcadia City Hall. William D. Woolard, Planning Director. PRESENT: ABSENT: Councilmen Arth, Butterworth, Considine, Rage, Helms None GENERAL PLAN Continuation of study of the proposed General Plan. The dis- cussions this evening are to be devoted to the race track property and interested persons will participate. The Planning Director explained that the subject property is indicated on the General Plan as medium and low density residential with open space; that it is currently zoned R-l and S-l, developed with the race track. Reference was made to specific sections of the General Plan in which the Planning Consultant, Simon Eisner, had indicated alternative uses (Pages 66 - 71). The Planning Commission subsequently recommended deletion of that particular section and substituted an addendum. He continued that from a planning standpoint the most logical alternative would be residential which would build up purchasing power in the area closest to the Shopping Center and would rein- force the economic structure of the uses located therein. It was noted there are approximately 386 acres and the Shopping Center will occupy approximately 70 acres plus or minus leaving 316 acres and if racing should cease it was his recommendation that the land be developed thusly - 1/3 developed in the 3 to 5 dwelling units per acre, the remaining 2/3 developed in the 6 to 10 dwelling units per acre category. Maps were reviewed indicating the approximate location of the areas under discussion and it was submitted that Council should require the development of the entire residential area to be in the form of a complete village with schools, parks, open space and other amenities for the residents; through traffic should be discouraged. I Impact on the City: A brief study had been made and it was found that there could be an approximate total of 1,530 dwelling units with an estimated population of 3,097. Sixty three acres could be used up by streets, 22 acres for public and semi-public uses and 16 acres for parks and open space. .... Thomas Childers, representing O'Melveny & Myers, attorneys for Santa Anita Consolidated, Ltd., stated in part that at the hearings on Fashion Park it appeared to be the sentiment that racing should if at all possible continue; that the race track officials have on several occasions expressed their intention to stay in racing for the foreseeable future. He disagreed with any assumption to the contrary; that it is impossible to say at this time that any other 10-27-71 - 1 - 19:7945 use is appropriate; that if there is to be a change of zoning indicated on the General Plan it should be for horse racing, and that if there should be any indication on the part of the race track that some other zone were desired, the City should have the final say in the matter. He continued in part that any zone change would also bring about a change in the assessed valuation as it would be a prior recognition that a zone change is forthcoming. In answer to an inquiry Mr. Childers stated that there are no plans for any alternate use of the remaining portion of the race track property; .that the land is to be used for horse racing and it would be based on .pure' speculation to recommend any other use - be it commercial, industria,l or 'residential. Jack Saelid, 821 Balboa Drive, speaking for PLAN, stated in part I that it would be naiv~ to think that the race track does not have plans for the expansion of their construction program to include more commercial buildings and referred to some discussions in the Fashion Park proceedings wherein it was stated by the architect that the orientation of the mall was designed to allow expansion. He felt it should.be clearly established by the City just exactly how the property should be zoned should racing cease. He submitted that PLAN endorses the R-l development of the subject property as proposed by Mr. Eisner as alternative No.1 in the General Plan and qualified this. position as follows: that sufficient land be dedicated to open space and planting so as to create a greenbelt extending from the Arboretum through to the Civic Center. In answer to an inquiry he responded that PLAN does not object to the present zoning - only feels tha~ the.ultimate designation should be indicated on the General Plan. Michael Card, 818 Victoria Drive, stated in part that sometime ago it was established that ,there ~ 'already too much R-3 zoning, that it would take over 47 years td:use up the existing R-3, and the R-2 property has not been taken advantage of so it has not developed as anticipated. He felt that the race track property should be developed on this ratio -.1/3 in 7500 sq. ft. lots, 1/3 in 10,000 sq. ft. lots and 1/3 in 15,000 sq. ft. lots. He exhibited a draft of a schematic design for.reviewing purposes only - which indicated where these various sized lots should or could be located. Emil Steck, 831 San Simeon Road, explored chronologically the history of the race track zoning -single family residences originally and through the years since about 1926 has been used for horse racing. He said in part that any argument that the present R-l zoning be changed in order to be consistent with horse racing is specious. He made reference to Mr. Eisner's recommendations, comments made by Robert Strub and Mayor Butterworth, and press releases --- all in connection with the subject property. He felt any rezoning, especially for horse racing, would be inconsistent with past zoning history and inconsistent with representations made by Fashion Park proponents. Speaking on behalf of PLAN and as an individual, he asked that the suggestion for an alternate zone designation to "horse racing" be rejected and that the General Plan reflect the alternate zone as residential in some form. He continued that PLAN endorses the single family residence concept represented by Mr. Eisner's No. 1 alternative, and opposed any deletion of a residential desig- nation in favor of horse racing on the General Plan. I William Gleason, 901 Monte Verde Drive, President of the Rancho Santa Anita Residents Association, went on record for the association as opposing any zoning other than the present R-l and S-l. In addition he expressed concern that with garden-type apartments it would be important to strive for owner-occupant type of development instead of non-owner occupant. Royce McKinley, 1220 Ramona Road, Vice President of the Rancho Santa Anita Residents Association, reiterated the position of the associ- ation - that the property remain as presently zoned. 10-27-71 - 2 - CONSENSUS ( By MOTION) I PROCEDURAL ORDINANCE WAIVED CITY OWNED PROPERTY LEASED ADJOURNMENT I 19: 7946 Following the above presentations Mr. Childers stated that Santa Anita Consolidated desired the present zoning of Rel and S-l to remain. Extensive discussion ensued. It was then MOVED by Councilman Considine that the subject property be indicated on the General Plan as residential with the present horse racing overlay; that in the event of racing cessation the northern one-third portion be designated for development under the 0-4 dwelling units per acre category and the remaining two- thirds for development under the 5-6 dwelling units per acre category; that careful study be made for the provision of adequate open space and planting. Motion seconded by Councilman Hage and carried on roll call vote as follows: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Councilmen Arth, Butterworth, Considine, Hage, Helms None None The next meeting on the General Plan will be November 11 at 7:30 p.m. The Planning Director will submit an agenda comprising areas of particular concern for that meeting. In order to consider the following item the provlslons of the Procedural Ordinance were WAIVED on MOTION by Councilman Considine, seconded by Councilman Hage and carried unanimously. On MOTION by Councilman Hage, seconded by'Councilman Arth, and carried on roll call vote as follows property described as "Portion of Lot 7, Block 84, Santa Anita Tract, County Records Book 34, Pages 41 and 42", was AUTHORIZED for lease to the Air Logistics Corporation. The t'erm to be for 3 years commencing November 1, 1971 at $165 per month. The City Attorney will prepare the lease agreement to be executed by the Corporation and Mayor Helms. AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN: ABSENT: Councilmen Arth, Butterworth, Hage, Helms None Councilman Considine, due to his business 'affiliation. None At 9:15 p.m. the meeting adjourned sine die. ATTEST: ~ 7th ~~ City Clerk 10-27-71 - 3 -