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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAUGUST 8, 2006 MINUTES ,� Arcadia City Planning Commission `'.;o„: Tuesday,August 8,2006 7:00 p.m.in the Arcadia City Council Chambers The Planning Commission of the City of Arcadia met in regular session on Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in the Arcadia Council Chambers of the City of Arcadia, at 240 W. Huntington Dr., with Chairman Olson presiding. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Commissioners Olson, Baderian, Beranek, Hsu and Parrille ABSENT: None OTHERS ATTENDING Community Development Administrator Jason Kruckeberg Planning Services Manager Corkran Nicholson Associate Planner Tom Li Assistant Planner Andrew Gonzales Senior Administrative Assistant Billie Tone SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM STAFF REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS Community Development Administrator Kruckeberg explained that the staff report for Item 4, Time Extension for CUP 02-11 and ADR 01-55, might be missing a page so a complete copy of the staff report was provided to each Commissioner at the meeting. Mr. Kruckeberg further explained that although Item 1 on the agenda for this meeting showed a five day appeal period to August 15, the actual five day period would begin from the approval date of the Resolution. TIME RESERVED FOR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON NON-PUBLIC HEARING MATTERS (5 MINUTE LIMIT PER PERSON) None 1. PUBLIC HEARING CUP 06-07 229 South First Avenue Cynthia Aguilar(Lessee) Cynthia Aguilar has submitted an application for a Conditional Use Permit to operate a 340 square-foot tea room with a maximum of 20 seats, including sidewalk dining. The staff report was presented by Assistant Planner Tom Li. Commissioner Beranek asked if staff's recommendation to deny the application was based on a strict interpretation of the code. He also stressed the benefits of property uses in the downtown area that increase business. Mr. Kruckeberg agreed with Mr. Beranek's comments and noted that there are no incentives in the code to make an exception when there is a lack of parking spaces. The Planning Services staff encourages revitalization of downtown businesses but does not have tools to approve intensification of uses without the required parking.. The public hearing was opened. The applicant, Cynthia L. Aguilar, 2615 Louise Avenue, Arcadia, said she leases the building and that she hopes to use it as a tea room. Ms. Aguilar explained that she feels that the tea room would be a good addition to the neighborhood and that parking would not be a problem. She added that she was willing to limit her business hours to provide for traffic generated by nearby First Avenue Middle School. Commissioner Baderian asked Ms. Aguilar to estimate how long her customers usually stay when they visit the combination gift/snack shop she currently operates at this location and if she anticipates a longer stay with the addition of a tea room. Ms. Aguilar said that her customers usually stay for about fifteen minutes now and that she anticipates an increase in the length of customer stay to about an hour after the tea room is in operation. Commissioner Parrille asked Ms. Aguilar if she had contacted the administration at First Avenue Middle School about her project and Ms.Aguilar replied that she had not. MOTION: It was moved by Commissioner Baderian, seconded by Commissioner Hsu to close the public hearing. ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Olson, Baderian, Beranek, Hsu and Parrille NOES: None Commissioner Baderian expressed concern over the limited parking and said that he could not support this project. Commissioner Parrille said he felt there was ample parking on the street to support this type of business and that the business generated by the tea room would benefit the community. He expressed support for the project based on the conditions of approval recommended in the staff report. Commissioner Hsu said he was concerned about parking on First Avenue particularly because it is necessary to back into oncoming traffic to exit a parking space. He also said that since the site Arcadia City Planning Commission 2 8/8/6 is across the street from First Avenue Middle School he anticipated a significant impact on traffic. Commissioner Beranek said that he believes the tea room is a good supplemental use for the area because it is not a destination where a customer would spend an evening. He noted that the applicant agreed to restrict business hours to 11:00 am to 2:00 pm to avoid conflict with school traffic and that he felt that the benefits of this business would outweigh the parking and traffic concerns. Chairman Olson explained that although he was hesitant to support the project initially, a review of the business plan revealed a well thought out strategy to work within the limitations presented at the site and that he would support the project based on the conditions of approval recommended by staff. MOTION: It was moved by Commissioner Beranek, seconded by Commissioner Parrille to approve CUP 06-07, subject to the conditions in the staff report. ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Olson, Beranek and Parrille NOES: Commissioners Baderian and Hsu Chairman Olson noted that there is a five working day appeal period from the adoption of a resolution. A resolution reflecting approval of the application will be brought to the Commission at the August 22 meeting. 2. PUBLIC HEARING MP 06-08 AND SF ADR 06-41 1850 Anita Crest Drive Anthony and Alison Baril Anthony and Alison Baril have submitted an application for a second floor addition to an existing one-story single family residence with proposed modifications to the second floor setback requirements. The staff report was presented by Assistant Planner Andrew Gonzales. The public hearing was opened. Mr. Anthony Baril, 1850 Anita Crest Drive, expressed appreciation to staff and the Commission for the time and effort spent on the project. Mr. Baril noted that this is his first experience with remodeling and that he has learned a lot. He said he was very pleased with the design as submitted to the Commission and that he felt it was quite an improvement over what is there today. Commissioner Beranek asked Mr. Baril if he had considered thq fact that the structure is quite massive and will dominate the street. Arcadia City Planning Commission 3 8/8/6 Mr. Baril said that he tried to build an addition on a small house and decided to build up instead of out because he liked the tower effect. He agreed that others might not like it. Commissioner Baderian asked Mr. Bari! if he would consider modifying the design to comply with the design requirements of the city. Mr. Baril replied that he would consider a compromise if necessary. Community Development Administrator Kruckeberg told the Commissioners that staff had worked closely with the applicant on this design but that the configuration of the lot made designing the addition difficult. He said that some alterations to the plans, like lowering the tower to match the second story roofline, might help the building blend into the neighborhood. Commissioner Baderian asked if the applicant could bring the project back to the Commission if they only approved part of it tonight. Mr. Kruckeberg explained that it might be more practical to leave the application intact and continue it to a future date. In this way the applicant could avoid additional submittal fees and a disjointed process where one modification would come back before the Commission. Commissioner Baderian asked the applicant about his timeframe for the project. Mr. Baril said that he has no particular timeframe but that he is concerned about the roofline of the building and hopes for a compromise from the city. Mr. Kruckeberg said that the project could be reviewed again in September. No one else spoke in favor or in opposition to this item. MOTION: It was moved by Commissioner Baderian, seconded by Commissioner Beranek to close the public hearing. ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Olson, Baderian, Beranek, Hsu and Parrille NOES: None Commissioner Baderian suggested a thirty day continuance to allow the applicant and staff to reach a compromise within city guidelines. MOTION: It was moved by Commissioner Baderian, seconded by Commissioner Hsu to continue MP 06-08 and SF ADR 06-41 to the September 26 meeting of the Planning Commission. Arcadia City Planning Commission 4 8/8/6 ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Olson, Baderian, Beranek, Hsu and Parrille NOES: None CONSENT ITEM 3. MINUTES OF 7-25-06 RECOMMENDATION: Approve Commissioner Baderian requested a correction to the minutes to show that he had made a motion to excuse Commissioner Beranek from the July 25 meeting and that the motion was unanimously approved. MOTION: It was moved by Commissioner Baderian, seconded by Commissioner Parrille to approve the minutes of July 25, 2006, as corrected. ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioner Olson, Baderian, Hsu and Parrille NOES: None ABSTAIN: Beranek 4. TIME EXTENSION—CUP 02-11 AND ADR 01-55 425 North Santa Anita Avenue George W. Fasching George W. Fasching has requested a one-year time extension of CUP 02-11 and ADR 01-55 for an automobile fueling station. Community Development Administrator Kruckeberg reviewed the request for a time extension on CUP 02-11 and ADR 01-55 and relayed staff's recommendation for approval of the extension. MOTION: It was moved by Commissioner Baderian, seconded by Commissioner Beranek to approve a one- year time extension of CUP 02-11 and ADR 01-55. Arcadia City Planning Commission 5 8/8/6 ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Olson, Baderian, Beranek, Hsu and Parrille NOES: None MATTERS FROM CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION None MODIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING ACTIONS Chairman Olson reported on the Modification Committee meeting held earlier today. MATTERS FROM STAFF Community Development Administrator Kruckeberg announced that Assistant Planner Gonzales had submitted his resignation and thanked him for his contributions to the Planning Department. Mr. Kruckeberg briefly reviewed the status of the Caruso and Westfield projects. 1. CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS 2. PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT 8:10 PM /s/Jason Kruckeberg Secretary, Arcadia Planning Commission Arcadia City Planning Commission 6 8/8/6