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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4 - 6-28-16 PC Minutes ARCADIA PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, June 28, 2016 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Chiao called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. in the Arcadia City Council Chamber PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Commissioners Chan, Lewis, Thompson, Lin and Chiao ABSENT: None SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM STAFF REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS A memorandum about a Lot Line Adjustment to adjust the property line between 375 W. Palm Drive and the property between 2232 Holly Avenue and 381 W. Palm Drive (no address) for a new lot configuration, was distributed to the Planning Commissioners PUBLIC COMMENTS There were none. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Modification No. MP 16-02 and Architectural Design Review No. SFADR 16-10 with a Class 5 Categorical Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for a street-side-yard setback of 20’-0” in lieu of 25’-0” required along Los Altos Avenue for a new 3,990 square-foot, two-story residence at 2430 Florence Avenue Applicant: Mr. Vincent Tsoi, Architect Recommended Action: Conditionally Approve Planning Services Manager Lisa Flores introduced the item and turned it over to Associate Planner Nick Baldwin who presented the staff report. Chairman Chiao opened the Public Hearing. Chairman Chiao asked if the applicant would like to speak on this item. Mr. Thomas Lin spoke on behalf of the applicant Mr. Vincent Tsoi. Chairman Chiao asked if there was anyone else who would like to speak in favor of this item. No one responded. Chairman Chiao asked if there was anyone who would like to speak in opposition to this item. No one responded. 2 6-28-16 MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Lewis, seconded by Commissioner Chan to close the public hearing. Without objection, the motion was approved. MOTION It was moved by Chairman Chiao, seconded by Vice Chairman Lin to conditionally approve Modification No. MP 16-02 and Architectural Design Review No. SFADR 16-10 with a Class 5 Categorical Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for a street-side-yard setback of 20’-0” in lieu of 25’-0” required along Los Altos Avenue for a new 3,990 square- foot, two-story residence at 2430 Florence Avenue, subject to the conditions in the staff report. ROLL CALL AYES: Commissioners Chan, Lewis, Lin and Chiao NOES: Commissioner Thompson 2. Resolution No. 1966 – Approving Tentative Tract Map No. TTM 73436; Healthy Protected Tree Removal Permit No. TRH 15-02; and Multiple-Family Architectural Design Review No. MFADR 14-04 with a Categorical Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for a six-unit residential condominium development at 118-120 Alta Street Applicant: Mr. Benjamin Zhu, project designer; and Mr. Terry Lim of Nuhauz Estate, property owner Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 1966 Planning Services Manager Lisa Flores introduced the item and turned it over to Associate Planner, who presented the staff report. Chairman Chiao opened the Public Hearing. Chairman Chiao asked if the applicant would like to speak on this item. Mr. Benjamin Zhu, project designer responded. Chairman Chiao asked if there was anyone else who would like to speak in favor of this item. No one responded. Chairman Chiao asked if there was anyone who would like to speak in opposition to this item. No one responded MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Chan, seconded by Chairman Chiao to close the public hearing. Without objection, the motion was approved. 3 6-28-16 MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Chan, seconded by Chairman Chiao to adopt Resolution No. 1966 – Approving Tentative Tract Map No. TTM 73436; Healthy Protected Tree Removal Permit No. TRH 15-02; and Multiple-Family Architectural Design Review No. MFADR 14-04 with a Categorical Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for a six-unit residential condominium development at 118-120 Alta Street subject to the conditions in the staff report and amended to include a condition that the applicant donate the trees to the City as stated in the staff report before issuance of a building permit. ROLL CALL AYES: Commissioners Lewis, Lin, Thompson, Chan and Chiao NOES: None CONSENT CALENDAR 3. Minutes of the June 14, 2016, Arcadia Planning Commission Regular Meeting and Arcadia Business Permit and License Review Board Special Meeting Recommended Action: Approve It was moved by Commissioner Lewis, seconded by Commissioner Lin to approve Consent Calendar item 3. ROLL CALL AYES: Commissioners Chan, Thompson, Chiao, Lewis and Lin NOES: None MATTERS FROM CITY COUNCIL LIAISON Council Member Verlato reminded everyone that the windmill atop Denny’s Restaurant will begin to spin tomorrow Wednesday, June 29 at 2:00 p.m. She made the following announcements; a Patriotic Festival will be held on Saturday, July 2 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at the Arcadia Transit Plaza and she wished everyone a happy 4th of July; last week the City Council approved the budget for fiscal year 2016-2017, as part of the budget there is $75,000 for the additional Zoning Code updates; the other items that will be coming before the Planning Commission are updates to commercial districts; some of the highlights from the budget are the approval to acquire police dogs and a program that will replace the brown grass on center medians throughout the City with drought tolerant landscaping over a period of four-years; lastly there was an appeal to the City Council of the Planning Commission business license revocation for noncompliance with the City of Arcadia Massage Therapist and Business License Regulations by Qiu Xia Liu at 149 East Huntington Drive, and the City Council upheld the Planning Commission decision and denied the appeal. MATTERS FROM PLANNING COMMISSIONERS Commissioner Chan asked staff to follow-up on gathering the number of tutoring centers and martial arts studios located within the City and to report that information to the Planning Commission. Chairman Chiao commented that after the ruling on item No. 6, denying Conditional Use Permit application No. CUP 15-05 for a new tutoring center for up to 15 students at 1012 4 6-28-16 S. Baldwin Avenue at the June 14, meeting, he wasn’t satisfied with his decision to deny the application. Initially he felt he voted correctly in supporting staff in terms of the vehicular access, but later wasn’t satisfied with the motion made based on the deficiency of one parking space. After the meeting, he had a discussion with Jim Kasama, Community Development Administrator, about the decision and upon their discussion determined that this type of project should be approved in the future. They discussed that there are going to be some parking issues based on the dynamics of commercial properties in the City and decided that it should be left up to the consumer to decide if they want to utilize that business and to the landlord if they are in support of the business. Mr. Kasama advised Chairman Chiao to share their discussion with the Commissioners and to request that staff revisit those types of issues so that they may be addressed appropriately for future projects. Commissioner Thompson stated that he was glad to see access to Chantry Road closed during the hot weather. MATTERS FROM MODIFICATION COMMITTEE Commissioner Thompson discussed the one item that was presented to the Modification Committee, which was an application to retroactively approve the removal of a protected healthy Sycamore tree. The permit was requested by the new property owner, after the protected tree was removed. The permit was not approved and the Committee agreed with staff’s recommendation to mitigate the removal with a 72-inch replacement tree in the front yard. The Committee felt that there should also be a punitive measure and added a fine of $2,600. That amount was based on the value of the old tree; which was estimated at $6,100 as stated in the Arborist’s report, and the difference of the cost to put in new tree at $3,500. MATTERS FROM STAFF INCLUDING UPCOMING AGENDA ITEMS Mrs. Flores discussed the handouts given to the Commissioners about upcoming events; the first item is a notice that was mailed out to the community about the Zoning Code Update Community Meeting scheduled for July 20th at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber; the other item is relating to a study session with the Planning Commission to be held on August 9 beginning at 5:00 p.m. She informed the Commissioners that a new webpage on the City’s website has been created, called Notices and Decisions, that provides notices for new homes to create more transparency to let residents know what is happening around them. The notices include architectural plans and the decision once one is made. Mrs. Flores announced the following; the upcoming items for the next hearings on July 12th are two appeals of staff-level decisions for Single-Family Architectural Design Reviews, the reorganization of the Planning Commission, and one modification for a project on Singing Wood Drive. She informed the Commissioner’s that their decision to deny a tutoring center at 1012 S. Baldwin Avenue is being appealed to the City Council and their decision to deny the appeal of the approval of Single-Family Architectural Design Review No. SFADR 16-08 for 1101 S. Fifth Avenue has been called-up to the City Council by City Council Member April Verlato and will be heard at the July 19th City Council meeting. She notified the Commissioner that the American Planning Association’s conference will be held in Pasadena in October and advised the Commissioners to review the material she provided and decide if they are interested in attending. She discussed the memo provided to the Commissioner from Mr. Kasama about a Lot Line Adjustment to adjust the property line between 375 W. Palm Drive and the property between 2232 Holly Avenue and 381 W. Palm Drive (no address) for a new lot configuration. The City code requires that the Planning Commissioners be informed 5 6-28-16 of any Lot Line Adjustments that the City approves. Lastly, she announced two upcoming events; this weekend is the first of four 626 Night Market events and the Cal Phil Summer Concert series is coming up on July 23rd, August 6th and August 20th. ADJOURNMENT The Planning Commission adjourned this meeting at 8:20 p.m. to Tuesday, July 12, 2016, at 7:00 p.m., in the City Council Chamber at 240 W. Huntington Dr., Arcadia. Chairman, Planning Commission ATTEST: Secretary, Planning Commission