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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDECEMBER 9, 1997 v . MINUTES .' Arcadia City Planning Com mission Tuesday, December 9, 1997 7:15 p.m. in the Council Chambers Planning Commission proceedings are tape-recorded and on file in the office of the Community Development Division. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Planning Commission of the City of Arcadia met. in regular session on Tuesday, December 9, 1997 at 7:15 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the City of Arcadia, at 240 W. HuntingtonDrive with Chairman Pro Tern Paul Kalemkiarianpresiding. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: ABSENT: Commissioners Bell, Bruckner, Huang, Sleeter, Kalemkiarian Commissioner Murphy MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Sleeter, seconded by Commissioner Huang to excuse Commissioner Murphy from tonight's meeting. The motion passed by voice vote with none dissenting. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM STAFF REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS .None TIME RESERVED FOR mOSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISH TO. ADDRESS THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON NON-PUBLIC HEARING MATTERS (5 MINUTE LIMIT PER PERSON) None MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Sleeter, seconded 'by Commissioner Huang to read all resolutions by title only and waive:reading the full body of the resolution. The motion passed by voice vote with none dissenting. OTHERS ATTENDING: Mayor Robert Harbicht City Attorney Michael Miller Planning Services Manager Corkran Nicholson Associate Planner James Kasama Assistant Planner John Halminski cminUle/l11297 ~/ , . . :- 1. MINUTES of 11/25/97 MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Huang, seconded by Commissioner Sleeter to approve the Minutes of November 25th. ROLL CALL: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABS;rAIN: Commissioners Bell,.Huang, Sleeter, Kalemkiarian None Commissioner Murphy Commissioner Bruckner 2. PUBLIC HEARING MP 97-009 401 E. Santa Clara Mr. Dennis Stout for Extended Stay America Consideration of a modification for a SO' -0" high free-staIiding sign in lieu of 25' -0" maximum height allowed. The staff report was presented. Staff indicated that public hearing notices were mailed. Mr. Miller noted that the public hearing should be opened and the Planning Commission should receive any testimony and then the Planning Commission can exercise its discretion to continue the hearing. The public hearing was opened. Dennis Stout, 871 N. Maplewood St., Orange, the applicant and representative for Federal Sign. He explained that they are requesting this modification because the hotel needs visibility,..agood advertising tool and feel SO' is the best solution. He did not think they.would be.setting a precedent. Not everyone seeIng a SO' taU sign would want one just because theirs would be that high, unless they shared the same circumstances. There are special circumstaIices with this property and felt their request should be granted. Minette Hool, 11875Dublin Blvd.,#B223, Dublin, presented a line of sight diagram and explained their request. Sal Manzella, 1717 Island Ave., Wilmington, was representing Extended Stay America and said that they are hoping to open in March. Chairman Pro Tern Kalemkiarian declared the public hearing closed. Staff reinarked that roof signs are prohibited. The signs are proposed at the gable ends of the architectural projections approximately 35' high. Arcadia cit}-' Planning Commission 2 1219/97 ~ . . Commissioner Bruckner shared some of staff s concerns and felt that continuing the public hearing for a month for a sign that will be there for many years is a reasonable recommendation. Looking at this and the other businesses in the area and the prospect of other potential hotels nearby with similarrelationship to the freeway, means that a precedent could be set with a series of individual signs up and down the freeway which he thought would detract from the community's quality. The Commission agreed. Commissioner Huang asked that the approximate location of the two groups of tall trees that the applicant is referring to be shown on the plans. MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Bruckner, seconded by Commissioner Bell to continue the public hearing to the Planning Commission's January 13th meeting. ROLL CALL: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Commissioners Bell, Bruckner, Huang, Sleeter, Kalemkiarian None Commissioner Murphy 3. PUBUC HEARING MP 97-010 215 Alice St' John Sheng Consideration of a.modifications for a proposed 2-unit condominium project. The staff report was presented. Staff explained the density requirements and said that the project is in compliance. There is adequate landscaping at the entrance portion of the driveway. There is also a landscape buffer in the middle of the driveway that breaks up and provides relief to a decorative wall. The public hearing was opened. John Sheng, 1002 E. Mooney Dr., Monterey Park:, the architect df the project was .present. There are a few similar projects in the area. The requested modifications are due to the narrow width of the lot They are in agreement with all of the conditions in the staff report. Reginald Lamson, 209 Alice, was there representing Edith Lamson, his mother, and said they strongly oppose the-setbacks that are being requested. The lots in. this area are already small and reducing the setbacks will cause a tighter appearance in the neighborhood. Arcadia City Planning Commission 3 1219/97 . . John Claire, representing his parents, the owners of 214 Genoa which backs into the subject property. They had not seen the plans and wondered what it would look like. How close is it going to be to their property? They were concerned with losing their privacy. Staff showed and explained the plans to them. For the benefit of the audience, staff explained the requested modifications. Mr. Nicholson stated that the requested modifications do not have any affect on the rear yard setback. In this. zone, the required setback for a two-story structure is 10' from the rear property line. The requested modifications deal with the distance between buildings, which is in reference to an area in the center of the property. This area would not be seen from the Claire's property. Two-story buildings are permitted in the,area. To mitigate their concerns, he suggested landscaping or planting trees in the rear yard area but noted that it would take some time for the landscaping to mature. Lynn Buffamonte, 223 Alice, was there representing her mother. She also thought they would lose their privacy. She did not want them looking down and over onto her property. Chairman Pro Tem Kalernkiarian declared the public hearing closed since there was no one else to spoke in favor of or in opposition to this item. Commissioner Huang was sympathetic to the neighbors' concerns and complaints, unfortunately this property is zoned R-2 and the application before the Planning Commission meets the rear yard setback requirement. He thought the requests are reasonable for the property. Commissioner Bell was concerned that this is going to be the only twocstory building on the block. Staff replied that in this block all the other buildings are mainly single-story single-family older residences built in the 20's, 30's and some in the.50's. Mr. Nicholson said that the zoning.inthe area has been the same for many years. This area is one of the last remaining multiple-fani.ilyareas in the City that lends itself to development. There are a lot of61der homes and they will be going through a transition. Staff will try to encourage a developer to consolidate as much as possible but'sometimesthat is difficult. The R.2 zone is a flexible zone, i.e., it allows both multiple-family and single-family homes, either of which could be single or two-story. . Chairman Pro Tern Kalemkiarian did not think that their requests were outrageous and remarked that other similar projects have been granted with similar requests. He asked for more landscaping around the block walls and asked for four 36" boxed trees along the rear property line. Mr. Nicholson said the proposed landscape plan is conceptual only. He recommended that the Planning Commission, as a condition of approval, request a landscape. and irrigation plan that shows the-size, planting material and spacing of the trees be submitted for staff's review and approval. That the trees be planted in such a manner to mitigate as much as possible the concerns raised by the neighbors with regard to privacy. . Commissioner Bruckner thought that it is. important to clarify for the neighborS that a project like this can be constructed without the Planning Commission's review and approval if it complies with Code. Arama CitY Planning Commission 4 12J9197 . . The neighbors should probably anticipate seeing more of similar type requests as lots are being developed. Commissioner Sleeter felt they need to put instructive language thatthe trees in the rear are of sufficient size to offer some immediate relief. Commissioner Bell thought that once a landscape plan is drawn, it should be shown to the neighbors. Mr. Nicholson said that the Planning Commission can conditionally approve the project and require a minimum size for the trees. A 36" boxed tree is a fairly good.size. He was concerned with showing the elevation because usually they show a more mature tree which could be deceiving. Commissioner Bell clarified that the elevation should show what the trees wi11look like in few years. MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Sleeter, seconded by Commissioner Bruckner to approve MP 97-010 subject to the conditions in the staff report with the. additional condition that the applicant present a complete landscape plan to staff for their review and approval, This plan should include at a minimum specific for site line mitigation at the rear of the lot with at least36" boxed trees. ROLL CALL: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Commissioners Bell, Bruckner, Huang, Sleeter, Kalernkiarian None Commissioner Murphy Chainnan Pro Tern Kalemkiarian noted that there is a five working day appeal period. Appeals are to be filed by Tuesday, December 16, 1997. NONPUBUC~G~~ 4. RESOLUTION NO. 1558 A resolution of the Planning Commission of the City of Arcadia, California, granting CUP 97- 013 to operate a restaurant with outdoor dining at 143 E. Huntington Dr. RESOLUTION NO. 1559 A resolution of the Planning Commission of the City of Arcadia, California, granting CUP 97- 014 amending and deleting conditions of approval for the existing bowling alley at 1020 S. Baldwin Ave. Mr. Nicholson read the titles of the resolutions. MOTION Arcadia Cit)' Planning Commission 5 1219197 . . It was moved by Commissioner Sleeter, seconded by Commissioner Bell to adopt Resolutions 1558 and 1559 and formally affirm the decisions of November 25th and the votes thereon. ROLL CALL: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Commissioners Bell, Bruckner, Huang, Sleeter, Kalemkiarian None Commissioner Murphy Chairman Pro Tem Kalemkiarian noted that there is a five working day appeal period. Appeals are to be filed by Tuesday, December 16, 1997. MATfERS FROM CITY COUNCIL Mayor Har\)icht told the Planning Commission about the tree lighting ceremony and many people showed .up for this event. It was a nice community event. He indicated that in late January early February he plans to give a State of the City Address. This is something new that he is instituting. He noted that the City of Pasadena does this and he thought it would be an opportunity to.communicate wIth the citizens of the City's goals, objectives and how to get there. It will be in the Council Chambers and televised live and reruns will run on Cable TV. He said that he is planning on sending invitations to the commissioners and their spouses, the president of the Chaniber and it might be an invitation only event, only because of the number of people that can be accommodated here. It will be followed with a reception in the Chamber. He that1ked the Planning Commission for all their effort and time that they put in for reviewing the CBD zone regulations. MATfERS FROM PLANNING COMMISSON Commissioner Huang wondered if the Planning Commission could 'attend the seminar that the flyer was distributed in the packet? MODIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING ACTIONS Commissioner Kalemkiarian recapped the actions taken by the Modification Committee. MATfERS FROM STAFF I. Cny COUNCn. ACTONS 2. UPCOMING AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURN TO JANUARY 13, 1998 ZL ~11itLl Secretary, Arcadia Planning Commission Arcadia City Planning Commission 6 1219'-17