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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMAY 25, 1999 . MINUTES . Arcadia CU)' Planning Commission Tuesday, May 25, 1999 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, May 25, ]999 at 7:15 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the City of Arcadia, at 240 W. Huntington Drive with Chairman Paul Kalemkiarian presiding. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Commissioners Huang, Murphy, Sleeter, Kalemkiarian ABSENT: Commissioner Bruckner MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Sleeter, seconded by Commissioner Huang to excuse Commissioner Bruckner from tonight's meeting. The motion passed by voice vote with none dissenting. OTHERS ATTENDING Council Member Gail Marshall City Attorney Michael MilIer Community Development Administrator Donna Butler Associate Planner James Kasama Assistant Planner Candyce Burnett Secretary Silva Vergel SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM STAFF REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS None 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. MINUTES of 5/11/99 Commissioner Sleeter noted that he informed the Secretary of a change in the Motion on Page ] I of the Aprii 27th Minutes. MOTION , . . It. was moved by Commissioner Murphy, seconded by Commissioner Kalemkiarian to approve the Minutes of May ]]th as published. ROLL CALL: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: Commissioner Huang, Murphy, Kalemkiarian None Commissioner Bruckner Commissioner Sleeter 2. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING TA 99-004, Consideration of a text amendment to amend the R-O and R-Izoning regulations. MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Murphy, seconded by Commissioner Huang to continue this item to the Planning Commission's June 8th meeting. ROLLCALL: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: CommissionerHuang, Murphy, Sleeter, Kalemkiarian None Commissioner Bruckner 3. PUBLIC HEARING TM 52876 ]]]5 Fairview Ave, Hank Jong Consideration of a tentative map for an 8-unit residential condominium project. The staff report was presented and the public hearing was opened. No one spoke inJavor of or in opposition to this item. Chairman'Kalemkiarian closed the public hearing, MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Murphy, seconded by Commissioner Sleeter to approve TM 52876 subject to the conditions in the staff report. ROLL CALL: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Commissioner Huang, Murphy, Sleeter, Kalemkiarian None Commissioner Bruckner Arcadia city PIamring Commission 2 snsl99 Chairman Kalemkiarian notedttat there is a ten-day appeal PeriOd.~ppeals are to be filed by Monday, June 7'll. 4. PUBLIC HEARING TM 52899 ] 122 Arcadia Ave. Taylor EDt., Inc. Consideration of a tentative map for.a 9-unit residential condominium project. The staff report was presented and the public hearing was opened. No one:spoke in favor of or in opposition to this item. Chairman Kalemkiarian closed the public hearing. MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Murphy, seconded by Commissioner Huang to approve TM 52899 subjectto the conditions in the staff report. ROLLCALL: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Commissioner Huang, Murphy, Sleeter, Kalemkiarian None . Commissioner Bruckner Chairman Kalemkiarian noted that.there is a ten-day appeal period. Appeals are to be filed by June 7th. 5. PUBLICHEARINGTA 99-005 Consideration of a text amendment amending the CBD zoning regulations by deleting the requirement that the front one-third of the ground floor area along Huntington Dr. and North First Ave. be restricted to retail activities, and by deleting the requirement that 75% of the gross receipts must be from retail sales. The staff report was presented. Ms. Butler said that the proposal includes changing of the zoning on North FirSt Ave. The public hearing was opened. Garland Roberson, Sullivan Paints, 134 E. Huntington Dr., submitted a petition signed by the owners/tenants on North FirSt Ave. who were against the change on North First Ave. He asked staff why this area was included. Ms. Butler explained that several property owners along Huntington Dr. had expressed concern that it has been very difficult to lease their properties. A letter was submitted to the City Council from an attorney representing one of the property owner's along Huntington Dr. requesting that the City Arcadia City PIaaning Commission 3 S/2S199 Council consider amendment 'the caD regulations to include hards! exemptions to permit uses other than retail businesses within the front one-third of a building along Huntington Dr. It was the consensus of both the City Council and the Planning Commission to amend the regulations by deleting the requirement that the front 1/3 of the ground floor area of a building be utilized for retail sales along Huntington Dr. and North First Ave. Mr. Roberson said that it is very difficult to have a retail business on Huntington Dr. It is not easy to try"to catch the attention of the drive-by traffic. But, it is different on First Ave. because traffic travels much slower. He remarked that Ms. Stabler had a tuxedo store, a retail businesses, that wanted to lease from her but they required improvements of approximately $50,000, which she did not want to do. So, there is interest from retail businesses to locate on Huntington Dr. He went on to say that there has not been any problems with vacancy so why would they want to change the requirement? He stated that if an existing office use vacates, another office use could occupy the same space. In response to a question by Council Member Marshall, Mr. Roberson stated that prior to changing the regulations and,definitions nail and beauty salons were categorized as uretail uses" but the new regulations better defined retail uses as ones that 75% of the gross receipts are derived from retail sales. . Commissioner Huang remarked that nail and beauty salons increase foot traffic. Mr. Roberson disagreed and said "that once the customer is done they leave and do not patronize the adjacent businesses. The businesses will soon remain open until 8:00 p.m., one night a week, to hopefully attract more customers. There is more retail business in the downtown area now than a couple of years ago. The City needs to envision what they want in this area in ten years and start working toward that goal now. Commissioner Huang replied that office employees would probably not patronize the retail businesses because the employees would come in the morning and leave in the afternoon. Mr. Roberson replied that office. use generates less traffic. In order for a downtown to grow, it needs a variety of retail uses. No one. else spoke in favor of or in opposition to this item. Chairman Kalemkiarian closed the public hearing. In response to a question by Commissioner Murphy, Ms. Butler replied that the Planning Commission could exclude North First Ave. from this text amendment. North First Ave. has a different character from South First Ave. where.streets are narrower and is more pedestrian friendly. The shops on Huntington Dr. are destination shops where people go when they need something such as the frame and bike shops, whereas, people can stroll down South First Ave. where. there are a variety of shops to browse in. Huntington Dr. is not as quaint and as pedestrian friendly as South First Ave. AJcadUI CiIy Plamring Commission 4 '125/99 Chairman Kalernkiaria:n felt 'ZOning should not change. Downto"Arcadia will never be like Old Town Pasadena. He thought that 1/3 retail is too restrictive on North First Ave. because it is not a typical retail. Commissioner Murphy was agreeable to the amendment but did not think that North First Ave. should be included. He pointed out that neither the property' owners nor tenants on North First Ave. are in favor of the change but it made sense to change the requirement on Huntington Dr. Commissioner Sleeter agreed and commented that this was an issue with the property owners on Huntington Dr. and not on North First Ave. If the business owners and property owners want it to remain.as:it is then it should not be changed. Ms. B.utler explained that if a building is utilized as an office use it could continue to occupy the same type of a use once it is vacated. For example, if the mortgage office left on North First Ave. the next use could be an office use. MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Murphy, seconded by Commissioner Sleeter to recommend approval of TA99-005 to the City Council to amend the code by deleting the requirement that the front 1/3 of the ground floor area be utilized for retail. sales along Huntington Drive only. ROLL CALL: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Commissioner Huang, Murphy, Sleeter, Kalemkiarian None Commissioner Bruckner NON-PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS 6. PLANNING COMMISSION DETERMINATION That the proposed Capital Improvement Program for] 999-2000 is in conformance with the City's GeneralPlan. . The staff report was presented. MOTION It was moved by Commissioner Sleeter, seconded by Commissioner Huang making the fmding that the proposed C.iP. is in conforinance with the General Plan. ROLL CALL: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Commissioner Huang, Murphy, Sleeter, Kalemkiarian None Commissioner Bruckner Arcadia City Planning Conmiisai... s "'.5199 . . MA TIERS FROM CITY COUNCIL Council MemberMarshall said the city is movingfoIWard toward a new Police Station. Chairman Kalemkiarian suggested including at least one Planning Commission member 10 revIewing the Santa Anita project when it is submitted. A short discussion ensued with regard to the Santa Anita project and Council Member Marshall commented that it is good to have Council Member Roncelli on the Santa Anita Board because he will look after Arcadia's best interest. Council Member Marshall discussed briefly City Council's review of the budget and said that although there is a surplus this year they need to be very careful of how they spend it Ms, Butler commented that the City Council approved the addition of one more Code Services Officer position. MATTERS FROMPLANNINGCOMMISSON None MODIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING ACTIONS None MATIERSFROM STAFF L CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS 2. UPCOMING AGENDA ITEMS None ADJOURNMENT 7:50 p.m. .., - ~_? ,,', ~~/) i....... /""1 ~ --"--::: ./;;;" LX!'>,,::y/f.../ l /' A~. LSecretary, Arcadia Pllmning Commission An:adia city PIIUlDing Commission 6 '1lS199