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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJULY 23, 1963 .--- ,. ROLL CALL MINUTES PRE-MEETING PUBLIC HEARING Central Area Study -~ M I N U TE S PLANNING COMMISSION, ARCADIA, CALIFORNIA REGULAR MEETING July n, 1963 The Planning Commission of the City of Arcadia, California, met in regular sessian on July 23, 1963, at 8:00 o'clock P. M., in the Council Chamber af the City Hall, 240 W.. Huntington Drive, Arcadia, California, with Chairman Fergusan presiding. The pledge af allegiance was led by Commissioner Norton. PRESENT: Comm issioners Forman, Gol isch, Hansan, Kuyper, Nortan, Parker ond Fergusan OTHERS PRESENT: City Attorney James A. Nicklin Assistant City Engineer Frank Forbes Planning Director William Phelps Senior Planner Ernest Mayer, Jr. The minutes of the regular meeting held July 9, 1963 were approved as written and mailed. The Chairman announced the appointment of Mr. George Forman as the liaiso" member of .the Commission to homeowner associations and service clubs. It was also announced that starting in September one meeting per month would be scheduled for planning matters and one meeting for zoning, variances, lot splits and subdivisions, etc.. Commissioner Golisch suggested that 0 new form be devised for lot split applications and that the maps be made clearer. This is the second public hearing on the proposed general plan for the Central Area for which publ!shed notice had been given. COMMUNICATIONS: Boller, Suttner and Boller, Attorneys at law, representing several property owners in the area requested a continuance of the hearing so that a conference could be held with representatives of the industrial area north of Santa Clara and a committee from the retail businesses on Huntington Drive. OPPONENTS: Mr. Richard English, 114 St. Joseph St. of the Industrial Brush Co., representing the Industrial Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, presented an oral report. The Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is meeting on Thursday and has not yet received this report. It has been reviewed by the Industrial Committee and the Executive Committee of the Chamber and they have approved it. July 23, 1963 Page One . .. 14. i5. 160 17. 18. An article from the July 15, 1963 issue of the Southern California Business, 0 weekly publication of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce entitled: "Sub-Committee Report pinpoints Industrial Development Issue". The following 01 ternatives were proposed to the plan subm itted by Wilsey, Ham and Blair; J.. Yards - 30 foot depth for the front yard is excess ive and recommends that 0 10 ft. front yard be establ ished. 2. Side and Rear Yard. This is satisfactory. 3. Maximum Lot Coverage. This should be conditional upon the arrangement for offstreet parking. It is suggested that 100% coverage be permitted aher provisions for off-street parking has been made and after any yard require- ments and loading space is provided as outl ined in Section 1583 af Ordinance 967. If the offstreet parking is provided other than on the building parcel '. such as"acro'is..JheralleY'.or'across the street, would mean that the entire building parcel could be covered after the yard and loading space require- ments were met. Landscaping. The 20% requirement is too restrictive in 0 city block situation. It is recommended that 0 minimum landscaping requirement be not greale' than the front yard requirements plus the side or rear yard landscaping required for property adjoining residential zoning. The Committee approves of the paragraph pertaining to the screening of the activity, in keeping the appearance neat and orderly. Signs. This proposal is adequate. Site plan approval. Some overall control should be applied to assure reasonable conformance to the intent of the zoning. The proposal to allow the Planning Director to disapprove the plans not in conformity with the i()tent should be suitable for this purpose. .If there is also included a specific. stipulation thot the conditions would be subject to appeal to the City Council. It was suggested that the landscaping also come under the Planning Director's direction, subject to the some condition of appeal to the City Council. Off Street Parking. Recommend I square foot of offstreet parking be required for each 2 square feet of floor space. They further suggest that the porking area be provided on the immediate parcel of land or within the 500 feet distance requirement of the present zoning ordinance. It was suggested in furthering the landscaping proposal that sidewalks extending from curb, 0 minimum of 7 feet to the property line be required, with tree planting by the City in the siclewalk area. Performance Standards os proposed has been difficult in interpreting. Noise level requirements was a specific instance. From study with people in the field they believe this is too restrictive for the area. Because proposed sound levels ore based on \ Qctave Bond Analysis there is no direct comparison at this .time. It was learned from consultation with experts from Cal Tech that the noise factor would be about 55 decibels. Mr. Engli$h' gave examples of the various sound levels and from consultation with men in the field felt the recommendations were excessive. They could not make recommendations at this time.. Later this week this might be possible. They will run some tests on present activities in Arcadia so they will hove July 23, 1963 Page Two ~ direct comparison with the proposal. 19. Smoke. This is a difficult item ond instead of the technical requirements that the regular requirements of the Air Pollution Control District be required. 110. Dust and Dirt. The standards of APCB should be required. I II. Odors. They were not familiar with the terms used in the report. No alte.native recommendations were made. I 12. Vibration, heat and glare. No al ternative recommendations. I Several plans were suggested for implementation of the plan. The Committee suggests that with praper zoning and planning private capital would be encouraged to come into the area and work within the basis of the planning. They recommend that no state or federal agencies be brought into the picture at the present time. Copies of the report will be submitted to each of the Commissioners after opproval by the Chamber Board of Directors to be held on Thursday, July 25. August Goebel, Attorney at Law, 3935 E. Huntington Drive, Pasadena, spoke on behalf of various property owners in the Town Center Area - C. M. Mallwork Co" 115 Wheeler Street - occupying this praperty since 1949 with a payroll of $80,000 per year. He felt meetings with comm ittees from the property owners were essential before any plan could be adopted. He recommended continuance of the public hearing until such meetings could be held. Commissioner Norton stated that he felt the public should be advised that it is not the intention of the City to force anything on the public. The important thing is that there is a problem in this area. Various citizens' groups have appealed to the City for assistance in their problems in the Downtown Area. This is. an opportunity to do something in the area. This should be understood as a basic concept which may have to be modified, varied, ar tailored to meet specific circumstances and the majority of the property owners will be considered. The purpose of this plan is to develop something that will be lasting and fertile for this community and it is not be ing forced upon anyone. Mr. Goebel stated they want to work with the City and so long as the City is desirous of working with ,the property owners there will no great problem. The Chairman stated this was the desire of the Commission. The public hearings were held for the express purpose of obtoining information from the property owners. The recommendotion would then go to the City Council for consideration. The hearings can be continued until the Commission is assured all pertinent information has been presented from the publ ic. Louis J. LeRoy, Industrial A,gentfor the Santa Fe Railroad Company, opposed the manner of zoning property along both sides of the railroad so that it would prevent industry from rail service. He felt that Research and Development seldom can fined its activities purely to this. Manufacturing nearly always followed. He felt that zoning that would el iminate the present manufacturing properties should not occur. July 23, 1963 Page Three t Mr. Kermit Hartzler, ! 5 East Huntingtan Drive, representing the Central Area Land- owners Association, requested a continuance of the publ ic hearing so that 'ecommendo- tions from the committees could be made. Mr. Robert Moser, 62 W. Woodruff, stated there were questions thot were being asked that needed answers. 1. What is the Citis actual obi igation. to the proposal if the plan is adopted" both from the zoning standpoint and alsoi from the financial standpoint? 2. What is the chance for the success of th is plan, being surrounded by the freeway, the park, the railroad, and the race track:? If city funds ore to be expended a long look should be made. 3. Also, have any large developments been approached to come into th is area? 4. How are negotiations to be achieved for the property involved. Mr. Moser felt that the success of the plan would depend upon very tight control by an, agency. The City Attorney answered some of the questions. The initial interest in the revital ization of the Downtown area came from the property owners themselves. The parking districts were created. The City participated to the extent of $300.00 for each district. This was advanced to start the proceedings and was paid back by the property owners. The property owners again appealed to the City and a ge'leral variance was granted and some has been accomplished but there is need for still more. After a series of property owners meetil'lgs, the City Council employed the Plal'lning Consultants. The plan was expanded to take care of other things that would happen, the freeway, the ch"ange of traffic patterns, etc. The only cost to the city so far has been the cost of the plan ,by the Consultan.ts. It is not the spending of money for the Downtown Area as such but for the City in a stage by stage development for the entire city. There will be other plans for other areas. The present plan is presented for consideration and the public hearings were held to find out the !h ink ing of the people affected and also those not in the immediate area as a:1I wi II be affected. What is finally adopted may not resemble the plan as presented. The Commission solicits comments constructive to the planning of the area. If a plan is ultimately adopted then this plan sets into motion a general plan for at least that portion of the City. Then certain things follow from there. Variances will not be so easy. The reclassifications will also not be ecisilyobtained. This, of course, is assuming a consistent plan is developed. The City has committed itself to (1) cooperation, (2) there will be public improvements in the area whether this plan or any plan is adopted, such as street improvement. etc. Any commitments witl be publ icly made" July 23. 1963 Page Four , I MOTION PUBLIC HEARING Central Area Zaning IMOTlON LIAISON OFFICEIl' PUBLIC HEARING American Lutheran Church Zone Voriance Appl ication ." As to the effec t of the odoption of any pion upon property and existen t uses thereon, there are effects that will occur. There will be zones adopted within the area. This will be on property that does not conform with the end results. Present buildings will become non-conforming. There will be certain prohibitions against expansions, etc. There is a provision for abatement of non-conforming uses. This is seldom used but there are provisions for such. Much of the concern has resulted from the opinion that this is final and that the City is only going "through motions". Whether this plan be ultimately adopted or not, it is not being presented os 0 "take it or leave it" attitude. There will be some modifications no doubt. r urther participation by the city is possible to further the plan by going into state redevelopment or even under a Federal program. Either of those would be the la5t step, if ever token, and he had his doubts if either would ever be taken. This will depend on the interest and desires of the people, how much they respond ~a whatever program or plan is adopted for the oreo; and how th ings progress without ony artificial or force in the area. The process for state or federal aid is by ordinance and is subject to referendum, which is a safeguard to people in the City. Mr. J. A. Wills, 330 N. Santa Anita Avenue, felt From 0 practical nature the zoning designated for research and development and technical offices is not applicable to the area involved. He had particular reference to thaT property lying wesT of Santa Anita Avenue. He felt that if the railroad were not here and were to try to go through Arcadia, through 0 research and development area it would not be allowed. He Felt the same thing in reverse is true that if the railroad is located it would be a mistake to place research and development by the railroad. Mr. William Littlefield, 1624 Greenfield Avenue, commented on the technical report, outlining certain errors he felt occurred in the report. Moved by Commissioner Norton, seconded by Commissioner Parker, and una'1imously carried, that the public hearing on the. Central Area Plan be continued to the next regular meeting of the Commission to be held August 13, 1963. Inasmuch as this matter is concurrent with the consideration of the general plan and is directly involved it would be impossible to conclude the matter until the pia!" has been fully considered. I Moved by Commissioner Formon, seconded by Commissioner Norton, and unanimously carried, that thi5 motter be continued until the next regulor meeting. The audience was informed that Commissioner Forman hod been appointed as liaison officer of the Commission to assist in presenting any information to the people; to clubs and organizations whenever needed. Publ ic hearing was held on the variance instituted by the Planning Commission for. the use of the property on Duarte Road east of the present site. Stoff report was submitted recommending approval of the pions. A copy of this report is on file in the Planning Deportment. The Commission had previously granted 0 zone variance for the church and the pions hod been approved. It was only because of the desirability of the City to hove the church locoted to the east that this action was instituted. July 23, 1963 Page Five .. , OPPONENTS. Mr" Glenn B. Campbell ,55 West Magno Vista Ave!"ue Mr. J. T. Ramsey, 61 Magno Vista Avenue Col in D. Becking, 21 West Magno Vista Avenue All were concerned with the height of the education building, the loss of privacy in their yards; the improper use of the olley; and the rights from the parking lot to the reor of the buildings. lhe Commission considered each of these items. PROPONENTS: Rev. W. F. Danneman, Pastor of the American Lutheran Church, stated that the education building would be used for Sunday School purposes only. MOTION Moved by Commissioner Golisch, seconded by Commissioner Parker, and unanimously carried that the publ ic hearing be closed. MOTION Moved by Commissioner Kuyper, seconded by Commissioner Forman. thot the . variance for the American Lutheran Church to erect a church on property locoted on Duarte Rood be approved, subject to the conditions in the Stoff Repo.t; a"d to the further condition that an offer of deqicationbe tendered the City; that the lights in the parking lot not be higher than six feet and directed away from- the residential area to the rear; that the windows in the two-story building have a sill height of not less than six feet. ROLL CALL: AY~S: Commissioners Forman, Hanson, Kuyper, Norton and Ferguson NOES: Commissioner Gal isch ABSENT, None (Commissioner Gal isch stoted that his negative vote was not against the Church but against the two-story bui Iding). LOT SPLIT L-63-21 The Planning Commission considered Lot Spl it No. L-63-21, George A. Dudley, 1150 Fallen Leaf Rood. Stoff report was presented. A copy of such is on file in the Planning Deportment. The Commission questioned the width of the lot to the rear; the servants' quarters which were port of the garage and which cOr>stituted 0 non-conformi'lg building having 0 15 foot rear yard rather than the 25 foot prescribed by Code. Mr. William Hoffidetz, Engineer for the ap'plica"t, stated the owner proposed to sell the lot and the garage and living quarters would probably be attached to 0 new residence. He hod received approval from the Rancho Committee and the Title Companyl, and hod also obtained releases from the utilities for 'he easement across the property. July 23, 1963 Page Six .~ .i' \..... MOTION Moved by Commissioner Kuyper, seconded by Commissioner Parker, that Lot Split No. L-63-21 be tentatively approved, subject to the conditions outlined in the Staff report; and to the further condition that the existing building be brought up to Code. ROLL CALL: A YES: Comm issioners Honson, Kuyper and Parker. NOES: Commissioners'Golisch, Forman, Norton and Ferguson ABSENT: None The lot spl it was denied by lack of a. majority vote. LOT SPLIT NO. L-63-23 The Planning Commission considered Lot Split No. L-23-23, R. E. Kuhle, for property at 369 West Lemon Avenue. The Staff report was presented, a copy of which is on file with the Planning Department. MOTION Moved by Commissioner Golisch, seconded by Commissioner Hanson, and unan- imously carried that Lot Split No. L-63-'23, be approved, subject to the conditions as outl ined in the Staff Report"' RESOLUTION NO. 488 The City Attorney presented Resolution No. 4G8, recommending the amendment of Arcadia Municipal Code to prohibit construction of more than one dwelling on R-] lots. MOTION Moved by Commissioner Golisch, seconded by Commissioner Forman, and unanimously approved that the reading of the full body be waived. MOTION Moved by Commissioner Golisch, seconded by Commissioner Forman, and unanimously approved that the reading of the full body be waived. MOTION Moved by Comm.issioner Golisch, seconded by Commissioner Nor~on, that resolution No. 488 be adopted: ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Forman, Golisch, Hanson, Kuyper, Norton, Parker and. Ferguson NOES: None ABSENT: None RESOLUTION NO. 489 The City Attorney presented Resolution No. 489, instituting proceedings for consideration of establ ish ing height district zones. MOTION Moved by Comm issioner Kuyper, seconded byComm issioner Parker, and \.man- imously approved that the reading of the full body ofsaid resolution be waived. MOTION Moved by Commissioner Forman, seconded by Commissioner Kuyper, that Resolution No. 489 be adopted. July 23, 1963 Page Seven . ,", ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Formon, Golisch, Honson, Kuyper, Norton, Parker and Ferguson NOES: None ABSENT: 'None RESOLUTION NO. 491 The City Attorney presented Resolution No. 491, instituting proceedings for the purpose of moking recommendotions concerning the granting of a zone variance for the construction ond mointenance,of a Masonic Temple on property located on Duarte Road. MOTION Moved by Commissioner Forman, seconded by Commissioner Kuyper, and unanimously carried that the reading of the full body of said Resolution be waived. MOTION Moved by Commissioner Forman, seconded by Commissioner Golisch, that Resolution No, 491 be adopted. ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Formon, Golisch, Hanson, Kuyper, Norton, Parker and Ferguson NOES: None ABSENT: None RESOLUTION NO. 492 The City Attorney presented Resolution No. 492, initiating proceedings for the consideration of recommending the granting of a zone'variance for the construc- tion of an eight-story .office building on the southwest corner of First Avenue and Wheeler Street. MOTION Moved by Commissioner Kuyper, seconded by Commissioner Parker, and unanimously carried, that the reading of the full body of said 'Resolution' be waived. MOTION Moved by Commissioner Forman, seconded by Commissioner Kuyper, that Resolution No. 492 be adopted. ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Forman, Golisch, Hanson, Kuyper Norton, Parker' and Ferguson NOES: None ABSENT: None. RESOLUTION NO. 490 The City Attorney presented Resolution No. 49b, granting the voriance of the American Lutheran Church to construct a church and clciss rooms on property located on Duarte Road. July 23, 1963 Page Eight . .. ""' '- MOTION Moved by Commissioner Formon, seconded by Commissioner Kuyper, ond unonimously corriec:i thot the reoding of the full body of soid Resolution be woived. MOTION Moved by Commissioner Formon, seconded by Commissioner Kuyper, thot Resolution No. 490 be adopted. I ROll CAll: AYES: Commissioners Formon, Hanson, Kuyper, Norton Porker, ond Ferguson NOES: Commissioner Golisch ABSENT: None AUDIENCE PARTICI- PATION No one in the audience-desired to be heord. ADJOURN- MENT The meeting adjourned ot II: 15 P. M. ~~ WilLIAM PHELPS Plann ingSecretary July 23, 1963 Page Nine